What does the future of AI in life sciences really look like—beyond the hype?

In this episode of the AI Trailblazers Podcast, we sit down with Frank Defesche, SVP & GM of Health & Life Sciences at Salesforce, to unpack the seismic shifts happening at the intersection of AI, pharma, CRM, and compliance.

Frank shares insights from decades of leadership—from helping build Veeva, to leading Salesforce's Life Sciences strategy today. We explore how AI agents are transforming engagement models, what life sciences companies can learn from the Takeda partnership, and why now is the moment to rethink the entire CRM experience.

🔥 In this episode:

• Why the “tolerated” CRM is dead—and what’s replacing it

• The real use cases for AI agents in pharma and biotech

• What industry needs to unlearn before innovation can scale

• How Salesforce is pushing past forms and fields to build trusted, intelligent systems people actually want to use

Whether you’re in commercial operations, medical affairs, or data strategy—Frank offers a front-row seat to how AI is changing the game.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Life Sciences Cloud and AI Innovations

03:00 Ensuring Compliance in Life Sciences with AI

05:40 The Importance of Data Quality in AI Applications

08:19 Partnerships and Customer-Centric Innovations

10:37 The Role of the Partner Network in Life Sciences

15:27 Future Disruptions in Life Sciences through AI

19:10 Listening to Customer Needs in Life Sciences

21:28 Conclusion and Future Outlook

In this episode of the AI Trailblazers Podcast, we’re joined by Updesh Dosanjh, Global Lead for Pharmacovigilance Technology Solutions at IQVIA, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming drug safety at a global scale.

Updesh shares why traditional pharmacovigilance (PV) methods simply can’t keep up with today’s data volume—and how generative AI, automation, and platform thinking are helping PV teams shift from reactive to proactive safety management.

🔍 What you’ll learn in this episode:
✅ Why AI is no longer optional in pharmacovigilance
✅ How GenAI is streamlining signal detection and case processing
✅ Why scaling PV isn’t about hiring more—it’s about thinking differently
✅ The biggest mistake teams make when starting their AI journey
✅ Why platforms (not point solutions) are the future of safety innovation

Whether you're in drug safety, regulatory affairs, or digital transformation, this conversation is packed with real-world insights and bold thinking from one of the industry's leaders.

In this episode, we sit down with Andy Chang, Chief Marketing Officer at UChicago Medicine, to explore how one of the nation’s leading academic health systems is preparing its teams for an AI-driven future.

Andy shares how UChicago Medicine is embracing AI and automation to modernize patient engagement, marketing, and growth strategies—while making sure its people stay at the center of the transformation.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why reskilling in AI and data literacy is critical for healthcare teams
• How UChicago Medicine is moving beyond outdated tools like fax and CD-ROMs
• Why cultural change—not just technology—is key to AI success
• How AI is helping shift healthcare from a cost-driven to a growth-driven mindset

If you’re leading or navigating digital transformation in healthcare, this is a masterclass in what it really takes to future-proof your organization and your people.

Tune in now to hear how Andy and his team are shaping the future of healthcare, one skill at a time.

Links:

• Andy Chang on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-chang-055216/
• UChicago Medicine: https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to AI in Healthcare

03:43 Andy Chang's Journey to UChicago Medicine

06:55 Elevate 2035: Strategic Vision for Growth

09:47 The Role of AI in Transforming Healthcare

12:54 Addressing Technical Debt in Healthcare

15:54 Cultural Change and Innovation in Healthcare

18:35 Empowering Teams for Future Growth

22:04 The Importance of Continuous Learning

24:50 AI as a Tool for Efficiency and Quality

27:44 Conclusion and Future Outlook