What does the future of AI in life sciences really look like—beyond the hype?

In this episode of the AI Trailblazers Podcast, we sit down with Frank Defesche, SVP & GM of Health & Life Sciences at Salesforce, to unpack the seismic shifts happening at the intersection of AI, pharma, CRM, and compliance.

Frank shares insights from decades of leadership—from helping build Veeva, to leading Salesforce's Life Sciences strategy today. We explore how AI agents are transforming engagement models, what life sciences companies can learn from the Takeda partnership, and why now is the moment to rethink the entire CRM experience.

🔥 In this episode:

• Why the “tolerated” CRM is dead—and what’s replacing it

• The real use cases for AI agents in pharma and biotech

• What industry needs to unlearn before innovation can scale

• How Salesforce is pushing past forms and fields to build trusted, intelligent systems people actually want to use

Whether you’re in commercial operations, medical affairs, or data strategy—Frank offers a front-row seat to how AI is changing the game.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Life Sciences Cloud and AI Innovations

03:00 Ensuring Compliance in Life Sciences with AI

05:40 The Importance of Data Quality in AI Applications

08:19 Partnerships and Customer-Centric Innovations

10:37 The Role of the Partner Network in Life Sciences

15:27 Future Disruptions in Life Sciences through AI

19:10 Listening to Customer Needs in Life Sciences

21:28 Conclusion and Future Outlook

In this episode of the AI Trailblazers Podcast, we’re joined by Updesh Dosanjh, Global Lead for Pharmacovigilance Technology Solutions at IQVIA, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming drug safety at a global scale.

Updesh shares why traditional pharmacovigilance (PV) methods simply can’t keep up with today’s data volume—and how generative AI, automation, and platform thinking are helping PV teams shift from reactive to proactive safety management.

🔍 What you’ll learn in this episode:
✅ Why AI is no longer optional in pharmacovigilance
✅ How GenAI is streamlining signal detection and case processing
✅ Why scaling PV isn’t about hiring more—it’s about thinking differently
✅ The biggest mistake teams make when starting their AI journey
✅ Why platforms (not point solutions) are the future of safety innovation

Whether you're in drug safety, regulatory affairs, or digital transformation, this conversation is packed with real-world insights and bold thinking from one of the industry's leaders.

In this episode, we sit down with Andy Chang, Chief Marketing Officer at UChicago Medicine, to explore how one of the nation’s leading academic health systems is preparing its teams for an AI-driven future.

Andy shares how UChicago Medicine is embracing AI and automation to modernize patient engagement, marketing, and growth strategies—while making sure its people stay at the center of the transformation.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why reskilling in AI and data literacy is critical for healthcare teams
• How UChicago Medicine is moving beyond outdated tools like fax and CD-ROMs
• Why cultural change—not just technology—is key to AI success
• How AI is helping shift healthcare from a cost-driven to a growth-driven mindset

If you’re leading or navigating digital transformation in healthcare, this is a masterclass in what it really takes to future-proof your organization and your people.

Tune in now to hear how Andy and his team are shaping the future of healthcare, one skill at a time.

Links:

• Andy Chang on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-chang-055216/
• UChicago Medicine: https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to AI in Healthcare

03:43 Andy Chang's Journey to UChicago Medicine

06:55 Elevate 2035: Strategic Vision for Growth

09:47 The Role of AI in Transforming Healthcare

12:54 Addressing Technical Debt in Healthcare

15:54 Cultural Change and Innovation in Healthcare

18:35 Empowering Teams for Future Growth

22:04 The Importance of Continuous Learning

24:50 AI as a Tool for Efficiency and Quality

27:44 Conclusion and Future Outlook

In this episode of the AI Trailblazers Podcast, we sit down with George Godfrey, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Baptist Health South Florida, to explore how AI, automation, and Salesforce came together to transform healthcare’s most overlooked power center: the supply chain.

George shares the behind-the-scenes story of Health Chain—an AI-enabled CRM solution that started at Baptist and is now scaling nationally. He walks us through how their team reduced backorder resolution times from 64 days to just 9, cut invoice processing delays, and redefined ROI across the organization.

🔍 In this episode, you’ll learn:✅ Why AI is essential in healthcare supply chains✅ How Baptist Health used Salesforce to solve system-wide breakdowns✅ What makes Health Chain a model for other health systems✅ Why George says “AI doesn’t call in sick”—and why that matters now more than ever

If you’re in healthcare, operations, or just curious how AI is being used to solve real, complex problems, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode of AI Trailblazers, we sit down with ⁠Marilyn McDonald⁠—product leader, Moderna alum, and co-founder of ⁠Yokai Labs⁠—to unpack how the best AI strategies in healthcare are often born from tight regulatory constraints.

Key takeaways:

✅ How Moderna scaled its COVID response

✅ Why compliance isn’t a blocker—it’s a design opportunity

✅ How to build AI that solves “the stuff that sucks”

✅ The magic wand test: why every AI project should start with a real human problem

Marilyn brings a rare blend of product discipline, AI insight, and real-world healthcare experience. If you work at the intersection of innovation and regulation, this episode is for you.

🔗 Learn more about Marilyn’s work:🎧 Podcast: ⁠Practical Product Management⁠💼 LinkedIn: ⁠Marilyn McDonald⁠🌐 Company: ⁠Yokai Labs⁠

Episode Chapters:

00:00 – Intro: AI, Product Thinking & Regulated Innovation

02:05 – Scaling Moderna’s COVID Response

06:50 – Starting with the Problem (The Magic Wand Test)

10:30 – Don’t Fear the Regulator: Turning Constraints into Strategy

14:45 – AI and Product Design: Solving the Stuff That Sucks

19:10 – Building with Unstructured Data vs. Data Warehouses

22:00 – Final Takeaways: Design, Trust & Human-Centered AI

24:40 – Outro: Where to Find Marilyn McDonald

🚀 AI agents are transforming healthcare—are you ready?

In this episode of AI Trailblazers, we sit down with Johanna DeYoung, Global Industry Lead for Healthcare & Life Sciences at Slalom, to explore how AI agents are reshaping the healthcare workforce, driving efficiency, and unlocking new possibilities.

🔹 What AI agents are—and why they matter for healthcare

🔹 How AI is redefining workforce roles and automating complex tasks

🔹 Why 90% of healthcare data goes unused—and how AI can fix it

🔹 The biggest AI-driven disruptions coming to healthcare & life sciences

🔹 How leaders can move beyond experimentation to real AI impact

With nearly two decades of experience, Johanna shares practical insights on integrating AI agents, overcoming adoption barriers, and driving meaningful change in healthcare.

💡 Want to connect with Johanna?
Find her on LinkedIn: Johanna DeYoung

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background on Ferries

00:56 Joanna DeYoung's Role and Insights on Healthcare

03:53 AI Trends and the Future of Healthcare

06:27 Generative AI vs. Agentic AI

09:13 Expectations and Challenges in AI Implementation

12:14 Flow Engineering and Process Optimization

14:58 The Role of Data in Healthcare

17:28 Unlocking Data for Clinical Trials

20:20 The Importance of Business Processes

23:04 The Future of AI in Healthcare

25:50 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

How is AI transforming healthcare and insurance? In this episode of the AI Trailblazers Podcast, hosts David Fung and David Samwel sit down with Bob Heyl, Chief Technology Officer at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, to explore how AI is driving digital transformation, intelligent automation, and operational efficiency in healthcare.

Bob shares insights on:
✅ How CareFirst is leveraging AI to streamline operations and enhance member experiences.
✅ The challenges of balancing AI innovation with regulatory compliance and data privacy.
✅ The evolving role of AI agents, automation, and governance in healthcare.

This is a must-listen for anyone looking to understand the intersection of AI, healthcare, and insurance—straight from a leader on the frontlines of digital transformation.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to AI in Healthcare

02:09 Care First's Digital Transformation Journey

03:53 Intelligent Automation and Productivity

07:45 AI Technologies and Their Applications

11:19 Responsible AI and Data Privacy

16:47 Overcoming Barriers in AI Implementation

22:49 Fostering a Learning Mindset in the Workforce

28:38 Exciting Trends in AI Technology

In this episode of the AI Trailblazers podcast, David Fung and David Samwel engage with James Turner, a technology executive from Bayer, to discuss the transformative role of AI and digital technologies in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

James Turner draws from his extensive expertise in commercial IT and consumer health to share transformative insights on the evolving role of data, the pursuit of operational excellence, and advancements in personalized care. In this engaging discussion, he explores the delicate balance between maintaining compliance and safeguarding data privacy while leveraging AI to drive innovation. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and an unwavering curiosity, James highlights the critical factors propelling progress and shaping the future of the healthcare industry.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:59 Digital Transformation in Pharma

06:46 AI in Consumer Health and Operational Efficiency

10:07 Personalized Healthcare and AI Integration

12:06 Learning from Smaller Companies

16:57 AI Opportunities in R&D and Supply Chain

19:24 Rethinking Linear Processes in Pharma

21:16 The Role of Technology in Supply Chain Management

24:29 Balancing Data Privacy and Compliance in Pharma

32:16 Leveraging AI and Advanced Technologies

36:52 The Human Element in Problem Solving

Keywords

AI, digital transformation, healthcare, Bayer, consumer health, personalized care, data privacy, supply chain, R&D, technology