Dr. Javaid Sheikh, the dean of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q), recently hosted the inaugural Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series event, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) and healthcare. The event featured Dr. Rainu Kaushal, a renowned data scientist and health services researcher, who spoke about the growing role of AI in healthcare IT and its implementation in various areas, including imaging. Dr. Kaushal emphasized the importance of capturing vast quantities of clinical data for research and highlighted the need for ethical guidelines and investments in novel AI technologies.
Dr. Kaushal, who holds multiple leadership positions at WCM, including senior associate dean of clinical research and chair of the Department of Population Health Sciences, discussed her work in building a massive urban clinical database in the US. She stressed the potential of AI to enhance healthcare delivery and patient outcomes by streamlining data interpretation and extending human cognitive reach. Dr. Sheikh also highlighted the convergence of computational biology, data science, AI, and population health sciences in transforming the healthcare landscape to improve healthspans and promote precision health.
The lecture drew a diverse audience of health professionals from Qatar and overseas, including representatives from Qatar Foundation, Hamad Medical Corporation, and Sidra Medicine. Dr. Kaushal showcased collaborations between Cornell University colleges, WCM-Q, and New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in initiatives focusing on women’s health, brain health, heart health, cancer research, and population health. She emphasized the potential of AI-enabled research and innovation to advance individual patient care and population health outcomes, promoting a continuous cycle of learning and adaptation within the healthcare system.
Looking ahead, Dr. Kaushal envisions a future where precision medicine and health leverage AI to optimize patient care and improve outcomes. The WCM-Q Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series plans to host world-leading experts in data science, population health sciences, lifestyle medicine, and healthcare technology three times a year to showcase innovative approaches in health and their impact on global well-being. The series aims to highlight cutting-edge research and concepts that can revolutionize healthcare delivery and improve lives worldwide.
