Care and AI: Dr. Owais Durrani on Tech in Medicine
In this episode, Suhaani and Tushar talk with Dr. Owais Durrani, an emergency medicine physician based in Houston, TX. After reflecting on his own path in medicine, Dr. Durrani shares how he uses technology, specifically AI, in his practice. Listen to this week’s episode to hear about his thoughts on the future of AI in healthcare!
Hello and welcome back to Debugged, the Congressional App Challenge’s podcast that connects the country’s youth with technology by debugging the intricate world of computer science.
In this episode, our hosts Suhaani Sodhi and Tushar Mehta speak with Dr. Owais Durrani, an Emergency Medicine Physician!
Dr. Durrani shares his personal journey into medicine, which was deeply influenced by his background as a first-generation American. Growing up with parents from Pakistan, he saw firsthand the difference in healthcare infrastructure and access to care. His perspective instilled a gratitude for the resources available in the U.S. and ignited his passion to expand access to care and inspire the next generation of STEM and healthcare professionals.
As a practicing emergency medicine physician, Dr. Durrani is on the front lines of healthcare innovation. He discusses how he personally uses AI tools to improve his workflow, including an AI-powered app that transcribes his patient encounters. He explains how this cuts his documentation by 80-90%, allowing him to have better face-to-face conversations with patients. Dr. Durrani also explores the broader role of AI in medicine, from CT scans and X-rays to its potential in long-term research. He emphasizes the importance of patient privacy, consent, and using secure, HIPAA-compliant tools.
Tune into this week’s episode of Debugged to hear Dr. Durrani’s insights on the future of AI in clinical settings, his philosophy on balancing innovation with patient safety, and his key advice for students interested in STEM. He encourages listeners to get initial exposure through shadowing or trying different classes, and he emphasizes that it’s okay to change your mind as it’s all part of the journey!