Katrina never planned on becoming an underwriter — most underwriters don't. In this episode, she sits down with host Adam Lorentzen to trace her remarkable journey from pediatric and neonatal ICU nurse to Executive Director of Underwriter Training & Education at RGA. Along the way, she shares the personal "zombie mom" moment that pushed her out of night-shift nursing and into an entirely new career, and explains why the empathy she built at the bedside turned out to be the most transferable skill of all.

The conversation then turns to one of the most pressing questions in the industry today: how does empathy survive — and thrive — in the age of AI? Katrina makes a compelling case that AI isn't a threat to the underwriter's craft but a tool that, used with discernment, frees up capacity for the complex, human work that machines can't touch. From the difference between a pertinent negative and a real diagnosis, to the art of reading between the lines, she unpacks why critical thinking and human connection will always be the underwriter's edge.

Key Topics Covered:

• Katrina's career path: from NICU nurse to direct company underwriter to RGA training executive

• The "zombie mom" moment: why she left night-shift nursing

• What empathy looks like in underwriting (and why most underwriters are "unidentified CSI workers")

• Her experience leading the Jet Underwriting Program for novice underwriters and developing client education and training programs

• AI as a tool, not a replacement: creating capacity for complex cases, mentoring, and self-development

• The "pertinent negative" problem: when AI flags something that isn't actually a risk, and the underwriter's discernment turns a decline into a "yes"

• Why change itself (not the tool) is what scares people most

• "If you could clear your virtual desktop, what would you do with your time?" — reframing AI fear as opportunity

• Advice for trainers: two ears, one mouth — listen, pivot, and keep people as your focus

• The case for embracing change and owning your professional development

• 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.

• 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

🎙️ 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.

• 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"

🎙️ 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.