Artificial intelligence (AI) is already having a major impact on medicine. Advanced AI algorithms are being used to detect cancer, take notes during patient visits, summarize the latest medical literature and much more.
To help students make the best use of this rapidly evolving tool, the Miller School recently added an AI elective to its M.D./M.P.H. program. The course, “Introduction to AI in Medicine and Public Health,” offers a comprehensive look at AI’s potential, as well as its limitations.
“Seeing what’s happening with AI — especially since the onslaught of generative AI and large language models — it’s really exploded into people’s consciousnesses,” said Shirin Shafazand, M.D., M.S., professor of medicine and director of the M.D./M.P.H. program. “We need to ensure that our students have the appropriate skills to use AI and understand what these tools actually do.”
Dr. Shafazand designed the course to give M.D./M.P.H. students and faculty the foundation to effectively use AI and understand its inner workings. During its first semester, the class also dove into ethics, cybersecurity, government regulation and much more. Students learned from experts in academia and industry at the forefront of AI innovation. To cap it off, students were asked to complete a project, such as developing their own AI agent — a tool that can perform specific tasks without human intervention.
“They came up with some really cool AI agents,” Dr. Shafazand said. “Some were very practical and reflected their interests at this stage of their careers. Many focused on patient education and enhancing medical knowledge. It was nice to see how the students were thinking.”
The students came out of the class feeling both empowered and forewarned. They know that AI is the future, but it should also be treated with extreme caution.
“We cannot let our human judgment be replaced by AI,” Dr. Shafazand said. “Critical appraisal must always be in play. I want that to be a key takeaway for our M.D./M.P.H. students. Ask the questions and look at AI implementation from all angles: How will it impact society, patients, the health care system and costs? Develop a framework for evaluation and change management and then implement that AI tool into the health care system.”
“We cannot let our human judgment be replaced by AI.”
