We asked docs how they use AI in the clinic—here’s what’s actually making their jobs easier
Industry Buzz
It's easy to overestimate the impact of AI in medicine in the next one to two years, but the impact in a decade is being grossly underestimated.
—Colin Banas, MD
[AI] lets clinicians focus on the parts of patient care that require judgment, empathy, and nuance, not the repetitive tasks that drain them.
—Annie DePasquale, MD
AI—in all its many iterations—has been integrated into nearly every aspect of working life and culture. And everyone has an opinion about it. A 2025 study from Duke University found that the use of AI damages professional reputations,[] while in the creative sphere, authors are suing over work ingested by AI language models.[]
Nonetheless, AI has already found its place in medicine, whether we like it or not. So how are doctors using it in clinical practice? MDLinx spoke to a few practicing physicians to find out.
Good news for burnout
Colin Banas, MD, Chief Medical Officer at DrFirst, believes that AI’s deepest impact is on reducing physician burnout, citing a study which found that, among physicians who used ambient AI, “burnout dropped from over 50% to under 40% in just 30 days.”[]
But that’s not all: “Expect to see AI connecting physicians, pharmacies, and payers so prescriptions arrive at the pharmacy ready to be filled, which means far fewer faxes and calls when more information is needed for prior authorizations or other requirements,” he explains.
Dr. Banas also says AI will also provide evidence-based insights right in EHR workflow to inform diagnoses and treatment decisions. “It's easy to overestimate the impact of AI in medicine in the next one to two years, but the impact in a decade is being grossly underestimated,” he says.
Better patient care
For Ari Hoschander, MD, a plastic surgeon, AI helps him in two key ways: “The first is for chart notes. I use a program (with the consent of the patient, of course) that listens to our consultations, whether in person or virtual, synthesizes and summarizes our conversation, and automatically uploads those chart notes to our EMR. It allows me to see more patients and provide better care, because I can be fully focused on our conversation and not have to worry about taking detailed notes.”
Dr. Hoschander says AI helps with imaging as well. “We have an option during the consultation process to do 3D imaging using AI software, which enables patients to get a sense for what they might look like after breast reduction surgery.” Some patients don’t opt for this tool, but it’s a good option for those who are curious, he says.
Improved outcomes
Precision is at the heart of how David Ghozland, MD, an OB/GYN specializing in pelvic reconstruction, uses AI. He also describes internal modeling tools that analyze preoperative imaging to predict how pelvic soft tissue will respond to surgical changes: "[This] is important because a variation of only 2 to 3 millimeters can cause an alteration in how the flap will settle in both vaginoplasty and perineoplasty. In many ways, it is giving me a preview of what I will see in the operating room.”
From a primary care and workforce perspective, Annie DePasquale, MD, a board-certified family physician and founder of Collaborating Docs, emphasizes AI’s role in reducing cognitive overload.
While Dr. DePasquale says AI can never replace the clinicians’ touch, “It lets clinicians focus on the parts of patient care that require judgment, empathy, and nuance, not the repetitive tasks that drain them.”
