Decoding the Future of Health Tech
This is about bridging the gap between advanced healthcare technology and human-centered care. I explore the transformative potential of AI and emerging digital tools while providing a roadmap to avoid the pitfalls of innovation—from ethical risks to technical bias. My goal is to navigate the frontier of modern medicine to help build a future that is as safe and responsible as it is intelligent.
The AI Health Paradox: Americans Trust It for Themselves, Not Their Doctors
A new survey reveals a sharp contradiction in how Americans view artificial intelligence in healthcare. While a majority of the public now trusts AI for personal health research, nearly half are uncomfortable with their own doctors relying on the same technology. According to the April 2025 poll from the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) at […]
Alarming Study Reveals Foundational AI Models Alarmingly Susceptible to Health Disinformation
Large Language Models (LLMs) have been touted as a transformative force in healthcare, promising to revolutionize everything from diagnostics to patient communication. However, a concerning new study has cast a stark light on a critical vulnerability: the ease with which even the most advanced foundational LLMs can be manipulated to generate harmful health disinformation. The […]
The Human Algorithm
For the medical student, the first days in a primary care clinic are an exercise in dissonance. The grand, technological promise of modern medicine often shrinks to the scale of a flickering monitor in a cramped examination room, where the immediate challenge is not just to diagnose an illness but to navigate a clunky electronic […]
Virtual Visits, Real Results: The Case for Expanding Telehealth
The COVID-19 pandemic forced a dramatic shift in healthcare delivery, thrusting telehealth into the mainstream. While in-person care remains crucial, telehealth has proven its value, offering increased access and convenience for patients, particularly those with chronic conditions, limited mobility, or residing in underserved areas. The ability to connect with healthcare providers remotely can be a […]
Hidden in Plain Sight
Opportunistic Screening and the Future of AI-Driven Healthcare The landscape of medical imaging is being reshaped by the innovative concept of “opportunistic screening,” a technique that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to extract a wealth of health information from routine CT scans. This approach allows radiologists to repurpose existing medical images, initially acquired for specific diagnostic […]
Do We Want to Know Our Medical Future? The Promise and Peril of Predictive AI
The healthcare landscape is on the cusp of a major transformation, and the driving force is a new wave of artificial intelligence. A groundbreaking study published in Nature* introduces Delphi-2M, a generative AI model that is changing the game for predictive medicine.
The Algorithm Will See You Now
In a recent issue of Men’s Health, Dave DeBronkart tackles artificial intelligence in healthcare with refreshing honesty. His piece, “Robo-Revolutionize Your Health,” avoids the typical Silicon Valley hype while acknowledging that A.I. can be genuinely useful—and genuinely “scary.” DeBronkart’s examples are convincing. Burt Rosen used ChatGPT to decode his medical reports. Courtney Morales Hofmann employed […]
Doctor vs. Algorithm: The Battle for Medicine’s Soul
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently dropped a bombshell that should have every medical professional paying attention: ChatGPT, he claims, already outperforms most human doctors at diagnosis. If true, we’re witnessing a seismic shift that could fundamentally reshape how we practice medicine.
AI, Agency, and Healthcare
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming from a simple tool into a powerful agent capable of independent decision-making. This “AI agency,” characterized by the ability of software to analyze data, adapt to changing conditions, and make decisions autonomously, has profound implications for healthcare. It raises critical questions about responsibility, accountability, and the very nature of the […]
About Dr. Ruff
Steve Ruffenach, DO, MS, FACOI is an internist and medical informaticist based in Arizona. He received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, School of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Ruffenach completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Columbia University and a fellowship at the University of Arizona. He also holds a masters in medical informatics from Northwestern University. He has served as Director of Medical Informatics for EmCare. He is the Executive Director of Docruff.io, a website that covers the intersection of technology and healthcare
Currently, Dr. Ruffenach is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine. He has a keen interest in the intersection of medicine and technology, and has published articles for the British Medical Journal blog and lectured extensively on the impact of technology on healthcare.
Contact Dr. Ruff
Dr. Ruffenach is availble for guest blogs, consultations and speaking engagements. Please contact him through this form and he will return your message as soon as possible.