In modern medicine, a patient's outcome often depends less on the skill of their doctor and more on the speed and efficiency of the hospital system itself. When workflows break down, critical time is lost, and lives are put at risk. This episode provides a comprehensive analysis of the Viz.ai AI healthcare platform, a company at the forefront of solving this problem by using artificial intelligence to detect disease earlier and coordinate care faster. We are joined by Viz.ai's co-founder and CEO, Chris Mansi, a former neurosurgeon who saw firsthand how fragmented communication could lead to devastating consequences and set out to build a solution.

How can a simple software platform save lives in cases of stroke, pulmonary embolism, and cancer? In this deep dive, we explore the rise of Viz.ai, from its initial breakthrough in AI for stroke detection to its current status as a unicorn company installed in over 1,800 hospitals. We dissect how their technology optimizes AI in clinical workflows, not just by flagging critical findings on medical images, but by mobilizing entire care teams in real-time. The discussion covers the "time is brain" philosophy that drives the company’s mission and the powerful real-world evidence, backed by over 100 publications, demonstrating how this approach reduces treatment delays and improves patient outcomes. This has allowed Viz.ai to expand far beyond stroke to tackle aortic disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, cancer, and more, proving the power of a unified platform.

We also analyze the company's evolving business strategy, particularly the crucial role of Viz.ai pharma partnerships. These collaborations with companies like BMS, Sanofi, and Medtronic are not just a revenue driver; they are essential for expanding the platform's reach into chronic diseases and ensuring that life-saving treatments get to the right patients. The conversation then shifts to the incredible Chris Mansi founder story, as the CEO himself recounts the patient story that inspired him to leave neurosurgery and become an entrepreneur. He shares invaluable insights from navigating the complex worlds of FDA clearance and CMS reimbursement, and what it takes to build a mission-driven company. Finally, we look to the future, discussing the biggest barriers to AI adoption in healthcare and Chris's vision for an "AI doctor assistant" that will augment physicians, reduce care variability, and democratize access to the best treatments available.

About Our Guest:

Chris Mansi is the Co-founder and CEO of Viz.ai. A former neurosurgeon trained in the UK, Chris experienced the systemic delays in patient care firsthand. While at Stanford's Biodesign program, he saw the potential for deep learning to fix these broken workflows, leading him to found Viz.ai in 2016. He has since led the company to become a health tech unicorn, pioneering new regulatory and reimbursement pathways for AI in medicine.

Timestamps / Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:01) What is Viz.ai? A Pioneer in AI-Powered Clinical Workflows

(02:10) How AI Expedites Care for Stroke, PE, and Aortic Disease

(05:40) Beyond the Algorithm: Optimizing Care Coordination & Reducing Variability

(07:12) From Acute Care to Chronic Disease: The Pharma Partnership Model

(14:55) The Viz.ai Origin Story with CEO Chris Mansi

(21:13) Navigating FDA Clearance & CMS Reimbursement as an AI Pioneer

(26:42) How Viz.ai Decides Which Medical Problems to Solve Next

(32:28) The Strategy Behind Pharma & MedTech Partnerships

(35:49) What Are the Biggest Barriers to AI Adoption in Healthcare?

(39:15) Viz.ai's 5-10 Year Vision: The AI-Powered Doctor's Assistant

(41:20) Leadership Lessons from a Unicorn CEO