Bruce Ovbiagele, MD, MSc, MAS, MBA, MLS

We are pleased to announce that Bechien Wu, MD, MPH, from Kaiser Permanente - Southern California Permanente Medical Group Physician Careers, has been selected as a 2025 PanCAN Research Grantee. 🔬 Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States. A major reason for the lethal nature of this disease is the lack of effective early detection strategies, as survival rates drop dramatically with advanced stages. General population screening is inappropriate given the relatively low prevalence of #pancreaticcancer. However, an automated early warning system based on signals obtained in the context of routine clinical care may serve to shift diagnosis to an earlier stage thereby having an immediate impact on disease course. Dr. Wu hypothesizes that the widespread adoption of electronic health records and the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) have created an opportunity to pursue novel approaches to early detection in pancreatic cancer. In recent years, multiple prediction algorithms using a variety of machine learning methods have been developed for detection of pancreatic cancer in both the general population and specific high-risk sub-groups. These models have mostly been based on looking back at data that has already been collected and identifying clues in the patients’ past medical records that may signify a later diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. A key step to advancing the promise of AI for early detection is early-stage real-time clinical evaluation. Investigators at Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) have recently completed a pilot study in which model performance was validated by identifying people whose medical records suggest they’re at risk for pancreatic cancer and tracking them over time. For the 2025 PanCAN Catalyst Award, Dr. Wu will further assess in a real-world setting the feasibility, safety and human factors needed for widespread clinical adoption of the prediction model. Learn more about Bechien Wu, MD, MPH at 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gHBGg6V5

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Recent research from UCLA Radiology's Drs. Arash Bedayat, Cameron Hassani & colleagues compares five widely used LLMs on 40 lung cancer questions developed by experienced radiologists. Results show measurable gains since prior assessments in 2023, including stronger detection of intentionally incorrect screening scenarios. However, inter-rater variability and inconsistent model behavior highlight ongoing risks and the continued role of imaging specialists in patient education and decision support. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dDh94-9U

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This month’s Healthcare Leadership Blueprint Spotlight quote from Costas H. Kefalas MD MMM MS-PopH CPE FACG FASGE AGAF FAASLD made me pause and reflect: “Genuine leadership is rooted in integrity, guided by empathy, driven by determination, and strengthened through resilience.” In medicine, we spend years building expertise. That foundation is essential. But over time, I have come to realize that what sustains leadership is not just what we know, but who we are. Leadership is tested in moments of pressure, uncertainty, and constraint. It is in those moments that integrity, empathy, determination, and resilience are not abstract ideals; they become visible choices. What I found especially meaningful in this Spotlight is the dual perspective: 🔹 Aja Mccutchen highlights how early in leadership, these qualities shape credibility and trust when technical skills alone are not enough. 🔹 From my perspective, at more advanced stages, these same qualities define the culture we create and the legacy we leave through others. This evolution, from competence to character to culture, is what makes leadership a continuous journey. I continue to remind myself that expertise may open doors, but character determines how long those doors remain open. Curious to hear your thoughts. How has your understanding of leadership evolved over time? Amy Oxentenko, MD, MACP, MACG, AGAF Patrick Young, MD, MACP, FACG, FASGE Stephanie Duggan MD, FACEP, FAAPL, CPE Shephali Wulff Amir Jaffer American College of Gastroenterology SSM Health Becker's Healthcare Aline Charabaty,MD,AGAF,FACG Anita Afzali MD, MPH, MHCM, FACG, AGAF Farhan Jawed MD, MHA, FACHE, FAPA Kerri Bayer Farzana Hoque, MD MSHA MRCP FACP FRCP Gianrico Farrugia, M.D. Laura Wingate R. Matthew Atkins, MD Uma Mahadevan Umar Farooq, MD, MS, MBA Sriram Vissa, MD, FACHE, CPE, FACP, SFHM, CPHQ Mark Pochapin MD Aasma Shaukat Zubair Ashraf Brian Davis Nick Dorety Nick Shaheen Neeral Shah Azeemuddin Ahmed, MD, MBA Colette Carlson, CSP, CPAE Hall of Fame Speaker Arpad Szakal, ACC

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In this episode, Dr. Stuart Slavin speaks with Dr. Elliott Higgins, director of Health and Well-Being for UCLA’s Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine. UCLA Anesthesiology Together they explore the development of the Well-Being Influencers Survey for Health Care (WISH)—a validated, non-proprietary tool that measures the organizational conditions shaping clinician well-being. The conversation highlights how data-driven, collaborative research can reframe accountability, empower departments to tailor interventions, and move the national dialogue from burnout awareness toward system-level solutions that enhance both workforce and patient care. Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, or through Learn at ACGME link in our bio. #ACGME #MedEd #PhysicianWellBeing #ResidentWellBeing

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This analysis from Fair Observer reports that California’s SB‑41 could weaken PBMs’ ability to negotiate discounts—sending prices up, not down for members and payors. CVS Caremark supports reforms that increase #Transparency and deliver savings for members and clients, while preserving the ability to negotiate lower net prices. ➡️ Read the piece: https://cvs.co/4a5pEya #CVSCaremark #TeamCVS

An AI-powered system is making the patient portal work smarter, helping 4.9 million people in Southern California get care faster and with less hassle. Khang Nguyen, MD, assistant executive medical director for Care Transformation at the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, says: “Patients are really expecting artificial intelligence to support health care in a way that is supporting other industries—in the sense that people are able to describe what they want versus being given choices.” Read more: https://ow.ly/RLOz50WEL6z #AIinHealthcare #DigitalHealth #PatientExperience #ValueBasedCare #PermanenteMedicine

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