Short introduction Meet Faisal Zain, a trailblazer in healthcare innovation with deep expertise in medical technology and a proven track record in advancing diagnostic and treatment devices. With a career dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in healthcare, Faisal offers a unique perspective on how AI and digital transformation are poised to revolutionize the industry. In this interview, we dive into the future of healthcare by 2035, exploring skyrocketing costs, the potential of digital-first models, the role of cutting-edge tech like robotics and wearables, and the systemic shifts needed to adapt to an aging population and evolving care demands.
How do you see U.S. healthcare spending climbing to $8.6 trillion by 2035, and what are the biggest drivers behind this surge?
The projection of healthcare spending reaching $8.6 trillion by 2035 is staggering but not surprising. We’re looking at a perfect storm of factors. An aging population is a huge driver—more people over 65 means a spike in demand for chronic and long-term care, which is expensive. At the same time, advancements in medical tech, while lifesaving, often come with high costs for development and implementation. Add to that the inefficiencies in our current system—fragmented care, administrative bloat, and rising labor costs—and you’ve got a recipe for unsustainable spending. Without systemic changes, like leveraging AI to streamline operations, these costs will keep ballooning.
Why do you think healthcare costs are spiraling at such an unsustainable pace right now?
Right now, costs are out of control because the system is built on outdated models. Care delivery is fragmented, with too many disconnected players, which leads to redundancies and errors. Administrative overhead is another massive burden—think of the hours spent on paperwork and billing disputes. Then there’s the rising price of treatments and drugs, often without clear justification. We’re also dealing with a reactive rather than preventive approach to care, which means we’re spending more on emergencies and late-stage interventions instead of catching issues early. It’s a broken cycle that needs a complete overhaul.
With an aging population expected to outnumber younger Americans soon, how will this demographic shift impact the need for chronic and geriatric care?
This shift is going to reshape healthcare demand dramatically. By 2035, with more Americans over 65 than under 18, we’re looking at a huge uptick in chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis, as well as age-related issues like dementia. These aren’t quick-fix problems; they require ongoing, often intensive care. Geriatric care will need to scale up fast, not just in hospitals but in homes and communities. This also means we’ll need more specialized providers and caregivers, which is a challenge given the current shortages. Technology, like remote monitoring, will have to step in to bridge some of these gaps.
What challenges come with having fewer younger, healthier workers to support healthcare funding as the population ages?
This is a critical issue. Fewer younger, healthier workers means a smaller tax base and less funding for public programs like Medicare. It also means fewer people paying into private insurance pools, which drives up premiums for everyone. The economic strain is real—governments and employers will struggle to cover the rising costs of care for an older, sicker population. We might see more pressure to raise taxes or cut benefits, both of which are politically tricky. Long-term, we’ll need innovative funding models, perhaps tied to tech-driven efficiencies, to keep the system afloat.
How big of a problem is physician burnout, and what does the projected doctor shortage mean for future care delivery?
Physician burnout is a crisis right now—about 45% of doctors report feeling overwhelmed, and it’s not hard to see why with the administrative load and long hours. This directly impacts care quality and patient safety. Couple that with a projected shortfall of doctors in the coming years, and we’re staring at a future where access to care could be severely limited, especially in rural or underserved areas. It means we’ll need to rethink care delivery—relying more on nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and technology like AI to triage and manage routine cases so doctors can focus on complex needs.
What does a ‘digital-first’ healthcare model look like in practical, everyday terms?
A digital-first model flips the traditional approach on its head. Instead of starting with a physical visit to a doctor’s office, your first interaction is through a virtual platform—think an app or telehealth portal. You might report symptoms, get a preliminary diagnosis via AI tools, or consult a provider remotely. Prescriptions, follow-ups, even some tests can be managed digitally. It’s about convenience and efficiency, making care accessible from your phone or home. For providers, it means less overhead on brick-and-mortar facilities and more focus on scalable, tech-driven solutions.
How can AI help ease the administrative burdens that weigh down healthcare providers?
AI has immense potential here. It can automate tedious tasks like scheduling, billing, and coding, which eat up so much of a provider’s time. For instance, AI can process insurance claims faster by flagging errors before submission. It can also handle patient intake by collecting medical histories through chatbots, freeing up staff for more hands-on work. Beyond that, AI can analyze data to streamline workflows—say, predicting no-show appointments and adjusting schedules. The goal is to let clinicians focus on patients, not paperwork, and save millions in overhead costs.
In what ways can AI-powered workflows help tackle clinician burnout?
Clinician burnout often stems from feeling overwhelmed by non-clinical tasks, and AI can take a lot of that off their plates. By automating documentation—think voice-to-text for patient notes or AI summarizing medical records—doctors spend less time typing and more time engaging with patients. AI can also prioritize urgent cases by flagging critical test results or symptoms, so clinicians aren’t bogged down sorting through data. It’s about giving them breathing room to focus on what they trained for—caring for people—which can make a huge difference in their job satisfaction.
Can you share some examples of how virtual-first platforms could make healthcare more home-centered and accessible?
Absolutely. Virtual-first platforms are game-changers for accessibility. Imagine a patient with mobility issues or someone in a rural area—they can consult a specialist via video call without traveling hours. Chronic condition management, like diabetes, can happen through apps that track blood sugar and send alerts to both patient and doctor if something’s off. Mental health support is another big area—therapy sessions can be done from the comfort of home. Even follow-up care after surgery can be virtual, with patients uploading wound photos for review. It’s care that meets people where they are.
How do you think technologies like wearables and sensors will change daily health monitoring?
Wearables and sensors are turning health monitoring into a 24/7, real-time process. Devices like smartwatches can track heart rate, sleep patterns, and even detect irregular rhythms, alerting you or your doctor to potential issues before they become emergencies. Sensors in the home could monitor seniors for falls or unusual activity, sending notifications to caregivers. This continuous data flow allows for earlier interventions and shifts care from reactive to proactive. Over time, it could reduce hospital visits by catching problems early, saving both lives and costs.
How realistic is the idea of drone delivery for faster care access in remote areas by 2035?
Drone delivery for healthcare is very promising, especially for remote or underserved areas. By 2035, I think it’s quite realistic, given how fast drone tech is advancing. We’re already seeing trials for delivering medications, blood samples, and medical supplies in places like Africa and rural parts of the U.S. Drones can cut delivery times from hours to minutes, which is critical in emergencies. The challenges are regulatory—ensuring safety and airspace management—and infrastructure, like setting up landing zones. But with the right investments, this could be a standard tool in healthcare logistics.
What role do you envision for genomics and digital twins in creating more personalized, predictive healthcare?
Genomics and digital twins are at the forefront of personalized medicine. Genomics allows us to tailor treatments based on a person’s genetic makeup—for example, identifying which cancer drugs will work best for a specific patient. Digital twins, which are virtual models of a patient’s body or organs, can simulate how a treatment might play out before it’s even tried, reducing risks. Together, they shift healthcare from a one-size-fits-all approach to something predictive and precise, catching diseases before symptoms even show. It’s a future where care is truly individualized.
What challenges might arise if hospitals shrink to modular hubs for acute cases while most care moves to the home?
This transition sounds ideal, but it’s not without hurdles. First, not every home is equipped for complex care—think unreliable internet for telehealth or lack of space for medical equipment. There’s also the issue of caregiver burden; family members might be expected to handle more, which isn’t always feasible. Then you’ve got equity concerns—lower-income or rural patients might not have access to the tech needed for home-based care. Hospitals shrinking to modular hubs also means fewer beds for emergencies, so planning for surges, like during pandemics, will be critical. It’s a balancing act.
How can robotics support healthcare, both in clinical settings and at home?
Robotics is a game-changer on multiple fronts. In hospitals, robots can assist with surgeries, offering precision that reduces recovery times, or handle repetitive tasks like delivering supplies, freeing up nurses. At home, robotic companions can help seniors with daily activities—think reminding them to take meds or even assisting with mobility. They can also monitor vital signs and alert providers if something’s wrong. The beauty of robotics is it augments human care, letting clinicians focus on complex cases while providing consistent support to patients wherever they are.
What does it mean for physicians to become ‘data orchestrators’ using AI, and how might this change their daily work?
The idea of physicians as ‘data orchestrators’ is about leveraging AI to make sense of the massive amounts of health data we generate. Instead of drowning in charts, doctors will use AI tools to triage patients, spot risks, and recommend personalized plans based on data from wearables, tests, and medical histories. Their daily work shifts from mundane tasks to high-level decision-making—focusing on clinical judgment rather than paperwork. It’s a more strategic role, but it’ll require training to trust and interpret AI outputs, ensuring the human touch isn’t lost in the process.
What are some of the biggest barriers healthcare leaders face when shifting resources from outdated systems to next-generation models?
The barriers are significant. First, there’s the inertia of legacy systems—hospitals and insurers have sunk billions into infrastructure that’s hard to abandon overnight. Financially, the upfront costs of adopting AI, virtual platforms, and other tech are daunting, especially for smaller players. Then there’s resistance to change—both cultural, among staff used to traditional methods, and regulatory, with strict rules around data privacy and tech adoption. Plus, there’s the risk of inequity; not all patients or providers can access cutting-edge tools. Leaders need bold strategies and partnerships to overcome these roadblocks.
What is your forecast for the future of healthcare by 2035?
By 2035, I believe healthcare will be unrecognizable in the best way. We’ll see a system that’s far more proactive and personalized, driven by AI, wearables, and genomics. Care will largely move out of hospitals into homes and communities, supported by virtual platforms and robotics. Costs could stabilize if we get the tech adoption right, though equity will remain a challenge—ensuring everyone benefits from these advances is critical. I also expect new players, maybe even tech giants, to disrupt the space, forcing traditional providers to adapt or get left behind. It’s an exciting, if complex, road ahead.
