In this episode of Practical AI in Healthcare, Dr. Steven Labkoff and Dr. Leon Rozenblit speak with ePatient Dave DeBronkart, a globally recognized advocate for patient empowerment.

Dave shares his journey from a life-threatening kidney cancer diagnosis in 2007 to becoming one of the earliest champions of open data, patient access to medical records, and of late, patient use of AI tools to help empower them along their medical journey.
He recounts how the ability to access information, share data, and join online patient communities helped save his life—and how those lessons now translate into how patients use generative AI. Dave highlights stories where AI enabled patients to identify rare diagnoses, manage health conditions, and even prepare for clinical visits.
The discussion examines how AI literacy and trust can empower patients, the ethical boundaries of sharing health data, and the evolution of patient–clinician partnerships in the era of AI.