From Patient to Partner – Dave DeBronkart’s Story

When Dave DeBronkart—known worldwide as ePatient Dave—was told he had stage IV kidney cancer in 2007, he refused to be a passive participant in his care. Instead, he turned to patient communities, clinical data, and collaborative relationships with his doctors to become an active part of his treatment. That decision helped save his life—and it forever changed his view of healthcare.

In this week’s episode of Practical AI in Healthcare, Dr. Steven Labkoff and Dr. Leon Rozenblit talk with Dave about what patient empowerment really means in the age of AI. His message is simple but transformative: patients are no longer just recipients of care—they are contributors, collaborators, and in some cases, innovators.

Dave recounts how access to information through online forums and tools like OpenNotes helped him take control of his care. He describes the power of being able to see what doctors wrote, clarify errors, and engage meaningfully in decisions. Now, with the advent of generative AI, he sees a similar opportunity for transformation. Patients, he says, can use tools like ChatGPT not as replacements for clinicians but as companions—helping them summarize medical notes, interpret instructions, or better understand their conditions.

The episode also explores remarkable stories of patients using AI in real-world ways: one mother who diagnosed her son’s rare disorder through ChatGPT, and others who used it to prepare for appointments or manage chronic conditions. These are not futuristic applications—they’re happening now.

But empowerment comes with responsibility. Dave emphasizes the need for transparency, data privacy, and AI literacy—for both patients and providers. He envisions a healthcare system where AI supports a three-way partnership: clinician, patient, and machine working together toward better outcomes.

AI won’t replace the human relationship in medicine, he reminds us—but it can finally make that relationship more balanced.