The Future of Healthcare Isn't AI, It's Fixing the System
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Listen on Apple PodcastsAI is moving fast, but healthcare's biggest challenge isn't building smarter models. It's fixing the systems that still don't work together.
In this episode, Charlene Wang sits down with Dr. Neil Hockstein, Chair of the Delaware Health Care Commission and practicing ENT surgeon, to discuss what healthcare leaders should really focus on over the next decade.
You'll hear perspectives on:
- Why interoperability is still healthcare's biggest bottleneck
- What digital prior authorization should actually look like
- Where AI can help, and where it can't
- Why better infrastructure matters more than more technology
If you work in healthcare leadership, health IT, policy, or digital health, this conversation is one you won't want to miss.
About the guest
Dr. Neil Hockstein
Neil Hockstein, M.D. is an otolaryngologist specializing in head and neck surgery and currently serves as Chair of the Delaware Health Care Commission. He holds faculty appointments and leadership positions at ChristianaCare, Thomas Jefferson University, and The Wistar Institute.
An active head and neck surgeon, Hockstein founded and expanded a multi-state ENT practice, growing it into one of the nation's largest independent otolaryngology groups. He played a pioneering role in the development of transoral robotic surgery and has published and presented widely on surgical innovation and cancer treatment. His clinical and research interests include minimally invasive surgery for head and neck cancer, improving care delivery through independent practice models, and advancing physician workforce policy.
Hockstein is a nationally recognized leader in otolaryngology, frequently presenting at national conferences on practice management, physician workforce, and health policy. He has also served as a mentor to medical students, residents, and fellows, many of whom have gone on to leadership positions in academic medicine and private practice.
In addition to his clinical and academic contributions, Hockstein has been deeply engaged in public service and policy development in Delaware. As Chair of the Delaware Health Care Commission and leader of the Delaware Primary Care Reform Collaborative, he has worked to advance access to care, reduce costs, improve quality, and strengthen the health care workforce. He also chairs the Delaware State Employee Benefit Committee overseeing the delivery of health and pharmacy benefits for 135,000 state employees, dependents, and retirees.
He serves on multiple state-level task forces focused on transparency, cost reduction, and medical education, including the effort to establish a Delaware medical school.