Podcasts about chief data scientist

Gretchen Stewart knows she doesn't know it all, always asks why, challenges oversimplified AI stories, champions multi-disciplinary teams and doubles down on data.   Gretchen and Kimberly discuss conflating GenAI with AI, data as the underpinning for all things AI, workflow engineering, AI as a team sport, organizational and data siloes, programming as a valued skill, agentic AI and workforce reductions, the complexity inherent in an interconnected world, data volume vs. quality, backsliding on governance, not knowing it all and diversity as a force multiplier.Gretchen Stewart is a Principal Engineer at Intel. She serves as the Chief Data Scientist for the public sector and is a member of the enterprise HPC and AI architecture team. A self-professed human to geek translator, Gretchen was recently nominated as a Top 100 Data and AI Leader by OnConferences. A transcript of this episode is here.   

A CMO Confidential Interview with DJ Patil, Great Point Ventures investor and former U.S. Chief Data Scientist in the Obama Administration. DJ discusses why AI adoption is "lumpy" like unbaked cake mix, the difference between large models and focused applications, and why consultants are probably not the best way to make progress. Key topics include: Maslow's Hierarchy of AI with power, data and water as the foundation; a timeline juxtaposition of AI evolution versus culture and policy change; and his belief that marketers have a unique position to add "human connectivity" in to the mix. Tune in to hear a view on AI and health care as well as how Waymo almost ruined a date night. What does AI adoption *really* look like inside large organizations—and why does it feel so uneven?In this episode of **CMO Confidential**, host **Mike Linton** sits down with **DJ Patil**—former U.S. Chief Data Scientist, AI leader at eBay and LinkedIn, and longtime advisor and investor—for a clear-eyed update from the front lines of AI.DJ explains why AI progress feels “lumpy,” why culture—not technology—is the biggest blocker to ROI, and what boards, CEOs, and CMOs must do now to avoid falling behind. From autonomous warfare and small models to Wall Street hype cycles, job displacement, and what AI means for the future of marketing, this is a practical, executive-level conversation about what's real, what's noise, and what comes next.If you lead a company, manage a brand, sit on a board, or are building a career in marketing, this episode will recalibrate how you think about AI adoption, investment, and organizational change.

Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian opens with a reflection on the defining economic and political moment facing Canada today. From rising interest rates and a housing crisis to stalled productivity and growing global pressures, Brian outlines why Canada stands at a critical turning point and what bold action is needed to move forward. Then, Brian is joined by Eric Guntermann, PhD, Chief Data Scientist at Empirical Intelligence, for a data-driven look at how Canadians really see their country's politics. Together, they explore what Canadians think of Prime Minister Mark Carney, where voters are shifting across party lines, how Americans view Canada, and why understanding public opinion is key to rebuilding confidence and progress.

This episode of the Scope of Things features an exclusive panel at SCOPE Europe 2025 covering regulatory requirements for AI literacy training, featuring industry executives Jonathan Crowther, head of the operational design center at Merck KGaA; Janie Hansen, global development information management, business systems transformation at Daiichi Sankyo; Francis Kendall, head of statistical programming, digital and data sciences at Biogen; and James Weatherall, vice president and chief data scientist of biopharmaceuticals R&D at AstraZeneca. Plus, host Deborah Borfitz gives the latest news on efforts to reduce excess data collection in studies, whole genome sequencing of breast cancer, a virus cocktail to combat superbugs, and more. Show Notes News Roundup   Collaborative study on data collection in trials News posted on the TransCelerate website Heart benefits of semaglutide Study in The Lancet Whole genome sequencing of breast cancers Study in The Lancet Oncology Pan-cancer immunotherapy heads to trials Research article in Cell Article in Bio-IT World Promising NAD+ “youth molecule” Review article in Nature Aging  Virus cocktail to combat superbugs Article in Nature Microbiology AI annotates medical images News posted on the MIT website Fitbits aid precision health American Life in Realtime study in PNAS Nexus Latest from the Human Epilepsy Project Study in JAMA Neurology Imposter study participants Editorial in The BMJ Guests Jonathan Crowther, Ph.D., Head, Operational Design Center, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Janie Hansen, Global Development Information Management, Business Systems Transformation, Daiichi Sankyo Francis Kendall, Head of Statistical Programming, Digital and Data Sciences, Biogen James Weatherall, Ph.D., Vice President & Chief Data Scientist, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca  The Scope of Things podcast explores clinical research and its possibilities, promise, and pitfalls. Clinical Research News senior writer, Deborah Borfitz, welcomes guests who are visionaries closest to the topics, but who can still see past their piece of the puzzle. Focusing on game-changing trends and out-of-the-box operational approaches in the clinical research field, the Scope of Things podcast is your no-nonsense, insider's look at clinical research today.

Because of the government shutdown, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will not release its monthly unemployment and jobs survey today. But that's probably not a big deal to President Donald Trump, who has apparently decided that the best statistics are the ones that either say what he wants to hear, or are simply never heard at all.  The most expensive extreme weather events, which facilities are creating the most pollution, quarterly reports, incidents of domestic terrorism, the number of people who need food assistance…these are all statistics Americans need to know. And these are all forms of data under attack by the Trump administration. And this started long before the shutdown. America has been a world leader at collecting data on everything from the number of bison living in Plains states to the divorce rate – but our data supremacy might be coming to an end. And that's really, really bad, for reasons we might not even know yet. So to find out more about the stats we're losing, and what else we're losing in the process, we spoke to Denice Ross. She's a senior fellow at the Federation of American Scientists and former U.S. Chief Data Scientist for the Biden administration.And in headlines, President Donald Trump determines the US is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels, the Trump administration punishes a slew of blue states by cancelling nearly $8-billion in grants for their clean energy projects, and the lastest update in the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case.Show Notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Kareem Fidel of CGI Federal introduces Zach Whitman, Chief Data Scientist and inaugural Chief AI Officer at GSA, who discusses GSA's AI strategies and initiatives. Whitman elaborates on the practical experimentation and deployment of AI systems, the importance of data hygiene, benchmarks for AI performance, and the challenges and opportunities in AI adoption and acquisition for federal agencies. Key topics include AI in acquisitions, talent readiness for AI, and the fine balance between technological advancement and maintaining accuracy and precision in AI governance. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform to never miss an episode! For more from ACT-IAC, follow us on LinkedIn or visit http://www.actiac.org.Learn more about membership at https://www.actiac.org/join.Donate to ACT-IAC at https://actiac.org/donate. Intro/Outro Music: See a Brighter Day/Gloria TellsCourtesy of Epidemic Sound(Episodes 1-159: Intro/Outro Music: Focal Point/Young CommunityCourtesy of Epidemic Sound)

Kevin Werbach interviews DJ Patil, the first U.S. Chief Data Scientist under the Obama Administration, about the evolving role of AI in government, healthcare, and business. Patil reflects on how the mission of government data leadership has grown more critical today: ensuring good data, using it responsibly, and unleashing its power for public benefit. He describes both the promise and the paralysis of today's “big data” era, where dashboards abound, but decision-making often stalls. He highlights the untapped potential of federal datasets, such as the VA's Million Veterans Project, which could accelerate cures for major diseases if unlocked. Yet funding gaps, bureaucratic resistance, and misalignment with Congress continue to stand in the way. Turning to AI, Patil describes a landscape of extraordinary progress: tools that help patients ask the right questions of their physicians, innovations that enhance customer service, and a wave of entrepreneurial energy transforming industries. At the same time, he raises alarms about inequitable access, job disruption, complacency in relying on imperfect systems, and the lack of guardrails to prevent harmful misuse. Rather than relentlessly stepping on the gas in the AI "race," he emphasizes, we need a steering wheel, in the form of public policy, to ensure that AI development serves the public good.  DJ Patil is an entrepreneur, investor, scientist, and public policy leader who served as the first U.S. Chief Data Scientist under the Obama Administration. He has held senior leadership roles at PayPal, eBay, LinkedIn, and Skype, and is currently a General Partner at Greylock Ventures. Patil is recognized as a pioneer in advancing the use of data science to drive innovation, inform policy, and create public benefit. Transcript Ethics of Data Science, Co-Authored by DJ Patil

In this episode of OnBase, host Chris Moody is joined by Jonathan Moran from SAS for a deep dive into decisioning in the AI era. Jonathan explains the evolving relationship between enterprise decisioning (rule-based frameworks with governance) and AI-driven adaptive decisioning, and why businesses must strike the right balance to deliver innovation without sacrificing trust or accountability.The conversation explores how organizations can integrate AI decisioning into their customer experience strategies, overcome silos across departments, and build governance frameworks that ensure ethical, explainable, and scalable AI. Jonathan also shares practical examples of modular architectures, insights from SAS research on AI readiness, and his perspective on the future of B2B marketing.This episode is a must-listen for leaders looking to responsibly embrace AI while maintaining brand integrity, compliance, and customer trust.Key TakeawaysBalance AI with Governance: AI decisioning drives agility and adaptability, but enterprise governance ensures accountability, auditability, and risk mitigation.Customer Experience Impact: Enterprise rules provide consistency, while AI refines interactions in real-time to deliver personalized, proactive experiences.Breaking Down Silos: Leaders must align people, processes, and technology to create an enterprise-wide decisioning framework instead of fragmented departmental models.Ethics & Trust: SAS research shows that while 80% of employees use generative AI daily, fewer than 10% have governance frameworks in place, underscoring a major gap.Composable Architectures: Modular, API-first frameworks enable flexibility, scalability, and lower total costs while accelerating digital transformationQuotes“AI decisioning delivers speed, but without governance, it can lead to bias, compliance breaches, and brand damage.”Best Moments (02:50) – Jonathan defines enterprise vs. AI decisioning and why balance matters.(09:30) – How AI decisioning elevates customer experience while enterprise rules ensure consistency.(13:30) – Overcoming silos: the role of people, process, and technology.(20:30) – SAS research on governance gaps and the 10 elements of a robust AI framework.(28:00) – Use cases for composable modular architectures delivering ROI and efficiency.(35:30) – The biggest challenge in B2B marketing today: measuring ROI and attribution.Tech Recommendations:SAS Customer Intelligence 360Dynamic YieldZapierSoraResource RecommendationsPodcastsMarkigy hosted by Leanne Dow-WeimerBlog and researchChief Martech blogShout-outsBrian Vellmure, a distinguished leader and strategic innovator.Keanu Taylor, Global Head of Research, The Martech WeeklyGreg Kihlstrom, Consultant, Advisor, Speaker and Coach, The Agile BrandChristopher Penn, Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist, TrustInsights.aiRonald van Loon, Principal Analyst, CEO, Intelligent WorldBernard Marr, Best-selling author, futurist, and strategic business and technology advisor.About the GuestJonathan Moran is responsible for global marketing activities for SAS's marketing solutions. He has over 20 years of marketing technology and customer analytics industry experience. Prior to SAS, Jonathan worked at both Earnix and the Teradata Corporation in pre-sales, consulting, and marketing roles.Over the past 25 years, Jonathan has not only architected, developed, demonstrated, and implemented analytical marketing software solutions, but he has also had the unique opportunity to work on-site with Fortune 500 customers across industries, helping them solve complex business challenges.He graduated from North Carolina State University with an undergraduate double major in Marketing and Spanish Languages and Literatures, and also holds an MBA from NC State with a concentration in Technology Commercialization.Connect with Jonathan.

Dr. Jeff Firewalker Schmitt's exceptional career is defined by a confluence of science, innovation, and leadership. With over four decades of experience, he has cultivated a reputation as a trailblazer in the integration of technology and life sciences. His tenure at ilumivu/Cardiogram as Chief Data Scientist showcased his prowess in marrying technology with healthcare, where he played an instrumental role in developing new diagnostic tools for wearable devices. This includes the successful launch of MigraineIQ, an innovative application leveraging smartwatch technology for health monitoring. At Sanesco International Inc., Dr. Schmitt's expertise as Chief Scientific Officer was pivotal in advancing translational research within the realm of non-pharmaceutical interventions to address imbalances in the human stress response system (HPAT axis). His earlier academic role as a Professor and Research Scientist at Wake Forest Baptist Health provided him with a robust foundation in biochemistry, biophysics and pharmacology, fueled major scientific contributions in the arena of cellular communication (signal transduction) as well as protein structure and function. He is among the youngest people in America to publish a peer-reviewed publication (age 15). As a luminary in innovation, Dr. Schmitt was the founding scientific director of Wake Innovations at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. There he fostered an environment that propelled faculty technology commercialization, further cementing his status as a key figure in the development of one of North America's largest urban research parks. His directorial roles at both Bent Creek Institute and The North Carolina Arboretum were marked by strategic planning and alliance-building, underscoring his ability to drive research agendas forward through collaborative efforts. Dr. Schmitt's executive board experiences extend to The Media Arts Project where he led a significant organizational restructuring. His time at Targacept, Inc., as Director of Molecular Design, was particularly notable for pioneering the use of Machine Learning and AI in life sciences—yielding 30 patents and co-designing three clinical trial drugs. His scholarly achievements are equally impressive, with over 100 publications and patents to his name. Dr. Schmitt has been instrumental in raising over $150 million in venture funding—a testament to his acumen as a business developer and strategic thinker. He is a one-time recipient of the most prestigious federal research grant awards, the NIST Advanced Technology Program grant that provided multimillion dollar funding for his research in quantum molecular dynamics. Educationally, Dr. Schmitt has earned prestigious degrees from the University of Bath and University of Oxford in Biophysics/Biochemistry, enriching his expertise with an international perspective that informs his multifaceted approach to science and business. With active engagement in professional communities like Machine Learning Community and Wake Forest Innovations, Dr. Schmitt continues to influence fields ranging from neuroscience to social entrepreneurship—a true embodiment of leadership that bridges the gap between theory and practice. As the visionary Founder and Director of Eagle Condor Council, Dr. Schmitt promotes education and advocacy rooted in Native Wisdom Traditions and Eco-Spirituality, demonstrating his commitment to harmonizing scientific endeavors with ecological and spiritual principles.Episode Highlights▶Jeff's unexpected journey to the Eagle Condor Council and how his path unfolded.▶  The sacred role of tobacco as a plant medicine and how its meaning has been misunderstood today.▶  The importance of Chakaruna—bridge people who connect different realms of wisdom and experience.▶  Why openness, humility, and receptivity are essential in this evolutionary time.▶  How storytelling can unite diverse perspectives and support community healing.▶  The ways AI can expand human consciousness when used responsibly and creatively.▶  The challenges of cultural appropriation and the importance of respecting indigenous traditions.▶  The need for healing in modern society as we face disconnection from nature and industrialization.▶  How the powers of manifestation are amplified in our current era, creating space for positive change.▶  A vision of hope for humanity rooted in collective understanding and learning from the past.Jeff Firewalker's Links & Resources▶ Website: eaglecondorcouncil.org▶ Website: golden-threads.com▶ Website:  wisdomkeepers.earth  Download Beth's free trainings here: Clarity to Clients: Start & Grow a Transformational Coaching, Healing, Spiritual, or Psychedelic Business: https://bethaweinstein.com/grow-your-spiritual-businessIntegrating Psychedelics & Sacred Medicines Into Business: https://bethaweinstein.com/psychedelics-in-business▶ Beth's Coaching & Guidance: https://bethaweinstein.com/coaching ▶ Beth's Offerings & Courses: https://bethaweinstein.com/services▶ Instagram: @bethaweinstein ▶ FB: / bethw.nyc + bethweinsteinbiz ▶ Join the free Psychedelics & Purpose Community: / psychedelicsandsacredmedicines

Christopher Penn is the Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist at Trust Insights.   In this episode of Specified Growth Podcast, Christopher talks about the various AI engines and how to use them the right way to get the outcome you're looking for. He also discusses the differences between classical AI and generative AI, the marketing landscape and things to consider for the future, and more. Don't miss this episode of Specified Growth Podcast!     Please reach out if you have any feedback or questions. Enjoy!    Twitter: @TatsuyaNakagawa Instagram: @tats_talks LinkedIn: Tatsuya Nakagawa  YouTube: Tats Talks www.tatstalk.com www.castagra.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Model Citizens: AI Compliance for Banks and Fintech Lenders, a six-part miniseries from the Fintech Takes podcast in partnership with FairPlay.  With FairPlay's Kareem Saleh (Founder & CEO) at my side, we unpack: how can banks and fintechs build fair, compliant lending systems in a time of regulatory uncertainty? In Episode 2, we're joined by Kevin Moss (Senior Advisor at Baselayer, former CRO) and Andrada Pacheco (EVP & Chief Data Scientist at VantageScore) to explore how AI is reshaping credit modeling, and where caution is still very much required. We trace the evolution from decision trees and logistic regression to gradient boosting, cash flow data, and the emergence of AI. Along the way, we tackle the core dilemma: how to boost predictive power without losing explainability or fairness. Highlights include: Why better performance often comes at the cost of transparency (and how to bridge the gap with hybrid models) AI isn't new in credit risk modeling; tree-based methods like CART, CHAID, and gradient boosting have been around for decades (what's changing now is the scale, the data, and the complexity) LLMs are great for fraud, operations, and consumer education, but they're not safe for credit decisions just yet) Fairness is expanding: Disparate impact enforcement may be fading federally, but state attorney generals and plaintiffs' attorneys are picking up the slack. We close with a reminder: credit modeling doesn't just need to be effective. It needs to be explainable, equitable, and defensible; especially as AI raises the stakes. Don't forget to subscribe and catch more insights on Model Citizens in upcoming episodes! This miniseries is brought to you by FairPlay. FairPlay is an AI enablement company for financial services. They help companies build, test, optimize, validate and govern AI models. Learn more at Fairplay.ai Sign up for Alex's Fintech Takes newsletter for the latest insightful analysis on fintech trends, along with a heaping pile of pop culture references and copious footnotes. Every Monday and Thursday: https://workweek.com/brand/fintech-takes/ And for more exclusive insider content, don't forget to check out my YouTube page. Follow Alex:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnson Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson Follow Kareem: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kareemsaleh/ Follow Kevin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-moss-b032163/ Follow Andrada: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrada-pacheco-ph-d-26731a1/ Learn more about FairPlay here.

Can AI run the government?     In this episode of The Data Chronicles, Scott Loughlin talks with Taka Ariga, former Chief AI Officer at OPM and Chief Data Scientist at GAO, about how the US federal government is approaching its use of AI.  With a focus on the benefits and risks created by AI in the public sector, Scott and Taka explore the impact of AI on the public workforce, public services, national security, and policy making, while discussing agile governance, transparency, and the evolving leadership role of Chief AI Officers.     Two things become clear. First, the government is experiencing the same AI legal concerns as the private sector. And, second, companies and government have much to learn from one another on how they can each harness AI's promise and manage its risks.

In this high-velocity, truth-telling episode, Erin and Ken sit down with data scientist, author, and newsletter legend Christopher Penn to cut through the noise and the slop around AI and go-to-market. Chris breaks down how today's AI isn't solely about scale or speed it's about whether your thinking actually changes how people lead. From RAGs and reporting frameworks to the future of SaaS, software, and your own job, this conversation pulls zero punches.

Dr. Nigam Shah, Chief Data Scientist at Stanford Health Care, joins the podcast to explore the intersection of data science and healthcare innovation. He shares insights into ongoing research initiatives like the Green Button Project, discusses the technical challenges faced in deploying data solutions at scale, and outlines the key components of his work within Health IT. Dr. Shah highlights the potential of data to drive smarter, evidence-based clinical decision-making across systems.

Dr. Nigam Shah, Chief Data Scientist at Stanford Health Care, joins the podcast to explore the intersection of data science and healthcare innovation. He shares insights into ongoing research initiatives like the Green Button Project, discusses the technical challenges faced in deploying data solutions at scale, and outlines the key components of his work within Health IT. Dr. Shah highlights the potential of data to drive smarter, evidence-based clinical decision-making across systems.

Preview: Colleague Rachel Lomaasky, Chief Data Scientist at Flux, comments on the beyond English spread of AI large language models and the geopolitical reception in other sovereign states. More later.DECEMBER 1961

In the latest episode of The Beat Podcast, host Sandy Vance discusses the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare with Anmol Medan, CEO of RadiantGraph. They talk about how AI and Intelligent Personalization can improve the member experience with health plans. Their conversation also highlights the ongoing challenges in consumer engagement within the healthcare sector. RadiantGraph aims to bridge the gap by utilizing AI and machine learning to enhance consumer engagement for large healthcare organizations, particularly in the realm of health plans. If you have any questions about RadiantGraph, reach out to Anmol via LinkedIn or email him at anmolmedan@radiantgraph.com. In this episode, they talk about:❤️‍

In this episode of BetterTech, host Umair Javed sits down with Dr. Eva Marie Muller-Struler, Partner and Chief Data Scientist at EY, to unpack the evolving role of AI across industries and geographies. With experience leading AI initiatives at IBM and EY, Eva offers a practical lens on the challenges of bias, hallucination, and low ROI in enterprise AI deployments. She explores how MENA is leapfrogging traditional models through bold investments and ethical frameworks, and shares why startups must go niche to compete in a crowded space. From agentic AI to data strategy, this episode is a must-listen for anyone serious about AI-led transformation.

Matt Ober, CAIA shares his journey from data scientist at Bloomberg to becoming the head of data strategy at a hedge fund, and later transitioning into venture capital with Social Leverage. We discuss into the expanding role of data in financial services, the strategies employed by hedge funds, and the future of alternative data. A rare opportunity to rethink the business of financial market data.LINKSMatt on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obermattj/Matt's Newsletter: https://www.mattober.co/Social Leverage: https://www.socialleverage.com/Initial Data Offering: https://initialdataoffering.com/

Mika Newton speaks with Dr. Nigam Shah, a Stanford professor and Chief Data Scientist at Stanford Healthcare, about AI's role in healthcare. They discuss evaluating AI's impact on patient care, the challenges of benchmarking AI models, and the importance of using real-world data. The conversation explores how AI can enhance clinical decision-making, the need for well-defined research questions, and strategies for selecting the right data to improve healthcare outcomes.

Alaa Moussawi, Chief Data Scientist for the New York City Council, shares how AI is reshaping legislative processes through smarter, data-driven laws. He discusses the council's use of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) models, and open-source AI solutions to streamline workflows and ensure legislative originality. He also shares his perspective on the future of AI in government, the importance of transparency in policy-making, and why generative AI should assist with—but never make—decisions. Key Takeaways:  How the New York City Council team leverages AI and data science to drive evidence-based policymaking The importance of transparent, statistically-driven legislation The debate between cloud-based vs. on-premise AI solutions in government Common misconceptions about generative AI and decision-making The future of AI in government and its role in shaping policy Guest Bio: Alaa Moussawi serves as Chief Data Scientist for the New York City Council, leading teams of data scientists and software engineers. His data team analyzes issues like pay equity, rats, and school bus delays to support data-driven legislation, emphasizing transparency and reproducibility. The software team works to streamline council workflows, automate tasks, and improve efficiency, developing open-source tools like CRMs, dashboards, and paperless hearing systems. They've deployed machine learning models, including a RAG model for simplifying legal research. Dr. Moussawi is also producing a LinkedIn Learning course on developing RAG models in secure environments. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About this Show: The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all! Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together. The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API. Music by: Ari Dvorin Produced by: Sam Laliberte

In this episode, Mika Newton speaks with Dr. Nigam Shah, a professor at Stanford and Chief Data Scientist at Stanford Healthcare, about the challenges and opportunities of AI in healthcare. They discuss the sustainability of AI development, the complexities of regulation, and the importance of localized validation. The conversation explores how AI can enhance clinical decision-making, optimize healthcare resources, and expand patient access while addressing barriers in implementation, governance, and data sharing.

ABOUT JAMES CAMPBELLJames Campbell is the co-founder and CTO at Great Expectations, the leading open-source data quality product. Prior to his life at a startup, James spent nearly 15 years working across a variety of quantitative and qualitative analytic roles in the US intelligence community, ultimately serving as Chief Data Scientist at CIA. He studied Math and Philosophy at Yale, and international security at Georgetown. He is passionate about creating tools that help communicate uncertainty and build intuition about complex systems.This episode is brought to you by Clipboard HealthClipboard Health is looking for the next generation of exceptional software engineering leaders, not just managers. They're a profitable unicorn, backed by top-tier investors, and they take the craft of engineering management seriously.Clipboard Health matches highly qualified healthcare workers with nearby facilities to fulfill millions of shifts a year - revolutionizing healthcare staffing with a fast, flexible, and user-friendly platform.Learn more & browse their open roles at clipboardhealth.com/engineeringSHOW NOTES:The origin story of Great Expectations & James' founding journey (3:28)Pitching / validating your idea through community (6:24)Transitioning from federal government to co-founder of a company (9:20)Recommendations when considering the founder / collaboration path (11:30)James' experience starting with open source & getting 10k stars on GitHub (13:15)Engaging with your audience to drive growth & share your product's message (15:17)How open source impacts Great Expectations' marketing / communication (16:58)Navigating the tension between product vision & product roadmap (19:21)Where that tension showed up in Great Expectations' early days (22:11)Capturing & synthesizing insights from your users (23:54)Strategies for removing biases from product-related decisions (25:37)Finding the balance between your perspective & community insights (27:13)James' perspective on different levels of product analysis (29:54)Lessons learned from Great Expectations' phase changes (31:22)Takeaways from the org's latest experience / transition (34:51)Defining the “Heilmeier Catechism” & how it impacts James' leadership style (37:07)Rapid fire questions (40:40)LINKS AND RESOURCESCIA Guide to Analytic Tradecraft - Primer published by the CIA to assist analysts in dealing with the perennial problems of intelligence.American Prometheus - Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin's definitive biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the iconic figures of the twentieth century, a brilliant physicist who led the effort to build the atomic bomb for his country in a time of war, and who later found himself confronting the moral consequences of scientific progress.This episode wouldn't have been possible without the help of our incredible production team:Patrick Gallagher - Producer & Co-HostJerry Li - Co-HostNoah Olberding - Associate Producer, Audio & Video Editor https://www.linkedin.com/in/noah-olberding/Dan Overheim - Audio Engineer, Dan's also an avid 3D printer - https://www.bnd3d.com/Ellie Coggins Angus - Copywriter, Check out her other work at https://elliecoggins.com/about/

In this episode of Logistics Business Conversations, host Peter McLeod speaks with Colm Gallagher, Chief Data Scientist at Hitachi Zero Carbon, about the Electric Freight Way initiative—an ambitious project tackling the decarbonization of the UK's HGV sector. With heavy goods vehicles responsible for 20% of UK transport emissions, the initiative aims to roll out electric HGVs alongside essential charging infrastructure. Colin discusses the economic and logistical challenges of electrification, the role of data in optimizing fleet operations, and how smart charging solutions can reduce costs. Tune in to discover how this initiative is shaping the future of sustainable logistics. Subscribe today for free at https://www.logisticsbusiness.com/logistics-business-magazine-subscribe/ https://plus.acast.com/s/logistics-business-conversations-1. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Industrial Talk is onsite at Accruent Insights and talking to Charlie Boyle, VP of Global Data, Analytics and AI at Fortive about "Leveraging operational data and AI for improved insights". Scott MacKenzie hosts an industrial podcast discussing data analytics and AI with Charlie Boyle, VP of Advanced Solutions at Accruent. Boyle highlights the importance of data in decision-making, emphasizing the need for automated solutions to manage the vast amounts of data being generated. He discusses Accruent's mission to unify the built environment through IoT and advanced analytics, focusing on predictive maintenance, energy management, and space intelligence. Boyle also mentions the use of generative AI to assist aging technicians and improve maintenance efficiency. The conversation underscores the transformative power of data and AI in enhancing business operations and problem-solving. Action Items [ ] Explore using generative AI to document maintenance technician knowledge and provide guidance to junior technicians. [ ] Investigate using sensor data and analytics to audit energy usage and bills, and automate HVAC controls. [ ] Connect with Charlie Boyle on LinkedIn to further discuss Accruent's data analytics and AI initiatives. Outline Accruent Insights Event Introduction Scott MacKenzie introduces the Industrial Talk podcast, emphasizing its focus on industry innovations and celebrating professionals. Scott highlights the importance of data and AI in the industrial sector, setting the stage for the discussion. The event, Accruent Insights, is taking place in San Antonio, Texas, with a focus on problem-solving and customer obsession. Scott introduces Charlie Boyle, VP of Advanced Solutions at Accruent, who will discuss data analytics and AI. Charlie Boyle's Background and Experience Charlie Boyle shares his background, including his role as VP and General Manager of Advanced Solutions at Accruent. He has over 25 years of experience in advanced analytics and data science, previously serving as Chief Data Scientist at Honeywell and Chief Analytics Officer at a telematics company. Charlie discusses his journey and the various analytic use cases he has encountered in different industries and verticals. Scott and Charlie reflect on the rapid advancements in AI and generative AI, particularly with the advent of tools like ChatGPT. The Role of Data and AI in Business Efficiency Charlie explains the importance of data in today's business environment, emphasizing the need for automated solutions to manage large data sets. He discusses the concept of decision intelligence, which involves turning data into actionable insights. Scott and Charlie delve into the challenges of managing large amounts of data and the role of AI in generating actionable insights. They discuss the potential of AI in various industries, including retail and HVAC, and the importance of proactive maintenance. Accruent's Mission and Data Platform Charlie outlines Accruent's mission to unify the built environment through IoT and advanced solutions. He explains the role of Accruent's data platform in managing reporting, business intelligence, and insights generation. Accruent's IoT analytics platform connects sensors to assets, providing telemetry data and predictive models to solve business challenges. Scott and...

How will AI shape the future of hiring from a candidate and company perspective? How can AI to help us assess skills and human potential in the hiring process? My guest on this episode is Lindsey Zuloaga, Chief Data Scientist, HireVueDuring our conversation Lindsey and I discuss: Why she calls herself a techno-realist and what that means.Why it is a misconception that AI, not humans make the final hiring decisionsHow evaluating and testing AI tools can prevent falling prey to overhyped, ineffective solutions.The potential of AI to remove traditional biases in the hiring process.How focusing on potential and assessing skills over past experience can transform hiring practices.Connecting with Lindsey: Connect with Lindsey Zuloaga on LinkedInEpisode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leadersHR Leader's Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career.

In this insightful episode of "The Brand Called You," host Sandeep Tyagi sits down with Alok Aggarwal, the CEO and Chief Data Scientist of Scry Analytics. Tune in as they discuss Alok's journey from setting up IBM's research lab in India to co-founding EvaluServe and leading Scry Analytics. Discover the challenges and opportunities in the knowledge management systems space, the limitations of Large Language Models (LLMs) in B2B scenarios, and the potential economic impact of AI. Alok Aggarwal sheds light on the development of Auriga, a sophisticated knowledge management system tailored for complex industries like investment banking. He also reflects on the transformation of the KPO industry and offers his thoughts on current issues, including climate change and technology hype cycles. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tbcy/support

DJ Patil served as the first U.S. Chief Data Scientist under President Obama. He's currently a GP at GreatPoint Ventures, on the Board of Devoted Health, and co-chairs the taskforce on GenAi for the Pentagon.In this episode of World of DaaS, DJ and Auren discuss: AI's impact on data scienceHealthcare data transformationInnovation, bureaucracy and efficiency in National SecurityThe best higher education choices in terms of ROILooking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas.  You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and DJ Patil on X at @dpatil.Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

This episode on Fraudish Kelly speaks Erik Halvorson a life long learner and soon to be Doctor, who shares his extensive journey from joining the Air Force to becoming Chief Data Scientist at Tracklight. Erik delves into the evolution of fraud detection techniques, emphasizing the importance of data analytics, behavioral psychology, and social network analysis in combating modern fraud schemes. The conversation provides practical advice for investigators and a peek into the future of technology in fraud detection.Connect with Erik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-halvorson-a7b72285/And please leave us a review if you enjoyed this episode!

Today's guest is Juan Ferres, Corporate Vice President and Chief Data Scientist at Microsoft. Juan returns to the program to explore how to win buy-in for sustainable AI projects. As a leader in the AI4G Lab and author of the new book AI for Good, Juan shares insights on navigating complex digital transformations, particularly when it comes to initiatives where the return on investment is philosophical rather than immediately measurable. Throughout the episode, Juan and Emerj Senior Editor Matthew DeMello discuss the challenges of managing up and driving forward AI innovations that aim to benefit society as a whole. If you're interested in unlocking our AI best practice guides, frameworks for AI ROI, and specific resources for AI leaders, visit emerj.com/p1.

AI is a fast-growing field full of potential insights, challenges, and ethical implications for its users and the world. How can the people behind the machines explore the ways to use AI and data technology to leverage societal benefits?Juan M. Lavista Ferres is the Corporate Vice President and Chief Data Scientist of the AI for Good Lab at Microsoft. He also co-authored the book AI for Good: Applications in Sustainability, Humanitarian Action, and Health.Greg and Juan discuss Juan's book 'AI for Good,' various AI projects, and the critical role of data labeling. They also discuss philanthropic initiatives from Microsoft, the transformative impact of robust data collection, and the challenges of applying AI to real-world problems. Juan covers innovations like GPT and Seeing AI, as well as the ethical concerns of open access to AI models, and Satya Nadella's leadership transformation at Microsoft. Listen in for insights into the importance of using AI responsibly, collaborative efforts for accurate data processing, and how AI technology can actually enhance real lives.*unSILOed Podcast is produced by University FM.*Show Links:Recommended Resources:House of MediciAndrew CarnegieMoore's lawGlobal Forest WatchRuler Detection for Autoscaling Forensic ImagesBeMyEyes AppMichael BloombergBrad SmithAmy HoodGuest Profile:Profile at MicrosoftLinkedIn ProfileAIforGood.itu.int ProfileStanford RegLab ProfileSocial Profile on XHis Work:AI for Good: Applications in Sustainability, Humanitarian Action, and HealthGoogle Scholar PageEpisode Quotes:On deciding which ai-driven projects are worth doing12:26: We first ask the questions like, can we solve it through AI? Not a lot of problems can be solved from AI. There's a small portion of them that can be solved with AI. From those problems, does the data exist? Is the data of good quality? And sometimes the answer is no. Even if the data exists, do we have access to the data? Can we get access to the data? We will usually work on the partners' data sets, not our data sets, meaning that the data set will not leave the partners, but sometimes there's no way to have a data-sharing agreement in place, where it makes it impossible to share the data. Once we have that part, the next question is, do we have the right partner? We are not subject matter experts on the point that we work. We are subject matter experts on AI, but if we're working with pancreatic cancer, we need, on the other side, a group of people that are experts on pancreatic cancer, for example. In that case, we try to partner with people who are subject matter experts and are world-renowned.Data needs to be representative19:55: Data is a fundamental part. I would say the majority of the success or failure will happen because of the data set, and investing in understanding the data set—making sure that there's no bias—is a critical part of the work. It's tough; it's difficult. Data needs to be representative.What are the do's and don'ts for companies looking to launch initiatives for good?36:40: I would love more companies. So, this is something that we discussed with my team. Whenever we see other competitors creating something like we do, we feel proud because that would be a success for us in many ways. So I would encourage everybody to use that technology for good. That's something that I think is certainly worth the do's and don'ts; I think it's important to make sure that this organization remains clear that its objective is on the noncommercial part of the philanthropic aspect of the company because, within this organization, the objective is to be helping society and making it clear for the people that are working there. That is something that is helping us a lot. Our end goal is to help society, and I think I would encourage other companies to do it.Is there a possibility of a zero bug project?21:09: Some of these problems require people to really ask the question: how is this model going to be used correctly? And that takes experience. More importantly, I think it's crucial that in many of these cases, we need to be ready to find those problems and fix them, correct? And I think that this is like software development in many ways. The chances of having a zero-bug project are zero, correct? Projects that have zero bugs are projects that people don't use. What I think is important as an organization is to find those problems, be proactive in trying to find them, and be really fast in solving them.

 In this episode, we hosted a globally renowned and prolific guest Dr. Alok Aggarwal, founder, CEO, and Chief Data Scientist of Scry AI, the Author of the book "The Fourth Industrial Revolution & 100 Years of AI (1950-2050)" and an Inventor with 8 patents. Dr. Aggarwal pioneered the concept of “Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO)”, “co-founded” Evalueserve (4000+, employees), “founded” IBM's India Research Laboratory, founded Scry AI that builds proprietary AI products for enterprises globally. He has published 125 research articles, taught 2 courses at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has a Ph.D from Johns Hopkins University and a B. Tech. from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. In this conversation with Pankaj, with insights drawn from his book, "Fourth Industrial Revolution in 100 Years of AI from 1950 to 2050," Dr. Alok presents a compelling argument for why AI is not just another technological trend but a catalyst for a new industrial revolution. He delves into the history of industrial revolutions to understand what makes AI stand out. From steam engines to CPUs, each era has been marked by inventions that transformed societies. This episode offers a thorough analysis of how AI compares to these past innovations, while also cautioning against the hype that surrounds it. He explains how AI's unique capabilities in classification, pattern recognition, and data processing are reshaping industries from banking and technology to healthcare and heavy engineering.For entrepreneurs, the episode highlights the risks of getting caught up in AI hype without developing robust intellectual property and suggests strategies for creating high-value AI products. In this podcast episode we spoke about the below topics, dive in:03:55 - Historical Analysis of Industrial Revolutions19:11 - The Impact of AI on Industries34:05 - Navigating AI and Intellectual Property45:27 - AI Transforming Services in IndiaEnjoyed the podcast? Please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe wherever you are listening to this.Follow Prime Venture Partners:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primevp/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Primevp_inThis podcast is for you. Do let us know what you like about the podcast, what you don't like, the guests you'd like to have on the podcast and the topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes.Please share your feedback here: https://primevp.in/podcastfeedback

Today, Host Sandy Vance is talking with Robert Dwyer, PhD EVP, Chief Data Scientist at Certilytics about AI and healthcare. Dr. Dwyer is here to help demystify and readiness  of generative AI. They delve into the transformative impact of generative AI on healthcare data and its revolutionary potential for the industry. Join us as we explore Certilytics, a company dedicated to creating a user-friendly interface for interacting with healthcare data, and their role in empowering healthcare organizations to enhance their efficiency with AI.AI's role in healthcare is now presenting new opportunities for healthcare data and analytics to go beyond just Large Language Models (LLMs) and deliver business intelligence that can impact healthcare administration strategies and help accelerate improved outcomes & efficiency in healthcare. In this episode, they talk about:Dr. Dwyer's background in generative AI and his journey to CertilyticsHow generative AI is transforming the insights that healthcare leaders and organizations can derive from their dataThe impact of data availability on the use and effectiveness of AI in healthcareCertilytics' goal to develop a user-friendly interface that enhances how users interact with healthcare dataThe current surge in AI technology and its implications for the industryThe latest advancements and innovations in large language modelsThe influence of federal regulations on the adoption and application of AI in healthcareHow healthcare organizations are leveraging AI-enriched data to improve outcomes and efficiency A Little About Dr. Robert Dwyer:Dr. Dwyer joined Certilytics in 2014, bringing over a decade of mathematical modeling and machine learning experience in both the private sector and academia, where he worked on problems ranging from the quantification of medical and financial risk to predictive genomics. He is responsible for overseeing the design and pathing of new ML/AI products. Dr. Dwyer graduated from the University of Virginia in 2009 with a B.S. in Biology. He then obtained his M.S. and Ph.D. in computational biology from Princeton University, where he developed variations of maximum entropy algorithms to predict three-dimensional protein folding patterns by mining genomic sequence data. Prior to Certilytics, he worked with a number of startups and think tanks to develop algorithms to predict student loan repayment rates and to track Defense Department allocations.Do you have any questions for Robert Dwyer? Reach out by emailing him at robert.dwyer@certilytics.com. 

You.com showcases the state of AI today The story of you.com is multi-faceted and telling in many ways. You.com was founded in 2020 by Richard Socher, one of the leading NLP (Natural Language Processing) researchers in the world, to offer a better search experience to users and compete with Google. With a startup exit and a Chief Data Scientist stint at Salesforce, Socher got the experience, network and backing he needed to pursue his long-time ambition of taking on Google. That's something few people have tried, with moderate success. Socher diagnosed early enough that the way to success is by carving a niche for you.com. You.com focuses on serving knowledge workers in "complex informational / action searches": elaborate queries, and queries that are really about accomplishing a task, respectively. In 2022, in the pre-ChatGPT era, Socher set out a course for you.com based on AI, apps, privacy, and personalization. In 2024, you.com is staying the course, but a few things have changed. In the GenAI era the competition is growing, and borrowing pages from you.com's book. Language model providers such as OpenAI and Anthropic now offer services similar to you.com. Upstarts such as perplexity.ai have sprung up, and Google itself is embracing the AI approach to search. You.com is making progress too. Since launching in November 2021, you.com has served 1 billion queries and has millions of active users, including from Fortune 500. The company's ARR has grown by 500% since January 2024. Today, you.com announced a $50 million Series B funding round, as well as a new team plan called Multiplayer AI. We caught up with Socher, talked about the news, and took you.com for a spin. Article published on Orchestrate all the Things: https://linkeddataorchestration.com/2024/09/04/you-com-raises-50m-to-lead-ai-for-knowledge-workers/

Join Mike Srdanovic, Chief AI Architect at Northern Trust, and Charles Morris, Chief Data Scientist for Financial Services at Microsoft as they explore the rapid advancements in AI technology and its impact on the financial services industry. Mike and Charles share a comprehensive overview of AI co-pilots and agents, regulatory challenges, and the evolving landscape … Read More Read More

What impact is generative AI having on search behaviors and how is that affecting the way we approach content marketing in the B2B space? In this episode of The Content 10x Podcast, host Amy Woods speaks to Christopher Penn, who is the Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist at Trust Insights, an organization that helps companies collect data so they can make better decisions. Together they discuss the rapidly evolving landscape of generative AI search behaviors and their impact on content marketing. Christopher shares insights into how search engines are powered by AI to deliver the snippet answers that appear at the top of SERPs (Search Engine Results Page). More and more people tend to go to the gen AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity for information and answers. All of this is changing the dynamics of content visibility and traffic. Christopher highlights the need to create 'the most best content' and adopt a multi-channel distribution strategy to ensure brand prominence. He also provides actionable advice on utilizing AI in content marketing, including understanding training data, leveraging SEO, and a framework for assessing tasks suitable for AI. Find out: The impact of gen AI on search trafficHow to train gen AI to recognize your brandThe importance of repurposing content to maximize reachImportant links & mentions:Trust Insights https://www.trustinsights.ai/Trust Insights' 5P Framework https://www.trustinsights.ai/blog/2024/03/why-change-management-the-trust-insights-approach/Christopher on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cspenn/Amy's book: https://www.content10x.com/book (Content 10x: More Content, Less Time, Maximum Results)Amy Woods is the CEO and founder of Content 10x, the world's first and longest-running specialist content repurposing agency that partners exclusively with B2B tech and professional services businesses.Amy is a best-selling author, hosts two content marketing podcasts (The Content 10x Podcast and B2B Content Strategist), and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content repurposing.Join hundreds of business owners, content creators and marketers and get content repurposing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week https://www.content10x.com/newsletter

Join us for an insightful episode of the Data Bytes Podcast featuring Gaia Bellone, Chief Data Scientist at Prudential Financial. Gaia's illustrious career spans roles such as Senior Vice President at KeyBank and Executive Director at Chase, highlighting her expertise in data science and AI. In this episode, Gaia shares her career journey, from her academic beginnings at Carnegie Mellon University and Università Bocconi to leading groundbreaking projects in the financial services industry. Listen in as she discusses the evolving role of data science, key industry trends, and provides valuable advice for aspiring data scientists on balancing professional growth with personal well-being. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/women-in-data/support

Join us in this episode as we dive into the transformative impact of responsible AI with David Ellison, Chief Data Scientist at Lenovo. Discover how Lenovo's Responsible AI Committee and its six guiding principles are setting new standards for privacy, security, and diversity in AI. David shares practical techniques such as data minimization and differential privacy, highlighting their roles in promoting transparency, accountability, and sustainable innovation in AI. Learn how these practices are not only shaping Lenovo's AI strategy but also paving the way for a more ethical and inclusive future in technology. #IntelAI @IntelAI

In episode #103 of

Jaké obavy ohledně umělé inteligence jsou reálné a jaké jsou trochu nafouklá bublina? Co čekat od dalšího vývoje generativní umělé inteligence, např. od ChatGPT-5? A jak tohle všechno změní naše vnímání práce, vlastní hodnoty a smyslu života? Dalším hostem Deep Talks byl Jan Romportl. Honza má téměř 20 let zkušeností jako výzkumník a expert v oblasti umělé inteligence. Získal z umělé inteligence nejen doktorát a magisterský titul v oboru kybernetiky, ale i další magisterský titul z filozofie. Dříve působil jako Chief Data Scientist v O2 a nyní se naplno věnuje svému start-upu Elin.ai. Odkazy: - Test silných stránek a talentů Talent Kompas (20% sleva s kódem PETR20): http://talentkompas.cz//?ref=5  

Join CXOTalk episode 843 to explore how AI is transforming leadership. Anthony Scriffignano (former Chief Data Scientist of Dun and Bradstreet) and Inderpal Bhandari (former Global Chief Data Officer of IBM), share their expertise on the evolving role of AI in business, the challenges of integrating new technologies, and the importance of cultural shifts within organizations. Don't miss this engaging discussion on the future of work and leadership.AI #Leadership #DigitalEconomy #CxOTalk #Technology #Innovation #BusinessTransformation #FutureOfWork #DataScience #aileadership 

This week, The Buzz presents a session from our 2024 Health Innovation Summit. In this panel, experts discuss discuss Barriers to Access (what prevents people from accessing care), Equity and Inclusion (making care accessible to all populations, especially marginalized or underserved groups), and Patient-Centered Care (the importance of understanding and addressing the specific needs of patients). Speakers:Michael "MJ" Jackson (Moderator) - VP, Head of Global Industries at DocuSignDr. Kristen Honey -  Chief Data Scientist, Executive Director of Innovation at HHSVan Ly - Senior Consultant and Product Owner at Michigan Health Information ExchangeKen Rubin -  Senior Advisor, Standards and Interoperability at the VA's Office of Clinical Informatics Kathryn Umali -  Director, Community Based Division at HHSSubscribe on your favorite podcast platform to never miss an episode! For more from ACT-IAC, follow us on LinkedIn or visit http://www.actiac.org.Learn more about membership at https://www.actiac.org/join.Donate to ACT-IAC at https://actiac.org/donate.Intro/Outro Music: Focal Point/Young CommunityCourtesy of Epidemic Sound

Christopher Penn is a co-founder and Chief Data Scientist at Trust Insights. Chris' newsletter is something the TREW Crew passes around our slack channel on a regular basis. His insights into the latest news about data analytics, automation, and generative AI, have been immensely valuable to or team, and we are thrilled he accepted our invitation to be a guest on Content Marketing, Engineered podcast.In this episode, Morgan Norris, Senior Brand Strategist at TREW Marketing, asks Chris all of our burning questions about generative AI. They discuss the challenges and opportunities that arise when using generative AI or in-platform AI tools, and he provide a unique perspective about how AI should really be used as a research tool - something technical marketers can use to increase their knowledge of highly complex industries. They discuss AI disclosures to stay compliant with recent EU regulations, copyright issues, and a framework to help you decide which tasks are truly worthy of AI. They also have a conversation about the rise of AI generated, no-click search and how marketers should update the way they approach content marketing.ResourcesConnect with Christopher on LinkedInConnect with Morgan on LinkedInLearn more about the Trust InsightsRelated Episode: Generative AI for Marketing - Maintaining Trust and Building an AI PolicyRelated Episode: Optimizing for LLMs and Google's SGE with Dale Bertrand

In this podcast episode, we explore with Dr. Alok Aggarwal, CEO and Chief Data Scientist at Scry AI. about the past, present, and future of artificial intelligence. He traces the evolution of AI from its early beginnings in the 1950s to its current state, marked by rapid advancements and the emergence of the fourth industrial revolution. We listen to the story behind Scry AI. and how we explore the world of generative AI.If you are interested to learn more about his book "The Fourth Industrial Revolution & 100 Years of AI (1950-2050)”, here is the link to purchase it from Amazon: https://a.co/d/arodd1HAWS Hosts: Nolan Chen & Malini ChatterjeeEmail Your Feedback: rethinkpodcast@amazon.com

Welcome to Regarding Consciousness, where we delve into the fascinating realms of artificial intelligence and its profound implications for humanity. I'm your host, Jennifer K. Hill, and today we're joined by Beth Rudden, coauthor of "AI for the Rest of Us," to explore how AI is reshaping our understanding of consciousness and our relationship with technology.In this interview with Beth, you'll discover:-Beth shares why we all need to be knowledgeable in AI...01:50-What is "data" as it pertains to AI?...04:17-How to use data and AI to inform your own consciousness rather than be controlled by it...11:11-Advice for people who might be afraid of the potential emergence of consciousness as it relates to artificial or ancestral interventions...16:30-How do we cultivate trust rather than fear with our partner who in this case happens to be artificial intelligence?...22:50-No, artificial intelligence will NOT one day rule the world...26:37-And much more...As we conclude this enlightening conversation, we invite you to continue exploring the evolving landscape of AI and consciousness. Stay tuned for more insightful discussions on Regarding Consciousness.Resources mentioned:AI for the Rest of Us - Coauthored by Beth RuddenAbout the guest:Connect on LinkedInBeth is a dynamic global executive and market creator with over two decades of expertise in IT leadership and cognitive science. Her tenure as Chief Data Officer, Chief Data Scientist, and Global Talent Transformation Leader saw her deftly steer digital transformations through the strategic deployment of trusted, high-integrity AI systems. Beth's vision transformed analytics and AI advances into a profitable $2B enterprise, placing her among the foremost 100 leaders in AI Ethics. A staunch proponent and trailblazer of ethical AI, Beth advocates for the democratization of transparent and responsible AI technologies. She founded Bast AI in 2022, which revolutionizes how organizations leverage full stack explainable AI to improve business impact and end user adoption of AI technologies across industries and sectors. Beth honed her analytical acumen with a Masters in Anthropology from the University of Denver and sharpened her literary skills with a Classics Degree from Florida State. As an influential keynote speaker, inventor with over 50 patents, and author of "AI for the rest of US," her contributions are formidable. Beyond her professional achievements, Beth flourishes in her role as a storyteller, wife of a soldier, mother, mentor, and revered science and technology board advisor. Her dedication to fostering educational and innovative pursuits is mirrored in her active role on the Maryville University Board of Trustees, where she tirelessly works to sculpt the next generation of innovators. OptiMatchAre you ready to stop struggling with high churn rates, decreased satisfaction, and financial losses due to poor matches in your business? See how the power of our SaaS algorithm delivers proven increases in satisfaction, higher retention rates, and increased revenue for businesses and marketplaces.OptiMatch is designed to be integrated into your existing recruitment process and used alongside your other tools.Our cutting-edge algorithms facilitate successful matches between employees and employers or customers and practitioners, resulting in proven increased satisfaction, effective sessions, higher retention rates, and increased revenue.Say goodbye to the friction,...

In this episode of the NEJM AI Grand Rounds podcast, Dr. Nigam Shah, a distinguished Professor of Medicine at Stanford University and inaugural Chief Data Scientist for Stanford Health Care, shares his journey from training as a doctor in India to becoming a leading figure in biomedical informatics in the United States. He discusses the transformative impact of computational tools in understanding complex biological systems and the pivotal role of AI in advancing health care delivery, particularly in improving efficiency and addressing systemic challenges. Dr. Shah emphasizes the importance of real-world integration of AI into clinical settings, advocating for a balanced approach that considers both technological capabilities and the systemic considerations of AI in medicine. The conversation also explores the democratization of medical knowledge, why open-source models are under-researched in medicine, and the crucial role of data quality in training AI systems. Transcript.

#179: Nicholas Ciufentes-Goodbody transitioned from a career in teaching to becoming the Chief Data Scientist at WorldQuant University.  He explains what data science involves, what a career in data science looks like, and why it's such a popular field to work in. What you'll learn[1:45] What WorldQuant University is and the types of programs they run. [3:42] How a free university is possible in America.[4:13] The motivation for a hedge fund to run a free university. [4:50] What data science is and how it's used. [6:03] The biggest employers of data scientists. [8:21] What a typical day as a data scientist is like. [10:12] The different specialities within data science. [12:08] What it means to be an AI engineer. [12:40] What qualifications you need to become a data scientist. [14:43] The level of education you need to become a data scientist. [16:27] Character traits that successful data scientists share. [18:10] The amount of nerds working in data science. [20:08] Why musicians become data scientists and doctors. [21:15] How to transition your career to become a data scientist. [27:37] What you need on your resume when applying for a data science role. [29:07] The best ways to learn the skills you need to become a data scientist.  [30:29] How to edit your CV when applying for a data science job. [31:55] How to find a good data science boot camp. [33:51] The base knowledge you need prior to joining a data science boot camp. [36:30] The income potential of a data scientist. [38:17] The career path of a data scientist. [39:28] The impact AI will have on data scientists. [42:12] The ever-changing nature of data science. Resources mentioned in this episodePlease note that some of these are affiliate links and we may get a commission in the event that you make a purchase.  This helps us to cover our expenses and is at no additional cost to you.DataCampKaggleopenAFRICACourseraUdemyAn Introduction to Statistical Learning, Gareth JamesHands-on machine learning with Scikit-Learn, Keras, and TensorFlow, Aurelien GeronFluent Python, Luciano RamalhoMathematics for Human Flourishing, Francis SuFor the show notes for this episode, including a full transcript and links to all the resources mentioned, visit:https://changeworklife.com/using-chatgpt-to-supercharge-your-career/Re-assessing your career?  Know you need a change but don't really know where to start?  Check out these two exercises to start the journey of working out what career is right for you!

Jacob and Nikhil sit down with Dr. Atul Butte, a professor at UCSF, Chief Data Scientist of the UC Health System, and a co-founder of numerous healthcare startups. They discuss Dr. Butte's takes on healthcare AI opportunities, challenges, hype, and more. (0:00) intro(0:31) AI hype through the years(5:44) when LLMs don't work(8:42) when LLMs surpass humans(11:07) AI adoption timeline(13:22) converting skeptical doctors(20:30) commercialization in AI(24:15) how will AI change med school?(33:28) regulating consumer-facing AI apps(44:08) over-hyped/under-hyped(45:44) coolest AI demos(47:06) what company would Atul want to run? Out-Of-Pocket: https://www.outofpocket.health/

Jim joined us over two years ago in the middle of the covid pandemic. Now he's back to discuss what he says is the biggest leadership issue of our time.Buy Jim's Book here: https://www.amazon.com/Culture-Shock-unstoppable-solution-leadership/dp/1595622470/#BeABetterLeader #HackingYourLeadership #StarkEngagementConsulting #LifeOfLozoThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/4805674/advertisement

The system for coordinating organ donations and transplants in the United States is broken, according to experts who have testified over the course of many years to Congress. In this episode, hear their testimony about what is wrong with the current system and then we'll examine the bill that aims to fix the problems. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Donation@congressionaldish.com Use your bank's online bill pay function to mail contributions to: Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Background Sources August 3, 2022. Senate Finance Committee. Lenny Bernstein and Todd C. Frankel. August 3, 2022. The Washington Post. February 10, 2020. Senate Finance Committee. The Bill Audio Sources July 20, 2023 Senate Committee on Finance, Subcommittee on Health Care Witnesses: LaQuayia Goldring, Patient Molly J. McCarthy, Vice Chair & Region 6 Patient Affairs Committee Representative, Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Matthew Wadsworth, President and CEO, Life Connection of Ohio Raymond J. Lynch, MD, MS, FACS, Professor of Surgery and Director of Transplantation Quality and Outcomes, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Donna R. Cryer, JD, Founder and CEO, Global Liver Institute Clips 30:40 Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR): HRSA, the Health Resources Agency, is on track to begin the contract process this fall and we're just going to be working here to complement their effort. 36:30 Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA): In 2005, I started the investigation of the deadly failures of UNOS, the monopoly tasked with managing the US organ donation system. Since then, more than 200,000 patients have needlessly died on the organ waiting list. There's a reason that I call UNOS the fox guarding the hen house. For nearly two decades, UNOS has concealed serious problems [at] the nation's organ procurement organizations, known as OPOs, instead of working to uncover and correct the corruption. This human tragedy is even more horrific because many of these deaths were preventable. They were the result of [a] corrupt, unaccountable monopoly that operates more like a cartel than a public servant. 44:45 LaQuayia Goldring: As a toddler, at the age of three, I was diagnosed with a rare kidney cancer that took the function of my left kidney. And when I was 17, I went back into complete renal failure and I received a first kidney transplant at that time. Unfortunately, in 2015, I went back into kidney failure. And at that time, I wasn't ready for another transplant, but I didn't have a choice but to go back on dialysis. I've been waiting nine agonizing years for a transplant, dependent upon a dialysis machine five days a week, just to be able to live. I was told that I would receive a kidney transplant within three to five years. But yet I am still waiting. I am undergoing monthly surgeries just to be able to get my dialysis access to work so that I can continue to live until I get a transplant. The UNOS waitlist is not like one to 100, where everybody thinks you get a number. I'm never notified on where I stand on the list or when I will get the call. I have to depend on an algorithm to make the decision of what my fate will be. 47:55 LaQuayia Goldring: Just a few weeks ago, a donor family reached out to me to be a directed kidney donor, meaning they chose me specifically for a kidney transplant. But unfortunately, due to the errors in the UNOS technology, I was listed as inactive and this was a clerical error. And all that they told me was this was a clerical error, and they could not figure out why I was inactive. But when it came down to it, I'm actually active on the transplant list. 51:45 Molly McCarthy: The Federal monopoly contractor managing the organ donation system, UNOS, is an unmitigated failure. And its leadership spends more time attacking critics than it does taking steps to fix the system. I've seen this firsthand in my five years as a patient volunteer with the OPTN and three years ago, I stepped into the role of Vice Chair of the Patient Affairs Committee, or PAC. 53:45 Molly McCarthy: Further, I have been called by a board member telling me to stop focusing on system outage and downtime of the UNOS tech system. He told me that having downtime wasn't a big deal at all, "the donors are dead anyway." That comment speaks volumes to me about the lack of empathy and respect UNOS has for donor families. 55:00 Molly McCarthy: Congress needs to break up the UNOS monopoly by passing 1668, ensuring that HHS uses its authority to replace UNOS as its contractor. 1:00:15 Matt Wadsworth: Break up the OPTN contract and allow for competition. 1:00:40 Matt Wadsworth: I commend this committee for introducing legislation to finally break up this monopoly and I stand ready to work with you in any way possible to ensure that this bill passes. It's the only way this industry will be able to save more patients' lives. 1:02:10 Dr. Raymond Lynch: I want to differentiate between organ donation, which is the altruistic decision of the donor patient and their family, and organ procurement, which is the clinical care provided by OPO staff. This is what turns the gift of donation into the usable organs for transplant. Organ procurement is a clinical specialty. It's the last medical care that many patients will ever receive. It's reimbursed by the federal government and it's administered by OPOs that are each the only provider in the territory to which they hold federal contracts. Right now patient care delivered by OPOs is some of the least visible in American healthcare. I can't tell you how many patients were evaluated by OPO workers in the US in 2022. I can't tell you how many patients were examined, or how many families were given information about donation, or how many times an OPO worker even showed up to a hospital to do this clinical duty. This lack of information about what OPO providers actually do for patients is a root cause of the variability in rates of organ procurement around the country. My research has shown that what we call OPO performance is a measurable restriction on the supply of organs that results in the unnecessary deaths of patients with organ failure. For example, if the lowest performing OPOs from around the country had just reached the national median over a recent seven year period, there would have been 4957 more organ donors, yielding an estimated 11,707 additional organs for transplant. Because many OPOs operate in a low quality data environment and without appropriate oversight, almost 5,000 patients did not get adequate organ procurement care, and nearly 12,000 other patients did not receive life saving transplants. 1:03:55 Dr. Raymond Lynch: OPO clinical work is currently not visible, it's not benchmarkable, and it's not able to be adequately evaluated, analyzed, or compared. However, much of the hidden data about how OPOs provide care to patients is known to one entity and that entity is UNOS. 1:05:20 Dr. Raymond Lynch: We need a new network of highly skilled specialist organizations, each attending to areas of expertise in the management of the OPTN contract. 1:21:15 Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): When we look at OPTN, and look at the Securing Organ Procurement Act, the bill would strip the nonprofit requirement for the manager of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, which would open the door for profiting from organ procurement and donation. And to me, this is something that I think many people really fear, especially people that are on a waitlist. And so what I would like for you to do is to address that and address those concerns. And why or why not you think the Act has it right. Dr. Raymond Lynch: Thank you, Senator. I think it's unfortunate that people would be afraid of that and it needs to be changed. Many of the patients that you referenced are waitlisted at for-profit hospitals. For-profit is a part of American healthcare. And I can tell you that our not-for-profit entity doesn't work. And there are for-profit hospitals and for-profit transplant centers that do work. So patients don't need to be afraid of that. They do need to be afraid of the status quo. 1:28:30 Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD): Ms. Cryer, do you have any views as to why it's much lower percentage chances for a racial minority to be able to have a transplant? Donna Cryer: Yes. And it really does come down to UNOS not doing its job of overseeing the organ procurement organizations. We know from many studies that black and brown communities donate organs in the same percentage they are the population. So it is not a problem of willingness to donate. It is a problem, as Miss Goldring was starting to discuss, about UNOS not ensuring that OPOs go out into the communities, develop relationships far before that horrible decision is needed to [be] made to donate the organs of a family member. 1:56:45 Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA): And among the many reforms the legislation would support HRSA's proposal to break up the OPTN monopoly contract into multiple smaller contracts, which would allow some competition and allow the best vendors in the business to manage different parts of the transplant network operation. That means hiring IT experts to do the IT. It means hiring logistics experts to do logistics, and so on. 1:57:15 Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA): UNOS does not want to lose control, so they're pushing to have the government limit eligibility only to nonprofit vendors that have worked in the past on organ donation, meaning, for instance, that the IT company that is hired to run OPTNs computers systems would have had to have worked on an organ transplant network in the past and be a nonprofit. So Ms. McCarthy, the requirement UNOS wants would seem to make it so that only one organization could apply for the new contract: UNOS. 1:58:35 Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA): Right now, Congress has an opportunity to root out corruption in this system, but if we don't act before the current contract expires we won't have another shot for years. August 3, 2022 Senate Committee on Finance Witnesses: Brian Shepard, CEO, United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Diane Brockmeier, RN, President and CEO, Mid-America Transplant Barry Friedman, RN, Executive Director, AdventHealth Transplant Institute Calvin Henry, Region 3 Patient Affairs Committee Representative, Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Jayme Locke, M.D., MPH, Director, Division of Transplantation, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham Clips 36:15 Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR): A 1984 law created the first computerized system to match sick patients with the organs they need. It was named the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. Someone needed to manage that system for the whole country, so the government sought to contract an organization to run it. UNOS was the only bidder for that first contract in 1986. The contract has come up for bid seven other times, UNOS has won all seven. Today, the network UNOS overseas is made up of nearly 400 members, including 252 transplant centers, and 57 regional organizations known as Organ Procurement Organizations, or OPOs. Each OPO is a defined geographic service network. Families sitting in a hospital room thinking about donating a loved one's organs does not have a choice of OPOs. 37:40 Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR): Between 2010 and 2020, more than 1,100 complaints were filed by patients and families, staff, transplant centers, and others. The nature of these complaints runs the gamut. For example, in a number of cases, OPOs had failed to complete critical mandatory tests for matters like blood types, diseases, and infection. Our investigation found one patient died after being transplanted with lungs that a South Carolina OPO marked with the wrong blood type. Similar blood type errors happened elsewhere and patients developed serious illness. Some had to have organs removed after transplant. Another patient was told he would likely die within three years after an OPO in Ohio supplied him with a heart from a donor who had died of a malignant brain tumor. UNOS did not pursue any disciplinary action. In a case from Florida, another patient contracted cancer from transplanted organs and the OPO sat on the evidence for months. In total, our investigation found that between 2008 and 2015, and 249 transplant recipients developed a disease from transplanted organs. More than a quarter of them died. 38:55 Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR): Delivering organs has been another source of life threatening errors. We found 53 such complaints between 2010 and 2020, as well as evidence that this was just the tip of the iceberg. In some cases, couriers missed a flight. In others, the organs were abandoned at airports. Some organs were never picked up. Many of these failures resulted in organs being discarded. 39:20 Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR): It's reasonable to assume that many more errors are going unreported. Why? Because filing official complaints with UNOS appears to accomplish zero productive oversight or reform. Organ transplant professionals repeatedly told the Finance Committee that the complaint process was, and I quote here, "a black hole." Complaints went in, UNOS went quiet. In interviews with the Committee UNOS leaders have dragged their feet, dodged tough questions, and shifted responsibility onto others. investigations and disciplinary measures rarely amount to much more than a slap on the wrist. Only one time -- just once -- has UNOS recommended that an OPO lose their certification. 55:05 Diane Brockmeier: We must update the archaic technology system at UNOS. As OPOs, we are required to work with UNOS technology DonorNet every day. DonorNet is outdated, difficult to us,e and often slow to function when every minute counts. Manual entry subjects it to error and OPO and Transplant Center staff are not empowered with the right information when time is critical. I did serve in leadership roles on the OPO Committee from 2017 to 2022. Committee members and industry leaders voiced repeated requests to improve DonorNet. The consistent response was UNOS IT did not have the bandwidth to address this work. The limitations of the UNOS technology are delaying and denying transplants to patients that are dying on the waitlist. Poor technology impacts the disturbingly high kidney discard rate in the United States, where one in four kidneys never make it to a patient for transplantation. Critical time is lost due to the inefficiency of DonorNet, wasting time on offers that will not be accepted. Of course an available organ should be offered to the patient in this sequence. However, far too much of the matching, particularly on older donors and organs that are difficult to place, are left to the individual OPOs and transplant centers to find each other despite, rather than facilitated by, UNOS technology. Mid-America Transplant intentionally identifies surgeons who accept kidneys that have been repeatedly turned down many times. These are life saving options for those patients. In May of 2022, one of these patients was number 18,193 on the list. Relying on DonorNet alone, that kidney would never had been placed and the chance to save a life would have been wasted. 55:20 Diane Brockmeier: UNOS lacks urgency and accountability around identifying and remediating this preventable loss of organs, and they are not required to publicly report adverse events when patients are harmed, organs are lost, or the quality of patient care is deemed unsafe. UNOS does not require clinical training, licensure, or certification standards for OPO staff delivering critical patient care. In this environment, who's looking out for the patient? Who's being held accountable for poor patient care? No OPO has ever actually been decertified, regardless of its performance or its safety record. 57:55 Diane Brockmeier: When an OPO goes out of sequence to place an organ that would otherwise be thrown away, UNOS requires an explanation; however, when organs are recovered and discarded, you must remain silent. 58:05 Diane Brockmeier: We must remove conflicts to ensure effective governance. From 2018 to 2020, I served as a board member for the OPTN. Serving on the board of the OPTN automatically assigns membership to the UNOS board. My board experience revealed that at times UNOS actions are not aligned with its fundamental vision of a life saving transplant for everyone in need. How can you fairly represent the country's interest and a contractor's interest at the same time? 58:35 Diane Brockmeier: Board members are often kept in the dark about critical matters and are marginalized, particularly if they express views that differ from UNOS leadership. Preparatory small group calls are conducted prior to board meetings to explore voting intentions, and if the board member was not aligned with the opinion of UNOS leadership, follow up calls are initiated. Fellow board members report feeling pressured to vote in accordance with UNOS leadership. 59:10 Diane Brockmeier: To protect patients, I urge Congress and the administration to separate the OPTN functions into different contracts so that patients can be served by best-in-class vendors, to immediately separate the boards of the OPTN and OPTN contractors, and to ensure that patients are safeguarded through open data from both the OPTN and OPOs. 1:00:45 Barry Friedman: Approximately 23% of kidneys procured from deceased donors are not used and discarded, resulting in preventable deaths 1:00:55 Barry Friedman: Organ transportation is a process left to federally designated Organ Procurement Organizations, OPOs. Currently, they develop their own relationships with couriers, rely on airlines, charter flights, ground transportation, and federal agencies to facilitate transportation. In many cases, organs must connect from one flight to another, leaving airline personnel responsible for transfers. While anyone can track their Amazon or FedEx package, there is currently no consistent way of tracking these life saving organs. 1:01:45 Barry Friedman: Currently there is no requirement for OPOs to use tracking systems. 1:02:20 Barry Friedman: I also believe there's a conflict of interest related to the management of IT functions by UNOS, as the IT tools they offer transplant centers come with additional costs, despite these being essential for the safety and management of organs. 1:02:35 Barry Friedman: UNOS is not effectively screening organ donors so that they can be quickly directed to transplant programs. UNOS asks centers to voluntarily opt out of certain organs via a filtering process. As a result, OPOs waste valuable time making organ offers to centers that will never accept them. Time wasted equates to prolonged cold ischemic time and organs not placed, resulting in lost organ transplant opportunities. 1:03:10 Barry Friedman: Due to the limited expertise that UNOS has in the placement of organs, it would be best if they were no longer responsible for the development of organ placement practices. The UNOS policy making [process] lacks transparency. Currently OPTN board members concurrently serve as the board members of UNOS, which creates a conflict of interest that contributes to this lack of transparency. UNOS committees are formed in a vacuum. There is no call for nominations and no data shared with the transplant community to explain the rationale behind decisions that create policy change. 1:11:35 Dr. Jayme Locke: The most powerful thing to know about this is that every organ represents a life. We can never forget that. Imagine having a medication you need to live being thrown away simply because someone took too long to get it to you. Your life quite literally in a trash can. Organs are no different. They too have shelf lives and they are measured in hours. Discarded organs and transportation errors may sound abstract, but let me make this negligence real for you. In 2014, I received a kidney that arrived frozen, it was an ice cube you could put in your drink. The intended recipient was sensitized, meaning difficult to match. The only thing we could do was tell the waiting patient that due to the lack of transportation safeguard, the kidney had to be thrown in the trash, the final generous act of a donor in Maryland. In 2017, I received a kidney that arrived in a box that appeared to have tire marks on it. The box was squished and the container inside had been ruptured. We were lucky and were able to salvage the kidney for transplant. But why should luck even play a role? 1:12:45 Dr. Jayme Locke: In one week, I received four kidneys from four different OPOs, each with basic errors that led to the need to throw away those life saving organs. One due to a botched kidney biopsy into the kidneys collecting system, another because of a lower pole artery that had been cut during procurement that could have been fixed if someone involved had assessed the kidney for damage and flushed it before packing, but that didn't happen. Two others arrived to me blue, meaning they hadn't been flushed either. 1:13:15 Dr. Jayme Locke: Opacity at UNOS means that we have no idea how often basic mistakes happen across the country, nor can we have any confidence that anything is being done to redress such errors so they don't keep happening. 1:13:40 Dr. Jayme Locke: Women who have been pregnant, especially multiple times, are harder to match, contributing to both gender and racial disparities in access to transplant. This is a very real example of how a constrained pool of organs and high discards disproportionately hurt women and women of color, who are more likely to have multiple pregnancies. 1:14:25 Dr. Jayme Locke: Number one, immediately separate the OPTN board from any of the boards of any contractors. Number two, bring in real experts to ensure our patients are served by the best of the best in each field, separating out key functions of the OPTN, including policy, technology, and logistics. And number three, ensure that patients are safer by holding all contractors accountable through public adverse event reporting and immediate redressing of problems. 1:22:00 Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA): The system doesn't seem to be fair to racial minorities or people living in rural communities. So what are your efforts underway to understand the root causes and help make the system fairer to patients on the waiting list to explain the factors that result in the disparity for minorities in rural populations in the process? And how can the federal government address a problem if we have to be involved in addressing it? Dr. Jayme Locke: One of the most important things that we don't currently do is we don't actually account for disease burden in terms of examining our waiting lists. So we have no way of knowing if we're actually serving the correct people, if the correct people are actually making it to the waiting list. Disease burden is super important because it not only identifies the individuals who are in need of transplantation, but it also speaks to supply. So areas with high rates of end stage kidney disease burden, like the southeastern United States are going to have much lower supply. And those waiting lists predominantly consist of African American or Black individuals. So if you want to make a truly equitable organ system, you have to essentially get more organs to those areas where there are higher disease burdens. I think the other thing is that we have to have more focus on how we approach donor families and make sure that we have cultural competence as a part of our OPOs, and how they approach families to ensure that we're not marginalizing minority families with regard to the organ donation process. 1:30:00 Brian Shepard: The OPTN IT system that UNOS operates has 99.99% uptime. It is a highly reliable system. We are audited annually by HRSA.... Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD): My information shows it's had 17 days down since I think 1999. That's not correct? Brian Shepard: In 23 years, yes, sir. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD): Okay, well, every day there's a loss of life, isn't it? Brian Shepard: That's the total amount of time over the couse of -- Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD): I hope our national event system isn't down 17 days a year. Brian Shepard: The system has never been down for a day. And to my knowledge, and I have not been at UNOS since 1999, there's been maybe one event that was longer than an hour, and that was three hours. But the total amount of time since 1999 -- Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD): So you're satisfied with your technology? You think you have the right technology? You're satisfied with your tracking systems now? You think everything is okay? Brian Shepard: We constantly improve our technology. We're subjected to 3 million attempts a day to hack into the patient database and we successfully repelled them all. So we are never satisfied with our technology, but we do maintain 99.99% uptime. We disagree with the USDS analysis of our systems. 1:37:25 Brian Shepard: If you're asking whether UNOS can prevent an OPO from operating or for being an OPO -- Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH: Well not prevent them, but require them to do something .You don't have the ability to require them...? Brian Shepard: The peer review process has significant persuasive authority, but all the payment authority and all the certification and decertification authority live at CMS. 1:39:00 Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH: Do you think there should be tracking of organs in transit? Brian Shepard: I think that's a very beneficial thing. UNOS provides an optional service that a quarter of OPOs use. Many OPOs also use other commercially available trackers to do that. There is not a single requirement to use a particular system. 1:41:55 Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA): Mr. Shepherd, you are the CEO of UNOS. We have documented these problems and you've received more than 1000 complaints in the last decade alone. So tell me, in the 36 years that UNOS has had the contract to run our national organ system, how many times has UNOS declared its OPO Members, any OPO members, not in good standing. Brian Shepard: Two times, Senator. 1:43:20 Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA): How many times has UNOS put an OPO on probation? Brian Shepard: I don't know that number off the top of my head, but it's not a large number. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA): It's not large, in fact it's three. 1:45:20 Brian Shepard: Approximately 10% of the budget of this contract is taxpayer funded. The rest of that is paid by hospitals when they list patients. 1:49:30 Sen. Todd Young (R-IN): Once an OPO is designated not in good standing, Senator Warren referred to this as toothless. It does seem toothless to me. I'll give you an opportunity, Mr. Shepherd, to disabuse me of that notion and indicate for me what penalties or sanctions are actually placed on an OPO when they are designated not in good standing. Brian Shepard: The statute does not give UNOS any authority to offer sanctions like that. The certification, decertification, payment authorities belong entirely to CMS. UNOS's statute doesn't give us the ability -- Sen. Todd Young (R-IN): So it is toothless in that sense. Brian Shepard: It is designed to be, by regulation and contract, a quality improvement process, in contrast to the oversight process operated by a federal agency. 1:51:15 Sen. Todd Young (R-IN): To what extent is UNOS currently tracking the status of all the organs in transit at any given time? Brian Shepard: UNOS does not coordinate transportation or track organs in transit. We do provide a service that OPOs can use to use GPS trackers. Some of the OPOs use ours and some use other commercially available products. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN): So why is it, and how does UNOS plan to optimize organ delivery if you don't have 100% visibility into where they are at any given time? Brian Shepard: I think that the GPS products that we offer and that other people offer are valuable, they do help in the delivery of kidneys. Only kidneys travel unaccompanied, so this is a kidney issue. But I do think that GPS trackers are valuable and I think that's why you've seen more and more OPOs use them. 1:52:50 Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR): Mr. Shepherd has said twice, with respect to this whole question of the power to decertify an OPO, that CMS has the power to do it. UNOS also has the power to refer an OPO for decertification under the OPTN final rule. That has been done exactly once. So I just wanted it understood with respect to making sure the committee has got what's really going on with respect to decertifying OPOs. 2:00:15 Dr. Jayme Locke: Obviously people have described that we have about a 25% kidney discard, so one in four. So if you look at numbers last year, these are rough numbers, but that'd be about 8000 kidneys. And really, I think, in some ways, these are kind of a victim of an entrenched and cumbersome allocation algorithms that are very ordinal, you have to go sort of in order, when data clearly have shown that introduction of multiple simultaneous expiring offers would result in more efficient placement of kidneys and this would decrease our cold ischemia time. 2:00:50 Dr. Jayme Locke: So if you take UNOS's organ center, they have a very rigid system, for example, for finding flights and lack either an ability or interest in thinking outside the box. So, for example, if there are no direct flights from California to Birmingham, Alabama, instead of looking for a flight from San Francisco to Atlanta, understanding that a courier could then pick it up in Atlanta and drive it the two hours, they'll instead put on a flight from SFO to Atlanta and allow it to go to cargo hold overnight, where it literally is rotting, if you will, and we're putting extra time on it. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR): Just to make sure everybody gets this. You're saying you've seen instances of something being put in cargo hold when it is very likely to rot? Dr. Jayme Locke: That is correct. So if the kidney arrives after 10pm at the Atlanta airport, it goes to cargo hold. We discovered that and made calls to the airlines ourselves and after several calls to the airlines, of course they were mortified, not understanding that that was what was happening and actually had their manager meet our courier and we were able to get the kidney out of cargo hold, but this went on before we figured out what was happening because essentially they fly it in, it sits in cargo hold, it comes out the next morning to catch the next flight. Instead of thinking outside the box: if we just get it to Atlanta, it's drivable to Birmingham. And those hours make a difference. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR): That sounds way too logical for what UNOS has been up to. 2:03:05 Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR): Miss Brockmeier, UNOS has developed this organ tracking system. Do you all use it? I'm curious what you think of it. Diane Brockmeier: Thank you for the question, Senator. We did use and participate in the beta pilot through UNOS and made the decision to not move forward using their product, and have sought a commercial alternative. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR): And why was that? Diane Brockmeier: Part of the issues were some service related issues, the lack of the interconnectivity that we wanted to be able to facilitate a more expedited visual tracking of where the organ was. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR): Was the tracking technology low quality? Diane Brockmeier: Yes, sir. 2:11:25 Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR): All right, let's talk for a moment about the boards that are supposed to be overseeing these, because it looks to me like there's a serious conflict of interest here and I'll send this to Ms. Brockmeier, and perhaps you'd like to get to it as well, Mr. Friedman. The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, which is the formal title of the organ network that operates under federal contract administered by HHS, and UNOS, which is the contractor that operates the network and controls information about the network, have the same boards of directors, despite efforts by the government to separate them. That means the people who look out for the best interests of UNOS, the multimillion dollar nonprofit, are the same people who look out for the interests of the entire organ transplant network. Sure sounds like a conflict to me. 2:12:55 Diane Brockmeier: I think there should be an independent board. I think the division of the responsibilities of the board and by the inherent way that they're structured, do pose conflicts. It would be like if you had an organization that was a supporting organization, you'd want to hold it accountable for its performance. And the current structure really limits that opportunity. 2:19:50 Dr. Jayme Locke: And if you think about IT, something as simple as having a system where we can more easily put in unacceptable antigens, this was a debate for many years. So for context, we list unacceptable antigens in the system that allows us to better match kidneys so that when someone comes up on the match run, we have a high probability that there'll be a good tissue match. Well, that took forever and we couldn't really get our unacceptable antigens in, so routinely people get offered kidneys that aren't going to be a match, and you have to get through all of those before you can get to the person that they really should go to. Those are simple examples. But if we could really have transparency and accountability around those kinds of things, we could save more lives. 2:23:10 Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR): Mr. Shepherd told Senator Warren that only 10% of UNOS funds come from taxpayer money and the rest comes from fees paid by transplant centers who add patients to the list. But the fact is, Medicare is the largest payer of the fees, for example, for kidneys. So we're talking about inefficiency, inefficiency that puts patients at risk. And certainly, taxpayer dollars are used to cover some of these practices. May 4, 2021 House Committee on Oversight and Reform, Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy Witnesses: Tonya Ingram, Patient Waiting for a Transplant Dr. Dara Kass, Living Donor and Mother of Transplant Recipient LaQuayia Goldring, Patient Waiting for a Transplant Steve Miller, CEO, Association for Organ Procurement Organizations Joe Ferreira, President, Association for Organ Procurement Organizations Matt Wadsworth, President and CEO, Life Connection of Ohio Dr. Seth Karp, Director, Vanderbilt Transplant Center Donna Cryer, President and CEO, Global Liver Institute Clips 5:15 Tonya Ingram: The Organ Procurement Organization that serves Los Angeles, where I live, is failing according to the federal government. In fact, it's one of the worst in the country. One analysis showed it only recovered 31% of potential organ donors. Audits in previous years found that LA's OPO has misspent taxpayer dollars on retreats to five star hotels and Rose Bowl tickets. The CEO makes more than $900,000. Even still, the LA OPO has not lost its government contract and it has five more years to go. 30:00 Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL): Unusual among Medicare programs, their costs are 100% reimbursed, even costs unrelated to care. So, extravagant executive compensation and luxury perks may be passed off onto the taxpayer. 46:55 Dr. Seth Karp: We have 10 hours to get a liver from the donor to the recipient, and about one hour to sew it in. For heart, we have about six hours. Time matters. 47:55 Dr. Seth Karp: Last year, I had the opportunity to co-write a viewpoint in one of the journals of the American Medical Association with TJ Patel, former Chief Data Scientist of the United States. In that article, we provided evidence that the metrics used to judge the performance of organ procurement organizations are basically useless. Until the recent OPO Final Rule, performance was self-reported, and OPO employees admitted to having gamed the system. When threatened with decertification, one of the OPOs themselves successfully argued that because the performance data were self reported and unaudited, they failed to meet a reasonable standard and the OPO should not be held accountable. In other words for decades, the metrics supposed to measure performance didn't measure performance, and the results have been disastrous, as you have heard. 49:45 Dr. Seth Karp: Whenever I, and quite frankly most everyone else in the field, gives a talk on transplantation, we usually make two points. The first is that organ transplantation is a miracle of modern medicine. The second is the tragedy that there are not enough organs for everyone who needs one. I no longer use the second point, because I don't believe it. Based on my work, I believe that there are enough organs for patients who require hearts, lungs, and probably livers, and we can make a huge improvement in the number of kidneys available. In addition to improving OPO performance, new technologies already exist to dramatically increase the organ supply. We need a structure to drive rapid improvement in our system. 54:00 Joe Ferreira: One common misconception is that OPOs are solely responsible for the entire donation and transplantation system, when, in fact, OPOs are the intermediary entity and their success is highly dependent on collaborations with hospitals and transplant programs. At the start of the donation process, hospitals are responsible for notifying any OPO in a timely manner when a patient is on a ventilator and meets medical criteria to be an organ donor. Additionally, transplant centers must make the decision whether to accept or decline the organs offered by OPOs. 57:55 Matt Wadsworth: As geographic monopolies, OPOs are not subject to any competitive pressure to provide high service. As the only major program in all of health care 100% reimbursed for all costs, we do not face financial pressures to allocate resources intelligently. 1:02:10 Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL): Mr. Ferreira, I'd like to turn to you. You run the OPO called the Nevada Donor Network. I have your OPO's 2019 financial statement filed with the CMS. It appears that your OPO spent roughly $6 million in 2019 on administrative and general expenses. Interestingly, in 2019, I see your OPO spent approximately $146,000 on travel meetings and seminars alone. And your itemization of Administrative and General has an interesting line item for $576,000 for "ANG". It took me a minute but that means you have an "Administrative and General" subcategory in your "Administrative and General" category. Very vague. Now Mr. Ferreira, I was informed by Mr. Wadsworth, a former executive of yours at the Nevada Donor Network, that your OPO has season tickets to the NHL's Las Vegas Golden Knights, isn't that correct? Joe Ferreira: That is correct, Mr. Chairman. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL): And you also have season tickets to the Las Vegas Raiders too, right? Joe Ferreira: That is correct. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL): And according to Mr. Wadsworth and others, your OPO took a board retreat to Napa Valley in 2018. Joe Ferreira: That is correct. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL): And Sonoma in 2019, right? Joe Ferreira: That is correct. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL): Mr. Ferreira, what you're spending on the Raiders, the Golden Knights, Napa Valley and Sonoma have one thing in common: they have nothing to do with recovering organs. 1:10:30 Dr. Seth Karp: In 2019, there were six heart transplants that were performed using donors after circulatory determination of death. And I don't want to get into the technical aspects of that. But in 2019, that number was six. In 2020, that number was 126. This is a new technology. This is a way that we can increase the number of heart transplants done in United States dramatically. And if we think that there were 500 patients in the United States waiting for a heart in 2020, 500 patients that either died or were delisted because they were too sick, and you think in one year, using a technology, we got another 100 transplants, if we could get another 500 transplants out of that technology, we could almost eliminate deaths on the on the heart transplant waiting list. That technology exists. It exists today. But we don't have a mechanism for getting it out to everybody that could use it and it's going to run itself through the system, it's going to take too much time. 1:24:05 Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA): You know, I'm a little disappointed that we're discussing race as a factor in organ transplant. We're all one race in my opinion; color makes no difference to me. We're the human race. And to me, the interjection of race into this discussion is very concerning. Discrimination based on race was outlawed almost 60 years ago through the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Now, I'm not a medical doctor, and I have very little knowledge of medicine. But last year, there was an article that came out in LifeSource and it says, "Does my race and ethnicity matter in organ donation?" And so my question here is for Dr. Karp. In your experience, would you agree that a donor's organs are more likely to be a clinical match for a recipient of the same ethnicity? Could you comment on that? Is that actually a factor, or not? I mean, we're all human beings, we all, you know, have similar bodies. Dr. Seth Karp: Yes. So there definitely are certain HLA types that are more common. That is race-based. So the answer to that question is yes. Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA): Okay. All right. And so if you have more of one particular race, more donations of one particular race, then naturally you would have more actual matches of that particular race. Is that correct? Dr. Seth Karp: That would tend to be the case. Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA): Okay. All right. All right. Okay, that's just a question that I wanted to clear up here. 1:34:20 Donna Cryer: We'd like to see investments in languages that are spoken by the community. Educational resources should be, as required by law, for those with limited English proficiency. They should be in the languages spoken by the community. They should be hiring diverse staff to have those most crucial conversations with families. The data shows, and certainly experience and common sense shows as well, that having people of color approaching families of color results in more donations. Executive Producer Recommended Sources Music by Editing Production Assistance