WatSPEED, the professional and executive education division of the University of Waterloo, is set to launch an innovative program titled “Leveraging AI to Improve Health Care in Canada” in May 2024. This program is designed to equip senior leaders and executives in the health care sector with the knowledge and tools needed to effectively harness artificial intelligence (AI) for enhanced patient outcomes and organizational success.
Sanjeev Gill, Associate Vice-President of Innovation and Executive Director of WatSPEED, explained the impetus behind the program: “Following the release of ChatGPT and other generative AI technologies, we quickly recognized the potential for AI to revolutionize various sectors, including health care. However, we needed to understand where health care leaders stood on AI adoption.”
To inform the development of the program, WatSPEED hosted a focus group in Ottawa with top health care and health data leaders from both the public and private sectors. These leaders emphasized the critical need for education on AI for health care executives. Several participants even volunteered to assist in creating the program and committed to enrolling their management teams.
The program’s curriculum, curated by leading AI and public health experts from the University of Waterloo, covers a broad range of topics related to AI implementation in health care. Participants will delve into areas such as the use of generative AI for patient care, the future implications of AI technologies, and the ethical considerations surrounding AI adoption.
Dr. John Hirdes, Program Director and Professor in the School of Public Health Sciences, emphasized the program’s relevance: “AI is poised to transform every aspect of health care, from direct patient care to system management and policy development. This program will prepare decision-makers to navigate the complex, rapid, and profound changes that AI will bring to health care.”
The program offers a hybrid model, combining four 90-minute online executive sprints with a one-day in-person session in Toronto. This approach ensures broad accessibility while fostering networking and collaborative learning among health care leaders. The in-person session will culminate in a full-day event featuring guest speakers, panel discussions, and interactive sessions, providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of AI’s potential in health care.
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