FROM THE PRESIDENT by Thomas Higgins, MD, MSPH, MBA
Progress with Heart
As medicine moves forward, the heart of care must remain the same.
A major challenge of modern medicine is ensuring that technological progress serves, rather than supplants, the human connection. I did not fully grasp this concept during my training. I was intent on perfecting my craft, be it mastering the steps of a surgery or determining the correct differential diagnosis. All the while, I was chasing the bright shiny object, too.“ What was the next best thing in medicine?” Over time, through real patients and watching innovations go from ideas to mainstream treatments, it became clear: progress matters, but presence matters more.
This alignment is central to the National Academy of Medicine’ s
( NAM) recent publication, An Artificial Intelligence Code of Conduct for Health and Medicine( 2025). They argue that we must utilize a“ shared compass” to ensure artificial or augmented intelligence( AI) is used to“ advance humanity” and“ ensure equity,” rather than simply prioritizing speed or efficiency.
When Technology Fails to Deliver Optimal Care
While some patients may favor the convenience of options like telehealth or apps for issues like getting an antibiotic for a suspected sinus infection, this is not the way to provide optimal medical care. Overprescribing antibiotics contributes to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, making future infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of serious illness and death. It exposes patients to unnecessary side effects such as allergic reactions, gastrointestinal upset and disruption of the normal microbiome, which can lead to complications like Clostridium difficile infection. The self-diagnosing patient fails to realize the potential harm, and changing the mindset of the patient requires trusted communication.
On the other hand, when faced with a serious medical issue, such as a new cancer diagnosis, a patient’ s preference for technological convenience over human interaction is likely to diminish. With major health concerns, patients will almost certainly want the guidance of a compassionate, well-informed physician to discuss the path forward for their care. It is hard to imagine an app with an AI avatar delivering such life-altering news, saying,“ You have cancer. Analysis of thousands of studies indicates that you should undergo surgery next, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. Thank you. Have a wonderful day. Goodbye.” A patient receiving this information would immediately, and rightfully so, call non-stop to speak with a physician.
The American College of Physicians( ACP) has raised grave concerns regarding H. R. 238, the“ Healthy Technology Act of 2025,” which would allow AI and machine learning technologies to qualify as“ practitioners” eligible to prescribe drugs. The ACP rightly argues that medical prescribing is a complex process requiring human consideration of intangible factors, including patient preference, family dynamics, cost and insurance issues and disease burden, that are“ not easily amenable to algorithmic dispensation.” We have already seen examples where AI tools fabricated patient medical histories or offered harmful advice. And what if nefarious players could, for example, trick AI into prescribing addictive or harmful drugs without oversight? Technology is prone to hacks. This is a public health risk we cannot afford.
Adapting to Augmented Intelligence
Physicians have a history of successfully integrating new technologies into patient care. We have consistently adapted, learning to rely on tools like the pulse oximeter, the endoscope and advanced imaging such as CT and MRI. With each introduction, the medical profession has asked the fundamental questions: Will this benefit the patient, or will it cause harm? This history instills a necessary humility. The American Medical Association( AMA) clarifies this distinction by using the term“ augmented intelligence” rather than artificial intelligence. This change in terminology emphasizes that these tools are designed to assist the physician’ s intellect, not replace it.
Recently, I was using an ambient AI note assistant for routine clinic documentation. The time savings were real. I closed the laptop earlier, sat back down and talked with a patient about her chronic sinusitis: no
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