The AI in Medicine and Nursing Symposium, hosted by the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, UAB Medicine, UAB School of Health Professions, UAB School of Nursing, and Maastricht University Faculty of Science and Engineering, concluded successfully, bringing together leading experts, researchers, and industry representatives to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care.
The two-day event featured a series of discussions, presentations, and networking opportunities aimed at advancing the future of medical and nursing practice through AI technology. Rubin Pillay, M.D., Ph.D., executive director of the UAB Marnix E. Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation, emphasized the profound impact of AI.
“AI will not just transform health care but redefine every aspect of health care,” said Pillay. “AI is going to touch every aspect of health care, and UAB is at the forefront of that.”
Thomas Cleij, Ph.D., dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Maastricht University, shared his enthusiasm.
“I think it’s exciting times, and I think AI makes all kinds of things in the future possible,” said Cleij.
The symposium kicked off with a welcome address by Pillay and Maria Shirey, Ph.D., MBA, R.N., dean of the UAB School of Nursing, followed by keynote addresses from Linda Harrington, Ph.D., DNP, RN-BC, UXC, CPHQ, CENP, FHIMSS, FAMIA, an independent consultant for health informatics and digital strategy, and Jake Chen, Ph.D., FACMI, FAIMBE, professor in the UAB Department of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science. The event continued with plenary sessions covering various aspects of AI in medicine, drug discovery, and health services.
Day two focused on integrating AI across health domains, featuring a keynote by Anthony Chang, M.D., MBA, MPH, M.S., chief intelligence and innovation officer at Children’s Hospital of Orange County, and sessions on AI for global health and nursing. The symposium concluded with a panel discussion on fostering academic, community, and industry partnerships, moderated by Cleij.
The event underscored the critical role of AI in shaping the future of health care, with UAB and its partners leading the charge in this transformative journey.
View the recordings and more information about the speakers below. You can view the full agenda here and images here.
Day One
Day Two
Speakers
Maria Shirey Ph.D., MBA, R.N., NEA‐BC, ANEF, FACHE, FNAP, FAAN
Dean, UAB School of Nursing
Rubin Pillay, M.D., Ph.D.
Executive Director, UAB Marnix E. Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation // Assistant Dean for Global Health Innovation, UAB Heersink School of Medicine // Chief Innovation Officer, UAB Health System
Andrew J. Butler, Ph.D.
Dean, UAB School of Health Professions
Kecia M. Thomas, Ph.D.
Dean, UAB College of Arts and Sciences
Marnix E. Heersink, M.D.
Co-founder, Eye Center South
Linda Harrington, Ph.D, DNP, RN-BC, UXC, CPHQ, CENP, FHIMSS, FAMIA
Independent Consultant, Health Informatics and Digital Strategy
Sandeep Bodduluri, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Pietro Bonizzi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Advanced Computing Sciences, Maastricht University
Merry Lynn McDonald, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, & Critical Care Medicine, UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Steven Rothenberg, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology, UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Jake Chen, Ph.D., FACMI, FAIMBE
Professor, Department of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science, UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Chris Reutelingsperger, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Maastricht University
Jon Stokes, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University
Ryan Melvin, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Jane Banaszak-Holl, Ph.D.
Department Chair and L.R. Jordan Chair in Health Services Administration, UAB School of Health Professions
Sil Aerts, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University
Joshua Lee, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Health Services Administration, UAB School of Health Professions
Abdulaziz Ahmed, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Health Services Administration, UAB School of Health Professions
Rachel Smith, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, UAB School of Engineering
David Randall, MBA
Chief Strategic Officer, UAB Medicine
Carlos Cardenas, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Anthony Chang, M.D., MBA, MPH, M.S.
Chief Intelligence and Innovation Officer, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, UC Irvine
Alan T.N. Tita, M.D., Ph.D.
Senior Associate Dean, Global and Women’s Health // Director, UAB Mary Heersink Institute of Global Health // Professor, UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Tucker Netherton, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Physics, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Vivek Shukla, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Linda Moneyham, Ph.D., R.N.
Professor and Senior Associated Dean for Academic Affairs, UAB School of Nursing
Ben Galatzan, Ph.D., R.N.
Assistant Professor, UAB School of Nursing
Shea Polancich, Ph.D., R.N.
Professor, UAB School of Nursing
Chris Hickman
Instructor, UAB School of Nursing
Amy Bronson, Ed.D., PA-C
Dean/Program Director, Master of Physician Assistant Program, WCU-Dallas
Michel Dumontier
Distinguished Professor, Department of Advanced Computing Sciences, Maastricht University
Akhlaque Haque, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, UAB College of Arts and Sciences
Georgia Thomas, R.N., MBA, CPHQ, FACHE
Health Executive Advisor, Amazon Web Services
Matt Doxey
Data Scientist and AI Professional, Google
Seth van der Meer
Founder and CEO, Post-ICU, Eindhoven
Michel Dumontier
Distinguished Professor, Department of Advanced Computing Sciences, Maastricht University
Stevan Fairburn, B.S.
Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellow, UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Donald Smith
Microsoft TechSpark Fellow; Founder/CEO, WorkTalo