Step into the future of risk evaluation with Underwriting Evolved – a Digital Underwriting Optimization (DUO) podcast – and pull back the curtain on the evolving world of underwriting. Hosted by RGA's Adam Lorentzen, each episode features candid, insightful conversations with the trailblazers redefining how we assess and manage risk. Benefit from access to the minds moving the industry forward.
From Patient Scans to Predictive Models: How a Neurologist-Turned-Underwriting Chief Is Rewiring Life Insurance With AI
He started in a doctor's office. Now he runs underwriting for one of the biggest names in life reinsurance.
In this episode of Underwriting Evolved, host Adam Lorentzen sits down with Dr. Dave Rengachary, Head of Underwriting for RGA's US Individual Markets, to unpack the AI revolution reshaping risk classification. From physician to insurance executive, Dr. Dave pulls back the curtain on how carriers are using emerging data sources, why the underwriter still owns the decision, and what it really takes to build with AI before your competitors do. Tune in to hear how he's empowering the modern-day underwriter to work alongside AI models.
Key Highlights
Doctor to dealmaker: How Dr. Dave traded a stethoscope for an executive suite — and why life reinsurance was never in the plan.
Data is the new differentiator: No two carriers use emerging data sources the same way — they're using data to tell their own brand story.
AI accelerates, underwriters decide: The model may over-call, but the human underwriter still owns the final call. The goal is empowerment, not replacement.
The shift to sub-model reinsurance: It's no longer just about assuming mortality risk — it's about sharing operational risk with clients.
Soft skills are the new hard skills: Critical thinking, communication, and collaboration are what recruiters will chase as AI takes the routine work.
Just get started: Dave's blunt advice for the cautious — build crude agents, get your hands dirty, move the ball forward. Waiting is the real risk.
Get in the room: The RGA Tech Symposium (November) features a hands-on "Build With AI" session — experiential learning, not just lectures.
18 Aug 2026
From Serving Drinks to Ordering Evidence: The Innovator Behind RGA's Digital Underwriting Evidence Playbook
She ran trivia nights. She slung drinks. She wanted to be a news anchor.
Now Jackie Waas, VP of Underwriting R&D at RGA, is helping rewrite the rules of evidence ordering for life insurance — and the new episode of the DUO Podcast takes you inside how it happened. The Digital Underwriting Evidence Playbook (the "DUE Playbook") started with a simple question: Why are underwriters waiting 30–60 days for evidence when some clinical data can be retrieved digitally in minutes?
What followed was years of research — mortality studies, coded-data analysis, and condition-centric frameworks designed to get underwriters the right information at the right time. Fewer pages to sift through. Faster decisions. Lower costs. Less friction for applicants.
22 Jul 2026
Antique Cars, Old Homes, and Lessons for the Future of Underwriting
What can 35 years in underwriting - and a history in construction - teach us about the future of the profession? In this episode, we sit down with a veteran leader known as the "MacGyver of underwriting."
From separating fact from fiction in the AI era to leading a team of creative problem solvers, he shares lessons on innovation, leadership, and how restoring antique cars and historic homes offers unexpected insights for tackling today's underwriting challenges while preparing for what's ahead.
13 Jan 2026
Executive Chef vs. Sous Chef:Where Does AI Fit?
🎙️ Guests: Taylor Pickett, VP & Actuary; and Nick Kocisak, Associate Actuary, RGA
💡 Are we still the executive chef, or has AI taken over the kitchen?
In this episode, Taylor Pickett and Nick Kocisak tackle one of insurance's biggest questions: how AI fits into underwriting. Spoiler alert: it's not about replacement – it's about partnership. They explore how consumer expectations have evolved, why human judgment remains irreplaceable, and how actuaries and underwriters can work together to harness AI's power.
🔍 Tune in for insights on:
Meeting Amazon-era expectations without sacrificing underwriting rigor
AI-assisted underwriting: powerful tool, not replacement
Breaking down silos between actuaries and underwriters
Skills that matter in an AI-enabled future
A must-listen for anyone navigating the intersection of AI and insurance.
13 Nov 2025
Scaling Smart: Building AI Tools That Underwriters Actually Use
🎙️ Guest: Eric Westhus, Lead Data Scientist, Americas Data Solutions, RGA
💡 Can a three-person data science team really transform how underwriters handle 1,000-page case files? What does it take to turn an AI experiment into a production tool that underwriters actually trust?
In this episode, we sit down with Eric Westhus to explore how RGA is scaling AI tools that underwriters actually use – tools that don't replace human judgment ... but enhance it. Through his unexpected journey from outdoor ecology to data science innovation, Eric shares how his team is transforming underwriting workflows with real-world AI applications.
🔍 Tune in for practical insights on staying ahead in digital underwriting, including:
Approaches for data scientists and underwriters to co-develop tools through daily feedback loops
The importance of customizable models tailored to underwriting needs
Real-world examples of fixing OCR errors and refining data strategies
This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the intersection of AI and insurance. Eric offers practical insights into building scalable, auditable, and human-centered AI tools that solve real problems – while optimizing the underwriter's expertise.
15 Oct 2025
Training the Super Smart Child: AI’s Role in Modern Underwriting
🎙️ Guests: Mark James and Rich Schroeder, Directors of Underwriting Innovation, RGA
💡 What happens when underwriting meets a 'super smart child' trained by AI?
In this week’s episode of Underwriting Evolved, Host Adam Lorentzen sits down with Mark James and Rich for an exclusive conversation on how artificial intelligence is transforming underwriting – moving beyond traditional rules engines into what they describe as a “strange Star Trek hybrid” of automation and human expertise.
🔍 Key topics covered:
The “super smart child” model approach to training AI systems
Stories like the unforgettable “tongue depressor depression” diagnosis
How AI processes massive 2000+ page case files
Treating AI like a “trained intern”
Plus, Rich and Mark offer candid insights from RGA’s frontlines of AI implementation – sharing breakthroughs, lessons learned, and a glimpse into what’s next for underwriting teams.
You won't want to miss this episode!
5 Sept 2025
How to Transform Your Underwriting Process Through Tech & Teamwork
🎙️ Guest: Fazilya Abdulkafarova, Executive Director, Underwriting R&D, RGA
💡 Can AI-powered tools make underwriting not just faster, but smarter? And what does that mean for the people behind the decisions?
In this week’s episode of Underwriting Evolved, Host Adam Lorentzen sits down with Fazilya Abdulkafarova to unpack the "A to F" of digital underwriting. From automation to the future of the field, they explore how technology is reshaping the industry.
🔍 Tune in for practical insights on staying ahead in digital underwriting, including:
Accelerating decisions with automation, AI, and data science
Driving innovation through cross-functional collaboration
Simplifying workflows with smart tools and intuitive interfaces
Plus, hear why Fazilya gives her mom credit for launching her career in the field.
From eliminating manual document searches to empowering underwriters with cutting-edge tools—discover how technology + teamwork are transforming underwriting.
4 Aug 2025
Structured Data Revolution: Transforming Underwriting with AI and Analytics
🎙️ Guest: Mirsad Kulovic, Technical Director of Underwriting Data Analytics, RGA
💡 Can AI-powered tools make underwriting not just faster, but smarter—and what does that mean for the people behind the decisions?
In this week’s episode of Underwriting Evolved, RGA's Mirsad Kulovic shares how structured data and AI are transforming insurance underwriting—from slashing processing times to enhancing decision quality.
🔍 Learn practical strategies for:
Change management
Underwriter engagement
Building trust in AI-powered solutions
Plus, hear Mirsad’s inspiring journey from intern to director and his vision for making life insurance more accessible.
7 Jul 2025
Taming Data & Trusting AI in Underwriting
Michael Hill, VP at RGA, discusses strategies for managing underwriting data and balancing innovation with oversight in AI, offering insights into the future of underwriting technology in this interview.
24 May 2025
Pizza, Jets, and Navigating AI Advancements in Underwriting
Catie Muccigrosso, Chief Underwriter at RGA, discusses her career, the impact of AI on underwriting, and the importance of adapting to technological advancements in this interview.
Reach and audience
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 34 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
55
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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