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.