TCOM faculty and staff receive AACOM grant to study innovative AI curriculum integration
The emergence of artificial intelligence is undeniable and the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is receiving a grant from the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine to study an innovative way of merging AI into a medical school curriculum.
Led by primary investigator Janet Lieto, DO, FACOFP, CMD, CPPS, an associate professor of medical education and director of health systems science, innovation and leadership, TCOM was one of only three research teams across the nation to receive the $5,000 grant. The co-investigators on the grant are Amany Hassan, PhD, Lin Nelson, MBA, and Nelumdini Samaranayake, PhD.
“The integration of health informatics with AI through case-based simulation for undergraduate medical education is a transformative shift that not only enhances the curriculum but prepares future health care professionals to lead in an AI-driven world,” Lieto said. “By equipping students with the knowledge, skills and ethical understanding of AI, we are empowering them to revolutionize patient care and drive innovation in health care. This investment in experiential learning ensures they are ready to navigate and shape the future of medicine, delivering smarter, more effective and ethically sound care.”
The emergence of AI in health care presents an unprecedented opportunity for medical education that will require an innovative approach to curriculum design. How to integrate the new technological advancements into medical education is becoming more imperative.
The study will seek to address this critical gap by pioneering the integration of health informatics, AI applications, and augmented intelligence with simulation scenario-based learning into the undergraduate medical curriculum at TCOM.
“These research grants are a testament to AACOM’s commitment to advancing osteopathic medical education and addressing the evolving needs of our health care system,” said AACOM President and CEO Robert A. Cain, DO. “By supporting innovative projects that explore key areas such as AI curriculum integration to enhance residency readiness, diversity in medical school admissions, and the incorporation of technology in osteopathic manipulative treatment training, we are empowering educators and students to shape the future of osteopathic medicine.”
A few of the goals the study hopes to achieve include developing and implementing a health informatics curriculum tailored for undergraduate medical students. This curriculum will include AuI and AI applications in education, health sciences and medical practices.
It also aims to introduce innovative approaches to patient care by addressing clinical decision-making challenges through the integration of AI. The curriculum will provide hands-on, experiential learning opportunities using case-based and simulation scenario-based learning for patient care and adapt pre- and post-course skill assessments to evaluate students.
The research team is planning to present their findings at AACOM’s annual Education Leaders Conference in April 2025.
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