Ep. 191 AI in Laryngology: Enhancing Patient Diagnosis with Dr. Anthony Law

BackTable ENT

Artificial Intelligence (AI) already powers search results and chat bots, but what if it could help physicians diagnose cancer? In this episode of the BackTable ENT podcast, laryngologist Dr. Anthony Law of Emory University discusses applications of AI to laryngology with host Dr. Ashley Agan and guest host Dr. Mihir Patel, also of Emory.

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SYNPOSIS

First, Dr. Law discusses how he connects his passions for laryngology and machine learning as a surgeon-scientist. Before opening the conversation, he defines terms needed to understand AI in medicine. Then, he discusses his work using deep learning models to identify laryngeal cancer patients based on voice recordings. Ideally, he envisions deploying his model (which is over 90% accurate) to help primary care physicians make timely ENT referrals. Mindful of the impact technology has, Dr. Law reviews technical and ethical concerns accompanying use of AI in medicine, which include underrepresented patient groups in research, patient privacy, and safe use of technology. Finally, he offers insight into the future of AI research more broadly.

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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Introduction

04:18 - Understanding Deep Neural Networks

07:13 - Applications of AI in Clinical Practice

15:08 - Data Security and Privacy Concerns

25:09 - Collecting Representative Data

31:13 - Biometrics: The Future of Medicine?

39:12 - Challenges & Costs of AI

42:26 - Final Thoughts & Future Directions

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RESOURCES

Pearson Ravitz

https://pearsonravitz.com/

Dr. Anthony Law’s Emory University Profile: https://winshipcancer.emory.edu/profiles/law-anthony.php

Dr. Anthony Law Lab:

https://anthonylaw2.wixsite.com/website

“What Our Voice Reveals About Our Health,” Dr. Anthony Law at TedxAtlanta: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J2W5IVCECE