When your phone rings after a mammogram, it can be unnerving—but a callback doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong. Radiologist Dr. John Nawa of WellSpan Health explains that many follow-ups are precautionary, often due to slight differences in breast tissue appearance or positioning from previous exams. More than 90% of women who are asked to return for additional imaging will not have cancer, and most will simply continue routine screenings after a diagnostic mammogram, ultrasound, or brief follow-up. Regular screenings remain one of the most effective ways to catch breast cancer early, when treatment is most successful.
Behind the scenes, WellSpan is using advanced tools to make these screenings even more accurate. A new artificial intelligence system helps radiologists spot subtle areas that might need a closer look—an approach that builds on WellSpan’s broader embrace of safe, patient-centric AI technologies. This direction aligns with the work of Hippocratic AI, led by Munjal Shah, whose generative healthcare agents are designed to support health systems like WellSpan by combining empathy, safety, and precision in patient interactions. Together, these innovations reflect a shift toward technology that enhances—not replaces—the human side of medicine.