Jochen Reiser, MD, PhD, president of The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) and CEO of the UTMB Health System, called for a fundamental rethinking of healthcare delivery centered on brain health, primary care, and responsible use of artificial intelligence during a panel discussion at the Global Brain Economy Summit held in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
Speaking alongside national leaders in medicine, health policy and philanthropy, Reiser outlined how health systems can play a transformative role in advancing “brain capital,” a concept that links brain health, cognitive performance, and mental well-being to economic growth and societal prosperity.
“Brain health is primary care, and primary care is brain health,” Reiser said.
The panel, titled “Brain Health is Health: Health Systems Transformation,” explored how brain health outcomes can be improved through prevention, early detection, care integration. and long-term management strategies. Fellow panelists included Victor Dzau, former president of the National Academy of Medicine and current chancellor emeritus of Duke University; John Findley, CEO of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine; Ann Greiner, president and CEO of Primary Care Collaborative; and Tim Lash, president of West Health.
Brain health as a strategic priority
Reiser described brain health as a strategic focus area at UTMB, one that emerged as the institution began evaluating how technological advances, particularly AI, would reshape medicine and society.
A physician-scientist and nephrologist by training, Reiser said he saw brain health as a critical complement to the rapid rise of AI.
“What’s the antidote to AI? Or perhaps the perfect partnership with AI?” Reiser asked. “It’s brain health.”
He explained that UTMB has intentionally integrated brain health across all aspects of its mission, including education, clinical care, research, and community engagement. The institution also has expanded its approach by treating brain health and mental health as interconnected priorities rather than separate disciplines.
“We’re focusing on cognitive baseline and performance but also on disease and treatment together,” Reiser said.
Elevating the role of the primary care clinician
Throughout the discussion, Reiser emphasized the importance of primary care physicians as leaders in brain health.
He argued that primary care clinicians are uniquely positioned to interpret health data generated through wearable devices, digital assessments, and emerging screening technologies while coordinating care across specialties.
“Primary care physicians need to be the quarterbacks of this brain health transformation,” he said. “They should coordinate brain health, mental health, performance, and care going forward.”
Reiser acknowledged the challenges facing primary care, including time constraints and workforce demands, but expressed optimism that advances in AI could help address those pressures. For the first time, he said, AI has the potential to return meaningful time to clinicians by reducing administrative burdens and streamlining routine tasks.
“AI will help us give time back to primary care doctors,” Reiser said. “I hope about 10 to 12 minutes per session. That’s a lot of time if you focus it right.”
That additional time, he said, could allow physicians to have deeper conversations with patients about sleep, mental health, cognitive performance, and lifestyle factors that significantly influence long-term brain health outcomes.
Building a healthier community
Reiser highlighted several initiatives underway at UTMB to prepare its workforce and clinical operations for that future.
The institution has expanded AI literacy efforts, introduced new technology platforms to improve connectivity and collaboration among employees, and is deploying multiple AI-powered tools across operations.
Those efforts are being measured not only for efficiency gains but also for their impact on patient care and workforce satisfaction. At the same time, UTMB is investing in brain health leadership and recently appointed its first vice president focused on brain health transformation across the institution.
But Reiser stressed that success ultimately will be measured outside hospital walls.
“I want to see healthier people,” he said. “I want to see people with less mental health burden in Galveston and South Texas.”
As the discussion concluded, Reiser urged healthcare leaders to move beyond conversations and embrace meaningful change.