Navigating the AI Diagnostic Dilemma
March 20, 2026 | 2:00 pm ET
Overview
AI is rapidly reshaping how diagnoses are made—creating new opportunities to improve accuracy, efficiency, and patient outcomes. At the same time, its expanding role in clinical decision-making introduces important challenges related to patient safety, ethics, transparency, and trust. As AI-powered tools become more embedded in diagnostic workflows, healthcare leaders must carefully balance innovation with responsible implementation.
During this webinar, experts will explore how AI can both support and complicate diagnostic decision-making. Attendees will gain practical insights into leadership strategies, stakeholder collaboration, and safe implementation approaches that ensure AI-based diagnostic technologies enhance care while remaining aligned with patient needs, values, and expectations.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Examine both the advantages and disadvantages of incorporating AI into the diagnostic process.
- Explain how leadership can work with stakeholders to make sure patient views—including concerns, expectations, and preferences—influence the design and deployment of AI-based diagnostic tools.
- Outline approaches for safely introducing AI-powered technologies when diagnosing patients.
Moderator
Shannon Kooker, MSN, RN, CPPS, CPHQ, CIC, FAPIC
Executive Director, Total Systems Safety, ECRI
With a clinical background in adult critical care nursing, Shannon specializes in infection prevention and healthcare quality improvement. Shannon has provided leadership throughout several state and national patient safety programs, including the New Jersey Sepsis Learning Action Collaborative and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services (CMS) Hospital Improvement Innovation Network. Shannon has co-led both the national CMS Sepsis and the Antimicrobial Stewardship Affinity Groups. She has published a book and several articles that focus on the importance of infection prevention. In 2016, Shannon was honored with the APIC Heroes of Infection Prevention Award by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.
Speakers
Marcus Schabacker, MD, PhD
President and Chief Executive Officer, ECRI
Dr. Marcus Schabacker became President and Chief Executive Officer of ECRI, an independent, trusted authority on the medical practices and products that provide the safest, most cost-effective care, in January 2018. A board-certified anesthesiologist and intensive care specialist, Dr. Schabacker has 35 years of healthcare experience and 20 years of senior leadership responsibilities serving the medical device and pharmaceutical industries. He held leadership roles in medical affairs, preclinical and clinical development, regulatory affairs, quality, research and development, and patient safety. After receiving his medical and academic training at the Medical University of Lubeck, Germany, Dr. Schabacker served as senior medical officer at the Mafikeng General Hospital in South Africa as part of a humanitarian aid program to support the African National Congress government under Nelson Mandela. Dr. Schabacker is an affiliate assistant professor at The Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University Chicago.
Susan Sheridan, MIM, MBA, DHL
President and CEO, Patients for Patient Safety US
Susan E. Sheridan, MIM, MBA, DHL, is president and CEO of Patients for Patient Safety (PFPS) US. She was appointed to the Patient Safety Working Group of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). Prior to her current roles, she served as the Patient and Family Engagement Adviser in the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality at the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Director of Patient Engagement of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and led the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Patients for Patient Safety initiative, a program under WHO's Patient Safety Program. Sheridan is also a member of the Institute of Healthcare Improvement Lucian Leape Institute and a member of the Future of Health, a global community of leaders whose purpose is to influence, transform and redesign the future of health. Sheridan had previously spent 10 years in patient advocacy inspired by adverse family experiences in the healthcare system.
Divvy Upadhyay, MD, MPH, CPPS, CPHRM, CPXP
Diagnostic Safety Program Leader
Dr. Divvy Upadhyay is a diagnostic safety expert trained in medicine and U.S. health policy who has spent nearly a decade advancing the operationalization of diagnostic safety within large health systems. A certified professional in health risk management, patient safety, and patient experience, he previously led diagnostic excellence efforts at Geisinger, working closely with clinical and operational leaders to implement a multidisciplinary diagnostic safety program. His work has informed diagnostic safety toolkits and initiatives from leading organizations including AHRQ, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), the National Quality Forum (NQF), RAND, and The Leapfrog Group, where he also served as an expert advisor. He was appointed to the national advisory panel for Leapfrog’s Recognizing Excellence in Diagnosis initiative. Dr. Upadhyay currently chairs the health system implementation group for Patients for Patient Safety US and serves as faculty for IHI’s AFHS/DxEx Initiative. He has also collaborated with patient safety organizations and teaches health system sciences to students.
Christine Bergerson, PhD
Device Safety Analyst, ECRI
Dr. Christie Bergerson is a consultant in the medical device space, currently working exclusively with ECRI on many topics, including AI-enabled medical devices. Prior to partnering with ECRI, Dr. Bergerson worked as a consultant at Exponent and a Systems Engineer for Abbott Laboratories R&D Diagnostics Division. Throughout her various roles, Dr. Bergerson has gained expertise in the fields of in vitro diagnostics, orthopedics and software development, with artificial intelligence being one factor tying the three niches together. Dr. Bergerson has published extensively on these topics and enjoys guest lecturing at various institutions including Johns Hopkins University and Texas A&M University. Please check out her LinkedIn profile for more information.