AI in Health

Healthcare is being pushed to its limits. Workforce shortages are growing. Clinician burnout is accelerating. Consumers are demanding a radically different experience. And artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a future concept-it is rapidly becoming the foundation of a new kind of healthcare system. In this bold and timely second edition of AI in Health, internationally recognized AI advisor and former Microsoft health executive Tom Lawry presents a compelling operating guide for leaders navigating the rise of Intelligent Health Systems-organizations that use AI, data, and connected technologies to deliver more proactive, personalized, efficient, and human-centered care. At its core, this book makes a powerful argument: done right, AI is not about replacing people. It is about empowering them. Empowering clinicians with more time to care. Empowering leaders with better intelligence and decision-making. Empowering patients and consumers with greater access, insight, and control over their health. Blending powerful storytelling, practical insight, and real-world examples from across healthcare, pharma, and technology, AI in Health shows leaders how to move beyond experimentation and begin building the next generation of healthcare organizations. Urgent, visionary, and deeply practical, this is essential reading for anyone determined to help shape the future of healthcare.

Tom Lawry is an internationally recognized authority on artificial intelligence, healthcare transformation, and the future of Intelligent Health Systems. He is the Managing Director of Second Century Tech and a former Microsoft executive whose work is helping health systems, governments, and global organizations navigate one of the most consequential shifts in the history of healthcare. Tom previously served as Microsoft's National Director for AI in Health and Life Sciences, as well as Director of Worldwide Health and Director of Organizational Performance for Microsoft's first health incubator. His career also includes leadership roles with GE Healthcare, founding two venture-backed healthcare technology companies, and serving as a health system executive and board member. Known for translating complex technologies into practical leadership strategies, Tom is widely recognized for his ability to cut through the hype surrounding AI and focus leaders on what matters most: creating measurable impact at scale while restoring humanity to healthcare. Tom is the best-selling author of AI in Health, Hacking Healthcare, and Health Care Nation. His work and views have appeared in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, CEO Magazine, CNET, South China Morning Post, and other global publications. In 2025, he was named one of the world's "Top 20 AI Voices to Follow."

Section 1: Gradually, Then Suddenly. 1. Gradually, Then Suddenly. 2. A Lesson Hiding in Plain Sight. 3. The Future Is Not What It Used to Be. 4. The Intelligent Health Consumer. 5. The Coming Care Calamity. 6. Hitting Healthcare's Workforce Wall. 7. From Crisis to Capability: AI as a Workforce Multiplier. 8. The Rise of Intelligent Health Systems. 9. Where AI Is Actually Working in Healthcare. Section 2: An AI Primer for Health Leaders. 10. You Can't Lead What You Haven't Defined. 11. AI Is One Thing and Many Things. 12. What AI Does Well, and What Only You Can Do. 13. How AI Creates Value. 14. How AI Changes Decision-Making. Section 3: Becoming an Intelligent Health Leader. 15. Find and Follow AI's True North. 16. Mastering Your AI Learning Journey. 17. Technology Changes Fast. People Do Not. 18. Is AI Part of Your HR Plan? 19. Creating a Modern Data Estate. 20. Leading AI Responsibly. 21. Governance-Making Responsible AI Real. 22. The Hard and Soft Skills of Intelligent Health Leaders. 23. The Art and Science of Thinking Differently. 24. Seven Reasons Why AI Innovation Fails to Scale. 25. From Aspiration to Execution. 26. The Future of AI in Health and Medicine. Section 4: AI Processes-Tips and Tools. 27. Establish an AI Leadership Charter. 28. Develop an AI Vision Statement. 29. Develop an AI Workforce Development and Engagement Program. 30. Evaluating and Selecting AI Use Cases. 31. Develop a Scoring Rubric for AI Use Case Prioritization. 32. Establish a Staff and Clinician-Driven AI Use Case Submission Process. 33. Establish an AI-Vendor Partnership Dashboard. 34. Responsible AI Resources. Section 5: Appendix. An AI Glossary for Healthcare Executives. From Gods to Geeks: A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence.