Dr. Javaid I. Sheikh, WCM-Q’s dean, hosted the inaugural Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series, spotlighting AI in healthcare. Dr. Rainu Kaushal, a renowned US data scientist and health services researcher, led the session.
She discussed AI’s dominance in healthcare IT, its creation, implementation across various healthcare sectors including imaging, and strategies for managing vast clinical data for research. Key topics included ensuring ethical AI use and investing in novel AI technologies.
Dr. Kaushal, senior associate dean at WCM, chairs the Department of Population Health Sciences and serves as physician-in-chief at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. She’s also the principal investigator of the INSIGHT Clinical Research Network, overseeing a vast clinical database for national research.
During his introductory note, Dr. Javaid Sheikh, dean of WCM-Q, said: “It is truly a momentous time in healthcare when multiple scientific streams—computational biology, data science, artificial intelligence, and population health sciences—are converging. The landscape of healthcare is being transformed to enhance healthspans, to spawn an era of precision health, to get people involved in taking care of their own health, and to add life to years and years to life.”
A diverse audience of health professionals from Qatar and abroad attended the lecture, including representatives from Qatar Foundation, Hamad Medical Corporation, Sidra Medicine, WCM, WCM-Q, and Sheikh Dr. Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani, Director of the Public Health Department at the Ministry of Public Health.
Dr. Kaushal said: “In the realm of healthcare, AI acts as a co-pilot, enriching human decision-making processes by streamlining data interpretation and handling routine tasks. AI also extends our cognitive reach beyond human limitations, processing information swiftly and comprehensively. For instance, AI-driven analysis of specific imaging modalities unveils novel insights into functional assessments, underscoring the profound potential of AI to positively transform healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.”
During the session, Dr. Kaushal emphasized collaborative efforts between Cornell University colleges, WCM-Q, and New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. She highlighted initiatives in women’s health, brain health, heart health, cancer research, and population health, showcasing AI’s transformative impact.
Looking ahead, Dr. Kaushal envisions a move towards precision medicine and health using AI-enabled research to optimize patient care and population health outcomes. She advocates for continuous learning and adaptation driven by real-time data insights.
The WCM-Q Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series, scheduled three times a year, will feature experts in data science, population health sciences, lifestyle medicine, and healthcare technology, showcasing innovation in health and its global impact.
