TDP 117: MaineHealth's CIO, Dr. Daniel Nigrin: From DJ to Physician CIO, Thinking About Scale Before You Pilot, and Exploring AI With Eyes Wide Open

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On this episode of "The Digital Patient" podcast, hosts Alan Sardana & Dr. Joshua Liu speak with Dr. Daniel Nigrin, Chief Information Officer at MaineHealth, about his journey "From DJ to Physician CIO, Thinking About Scale Before You Pilot, Exploring AI With Eyes Wide Open, and more..." Click the play button to listen or read the show notes below.
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Audio:

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Video:

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Guest(s):

• Dr. Daniel Nigrin, Chief Information Officer at MaineHealth
• Dr. Joshua Liu (@joshuapliu), Co-founder & CEO at SeamlessMD

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‍Episode 117 - Show Notes:

[00:01:02] How Dr. Nigrin was introduced to pediatric endocrinology through his father's influence and early exposure to patient care at his home;

[00:02:12] Dr. Nigrin's personal experience with type one diabetes shaping his choice to specialize in pediatric endocrinology;

[00:02:55] The beginning of Dr. Nigrin's interest in computing and technology during his school years, leading to his future career in medical informatics;

[00:04:38] Dr. Nigrin's thoughts on choosing medicine over technology if he were to go through school in the present day;

[00:06:02] Discussion on the potential of AI in medicine to alleviate stress and burnout among healthcare professionals;

[00:09:04] Dr. Nigrin's journey into DJing and electronic music, starting in college and progressing to nightclubs and launching a record label;

[00:14:05] Dr. Nigrin's perspective on generative AI in music and its potential impact on the future of the music industry;

[00:16:36] How creativity and innovation in music creation parallel with healthcare technology implementation;

[00:19:56] Lessons learned from dealing with a cyberattack at Boston Children's Hospital and its impact on healthcare IT;

[00:22:53] Dr. Nigrin discusses the increasing need for cybersecurity investment in healthcare and its implications;

[00:24:47] Motivations behind Dr. Nigrin's move to Maine Health and exploring new challenges outside the pediatric realm;

[00:27:32] Strategies employed at Maine Health for enhancing patient experience and digital engagement in healthcare;

[00:29:53] Discussing the success criteria and impact of ambient voice documentation technology in healthcare settings;

[00:34:01] The importance of considering scalability and future implications when conducting pilots of new healthcare technologies;

[00:38:51] The process and considerations behind piloting ambient technology at MaineHealth.

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Fast 5 Lightning Round:‍

1. What do you think, if anything, younger generations are missing when it comes to electronic music today – given how accessible digital is compared to analog?
Vinyl! The artwork! I hope there’s a resurgence of vinyl and vinyl in electronic music…

2. What was your secret desire in 1976 and did you ever get a Moog?
My Secret Desire was an essay I wrote in the sixth grade that expressed my desire to obtain a Moog synthesizer. I did get one, but eventually sold it.

3. Would you rather have super speed, super strength, or the ability to read people's minds?
Mind reading.

4. What is something in healthcare you believe that others might find insane?
AI in healthcare… I believe is a tool for good, improving care and efficiency despite some skepticism.

5. If you could travel back in time to any event or moment, what would it be and why?
Witnessing the first human moon landing for its historical excitement and emotion.