AI Is a Tool, Not a Solution (ft. Rob Bart)

**Ed Marx** (0:00)
Do you foresee changes in the next couple of years for in general for the role of the clinical physician, leader working with technology?

**Rob Bart** (0:07)
AI is a tool, it is not a solution. These are just tools, and each of us needs to become very well enabled in how to leverage those tools to become solutions for what we do. They need to understand what the impact of artificial intelligence will be in the part of the business they oversee.

**SPEAKER_3** (0:30)
Welcome to DGTL Voices, where health care and life science leaders explore the real work behind transformation. This podcast is about people, leadership, and the conversations that move health care forward. Now your host, Ed Marx.

**Ed Marx** (0:45)
Welcome to another edition of DGTL Voices. Thank you so much for participating with us and engaging with us. We know you have a lot of different choices, so much great content out there. You chose some time with us, and it's going to be worth your while because we have Dr. Rob Bart with us. Rob, welcome to DGTL Voices.

**Rob Bart** (1:01)
Thanks for having me, Ed. I'm looking forward to our conversation today.

**Ed Marx** (1:04)
Yeah, this is going to be so much fun. I think everyone knows you already.
I was trying to think back, Rob, the first time we met, but we've engaged with one another for many, many years.

**Rob Bart** (1:13)
Yeah, I was also trying to think of that, Ed, and I can't recall where we first met, but you're right. We've had many good conversations over the years, different conferences, some social interactions that I think we both enjoyed.
So it's actually good to spend a little extra time with you.

**Ed Marx** (1:31)
Yeah, and I always ask what songs are on your playlist, but as I asked that, I also see that you've got a rhythm, something, I'll let you share what it is, a case behind you. So tell us about that hobby.

**Rob Bart** (1:46)
So it's a ukulele. So it ties into where I grew up. I grew up in Hawaii, and in the fourth grade, when I think a lot of schools on the Mainland, you might learn to play the recorder or something, some instrument, right? The whole class does. In Hawaii, when I was growing up, it was the ukulele. And I stuck with it for a little while, lost it for a good long 40 plus years. But I'm actually back taking lessons.
And so I keep it here. If I have some downtime and I need to clear my head, I pull it out and practice. But I've enjoyed actually getting back to trying to play music.

**Ed Marx** (2:30)
That's awesome. And so I imagine you're able to sing some Hawaiian songs.

**Rob Bart** (2:35)
I know a lot of Hawaiian songs. I will tell you that I will be an instrumentalist, not a vocalist.
That's just reserved for me and maybe my shower.

**Ed Marx** (2:46)
I can relate to that as well. And what about life message or mantra? Are there sort of quotes or words that you live by?

**Rob Bart** (2:52)
I think my father definitely had a big influence on me. And I think when I think about someone who lived their life with high integrity and credibility, I think about my father. And I think that is what sort of drives me.
At the end of the day, with all the decisions or interactions I've had, if I've been able to maintain my integrity, maintain credibility for what I need to do within the organization I currently work, UPMC, then I generally feel pretty good about what I've accomplished, or sometimes not accomplished.

**Ed Marx** (3:34)
Well, Rob, I can tell you, you're making your dad proud because that's your reputation in the industry. You're known as one of the, not just a great leader, but just a great person. And so I'm sure he'd be very proud of who you are today. So speaking of which, tell us your story.
We know already you grew up in Hawaii. How did that happen? Are your parents Hawaiian?

**Rob Bart** (3:53)
No, no, no. So my mom grew up in Hawaii. My dad grew up in Wisconsin. When she went to college, there were a number of universities that you could get in-state tuition at that the state of Hawaii funded. So she ended up at the University of Wisconsin and met my dad there.
And I think my dad was in medical school and my mom was an undergraduate. Other than maybe going duck hunting, he wasn't going to miss much about being in Wisconsin. And so moved to Hawaii with the exception of three years that when he was doing some training at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland. So that's where I grew up and how I ended up there.