Starcast Join the waitlist
The a16z Show

The a16z Show

Why AI Could Finally Fix Healthcare Access | Zocdoc CEO Oliver Kharraz

Oct 17, 2026 · 35m

Coming soon to iPhone. Already have it? “Listen in Starcast” takes you straight there.

On this episode

About this episode

Why is booking a doctor's appointment still so difficult, and can AI finally change that? Zocdoc CEO Oliver Kharraz argues that the real problem isn't finding doctors, but connecting patients to accurate availability and making appointments bookable wherever they start their search. Oliver joins a16z General Partner Julie Yoo to discuss how Zocdoc spent nearly 20 years building the infrastructure behind online scheduling, and why it's now opening that technology to AI agents, insurers, and other platforms. They explore Zocdoc's partnership with Gemini, why patients shouldn't be locked into a single healthcare platform, and how surfacing last-minute availability can reduce appointment wait…