If you’ve ever been to a medical facility, you may be familiar with the contributions of Tom Polen, a graduate of Bus ‘03 ( MBA ). Over 90% of patients in U.S. hospitals rely on the extensive range of medical devices produced and distributed annually by Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) under Polen’s leadership.
During a recent celebration at the Johns Hopkins Health Policy Forum, Polen expressed with confidence, “I can almost guarantee that every individual watching has encountered a BD product.” Whether it’s a blood collection procedure or receiving injections, the likelihood is high that a BD product was involved.
With a presence in more than 190 countries and a portfolio of 43,000 products, BD, under Polen’s guidance, has been a pioneer in healthcare technology advancements. At the event, Polen engaged in a conversation with Dean Alex Triantis of Carey Business School, discussing his role in managing a multinational corporation, exploring topics like artificial intelligence, healthcare challenges, and sharing personal insights.
Polen’s journey into the healthcare industry began at the age of 13 when a sudden and severe brain aneurysm struck his 35-year-old family member, offering him a firsthand experience of the healthcare system. This event fueled his commitment to making a positive impact on healthcare practices.
Currently, Polen faces various critical issues in healthcare, including global supply chain challenges, political uncertainties, and escalating patient expenses. He emphasizes the importance of aligning innovations with regional market demands to achieve cost-effective healthcare solutions that are easily accessible to the population.
Discussing the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in healthcare, Polen envisions AI assisting healthcare professionals in tasks ranging from diagnosis to treatment. BD already offers products integrated with AI capabilities, such as drug tracking systems and bacteria detection tools.
Polen stresses BD’s dedication to leveraging technological advancements, particularly in AI, to enhance patient outcomes and alleviate the burden on healthcare providers. By automating routine tasks, AI can streamline processes, reduce physician burnout, and improve the quality of patient care.
While recognizing the benefits of rapid technological integration, Polen emphasizes the importance of implementing safeguards to ensure the responsible deployment of AI technologies. He advocates for a cautious approach to avoid potential risks to both businesses and consumers.
Polen’s participation in the Health Policy Forum series highlights the school’s engagement with influential figures in healthcare policy and strategy. Previous events featured renowned personalities such as Anthony Fauci, Rochelle P. Walensky, Robert M. Davis, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Atul Gawande, Donna Shalala, Xavier Becerra, Michelle Lujan Grisham, and Sudip Parikh.
The Health Policy Forum, co-hosted by the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Carey Business School, Schools of Nursing, and Johns Hopkins Medicine, serves as a platform for insightful discussions and collaborations in the healthcare sector.
