Dr. Robert Pearl is a healthcare leader, author, educator, podcaster and Forbes contributor. For 18 years, he led The Permanente Medical Group (Kaiser Permanente). He is a clinical professor of plastic surgery at the Stanford University School of Medicine and on the faculty at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Pearl is board certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery. He's the author of three books: "Mistreated: Why We Think We're Getting Good Healthcare—And Why We're Usually Wrong," a Washington Post bestseller (2017); "Uncaring: How the Culture of Medicine Kills Doctors & Patients," a Kirkus star recipient (2021); and his newest book "ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine" (April 2024). All profits from his books go to Doctors Without Borders. Follow him for deep analysis on American healthcare.
GenAI Will Replace Much Of What Clinicians Do — It’s Already Started
Technology companies and health systems have in recent years insisted large language models would assist and support clinicians, not replace them. They're already wrong.
What ‘The Pitt’ Gets Right And Wrong About Generative AI In Medicine
A recent episode of HBO's "The Pitt" tackles generative AI in medicine, getting some things right, some wrong and leaving out one of the most interesting parts entirely.
3 Healthcare Threats That Will Soon Become Too Big To Solve
Course correction in healthcare is inherently slow. And by the time leaders act, threats often become too large to reverse.
Healthcare In 2026: How Much Change Should We Expect?
Midterm elections and surging healthcare costs are colliding in 2026. Here’s what these pressures may force politicians, insurers and drugmakers to do.
Healthcare In 2025: A Year Of Chaos, Confusion — But Little Improvement
A yearlong pattern of intense disruption followed by little improvement played out across nearly every major healthcare storyline in 2025.