In this episode of the Big Ideas series, Dean Lloyd Minor welcomes Joseph DeSimone, PhD, professor of translational medicine and of chemical engineering at Stanford University, for a conversation about how advances in materials science and precision manufacturing are opening new frontiers in medicine. They explore DeSimone's pioneering innovations in polymer-based drug delivery, biodegradable stents, digitally fabricated dentures, high-speed 3D printing, and microneedle patches that could improve vaccine delivery and enable new forms of liquid biopsy. They also discuss the promise of AI to integrate molecular diagnostics and other health data, helping to make precision health more actionable and widely accessible.
Jul 15
34 min
Dean Lloyd Minor welcomes William Brody, MD, PhD, president emeritus of Johns Hopkins University, for a conversation about leadership, critical thinking, and lessons from his career spanning academia, medicine, and entrepreneurship. They discuss insights from Brody's 2026 book "Uncommon Sense: Rethinking Ordinary Problems in Extraordinary Ways," including the roles of preparation and opportunity in success, the importance of authenticity in leadership and the value of building meaningful relationships over collecting accolades. They also explore Brody’s philosophy as president of Johns Hopkins, as well as the benefits of questioning conventional wisdom.
Jun 18
42 min
In this episode of the Big Idea series, Dean Lloyd Minor welcomes Freddy Abnousi, MD, vice president of health technology at Meta and an interventional cardiologist, for a conversation about how artificial intelligence and augmented reality have the potential to transform preventative health care. They discuss how ambient AI, wearables, and smart glasses can capture valuable health information from “lived experience” that is often missed in medical records, helping to avert or manage chronic conditions. They also explore the critical challenges ahead for AI in health, from privacy concerns to workflow integration, as well as what these rapid advances mean for the future of medical education.
May 28
37 min
Dean Lloyd Minor welcomes Eric Horvitz, MD, PhD, chief scientific officer at Microsoft, for a conversation about the rapid evolution of AI and its implications for how we think, work, and make decisions. They discuss the accelerating pace of AI advances, the need to safeguard human judgment and agency, and the growing role of these technologies in health care — from easing administrative burden to supporting complex clinical decisions. They also explore how AI is reshaping scientific discovery and what it will take to guide its development responsibly.
Apr 22
41 min
Dean Lloyd Minor welcomes Dhruv Khullar, MD, contributing writer to The New Yorker and associate professor at the Weill Cornell School of Medicine, for a conversation about AI’s evolving role in health care. They discuss its potential to enhance diagnosis, reduce administrative burden, improve the patient experience, and accelerate drug discovery, while also examining the risks of overreliance and clinician de-skilling. They also explore how AI will reshape medical education, and why communication, trust, and the enduring practice of healing will remain central to the future of medicine.
Feb 18
25 min
In this episode of the Big Idea series, Dean Lloyd Minor welcomes Lucy Shapiro, PhD, for a conversation about how her unconventional thinking unlocked new insights about how bacterial cells behave, fundamentally changing how scientists understand cells and laying the groundwork for systems biology. They explore how her research informed new approaches to treating infections and other diseases, and how these advances opened new paths for developing antibacterial and antifungal drugs to fight superbugs. They also discuss the biological threat posed by antimicrobial resistance and ways that the global community can prepare for the next pandemic.
Jan 14
36 min
Dean Lloyd Minor welcomes Sarah Soule, Dean of the Stanford Graduate School of Business, for a conversation about how leaders, organizations, and the GSB itself are evolving in a rapidly changing world. During the GSB’s centennial year, they explore the school’s leadership model — emphasizing self-awareness, perspective taking, communication, and deep listening — and how its entrepreneurial culture has inspired alumni whose bold ideas became transformative companies. They also discuss the future or organizational behavior and her vision for the school’s next chapter, including new initiatives in investing, leadership development, and the future of work and AI.
Dec 10, 2025
38 min
In this episode of the Big Idea series, Dean Lloyd Minor welcomes Eric Topol, MD, author of Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity, for a conversation about why immune health may be more important than genetics in promoting healthy aging. They explore how lifestyle factors like sleep, diet, and exercise strengthen the body’s defenses, shaping longevity beyond our genes. They also discuss how emerging technologies, from wearable sensors to genetic risk tools, could make personalized prevention a reality for all.
Nov 12, 2025
31 min
In an episode of his Big Idea series, Dean Lloyd Minor welcomes Stanford neuroscientist Karl Deisseroth, MD, PhD, for a conversation about how his groundbreaking research is reshaping our understanding of the brain and the experiences that define us as human. They delve into the origins of optogenetics — a revolutionary technology Deisseroth pioneered using light to map how the brain drives emotion and behavior — and they explore his vision for Stanford Medicine’s Human Neural Circuitry research program. Deisseroth also reflects on the beauty of scientific discovery, the role of humility in research, and how advances in brain science are opening new avenues for understanding and treating mental illness.
Oct 15, 2025
40 min
Dean Lloyd Minor welcomes Jeremy Kahn, award-winning journalist and AI Editor at Fortune, for a conversation about the transformative potential and societal risks of artificial intelligence. They discuss opportunities for AI to accelerate medical breakthroughs and personalize education, as well as the threat of overreliance on AI to critical thinking, writing, and social skills. They also explore how AI is reshaping jobs and business models, the role of regulation in balancing innovation with safety, and the geopolitical stakes as global competition in AI intensifies.
Sep 16, 2025
40 min
Load more