Artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) involves the use of computer systems to model human cognitive functions like supervised and unsupervised learning and problem-solving. Today, AI/ML tools and devices are deeply embedded within our day-to-day health infrastructure, such as electronic medical records, diagnostic devices, and other tools used across health care and research settings. Also, technological advancements across a multitude of data sources have enabled the capture and continuous and precise analysis of sociodemographic factors, health behavior, disease, biomarkers, and other critical variables of health-relevance. Yet, there are many challenges and opportunities accompanying AI/ML implementation in health research and practice, which has driven a great deal of hype around the actual potential of AI/ML. In fact, the current lack of diversity of both data and researchers in the AI/ML field creates or poses risks to perpetuating harmful biases that may perpetuate health disparities and inequities across a growing range of health-relevant settings.

On April 6, 2023, the National Alliance Against Disparities in Patient Health partnered with Fisk University faculty and students to host a hybrid (in-person and online) roundtable discussion with faculty researchers, health care and policy practitioners, and community leaders to discuss the realities and hype surrounding AI/ML use in health research. 

Joining NADPH's Rachele Hendericks-Sturrup, DHSc, MSc, MA were expert panelists from Vanderbilt University, Meharry Medical College, and the Southern Nevada Black Nurses Association. Rachele functions within AIM-AHEAD’s Infrastructure Core and co-chairing AIM-AHEAD’s Ethics and Equity Workgroup

Roundtable session speakers/panelists:

• Rachele Hendricks-Sturrup, DHSc, MSc, MA; National Alliance Against Disparities in Patient Health, Chief Data Governance Officer; AIM-AHEAD Co-Investigator; AIM-AHEAD Ethics and Equity Workgroup Co-Chair (moderator, local) 
• Benjamin Collins, MD, MA; Vanderbilt University Medical Center Physician and Postdoctoral Fellow in Ethics, Legal, and Social Issues of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare; AIM-AHEAD Co-Investigator; AIM-AHEAD Ethics and Equity Workgroup member (panelist, local)  
• Ellen Clayton, MD, JD; Vanderbilt University Craig-Weaver Professor of Pediatrics; Professor of Law; Professor of Health Policy; AIM-AHEAD Co-Investigator; AIM-AHEAD Ethics and Equity Workgroup member (panelist, local)  
• Lauren Edgar, DNP, RN, MSN-Ed.,FNP; Former President, Southern Nevada Black Nurses Association; AIM-AHEAD Leadership Fellow (panelist, virtual) 
• Monique McCallister, PhD, MS; Tennessee State University Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences; AIM-AHEAD Leadership Fellow (panelist, local) 
• Millard Collins, M.D., FAAFP; Dr. Frank S. Royal Endowed Chair; Professor, Department of Family & Community Medicine; Meharry Medical College (panelist, local) 

The roundtable discussion was a tremendous success, resulting in over 200 Fisk University students in attendance receiving professional development credits toward graduation. Students and faculty in attendance expressed excitement and enthusiasm as well as eagerness to learn about career options and pathways in AI/ML health research, how AI/ML intersects with health equity, how AI/ML is bring used to advance the practice of medicine and health research, ethical issues accompanying AI/ML research implementation in underserved health care settings, and more. View the full recording of the roundtable discussion below.

Fisk AI/ML Symposium April 5, 2023

Following the event, on April 5, 2023, Dr. Hendricks-Sturrup presented the AIM-AHEAD Ethics and Equity Principles to several esteemed Fisk University students during their 2023 Honors Convocation ceremony. View the full recording of the 2023 Honors Convocation by clicking here.

Very special thanks to Sheanel Gardner (Fisk University, ‘23), Dr. Sajid Hussain, and Dr. Phyllis Freeman at Fisk University for providing coordination, operational, and outreach support for this event to facilitate its community impact and success.

To learn more about the AIM-AHEAD Ethics and Equity Workgroup, contact Dr. Rachele Hendricks-Sturrup at hendricks-sturrup@nadph.org or Dr. Bradley Malin at Bradley.malin@vanderbilt.edu. 

To learn more about AI/ML research opportunities at Fisk University, contact Dr. Sajid Hussain at shussain@fisk.edu. 

To learn more about activities and research opportunities within the AIM-AHEAD Infrastructure Core, contact Dr. Bradley Malin at Bradley.malin@vanderbilt.edu or Dr. Alex Carlisle at carlisle@nadph.org.