Author(s):
Keynote speaker at the upcoming 2026 ACCC Leadership Summit Michelle Rozen, PhD shares her insights about navigating AI-driven change as a health care leader.
Leading through change in oncology has never been more intense—or more exciting. Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming everything: how you diagnose, how you treat patients, and even how you think about workflow. The most important thing for you to remember through these changes is that success in this era isn’t just about adopting new tools. It’s about how you, as a leader, drive change, cut through chaos, and help your teams thrive. Here are 3 surprising truths I’ve seen time and again while working with health care leaders navigating AI-driven change.
When most leaders think of AI, they think of software, algorithms, and dashboards. But what many miss is that the biggest barrier to AI success isn’t the technology—it’s human behavior. I’ve seen health care departments invest in state-of-the-art predictive analytics, only for the tool to sit unused because teams weren’t ready, or leaders didn’t create the right culture. Real change happens when workflows and culture are redesigned together.
For example, instead of just installing an AI decision-support system, an innovative leader I worked with redesigned tumor board meetings so that clinicians could experiment with AI insights without fear of making mistakes. Staff weren’t just told, “Use this tool.” They were invited to explore it, give feedback, and shape how it worked for them. Over time, what started as resistance turned into excitement, and patient care improved. In other words, AI won’t fix culture—but culture can make AI work brilliantly.
Oncology leaders are juggling a hundred things at once: patient crises, staff challenges, administrative demands, and now AI initiatives. The surprising truth? Being busy does not equal being effective. Our brains are wired to focus on 1 thing at a time. When you try to do everything at once, you’re actually less effective and more exhausted.
Leaders who thrive in AI-driven change know how to cut through the noise and focus on what matters most. Here’s what that looks like in real life for you:
The result? You lead with confidence and clarity instead of reacting to every crisis. Your team notices. Patients benefit. And yes, your own stress drops too.
Too many leaders expect their teams to be resilient, and when they discover that they are not, they get frustrated. The truth is, resilience isn’t a personality trait—it’s a skill you develop or coach intentionally. In oncology, the pressure is relentless, and AI can only help so much. Teams still need to adapt, engage, and perform consistently, even under stress.
I recently worked with a cancer center that was introducing AI tools to triage patient data. Some nurses worried the system would replace them, while others felt overwhelmed by new protocols. Instead of pushing the tool, the leadership team created a safe space for questions, paired staff with mentors, and celebrated small wins, like when a nurse caught a subtle pattern in patient data thanks to AI insights.
Over several weeks, resistance turned into curiosity. Engagement grew. Performance stabilized. That’s what resilient teams look like; they can handle change because their leader invests in psychological safety, mentorship, and small, consistent wins.
Thriving as an oncology leader in the AI era isn’t about mastering algorithms or predicting every change. It’s about 3 key drivers:
When you focus on these catalysts for change, AI stops feeling like a threat and becomes a tool that amplifies your impact. Patients get better care, teams feel supported, and you, as a leader, can finally lead with confidence instead of constant firefighting.
Through the existing and upcoming changes, always remember this: success in the AI era isn’t about doing more, it’s about thinking differently, leading differently, and caring about people differently. If you do that, technology becomes a partner—not a challenge—and your organization thrives, even under pressure.
Dr. Michelle Rozen is a behavioral scientist, keynote speaker, and bestselling author whose extensive research on goal-setting and AI-driven leadership helps executives and teams achieve extraordinary results. Her research reveals how leaders can leverage AI while maintaining the human skills that drive engagement, influence, and performance in today’s rapidly changing world. More leadership tools and resources can be found at https://www.drmichellerozen.com/articles/.
