AIM-AHEAD invites public to Community Building Convention listening sessions

Aim Ahead Laptop Web

The AIM-AHEAD Coordinating Center based at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is hosting six free listening sessions to gather information from community members about their health equity experiences in addition to their artificial intelligence and machine learning needs.

“We invite anyone interested in promoting health equity, including those from minority-serving institutions, community organizations, businesses and government organizations, to share their experiences and insights,” said Dr. Jamboor Vishwanatha, who is leading the AIM-AHEAD Coordinating Center and is Vice President of the HSC Institute of Health Disparities.

The virtual listening sessions are a project of the Coordinating Center for the Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Consortium to Advance Health Equity and Researcher Diversity, or AIM-AHEAD, a program that started in September after the National Institutes of Health awarded $50 million to HSC to lead the effort.

The multi-institutional program brings together experts in community engagement, artificial intelligence, machine learning, health equity research, data science training and data infrastructure to close the gaps in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning. The field lacks diversity in its researchers and data, including electronic health records, Dr. Vishwanatha said. These gaps pose a risk of creating and continuing harmful biases in how AI/ML is used, how algorithms are developed, and how findings are interpreted. These gaps can lead to continued health disparities and inequities for underrepresented communities.

The Community Building Convention listening sessions, which will focus on different areas of interest, will take place Feb. 16-18 on Zoom:

  • Feb. 16, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Academic Institutions
  • Feb. 16, 2-3:30 p.m., Consortiums on AI/ML & Data Science
  • Feb. 17, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Industry
  • Feb. 17, 2-3:30 p.m., Healthcare
  • Feb. 18, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Community-Based
  • Feb. 18, 2-3:30 p.m., General Listening Session

Registration is free, and those with all levels of knowledge about AI/ML and health equity are welcome. To learn more about the AIM-AHEAD Community Building Convention and to register for one or more of the sessions, visit aim-ahead.net/convention/p/cbc. A Zoom link to attend will be provided by email after registration.

Community members who are unable to participate in a listening session but who wish to provide suggestions may register to receive an email with a link to a survey.

To learn more about the AIM-AHEAD program, visit aim-ahead.net.

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