Reservoir Communications Group recently held the 2025 Convening of Reservoir’s Advocacy & Alliance Network (RAAN), “The Future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Health Care: Innovations, Equity and Impact.” The dynamic event brought together leaders and changemakers from across the health care spectrum to explore one of the most transformative forces in health: Artificial Intelligence.  

From care delivery and diagnostics to data systems and equity, the conversation was rich with real-world insights centered on the questions: where is this technology taking us and how do we ensure everyone benefits? Here’s a recap of the conversation. 

Why AI, and Why Now? 

Artificial Intelligence is here today, evolving fast and reshaping health care. With the ability to learn, adapt and improve, AI is unlocking new doors in patient care and health research. With the FDA completing its first AI-assisted scientific review and rolling out an aggressive agency-wide strategy, it’s clear: the future of health care innovation will be powered, in part, by AI.  

That makes conversations like the recent RAAN Convening timely and urgent. Whether it’s flagging hard-to-diagnose diseases, automating time-consuming tasks like charting, expanding telehealth access or generating new research insights in record time, AI holds immense promise. But like any powerful tool, it also demands thoughtful use—and that’s exactly what RAAN members came together to explore. 

Key Insights 

During the convening, RAAN members discussed the evolving role of AI in health care from their respective vantage points, its potential to transform care delivery, and the importance of using this new technology responsibly and equitably. Three key insights arose: 

• AI is accelerating health care processes. 

One of AI’s most immediate impacts is its ability to streamline health care operations. Its capacity to sort and organize data with speed and precision is already improving diagnostics and reducing administrative burden. As one RAAN member put it: “AI can help sift through data and help health care providers better use the results to better serve their communities. We can [also] use data to better identify the highest value providers and send patients to the highest value providers.” Ultimately, AI’s speed and power can give providers more time for what matters most—improving outcomes by caring for patients holistically.  

• Stakeholders must ensure equity in AI development. 

Members stressed that if AI is to truly advance health care, it must do so for all. Described as “A Tale of Two Cities,” AI can represent progress for some communities while reinforcing structural barriers for others. One RAAN member noted, “There are certain biases that are implicit in the make-up of AI which allow for the intrusion of unfavorable aspects. Someone somewhere is going to be responsible for programming AI systems and historically underserved communities need to be included in that process.”  

Others raised concerns about global inequity, noting that AI systems are trained on data from high income countries. “What about middle to low-income countries?” one member asked. “AI can help in detecting region-specific illness if it is tailored to specific populations.” The message was clear: equity, a guiding principle in health care, is about access as much as it is about design, development and deployment of AI tools.  

• The human elements in health care must be preserved. 

While AI can optimize processes, it should not replace the human connection that defines health care. Members voiced a shared hope that AI will enable clinicians to spend more time building patient relationships. One RAAN member asked, “Is it saving us time, so we have more time to holistically care for patients? As AI grows, how do we get better at the human aspects of health care?” Another added, “AI has no self-defining quality other than what we give it. But we need to look at it purely as a tool. We need to preserve the human element and keep checks in the system.” The future of AI should enhance the compassionate side of medicine, not replace it.     

As AI embeds across the health care landscape—from federal regulatory reviews to one-on-one care—its influence will continue to grow. That’s why gatherings like the RAAN Convening are so important. They provide space not just to react to change, but to shape it. If we want AI to promote health for all, preserve the human touch in care and unlock smarter, more sustainable systems, we must be proactive. The future isn’t waiting—and neither should we. 

Learn more about the Reservoir Advocacy & Alliance Network here. If you would like to consult a member of the RAAN, reach out to Michelle Nealy, Lee Lynch or Chrystine Zacherau.