Partners in Diagnosis: ChatGPT, a Mother’s Intuition, and a Doctor’s Expertise with Courtney Hofmann and Dr. Holly Gilmer

NEJM AI Grand Rounds

In this episode of NEJM AI Grand Rounds, hosts Raj Manrai and Andy Beam interview Courtney Hofmann, a mother whose use of ChatGPT led to her son’s diagnosis of tethered cord syndrome after seeing 17 doctors over three years, and Dr. Holly Gilmer, the pediatric neurosurgeon who confirmed and treated the condition. The conversation explores how AI helped bridge diagnostic gaps, systemic health care challenges that led to missed diagnoses, and the evolving role of AI in patient advocacy and medical practice. The episode highlights the importance of combining AI insights with human medical expertise, while discussing both the potential and limitations of AI in health care.

Transcript.