OSU-COM CN Dean Bray, health care leaders discuss the future of AI in medicine
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Media Contact: Kayley Spielbusch | Digital Communications Specialist | 918-561-5759 | kspielb@okstate.edu
Dr. Natasha Bray, dean of the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine at Cherokee Nation, took part in a panel discussion at the inaugural Think Health: AI for Healthy Communities conference on Jan. 10 in Bentonville, Arkansas.
The Alice L. Walton School of Medicine collaborated with Stanford Medicine to host the conference at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Bray joined other national leaders in health, technology, education and policy to discuss the future of community health and wellness, enabled by artificial intelligence.
Discussions centered on how communities can benefit from the advances in AI technology and how it can help equip the next generation of health care leaders. Through conversations, shared learning and networking, the inaugural conference aimed to foster future AI collaborations, investments and partnerships to support communities facing health opportunities and challenges.
“The integration of AI into medicine is still in its early stages, but its potential is undeniable,” Bray said. “This conference offered a hopeful vision of a future where technology and human compassion converge to create a more equitable and accessible health care system.”
“The integration of AI into medicine is still in its early stages, but its potential
is undeniable.”
Bray and the other panelists discussed rural health challenges and how technology can be used to address them. Bray used the example of Stillwell, Oklahoma, where the average life expectancy of residents is just 56.4 years old.
“In communities like Stilwell, physicians can utilize AI to address patients’ health priorities while remaining conscious of any barriers to care they face,” she said.
Conference attendees also had the chance to experience technology demonstrations showcasing AI applications in health and medicine. The showcase included various solutions, including virtual reality to support mental health, chat-based personal health coaches, medical education tools, clinical documentation support for providers and more.
Recordings from the conference can be found on the Think Health website.