AI @ ViVE: The Journey That Brought MSK and AWS Together in a Shared Digital Health Vision

In this episode of The Beat podcast, host Sandy Vance sits down with Michael Frank, Director of Digital Health at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK), to explore how MSK is teaming up with AWS and leveraging AI to revolutionize cancer care. Michael shares insights into MSK’s mission to end cancer for life, their journey into digital transformation, and how AI technologies (like large language models and advanced data analytics) are streamlining clinical workflows, improving patient interactions, and unlocking new treatment possibilities. They also dive into the real-world impact of AI on back-office operations, the ethical considerations of using data in clinical decision-making, and why collaboration with tech partners is essential to driving meaningful change in healthcare.

In this episode, they talk about:

• Memorial Sloan Kettering’s bold mission to end cancer for life
• The journey that brought MSK and AWS together in a shared digital health vision
• How AI is transforming clinical workflows and enhancing patient interactions
• Techniques for extracting and modeling patient data to inform treatment decisions
• Using data comparison and analysis to uncover clues that guide oncology care
• Leveraging large language models (LLMs) to connect and make sense of scattered patient information
• The importance of adapting existing tools rather than reinventing the wheel
• Why healthcare leaders should lean into AI and embrace emerging technologies
• How AI may reshape the patient–provider relationship in the years to come
• What the next wave of AI use cases in healthcare might look like
• Potential risks of using data in clinical decision support—and how to navigate them
• Opportunities to reduce healthcare costs through AI-powered back-office automation
  The critical role of strong partnerships between healthcare institutions and tech innovators

A Little About Michael:

Michael Frank is Director of Digital Health at Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Business Development, Strategy, and Innovation Group, where he leads efforts to develop, partner, and commercialize digital technologies including AI and precision oncology platforms. Prior to joining MSK in 2021, he held leadership roles at Pfizer, Booz & Co, PA Consulting, Phosplatin Therapeutics, and CombinatoRx, with over 15 years of experience in life sciences, innovation, and strategy. An entrepreneur at heart, Michael has launched products ranging from kitchen gadgets to medical diagnostics, and enjoys helping others bring ideas to market. He holds degrees in Biology (University of Michigan), Biomedical Engineering (Boston University), and an MBA from Columbia Business School.