Episode #143. When Machines Predict, Humans Protect with Bob Berbeco, CIO of Mahaska Health
How can healthcare harness AI while keeping ethics front and center?
In this episode, Bob Berbeco, CIO of Mahaska Health, discusses building a Data Science and AI Center of Excellence to advance predictive modeling, machine learning, and research with ethical governance. He also highlights the importance of listening with a beginner’s mind, simplifying technology conversations, and balancing the promise and risks of AI in healthcare.
Tune in to hear how technology leaders can shape innovation while keeping patient care at the core!
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About Bob Berbeco:
As the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Mahaska Health, I lead the organization’s information technology, data science, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and informatics strategies, ensuring seamless technology integration to enhance patient care and operational efficiency. I’ve held senior leadership roles in informatics and IT services.
Before Mahaska Health, I led informatics and information services at Indiana University Health (IU Health), overseeing key functional areas such as health plans, vendor relationships, procurement, contracting, demand management, and executive leadership of system-wide regional site leaders.
Before my tenure at IU Health, I served as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Adult & Child Health. The Indianapolis Business Journal honored me as a CTO of the Year. While there, I spearheaded the development of an enterprise data warehouse, consolidating data from multiple electronic medical records (EMRs), finance systems, external claims, and HR platforms. I also led the Data Governance initiative, significantly improving data literacy and reporting accuracy across the organization.
Beyond Adult & Child Health, I’ve been a senior leader in the healthcare technology sector, with specialized expertise in predictive analytics, process optimization, ADKAR change management, service line administration, business intelligence, data governance, experience design, demand management, information security, and Six Sigma (Black Belt certification).
I extend my expertise beyond healthcare, actively contributing to the arts and academic communities. I serve on the Board of Directors for the Indianapolis Ballet and the Indiana University School of Science. My contributions to academia were recognized when I received the Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor granted by the Science Alumni Association. This award celebrates my impact on the School of Science, science-related professions, and the Indiana University Indianapolis campus.
I’m deeply committed to fostering collaboration, mentoring emerging talent, and making a positive daily impact in healthcare and beyond.
Things You’ll Learn:
- Mahaska Health is building a Data Science and AI Center of Excellence to drive predictive modeling, machine learning, research, and ethical governance.
- Effective collaboration with clinicians begins with listening through a beginner’s mind and aligning technology to their daily needs.
- Communicating with boards and executives requires simplifying complex technology into clear, priority-focused messages.
- Artificial intelligence in healthcare holds great promise but also presents risks such as bias, errors, and black-box decision-making, which must be mitigated with ethical oversight.
- Continuous curiosity, adaptability, patience, and learning from smart collaborators fuel professional growth and innovation.
- Future healthcare IT leaders must focus on customer needs, maintain humility, adopt a learner’s mindset, and design technology that reduces clinician burnout while improving patient care.