The Future of Medicine – Details, episodes & analysis

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The Future of Medicine

Stanford Department of Medicine

Health & Fitness

Frequency: 1 episode/11d. Total Eps: 14

Welcome to The Future of Medicine, a podcast from Stanford's Department of Medicine.

We bring you into conversation with the thought leaders who are reshaping how we understand disease, deliver care, and imagine what's possible in human health. This show is built around the extraordinary speakers who join us for Medicine Grand Rounds – one of the longest-running and most respected forums in academic medicine.

Our guests include world-renowned physicians, scientists, innovators, and policy leaders from across the globe, as well as the remarkable faculty at Stanford. Together, they represent the full spectrum of modern biomedical discovery: from breakthrough therapeutics and cutting-edge genomics, to health equity, digital health, global health, neuroscience, AI, and the re-design of care systems.

This is The Future of Medicine.

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Score global : 83%

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Priscilla Chan on AI, Rare Disease, and the “Virtual Cell”

Season 1 · Episode 14

Sunday, April 12, 2026 • Duration 31:34

In this episode of The Future of Medicine, we welcome Priscilla Chan, MD, pediatrician and co-founder of Biohub, a first-of-its-kind research initiative combining frontier AI with frontier biology to accelerate progress toward curing or preventing all disease.

Dr. Chan shares how her experience caring for children with rare and undiagnosed conditions shaped her commitment to transforming how science is done. She discusses how patient-led research communities are driving breakthroughs, and how new approaches to data sharing and collaboration are reshaping the pace of discovery.

The conversation explores Biohub’s work to build a “virtual cell”—a computational model designed to simulate human biology—and how advances in artificial intelligence, large-scale datasets, and imaging technologies could allow scientists to better understand disease at its most fundamental level. These tools may one day make it possible to predict disease risk earlier, test interventions virtually, and personalize treatment based on an individual’s biology.

Dr. Chan also reflects on the future of medicine, where the boundaries between research and clinical care continue to blur, and where physicians increasingly engage with data, biology, and technology to guide patient care in real time.

Looking ahead, she shares her vision for a more proactive and precise healthcare system—one that moves beyond treating illness to anticipating and preventing it.

Thank you for listening!

Call to action: If you enjoy The Future of Medicine, subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists shaping the next era of healthcare. Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these important discussions. Share with friends and colleagues who are curious about how science becomes medicine.

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Jonathan Chen on AI in Medicine: Promise, Pitfalls, and Practice

Season 1 · Episode 13

Sunday, March 29, 2026 • Duration 44:17

In this episode of The Future of Medicine, we welcome Jonathan Chen, MD, PhD, clinician, AI researcher, and Associate Professor at Stanford, whose work focuses on combining human and artificial intelligence to improve clinical decision-making.

Dr. Chen reflects on the rapid rise of AI in medicine, and the moment he realized everything had changed. He also walks through surprising findings from his research, including studies showing that AI alone can sometimes outperform doctors using AI tools. He explains why this happens, from human bias and “automation errors” to the ways AI systems are designed to agree with users, even when they’re wrong.

Looking ahead, Dr. Chen shares his perspective on the future of AI in medicine, including the risks of overreliance, the importance of clinical judgment, and how these tools could transform everything from medical education to patient care. He also explores the concept of “do no harm” in AI systems—and why safety and accuracy are not the same thing.

Thank you for listening!

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Eric Topol on the Future of Healthy Aging

Season 1 · Episode 12

Sunday, March 15, 2026 • Duration 44:59

In this episode of The Future of Medicine, we welcome Eric Topol, MD, cardiologist, scientist, bestselling author of Super Agers, and founder of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, whose work has helped shape the field of digital medicine and the use of data, genomics, and artificial intelligence to personalize care.

Dr. Topol reflects on how medicine is shifting from treating disease to preventing it, and why extending health span—the years we live in good health—may be one of the most important goals in modern science. He explains how advances in biomarkers, wearable technology, and AI are making it possible to predict disease risk earlier and intervene before conditions like heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s develop.

Dr. Topol also discusses the science behind “super agers,” people who remain physically and cognitively healthy well into older age, and what research is revealing about the roles of the immune system, inflammation, lifestyle, and emerging therapies in determining how we age.

Looking ahead, Dr. Topol shares his perspective on the future of preventive medicine, including how AI-driven prediction, organ-specific aging clocks, and new biological insights could transform healthcare from a reactive system into one focused on keeping people healthy for as long as possible.

Thank you for listening!

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Alexis Thompson on Gene Therapy and the Future of Sickle Cell Disease

Season 1 · Episode 11

Sunday, March 8, 2026 • Duration 34:45

In this episode of The Future of Medicine, we welcome Alexis Thompson, MD, MPH, pediatric hematologist and internationally recognized expert on sickle cell disease whose work helped lead to the first approved gene therapies for this serious condition.

Dr. Thompson reflects on the extraordinary transformation of sickle cell care over the course of her career. From the early days of newborn screening and simple interventions like penicillin to today’s breakthrough gene therapies, the field has experienced what she calls “an amazing arc” of progress.

Dr. Thompson also walks through the remarkable science behind gene therapy for sickle cell disease, and how CRISPR gene editing and lentiviral vectors (modified viruses such as HIV that are engineered to safely deliver genes) are being used to modify patients’ own stem cells, allowing them to produce healthy red blood cells and dramatically reduce the complications of the disease.

Looking ahead, Dr. Thompson shares her perspective on the next frontier of genetic medicine: including efforts to make gene therapies safer, more scalable, and accessible to patients around the world.

Thank you for listening!

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Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo on Scientific Publishing, Peer Review, and the Future of Medical Journals

Season 1 · Episode 10

Sunday, February 22, 2026 • Duration 37:09

In this episode of The Future of Medicine, we welcome Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS, physician, epidemiologist, and Editor-in-Chief of JAMA, whose work sits at the center of how today’s most influential medical research is evaluated, communicated, and translated into practice.

Dr. Bibbins-Domingo takes us inside the high-stakes world of scientific publishing, exploring how editors weigh evidence, interpret peer review, and decide when research is strong enough to move the field forward. She explains why “no scientific study is perfect,” and what that reality means for clinicians, researchers, and the public.

In this conversation, Dr. Bibbins-Domingo reflects on her journey from basic science to population health and editorial leadership. She discusses how journals are adapting in an era of information overload and AI, why context and communication matter more than ever, and how scientific editors think about balancing rigor, risk, and real-world impact.

Looking ahead, Dr. Bibbins-Domingo shares her perspective on the future of medical publishing, and why reaching people where they are will be essential to maintaining trust in science and advancing patient care.

As part of our ongoing series from Stanford’s Department of Medicine, bringing together leaders shaping the future of healthcare, this episode offers a thoughtful, behind-the-scenes look at how medical evidence moves from manuscript to medicine.

Thank you for listening!

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Mark Skylar-Scott on Bioprinting Organs, and the Future of Transplant Medicine

Season 1 · Episode 9

Sunday, February 15, 2026 • Duration 45:49

In this episode of The Future of Medicine, we welcome Mark Skylar-Scott, PhD, bioengineer and researcher at Stanford University, whose work sits at the forefront of 3D bioprinting, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.

Dr. Skylar-Scott explores the bold challenge of organ manufacturing — why it’s one of the hardest problems in medicine, and why there is good reason for optimism. He explains how advances in bioprinting, vascular engineering, and scalable cell production are opening new possibilities for creating functional human tissues and, one day, whole organs.

In this conversation, Dr. Skylar-Scott shares his journey from engineering and early 3D printing to pioneering work in bioprinting. He discusses why blood vessels are the central bottleneck in building living tissue, how biology and engineering must work together, and what it takes to scale from millions of cells in a dish to the hundreds of billions required to build an organ like the human heart.

Looking ahead, Dr. Skylar-Scott discusses progress toward large-animal models and what it will take to move organ manufacturing closer to clinical reality.

As part of our ongoing series from Stanford’s Department of Medicine — bringing together scientists and clinicians shaping the future of healthcare — this episode offers a thoughtful, grounded look at the forward momentum in organ printing and regenerative medicine.

Thank you for listening!

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Anna Lembke on Pleasure, Pain, and Recovery in a Dopamine-Driven World

Season 1 · Episode 8

Sunday, February 8, 2026 • Duration 39:15

In this episode of The Future of Medicine, we welcome Anna Lembke, MD, psychiatrist and professor at Stanford School of Medicine, and author of the bestselling book, Dopamine Nation.

In this conversation, Dr. Lembke explores how modern life reshapes our brains — from digital media and compulsive overconsumption to addiction, recovery, and the science of pleasure and pain. She explains why “the more pleasure we get, the less happy we are,” and shares insights into how dopamine drives desire in today’s always-on world.

She reflects on her clinical work in addiction medicine, the role of radical honesty in recovery, and why the stories we tell ourselves can either support healing or keep us stuck. Dr. Lembke also discusses evidence-based approaches to addiction treatment, the impact of social media on mental health, and why children and adolescents are uniquely vulnerable in the digital age.

As part of our series from Stanford’s Department of Medicine — bringing together thought leaders who are reshaping our understanding of health — you won’t want to miss this thoughtful conversation on addiction, balance, and finding real joy in a dopamine-driven world.

Thank you for watching!

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Miriam Mutebi on Breast Cancer, Barriers to Care, and Empowering Female Surgeons in Africa

Season 1 · Episode 7

Sunday, January 25, 2026 • Duration 23:12

In this powerful episode of The Future of Medicine, host Dr Euan Ashley sits down with Dr. Miriam Mutebi, a breast surgical oncologist at the Aga Khan University in Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Mutebi discusses the rising incidence of cancer in low and middle-income countries, where 70% of global cancer deaths occur despite only 5% of resources being allocated to these regions.

She shares her personal journey into medicine and surgery, reflecting on the challenges she faced as one of the few women in a predominantly male field. Dr. Mutebi highlights the importance of patient-centered care, emphasizing the value of compassion and personal connection in clinical settings, especially for women battling breast cancer.

We delve into the cultural barriers that hinder effective diagnosis and treatment, explore the stigma surrounding breast cancer, and discuss how financial constraints often prevent patients from accessing the care they need.

As a co-founder of the Pan African Women's Association of Surgeons, Dr. Mutebi is dedicated to promoting gender equity in global oncology and empowering the next generation of female surgeons across Africa.

Join us for an enlightening conversation on the pressing issues in cancer care, the transformative power of mentorship, and the urgent call for equitable healthcare solutions.

The Future of Medicine brings you weekly conversations with the innovators and thinkers shaping health and healthcare today. The show features extraordinary speakers from Stanford Medicine Grand Rounds, one of the longest-running and most respected forums in academic medicine.

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Curing vs. Caring: Dr. Kleinman on Communication, Empathy, and the Role of the Physician

Season 1 · Episode 6

Monday, January 19, 2026 • Duration 42:26

What does it really mean to care for patients in an era increasingly shaped by technology?

In this episode of The Future of Medicine, host Dr. Euan Ashley is joined by Dr. Arthur Kleinman — psychiatrist, medical anthropologist, and one of the most influential thinkers on illness, caregiving, and the human experience of medicine. Across a wide-ranging and deeply reflective conversation, Dr. Kleinman explores the enduring distinction between curing disease and caring for people, arguing that medicine cannot succeed without truly understanding patients’ lived experiences.

Drawing on decades of clinical practice, teaching, and scholarship — including his landmark works The Illness Narratives and The Soul of Care — Dr. Kleinman reflects on why communication remains one of medicine’s most under-taught yet essential skills. He discusses how medical training can unintentionally erode clinicians’ ability to listen, the moral importance of narrative and presence, and why patients so often value feeling heard as much as — or more than — technical expertise.

The conversation also looks ahead, examining the role of AI in healthcare. While Dr. Kleinman sees enormous promise in technology as a tool to support clinicians and reduce administrative burden, he makes a compelling case that wisdom, empathy, and human connection can never be automated.

From medical education and burnout to caregiving at the end of life, this episode offers a powerful reminder of why humanity must remain at the center of medicine — even as innovation accelerates.

Mark Cuban on Broken Healthcare, Drug Prices, and Reform

Season 1 · Episode 5

Sunday, January 11, 2026 • Duration 51:22

In this compelling episode of The Future of Medicine, we dive into an insightful conversation with entrepreneur and philanthropist Mark Cuban. Known for his no-nonsense approach, Cuban brings his entrepreneurial spirit to the forefront of one of America’s most pressing issues: healthcare.

Join us as we explore Cuban's perspectives on the broken healthcare system, the escalating drug prices that impact millions, and his vision for reforming a system that often prioritizes profit over patient care. Through candid anecdotes and bold proposals, he challenges the status quo and highlights the innovative solutions he believes can create a more sustainable and equitable healthcare landscape.

As part of a series dedicated to the thought leaders reshaping our understanding of human health, this episode offers a unique opportunity to gain insights from a business mogul who is unafraid to tackle complex healthcare issues head-on.

Don’t miss this chance to hear from Mark Cuban as he sheds light on the future of medicine and what it takes to drive meaningful change.

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The Future of Medicine – Details, episodes & analysis

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The Future of Medicine – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify