Tom Lawry • October 31, 2025
AI Upskilling in Africa - January 2026
I’m excited to be heading to Johannesburg in January to keynote and serve on the faculty for AMLD Africa. Love that this is an event driven by students from Africa and around the world who are dedicated to democratizing Artificial Intelligence across the continent through knowledge-sharing, ethical development, and inclusive innovation for an equitable digital future.
The event is happening on the campus of Wits University January 26-29, and is geared towards students, researchers, startups, industry professionals, policymakers who are interested in shaping an intelligent future for Africa. Go here for more information:
https://mlafrica.org/event/amld-africa-2026/

The Joint Commission and Coalition for Health AI (CHAI) just released the first national guidance (US) on the Responsible Use of AI in Healthcare. This is a practical, flexible framework designed to help health systems of all sizes govern, validate, and monitor AI responsibly—while ensuring patient safety and trust. Coming next: AI governance playbooks and a voluntary AI certification program for more than 22,000 accredited organizations nationwide. This is a significant step forward for provider organizations in the United States seeking a standard, well-vetted approach to responsibly deploying AI. Go here for more information. T.

I recently did the opening keynote for the annual gathering of the Forum for Healthcare Strategists to discuss the almost unlimited opportunities that forward-thinking marketing and patient experience leaders have to move us from "one-size-fits-all" to a highly personalized and effective experience for every patient and health consumer. Thank you, Chris Boyer, for interviewing me and allowing me to share my thoughts on AI and strategic marketing in healthcare. The interview may be found here . T.

I was in New York last week to do the opening Keynote for the HIMSS 2025 AI Forum. It was a great international gathering to review and discuss the state of AI in health and medicine. My keynote for this event focused on how AI is driving fundamental changes in the provision of health and medical services as a backdrop to what I call the "AI Leadership Imperative." Done right, AI is not about technology. It's about EMPOWERMENT. 2025 is the year health and medical leaders must move away from Fear of Missing Out as a motive and put in place the people and processes necessary to use AI to drive value at scale across health enterprises. For a deeper look at what I covered in my HIMSS talk, GO HERE for a thoughtful review of my session by Gil Bashe of Medika Life.

As we commemorate Juneteenth, let us recognize that, despite decades of progress, systemic disparities persist in who gets care, when, and how. These gaps are rooted in the embedded policies, norms, and practices that advantage some and disadvantage others. Health care is a noble cause, and it needs our help. I hope you will take a few minutes to reflect on the information I’ve excerpted from my new book, Health Care Nation. Each of us has the power to make a difference. Health equity isn’t just a moral imperative—it’s a path toward a more just and prosperous future for all of us. T.

This week, I hit the airwaves on Shake It Off—a talk radio show reaching listeners across the greater New York City area—to share the story behind my new book Health Care Nation. We didn’t just talk health care. We talked movement building . I believe it’s time for citizens and clinicians alike to raise their voices—not just in frustration, but in reimagining what American health care could be . If you're ready to challenge the status quo and be part of a smarter, more humane system, give this a listen .

Everyone’s talking about Responsible AI. But when it comes to actually putting principles into practice, the follow-through is often inconsistent. That’s why I’ve adapted a leadership module I use in my advisory work and made it available as a free download. It’s designed to help clinical and operational leaders ask—and answer—three key questions that reveal how well their organization is developing, implementing, and managing AI in ways that truly serve all patients and consumers. If you're serious about making Responsible AI real, not just rhetorical, this tool is a great place to start. Go here to download this guide.

I have just published an op-ed piece in MedPage Today, which is an excerpt from a chapter in my book, Health Care Nation. In many ways, health care has become America’s largest escape room. We’ve locked our most talented health care experts and consumers in with a staggering $4.7 trillion of our own money. The problem is that we haven’t figured out how to escape the maze of convoluted policies, skewed financial incentives, and entrenched traditions that are steering amazing people and 17.3% of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the wrong direction. Go here to learn more.

Maria Ngo hosts a talk show in Las Vegas called THE STRIP LIVE. She typically interviews celebrities like Tony Bennett, Kevin Costner, and Sir Richard Branson. Needless to say, I was surprised to have a text from Maria wanting to talk when I landed in Las Vegas to speak at HIMSS and a launch event for my new book, Health Care Nation. Go here to watch this fun interview . Maria brings an energy level to her work that is contagious. We covered everything from the new book, the future of AI, to mentoring advice.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Jane Sarasohn-Kahn to talk about my new book, Health Care Nation - The Future is Calling and It's Better Than You Think . From defining why the American Health System is going in the wrong direction, to discussing the power of a citizen-driven movement, this review gets at the heart of why I wrote this book. Go here f or our discussion. Go here to bookmark this highly-rated blog reporting on transformation issues and opportunities in health and medicine. T.
