Marnix E. Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation (Innovation Institute) leadership regularly takes part in various events regarding artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine and health care, offering their expertise and professional insight. This fall, three of the institute’s leaders participated in a one-day program titled “A Primer for AI in Healthcare,” co-offered by the UAB School of Health Profession’s Department of Health Services Administration Center for Healthcare Management & Leadership.
This program, which took place before the beginning of UAB’s annual Preceptors’ Conference, offered health care professionals an opportunity to expand their knowledge related to AI and its applications in health care. Innovation Institute leadership that participated includes Rubin Pillay, M.D., Ph.D., executive director of the institute and assistant dean for Global Health Innovation for the Heersink School of Medicine, as well as Christy Harris Lemak, Ph.D., FACHE, deputy director for the institute and professor in the Department of Health Services Administration, and Sandeep Bodduluri, M.S., Ph.D., director of AI Programming for the institute and assistant professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine.
The event was designed to equip health care professionals with foundational knowledge and insights into the transformative potential of AI in the health care sector. Bodduluri’s talk, specifically, provided a deep dive into core AI concepts to help attendees understand AI applications in health care and included topics such as current state-of-the-art AI, data preparation for health care AI models, and an introduction to various machine learning approaches. The talk also highlighted current opportunities and challenges in the field, offering a comprehensive technical overview of the potential AI holds for transforming health care.
“This topic was especially important to the attending physicians, health care executives, and venture capitalists because AI is rapidly transforming the health care landscape, and understanding its foundations is key to unlocking its full potential,” said Bodduluri. “Physicians gained insights into how AI can enhance clinical decision-making, improve diagnostic accuracy, and streamline workflows, particularly through applications like medical imaging and patient data analysis. Health care executives learned how to strategically implement AI solutions in their organizations, leveraging state-of-the-art technologies to improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency. Venture capitalists were introduced to the current opportunities and challenges in AI health care applications, helping them make informed investment decisions in this fast-evolving field.”
The leaders and innovators who attended the program had an opportunity to network and engage in material with each other.
“It was an excellent experience that will enhance the ecosystem for AI and other emerging technologies in Alabama,” said Lemak.
At the conclusion of the one-day event, the participants were provided with the speakers’ contact details for additional follow-up and other outreach activities.
“Participating in these events is key to helping our fellow health care professionals understand the importance of AI in health care and the impact AI will have on the future of medicine,” said Pillay. “We always enjoy opportunities to help share all that AI does currently and the potential of what it can do in the future.”
Attendees provided valuable feedback, sharing that the session helped equip them when it comes to understanding the foundations of AI in health care and how they can actively apply what they learned.
“The primer was a smashing success,” said Ben Carlisle, information security architect for UAB Medicine. “It has reframed my perspective on my ‘mission’ at UAB Medicine. I am currently composing a plan for management and measurement of AI initiatives and look forward to including the content from this session."