The Data-First AI Strategy Behind a $7M Healthcare AI ROI
Dr. Ashis Barad
EVP, Chief Transformation and Digital Information Officer
HSS
Episode Overview:
Too many healthcare organizations measure their AI maturity against their closest competitors, and it keeps them thinking small. In this episode, Dr. Ashis Barad, EVP, Chief Transformation and Digital Information Officer at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), explains why a strong AI strategy looks to pace-setters in any industry and starts with a unified data foundation. He shares how quick AI wins earned executive buy-in, why payer-provider collaboration beats an AI arms race, and why HSS is killing dashboards.
Key Moments:
Key Quotes:
The Data-First AI Strategy Behind a $7M Healthcare AI ROI“We really took the approach to say data is the foundation of AI, and we’re not really going to go after all these AI shiny objects until we get the data right.”
Dr. Ashis Barad
The Data-First AI Strategy Behind a $7M Healthcare AI ROI“I’m tired of everybody saying healthcare’s 20 years behind. I’m tired of it...We have to push ourselves to think a little bigger.”
Dr. Ashis Barad
The Data-First AI Strategy Behind a $7M Healthcare AI ROI“ One of the major fundamental flaws in healthcare data is it has grown up in four hundred different systems of record. And it's all been siloed…So if we're really going to go do this, then we need to centralize our data inside. One platform, and then we will surface all AI use cases from there.”
Dr. Ashis Barad
Mentions:
- Announcing the 2026 Databricks Customer Awards Industry winners
- The ‘Bot Vs. Bot’ Dynamic Between Providers & Payers Is Driving Up Costs for Everyone
- Hospital for Special Surgery Selects Abridge to Advance Orthopedic AI Documentation
- Hospital for Special Surgery’s Ashis Barad says AI must solve real problems
Guest Bio:
Dr. Barad is a physician leader with more than 18 years of experience in clinical medicine and various technology domains, including digital and virtual health, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics. He comes to us from Allegheny Health Network, in Pittsburgh, where he served as Chief Digital and Information Officer.
In this newly created role at HSS, Dr. Barad, who began his career as a board-certified pediatric gastroenterologist, will lead enterprise-wide technology and digital operations. He will partner with leaders throughout the organization to optimize care delivery, the patient experience, and clinical outcomes by harnessing the power of technical and digital solutions.