In this episode of The Augmented Life, we sit down with Julia Prakapovich, a visionary leader in the world of deep tech and healthcare innovation. She is the founder and managing partner of Interface Fund, an early-stage venture capital firm supporting pioneers at the intersection of physics and biology.
With a background that spans healthcare startups and venture capital, Julia has a nuanced outlook on how cutting-edge technologies like AI and wearables can transform the healthcare landscape. She shares her vision for a future where sophisticated technology and human empathy work hand in hand to revolutionize the way we approach health and wellness.
To hear more from Julia about the future of medicine at the intersection of technology and human nature, tune in to the full episode:
Read below to dive into five key takeaways from the episode with us:
Amidst the seemingly infinite speed of technological advancement, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of AI and its potential to revolutionize healthcare. However, Julia reminds us of the one thing that machines can never replace:
“We cannot substitute empathy. And I think that's where doctors will still play a major role because you still want to hear the diagnosis, you still want to hear the doctor talking to you, not a computer, not a robot."
As we navigate the future of healthcare, it's crucial to remember that patients are not just data points or diagnoses; they are people who need emotional support and a human touch. Doctors who can combine their medical expertise with genuine compassion will always have a vital role to play in helping patients feel cared for on their health journey no matter how AI and other advancements may impact other facets of their role.
Building upon the irreplaceable role of human empathy, Julia cites Vinod Khosla's intriguing prediction about the future of medical education. As AI takes over more technical tasks, medical schools may need to shift their focus.
"There are definitely a lot of things that we can improve.. he was advising the Harvard Medical School and he emphasized that in the future when Harvard Medical School is accepting students.. they need to put much more emphasis on empathy rather than IQ itself."
This marks a significant departure from the traditional medical school curriculum, which emphasizes vast amounts of technical knowledge. By focusing more on emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills, doctors will be better equipped to navigate the complex and technology-driven healthcare landscape while still providing the human touch that patients need. This balance between cutting-edge technology and empathy will be essential in creating a healthcare system that not only optimizes efficiency but also cares for the whole patient.
As medical knowledge also expands at an unprecedented rate, doctors face a daunting challenge of staying current with the latest research and guidelines while still providing personalized, compassionate care to their patients.
"Do we really need that? Or can we use an integrated system where doctors are working with this massive data set that is comprehensive, fully updated, and can also summarize a lot of concepts for you straightforwardly."
By leveraging AI to manage the deluge of medical information, doctors free up bandwidth for what matters most: connecting with patients. AI enables a future where doctors don’t need to spend hours poring over journals and memorizing facts, but instead constantly have the most up-to-date information at their fingertips. This could fundamentally change the role of the doctor, from a walking medical encyclopedia to a compassionate guide, equipped with the right knowledge at the right time to help their patients.
AI clearly has the power to transform the way doctors work and learn, but what about the patient experience? Julia paints a picture of how the integration of AI and wearable devices could revolutionize the doctor-patient relationship.
"With wearable devices, we can improve the efficacy of the interaction with a doctor if you already have existing data sets that can help to understand your symptoms much better, and it can have a whole history of what happened to you."
Imagine walking into your doctor's office with a comprehensive record of your health data, collected effortlessly by your wearable device. Your doctor, aided by AI algorithms, could quickly identify patterns and potential issues, allowing them to provide personalized care that addresses your specific needs. This seamless integration of technology and human interaction will allow for a new level of collaboration between patients and their healthcare providers, leading to better outcomes and a more empowering patient experience.
The convergence of advanced wearable technology and AI is not just about improving doctor-patient interactions - it's about empowering patients to take control of their own health. As Julia points out:
"I think the combination of software and hardware would be the best outcome. Definitely pure hardware would not solve this. If you look at an Apple Watch and a pure fitness tracker, the Apple Watch will always be superior because it gathers much more data from your every single interaction."
By equipping patients with wearables that can collect and analyze vast amounts of personal health data, we're giving them the tools to become active participants in their own care. As we talk about often here, this enable patients to do things such as monitor their health, receive personalized recommendations, and make informed, proactive decisions in collaboration with their healthcare team. At Fulcra, we believe this shift towards patient-centered, data-driven care will revolutionize the way we approach health and wellness.
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