It remains to be seen how many degrees of separation exist between artificial intelligence and human capabilities, but now there is nothing keeping medical students from an AI-themed degree.
A new five-year dual degree program in medicine and AI is being launched at the University of Texas at San Antonio, which claims it is the first of a kind.
The program will apply to a variety of medical fields relevant to senior living and care, including healthcare administration and digitizing medical records.
UTSA’s Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine announced the creation of the program last week. The program will include three possible tracks: data analytics, computer science, and intelligent and autonomous systems.
“Our goal is to prepare our students for the next generation of healthcare advances by providing comprehensive training in applied artificial intelligence,” AI degree program director Ronald Rodriguez, MD, PhD, said in a statement. “Through a combined curriculum of medicine and AI, our graduates will be armed with innovative training as they become future leaders. They will be shaping the future of healthcare for all.”
As use of AI rapidly has expanded following the debut of ChatGPT last November, much has been written about the potential benefits of risks within senior living and care. Recent analysis has ranged from possible legal ramifications providers should be aware of, to AI’s ability to diagnose major diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s by reviewing selfies.
The most promising near-term application of AI within long-term care likely is as a way to supplement administrative tasks and address staffing shortages by complementing, not competing, with existing staff.
In turn, AI’s roles ought to remove some of the more rote or clerical responsibilities of caregivers and thus, help avoid burnout, experts say.
