Students harness AI for public health with new course
Students at the University of Michigan School of Public Health are embracing the use of generative artificial intelligence as they train for careers in public health. The course ChatGPT and Public Health prepares students for the real-world application of AI by emphasizing practical, hands-on learning.
The course, taught by Sharon Kardia and Frederique Laubepin, emerged from a dual recognition: Michigan Public Health’s role in educating students about AI and the students’ need for a dedicated space to engage with these emerging technologies.
AI is set to significantly influence various domains, including the public health sector, where Michigan Public Health students will soon make their mark. Recognizing the necessity to develop AI competencies and literacies, the course was designed to meet students' keen interest in understanding AI’s extensive implications—both its opportunities and challenges—for their future careers.
“The course aimed to equip students with practical AI skills, fostering critical thinking essential for navigating a tech-centric world,” said Kardia, senior associate dean for education and the Millicent W. Higgins Collegiate Professor of Epidemiology. “It underscored the importance of being adept at leveraging AI's transformative potential while upholding the core values intrinsic to public health.”
“In shaping the course, we embraced an emergent curriculum approach,” said Laubepin, associate director and instructional design consultant for Instructional Services at Michigan Public Health. “This educational philosophy enables the curriculum to evolve in response to students’ interests, questions and real-time developments in the fast-paced world of AI.
“Unlike a fixed curriculum, this approach is dynamic, adapting to the students’ evolving needs and the continuously shifting genAI landscape. This method not only promotes critical thinking and problem-solving but also ensures that students are active participants in their educational journey. They engage in challenging assumptions and devising innovative solutions to novel challenges.”
Nearly 50 students recently completed the course, and enrollment demonstrates the interdisciplinary demand of learning these emerging technologies. Students from all six of Michigan Public Health's graduate departments completed the course—Biostatistics, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Health Behavior and Health Education, Health Management and Policy, and Nutritional Sciences—as well as students from the online MPH program in Population and Health Sciences, and undergraduate students. Several students from other University of Michigan health sciences schools also enrolled.
Unlike a fixed curriculum, this approach is dynamic, adapting to the students’ evolving needs and the continuously shifting genAI landscape. This method not only promotes critical thinking and problem-solving but also ensures that students are active participants in their educational journey. They engage in challenging assumptions and devising innovative solutions to novel challenges.”
— Frederique Laubepin
Their journey culminated in sharing their discoveries via Zoom with the broader School of Public Health and university community at the end of the semester, fostering conversation and knowledge exchange. More than 110 people from across the University of Michigan attended, including faculty and staff from the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching, the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, the University of Michigan Library, Information Technology Services and the School of Public Health.
Collectively, students’ projects highlighted a broad interest in harnessing AI to improve healthcare communication, ethics, education and system efficiency, while also addressing challenges such as equity, accessibility, bias, and sustainability:
- AI in Healthcare Communication: Exploring how AI can enhance patient-provider interactions, health literacy, and patient education
- Ethical and Social Implications of AI: Investigating the ethical challenges and societal impacts of AI in healthcare and patient privacy
- AI in Public Health Initiatives: Utilizing AI for targeted health campaigns, disease prevention, and management in diverse communities
- Equity, Accessibility and Inclusivity: Developing AI tools for making health information accessible and inclusive, especially for non-native English speakers and diverse populations
- AI in Disease Research and Management: Applying AI in specific health conditions for research, personalized treatment, and disease management
- AI in Health Education and Training: Using AI to enhance medical education, training, and assessment, such as MCAT exam preparation
- Critical Examination of AI's Capabilities: Assessing AI's effectiveness, biases, and limitations in handling health-related information and misinformation
- AI in Mental Health: Creating AI-driven tools for mental health therapy, support, and early intervention
- AI for Health System Efficiency: Implementing AI solutions to improve healthcare delivery efficiency, patient flow, and resource management
An emergent curriculum also cultivates lifelong learning skills, vital in our rapidly changing world, Laubepin said.
“It fosters curiosity and self-directed learning, equipping students to adapt and thrive amidst change,” she said. “By mirroring the real-world’s complexity and unpredictability, this approach prepares students for the multifaceted challenges they may face in their professional lives, ensuring they can navigate and contribute meaningfully in an ever-evolving public health landscape.”
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