How Earlier Palliative Care Could Change Everything with Dr. Justin Baker

Artwork for podcast Beyond the Chart: Exploring the AI Frontier for Oncology

Episode 29 • 7th October 2026 • Beyond the Chart: Exploring the AI Frontier for Oncology • DeepScribe

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What if palliative care wasn't something you turned to when there were no options left, but something you brought into care from the beginning?

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Justin Baker, who is the Division Chief of Quality of Life and Pediatric Palliative Care at Stanford University School of Medicine. Before joining Stanford, Justin spent more than two decades building and leading the palliative care program at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and has authored more than 300 academic publications in the field.

Known as Stanford's "Chief Koala Bear," Justin developed the QoLA philosophy, focused on quality of life for all and a cure for more. We discuss what first drew him to palliative care, why it needs to become part of standard oncology care, and what changes when patients and caregivers have access to that support earlier in their journey.

We also explore what it really means to care for the person rather than simply treating the disease and how AI could help make palliative care more accessible.

If you’re interested in how we can bring the human back into cancer care, without increasing administrative burden, this is for you.

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