AI talk: From science fiction to reality: A conversation with Detlef Koll

Oct. 28, 2022 / By V. “Juggy” Jagannathan, PhD

This week I want to focus on my inaugural podcast. I have been a podcast guest a few times, but I have never hosted one myself. It was an interesting experience to host. My guest, Detlef Koll, can be described as my friend, my boss for well over half a decade, a brilliant visionary and an inspiring leader. Detlef is the global vice president of research and development at 3M Health Information Systems.

The episode traces the arch of Detlef’s career, starting with his research work in the mid-nineties at University of Karlsruhe, Germany and at Carnegie Mellon University, where he was focused on developing speech recognition systems all the way to becoming CTO of M*Modal which was acquired by 3M in 2019 for $1 billion.

Detlef has been instrumental in shaping speech recognition solutions. Speech recognition was initially created to support transcriptionists and help them become more efficient. They have since transformed into the sole method by which physicians document directly into EHRs. Congruent to speech solutions, he was also instrumental in creating computer-assisted physician documentation (CAPD) that helps ensure physician documentation is compliant and complete.

With the merging of 3M HIS with M*Modal, the combined health care footprint in terms of both hospitals and physicians has become quite substantial. Now, Detlef manages three core areas of solutions globally: clinical documentation creation and improvement, efficient coding and revenue cycle solutions and population health-focused solutions. There is literally a closed loop between these systems, which leads to more efficient operation and care delivery to millions of patients and hundreds of thousands of physicians.

His motivation and driving passion: To create time to care for physicians and make health care more accessible and efficient for all.

Listen to the episode and, if you like it, comment below or drop me a note.

“Juggy” Jagannathan, PhD, is an AI evangelist with four decades of experience in AI and computer science research.