Can AI Diagnose Better Than Doctors?
April 28, 2026
Diagnosis is often talked about like a formula, but in reality, it’s far messier, more human, and far more dependent on experience, listening, and judgment than most people realize. In this episode of Transforming Medical Communications, Wesley Portegies is joined by Dr. Lisa Sanders, the Medical Director of Yale's Long COVID Multidisciplinary Care Center, the physician behind the Diagnosis column in The New York Times Magazine, and the inspiration behind the TV series House M.D., to share insights on what really drives accurate diagnosis in modern medicine.
Diagnosis is often talked about like a formula, but in reality, it’s far messier, more human, and far more dependent on experience, listening, and judgment than most people realize. In this episode of Transforming Medical Communications, Wesley Portegies is joined by Dr. Lisa Sanders, the Medical Director of Yale's Long COVID Multidisciplinary Care Center, the physician behind the Diagnosis column in The New York Times Magazine, and the inspiration behind the TV series House M.D., to share insights on what really drives accurate diagnosis in modern medicine.
Dr. Lisa Sanders is the Medical Director of Yale's Long COVID Multidisciplinary Care Center. She is the physician behind the Diagnosis column in The New York Times Magazine, the inspiration behind TV series House M.D. With decades of clinical experience in diagnostic medicine, Dr. Sanders brings a rare perspective on how physicians actually think under uncertainty.
Dr. Lisa Sanders is the Medical Director of Yale's Long COVID Multidisciplinary Care Center. She is the physician behind the Diagnosis column in The New York Times Magazine, the inspiration behind TV series House M.D. With decades of clinical experience in diagnostic medicine, Dr. Sanders brings a rare perspective on how physicians actually think under uncertainty.
We’ll talk about:
- The limits of guidelines and algorithms
- Why communication is central to clinical care
- How pattern recognition and cognitive bias shape medical decisions
- What AI may improve or quietly erode in the diagnostic process
Cut Through the Noise. Elevate Your Strategy.
Guiding Medical Affairs strategy across Medical Communications, Field Medical, or Medical Affairs Training? Wesley Portegies, host of Transforming Medical Communications, is opening up a few exclusive 30-minute consultancy sessions.
Guiding Medical Affairs strategy across Medical Communications, Field Medical, or Medical Affairs Training? Wesley Portegies, host of Transforming Medical Communications, is opening up a few exclusive 30-minute consultancy sessions.
This is a candid, insight-rich opportunity to step back from the day-to-day, pressure-test your approach, and explore fresh solutions to complex MedComms challenges—from scientific engagement to operational alignment.
If you’re shaping the future of Medical Affairs at your organization, this conversation is for you.
Reserve your session → Schedule now https://mce.global/consultancy
Previous guests include: Sissy Easo-Joseph at GSK, Barbara Bish at Janssen, Drew Provan at Queen Mary University, Rebecca McCracken at Agios Pharmaceuticals
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- From Event to Strategy: Making Congresses More Impactful
- Building a Medical Affairs Powerhouse Without a Big Pharma Budget
- The SCP Playbook: Turning Strategy into Real-World Impact
Transforming Medical Communications is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed by the guest are their own and do not represent any past or current employers.