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SearchBernardo Perez-Villa, MD, MSc, Senior Engagement Partner for Cleveland Clinic Innovations, Florida Market shares insights on the future of AI integration in oncology alongside leading experts from UVA Health, Baptist Health South Florida, and Tempus AI.
Cleveland Clinic Innovations participated in the 2025 Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO) Business of Oncology Summit & Spring Congress, held in Orlando. The event brought together oncology clinicians, healthcare executives, and industry leaders to explore emerging technologies and operational strategies that shape the future of cancer care.
Bernardo Perez-Villa, MD, MSc, Senior Engagement Partner for Cleveland Clinic Innovations, Florida Market, joined a multidisciplinary panel titled “Leveraging AI: Shaping the Future of Oncology Business and Care – Enhancing Care & Delivery through AI.” The session examined how artificial intelligence is being applied across cancer care, with an emphasis on implementation, workflow, and patient impact.
The panel was moderated by Jorge J. García, PharmD, MS, MHA, MBA, FACCC, FACHE, who leads System Oncology Pharmacy Services, System Infusion Pharmacy Services, and the Corporate Pharmacy Clinical Enterprise at Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida, a member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance. Fellow panelists included Sanjay Juneja, MD, Hematologist and Medical Oncologist at Citrus Oncology and Vice President of Clinical AI Operations at Tempus AI, and David R. Penberthy, MD, MBA, Associate Professor and Program Director in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Virginia.
Panel Explores Strategic Use of AI in Oncology
Dr. Perez-Villa emphasized that while artificial intelligence presents promising opportunities in healthcare, it must be deployed with a clear understanding of the clinical problems it aims to address.
“Before we jump to AI as the answer, we must understand the real problem we’re trying to solve,” said Perez-Villa. “Sometimes, AI is used to automate a broken workflow. That’s not innovation—that’s inefficiency at scale.”
He encouraged leaders to examine upstream factors before defaulting to AI tools as the solution, noting that systemic issues like staffing shortages or operational constraints often require investment and process redesign. He also spoke to the potential of AI to support clinicians by reducing repetitive administrative work, allowing more time for complex decision-making and patient interaction.
National Experts Weigh in on AI Readiness
Dr. García focused on how artificial intelligence can support complex treatment decisions in oncology, especially where evolving literature and patient-specific data must be synthesized quickly. He noted the need for structured AI education to help clinicians understand model limitations and interpret outputs effectively.
“As the number of AI solutions in healthcare increases, evaluation frameworks will be critical,” said García. “Organizations need processes for vetting tools—similar to how we assess new drugs or service contracts—to ensure safety, effectiveness, and long-term value.”
He also pointed to ambient AI tools, such as voice-to-text documentation systems, as an immediate opportunity to relieve administrative burden and improve provider satisfaction.
Dr. Penberthy provided examples of how UVA Health is already integrating AI into clinical practice. These include auto-contouring in radiation oncology, ambient scribe platforms, and workflow optimizers. He also highlighted future applications such as real-world predictive analytics and AI-assisted clinical trial matching.
“Cancer incidence continues to rise, while workforce growth struggles to keep pace,” Penberthy said. “AI is helping us improve efficiency, expand access, and deliver more targeted care.”
Dr. Juneja emphasized the importance of high-quality data access and transparency as foundational requirements for reliable AI models. He also raised questions about how healthcare systems will define terms like “acceptable” or “valid” as AI-generated insights begin to diverge from traditional standards of care.
“Clinicians and scientists must be involved early in the model development process,” said Juneja. “If done collaboratively, AI can help preserve the most human aspects of medicine while supporting clinical decision-making.”
Advancing Thoughtful Innovation in Cancer Care
The panel discussion reinforced the need for cross-disciplinary collaboration, responsible model development, and a focus on real-world clinical impact. Dr. Perez-Villa emphasized that Cleveland Clinic Innovations remains committed to advancing technology that serves patients, supports providers, and aligns with the organization’s mission of high-quality, patient-centered care.
Events like the FLASCO Spring Congress provide valuable opportunities for dialogue, shared learning, and partnership development across the oncology innovation landscape.
