EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Dr. Ashish Jha, the dean of Brown University's School of Public Health and former White House COVID-19 response coordinator, joined 12 News at 4 to talk about health care trends and predictions for 2025. Injectable weight-loss drugs Jha told 12 News anchor Kim Kalunian that he expects to see more Americans using GLP-1s — injectable drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy — to lose weight in 2025. "They're very, very safe ... they help people have less heart disease, diabetes, lots of benefits," he said. In addition, insurance companies are starting to cover these treatments, which he says will bring costs down. Opioid crisis In an op-ed for The Boston Globe, Jha said that the opioid crisis is finally "turning a corner," as the year-over-year number of opioid deaths in the United States has begun to decrease. He credited more available treatment for substance abuse disorder, as well as safe injection sites like the one in Providence, with helping turn the tide. He also touted a new, non-addictive pain medicine that could get approved by the FDA in the coming year. MORE: RI’s first safe injection site to open ‘in the next few weeks’ as construction finishes Treating incurable diseases Jha expects to see more people turning to genetic cures to treat previously incurable genetic disorders, like sickle cell disease and hemophilia, in 2025. "People born with genetic disorders ... have a lot of health problems and suffer," Jha said. "Now we actually can go in and edit people's genes." "It's been science fiction for a long time," he continued, "and it's now becoming reality." AI in medicine According to Jha, doctors are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, or AI, to help them with background tasks so they can focus on giving patients the best possible care. Returning to private practice Jha expects to see more doctors returning to private practice in 2025, citing a bipartisan push to change policies that forced many doctors to close their practices and join conglomerates. "I don't think that's the only way to deliver health care, but it is one important way," he explained. Watch the full interview in the player above. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup SIGN UP NOW