How AI Is Helping Surgeons Meet Rising Demands

FEATURED RESEARCH

How AI Is Helping Surgeons Meet Rising Demands

The United States is bracing for a significant surgeon shortage. By 2050, demand for cardiac surgeons is expected to exceed supply by over 50%.

Compounding the issue, a quarter of surgeons are already 65 or older and approaching retirement.

To help manage these challenges, Chin Siang Ong and his team created SurgeryLLM, an AI tool designed to assist surgeons with decision-making and streamline their work.

How it helps: SurgeryLLM was tested on common surgical tasks, including spotting abnormal lab results, identifying missing diagnostic steps, recommending treatment plans, and drafting operative notes.

In one example, it correctly advised coronary artery bypass surgery for heart disease patients, following national guidelines. Traditional AI models often provided vague or incomplete answers in similar scenarios.

Saving time and effort: Beyond improving accuracy, SurgeryLLM lightens the administrative load.

It drafts initial versions of operative notes, a task that can take up to 20% of a surgeon’s time. By automating routine tasks, this tool allows surgeons to focus more on patient care and less on paperwork.

As demand for surgical services grows, tools like SurgeryLLM could provide critical support, helping healthcare systems maintain quality care while easing the strain on overburdened surgeons.

For more details: Full Article

Brain Booster

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Opinion and Perspectives

AI EDUCATION

Why Doctors Are Falling Behind in the Age of AI

AI is rapidly reshaping healthcare, but most clinicians aren’t prepared to use these tools effectively. Tim Schubert, from the University of Cambridge, argues that medical education requires a fundamental shift to close this gap.

The current focus on memorization and traditional skills doesn’t prepare clinicians to handle the complex, data-driven decisions that AI enables.

A framework for AI skills: Schubert’s team proposes a three-tiered approach to AI education: basic skills focus on safe use of AI tools in daily practice; proficient skills enable critical evaluation of AI outputs, understanding ethical implications, and recognizing limitations; and expert skills combine advanced technical knowledge with clinical expertise to foster innovation.

Examples of progress: Some institutions are already stepping up. Cambridge weaves AI fundamentals into its medical curriculum, while Toronto offers certificates in areas like precision medicine.

These programs aim to move beyond theory, training clinicians to apply AI in real-world scenarios.

The stakes are high: Schubert emphasizes that this shift isn’t optional. Equipping clinicians with AI skills ensures better patient care and ethical use of technology.

As AI becomes more ingrained in medicine, education must evolve to keep pace.

For more details: Full Article

Top Funded Startups

Product Pipeline

GLUCOSE BIOSENSOR

Dexcom’s Latest Innovation Brings AI to Everyday Glucose Tracking

Dexcom has launched its GenAI platform, integrating with the Stelo app to provide users with personalized health tips based on glucose, activity, and sleep data. Built using Google Cloud's Vertex AI and Gemini models, Stelo enhances its Weekly Insights feature with actionable advice on diet, exercise, and lifestyle adjustments.

As the first FDA-cleared over-the-counter glucose biosensor, Stelo represents a significant step forward in accessible metabolic health management.

Released in December 2024, this technology lays the groundwork for broader AI applications in Dexcom’s product portfolio, with additional features planned for 2025 to further support informed, proactive health decisions.

For more details: Full Article

Policy and Ethics

MEDICAL ETHICS

How Your X-rays Ended Up Training AI Without Your Consent

The I-MED case shows how easily trust can be broken when patients aren’t fully informed. Australia’s largest radiology provider shared de-identified X-rays and CT scans with an AI company without explicit patient consent, which obviously sparked outrage.

While this may comply with privacy laws, many patients feel blindsided and excluded from decisions about their own health data.

This is another reminder that we need better communication, stronger safeguards, and public involvement in how health data is used. To build trust, we need transparency and policies that respect patient autonomy while enabling ethical AI innovation.

For more details: Full Article

Byte-Sized Break

📢 Three Things AI Did This Week

• OpenAI launched 1-800-CHATGPT, enabling free 15-minute voice calls in the US and WhatsApp texts globally, making ChatGPT accessible without smartphones or computers. [Link]

• Israel's use of AI tools like "The Gospel" and "Lavender" in Gaza has accelerated military targeting, raising ethical concerns over civilian casualties, automation bias, and the implications for future AI-driven warfare norms. [Link]

• The UK is testing AI-powered cameras to detect drunk and distracted drivers by analyzing driving behavior and alerting police. [Link]

Have a Great Weekend!

Trivia Answer: A) By predicting gift trends and adjusting inventory before shoppers even know what they want.

While AI isn't quite reading your face for joy or haggling like a medieval market merchant, it does excel at analyzing historical sales data and trends to forecast which gifts will fly off the shelves. That’s how stores ensure you’ll find the hot new toy... unless you wait until Christmas Eve, of course!