In this episode of Innovate Oncology, presented by Azra AI, we sit down with Dr. Michael Choti, Chief of Surgery at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is redefining the surgical oncology landscape.

From the operating room to postoperative care, Dr. Choti discusses the growing role of AI in improving surgical precision, streamlining care coordination, reducing complications, and enhancing the provider experience. We also hear from Cherry Calalang, Head of Clinical Excellence at Azra AI, as she explores how health systems are integrating AI technologies to optimize outcomes across the cancer care continuum.

Whether you’re a surgical oncologist, health system leader, or clinical innovator, this episode offers real-world insight into the present and future of AI-powered surgical care.

Topics Covered in This Episode:

• How AI is enhancing pre-op planning and intraoperative precision

• Robotics, image fusion, and the rise of non-invasive tumor destruction

• The role of AI in teaching surgical techniques

• Improving outcomes through personalized postoperative planning

• Real-world applications: HistoSonics and image-guided tumor targeting

• Overcoming adoption challenges and scaling AI in health systems

• A look ahead at surgical automation and value-driven care

CHAPTERS:

00:00 – Introduction & AI’s role in reshaping cancer surgery
02:00 – How AI is transforming surgical planning and procedural safety
04:00 – Robotic-assisted surgery and image-guided tumor destruction
06:00 – Image fusion and real-time guidance in cancer operations
07:00 – AI in surgical education and shortening the learning curve
08:00 – AI for prognosis, recurrence risk, and treatment selection
10:00 – Smarter, AI-driven clinical trial design
12:00 – Using AI for early detection of complications post-surgery
13:00 – Telemonitoring and postoperative care at home
14:00 – Real-world example: HistoSonics + image registration
15:00 – Reducing burden and improving provider experience with AI
16:00 – Cost, adoption, and real value for health systems
18:00 – What’s next: surgical automation, precision, and value-based care
20:00 – Final thoughts from Dr. Choti & Azra AI’s vision for human-centered AI

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TAGS:

#SurgicalOncology #AIinHealthcare #CancerCareInnovation #AzraAI #InnovateOncology #HealthcareTech #RoboticSurgery #PostoperativeCare #MedicalAI #PrecisionMedicine

Azra AI is proud to present our new podcast series, Innovate Oncology! With this podcast, we’re bringing together leading experts to explore the latest breakthroughs, AI-driven solutions, and innovative approaches that are reshaping cancer care.

In the premiere episode, we’re joined by️ Dr. Douglas Flora, Executive Medical Director at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, and Brook Blackmore, Chief Strategy & Product Officer at Azra AI. Together, they explore how AI is revolutionizing cancer care, from automating repetitive tasks to enabling earlier cancer detection and enhancing patient navigation. Discover how AI is empowering healthcare providers to focus on what truly matters—patients.

Resources Mentioned in this episode: Jobs to be Done Theory by Clayton Christensen | https://www.christenseninstitute.org/theory/jobs-to-be-done/

https://chatgpt.com/

https://copilot.microsoft.com/

Join in on the conversation when you follow Azra AI on LinkedIn or visit our website!

Dr. Douglas Flora on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglasflora/

Brook Blackmore on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brook-blackmore-rn-mba-msn-0077a8115/

Azra AI on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/azra-ai/

Azra AI Website: https://www.azra-ai.com

Innovate Oncology Presented by Azra AI is your gateway to the forefront of oncology innovation. This podcast brings together leading healthcare professionals, researchers, and thought leaders to discuss the rapidly evolving landscape of cancer care. As oncology continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, we explore the latest breakthroughs, cutting-edge technologies, and best practices that are reshaping patient care.

Whether you're looking to stay ahead of the curve, deliver world-class support to patients in need, have trouble managing the demands of change in your Oncology department—let Innovate Oncology Podcast be your essential resource for navigating the future of cancer care.

First episode releases on April 10th, 2025.