NEJM AI Grand Rounds AI at the Frontlines: Dissecting Clalit’s Roadmap for the Future of Public Health with Noa Dagan and Ran Balicer
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Sep 18, 2024 
In this engaging conversation, Noa Dagan and Ran Balicer from the Clalit Research Institute share insights into their innovative work with predictive models in healthcare. They discuss leveraging a unique dataset to enhance Hepatitis C screening and how data shaped responses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The duo emphasizes the transformative power of AI in public health, plans for a digital health residency, and the importance of mentorship in emerging public health professionals. With a touch of humor, they even ponder alternative careers and favorite superpowers.
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Internet Evangelist
- Ran Balicer's medical training coincided with the rise of the internet, leading him to become an "internet evangelist".
- He taught doctors about the internet, coded Israel's first medical web portal, and realized technology's potential to bypass medical hierarchies.
Antiviral Stockpile
- As a public health resident, Ran Balicer convinced the Israeli government to stockpile antiviral drugs.
- He used an Excel sheet to demonstrate the economic benefits, leading to a $100 million investment.
Accidental AI Path
- Noa Dagan's path to AI was largely accidental, starting with encouragement to study computer science in high school.
- An MPH program and a lecture by Ben Rice sparked her interest in predictive modeling.