AI, Empathy, and Health Care: Why Human Care Still Matters in NYC
Clinically reviewed by
Last reviewed: October 2026
Dr. Doreen Zarfati is Chief Medical Officer at Fountain Health NYC and a double board-certified psychiatrist. Her work spans mental health, longevity, metabolism and sexual health, with a particular interest in how biological and clinical factors can influence psychiatric symptoms and treatment response. At Fountain, Dr. Zarfati provides clinical oversight of Fountain’s care models, reviewing and approving them for clinical use and guiding how they are applied in patient care. Her work in IV ketamine focuses on neuroplasticity, emotional processing and the thoughtful integration of emerging treatments into structured clinical care. Her approach is individualized, collaborative and grounded in measurable response, with treatment evolving as the patient’s clinical picture changes.
Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly in healthcare, raising important questions about its role. At a time when many clinics and health care brands are rolling out chatbots, you might wonder why Fountain Health is not rushing to join. The answer is simple: healing isn’t a transaction. While AI tools can help track progress and surface patterns, they cannot listen, empathize, or guide in the way a trained practitioner can. Could AI replace doctors, therapists, or other care providers? The question is not whether AI is useful, it is. The real question is what AI is fundamentally designed to do?
AI Recognizes Patterns, Not People
Large language models (LLMs), like the ones behind chatbots, are not trained in medicine or psychology. They do not “know” how the thyroid works, how traumaA deeply distressing experience that leaves lasting psychological impact. shapes memory, or how diet influences mood. Instead, they are trained on vast amounts of text to identify patterns, predicting the most likely words that should come next in a sentence.
This is why AI can feel surprisingly empathetic. There’s even a term for it in tech: the ELIZA effect, when a machine gives the illusion of understanding. What feels like empathy is really a statistical trick: “when someone says I feel anxious, the next words should sound supportive.” That’s patterning, not presence.
And while pattern recognition is useful, it cannot replace judgment or context. That’s powerful technology, but it’s not care.
Case Study: AI vs. Practitioner
- Patient: “I’ve been feeling exhausted for weeks. I wake up tired, I can’t focus at work, and I feel a constant sense of heaviness.”
- AI Response: “Fatigue can be linked to depression, stress, or poor sleep. Try improving your sleep hygiene, exercising regularly, and eating balanced meals. Would you like me to recommend a meditation app?”
- Practitioner Response:
“You’ve been feeling this way for weeks — let’s take a closer look. When did it start? Any recent changes in work, relationships, or stress? We should also check your lab work — fatigue like this can come from thyroid issues, vitamin deficiencies, or long-term infections. Let’s explore both your physical health and your mental health, and figure out the right path forward together.”
AI delivers generic advice. A practitioner builds context, asks questions, and uncovers the root cause.
Empathy Can’t Be Coded
Healing requires more than answers. It requires empathy, curiosity, and connection. A practitioner can sense hesitation, notice what isn’t being said, and sit with discomfort - things no algorithm can replicate.
AI can simulate empathy through patterned responses. Practitioners live it through relationship.
Why Integrated Medicine & Practitioner-led Care Still Matter
At Fountain Health NYC, we believe healing emerges from more than data. It arises from human insight, responsibility, and relationships. That means:
- Comprehensive evaluation (physical, emotional, environmental)
- Monitoring and follow-up - labs, biomarkers, subjective experience
- Tailoring treatments - combining therapy, nutrition, lifestyle, possibly ketamine or other advanced modalities
- Ethical attention - privacy, trust, ensuring interventions are safe and meaningful
The common thread is always human connection.
How Fountain Health Uses AI Differently
At the same time, we recognize that AI has a role to play - as an assistant, not a partner in healing. Fountain Health is building AI-enabled tools, beginning with our Fountain BiomarkerMeasurable health signals, like blood sugar or hormone levels. Fountain Health uses biomarker tracking to guide treatment. Tracker and progressing toward an intelligence layer that can support practitioners and patients alike. These tools can enhance insight, monitor progress, and surface trends. But they are designed to serve people, not replace them. Because true healing isn’t about fast answers or clever predictions; it’s about being seen, understood, and guided with both expertise and compassion.
At the end of the day, AI may recognize patterns, but only humans can recognize you. That’s where integrated medicine thrives. That’s where Fountain Health thrives.
Learn more about Fountain Health NYC and our integrated programs — where science, innovation, and human care work together for lasting health.