Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1501973
Illinois Medicine | 29 Another student who took the course shared this insight: "A large amount of reliable data input is needed to generate a dependable algorithm. Depending on the nature of the data, a suitable learning methodology has to be carefully chosen. Instead of replacing physicians, the output of AI mainly focuses on assisting physicians to provide better healthcare." "We plan to build knowledge and awareness of AI and ML into the overall curriculum to give students background information to help them learn how and when to access these tools and when to question them," says Raymond H. Curry, MD, FACP, senior associate dean for educational affairs and professor of medicine and medical education. Curry notes that the Center for Health Equity using Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (CHEMA) is unique because of its focus on using these tools to minimize biases in medical diagnosis and treatment. "There are ethical implications to the technology," he says. "Systems must be constructed to recognize various biases and correct for them so that biased results won't embed themselves and be propagated." "Our graduates will be able to integrate their evidence-based knowledge with knowledge gleaned from AI, ML and other emerging technologies," says Chang. "Alumni physicians will be able to add AI to their skill set with the aim of providing patients with the best-informed, individualized healthcare." Meanwhile, another AI course is already in the pipeline—for a much broader audience. "We're currently collaborating with the College of Medicine in Rockford and the OSF College of Nursing to develop an introductory AI course for students in all of the healthcare professions," says Sreedhar. "In early 2023, we received a UIC-OSF Community Health Advocacy Program grant to support this project. The grant will enable us to conduct surveys and focus groups to assess students' fears and aspirations regarding AI in the health professions. This information will help guide the creation of a new course entitled AI in Education—Training 21st-Century Healthcare Providers. "Our goal is to familiarize students in medicine, nursing and pharmacy with the benefits and limitations of AI in healthcare," Sreedhar notes. "As AI becomes ubiquitous, it will become increasingly important for healthcare professionals to understand how AI actually works, when and how to harness the power of AI, how to determine when AI output is flawed and how to leverage AI wisely to ensure the best possible outcome for every patient." Radhika Sreedhar, MD, MS, FACP P H O T O : D I A N E S M U T N Y B Y C A R L A B E E C H E R