Episode #142. Code Meets Clinic: Hacking Healthcare with Humanity, with Dr. Joseph Izzo, Emergency Physician for Kaiser Permanente and CMIO at San Joaquin General Hospital
The core of every healthcare innovation, whether in IT, AI, or cybersecurity, must remain the patient.
In this episode, Dr. Joseph Izzo discusses his transition from programming to medicine and how that unique background allows him to bridge clinical care with technology. He shares insights on EMR optimization, the importance of AI governance, and creating safe spaces for residents to experiment with new tools. The conversation also highlights the potential of population health data, the challenges of cybersecurity, and the value of pursuing nontraditional paths in medicine. Along the way, he reflects on leadership, teamwork, and the central reminder that all progress must be in service of the patient.
Tune in and learn how healthcare leaders balance innovation, safety, and humanity in the age of AI!
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About Joseph Izzo:
Dr. Joseph Izzo is a physician leader who bridges the worlds of medicine and technology to advance patient care. As Chief Medical Information Officer at San Joaquin General Hospital, he combines his frontline experience as an emergency physician with a deep background in informatics and programming. With nearly a decade of experience spanning clinical practice, EMR optimization, AI governance, and cybersecurity, he has built a reputation for connecting clinicians and IT teams to deliver safer, smarter, and more efficient healthcare systems. Dr. Izzo completed his emergency medicine residency at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, where he also applied machine learning and mobile app development to clinical projects. Holding a BS in Chemistry from NYU and an MD from Rutgers, he now drives innovation through initiatives in data analytics, AI sandboxes, and population health, always keeping the patient at the center of every solution.
Things You’ll Learn:
- Bridging medicine and technology requires more than coding skills; it demands understanding patient care and clinical workflows at the frontline.
- AI in healthcare can dramatically improve outcomes, but it risks patient privacy and safety without proper governance and audit trails.
- EMR optimization is not just a technical challenge; it’s about designing systems that make clinicians’ work easier and safer.
- Population health data can transform recovery rates and access to care, but only if insights are paired with thoughtful implementation.
- Sometimes, the most unconventional career moves, such as switching from programming to emergency medicine, become the key to driving meaningful innovation.