Future of Public Health in the age of AI
Join us on Monday, September 14th for a special Department of Epidemiology seminar featuring Dr. Karl Lauterbach.
Abstract: While the mainstream discourse surrounding artificial intelligence in medicine remains heavily focused on drug discovery, diagnostics, and curative care, these near-term promises often overshadow a more consequential frontier: prevention. This talk examines the paradigm shift toward preventive AI at both the individual and population levels. We will explore how predictive modeling, early risk stratification, and data-driven public health strategies can proactively reduce chronic disease burden, preserve quality of life, and address systemic health disparities—highlighting the most high-impact, evidence-based interventions on the horizon.
Bio: Karl Lauterbach is a German physician, health economist, and SPD politician currently serving as the chair of the Research Committee of the German parliament. From December 2021 to 2025, he served as Federal Minister of Health of Germany. He has served as an adjunct professor at the Department of Health Policy and Management of Harvard School of Public Health since 2008 and is a Professor of Health Economics and Epidemiology at the University of Cologne. His research has focused on chronic disease prevention and management, as well as health economics and policy, and he has held advisory roles including the Rürup Commission on social security financing. He has been a Member of the Bundestag since 2005 and served as Deputy Parliamentary Party Leader of the SPD from 2013 to 2020.
Speaker Information
Karl Lauterbach, Drmed, MPH
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