PHSI 2023 Session Descriptions
Day 1: Unpacking the Complexities of AI and its Effect on Population Health
Introduction to Approaching AI: Strengths, Limitations, and Opportunities
9:20 – 9:50 am, Thursday June 22nd, 2023
Presented by: Ricky Hu (University of British Columbia)
This session is an introduction to core concepts of artificial intelligence (AI) and organizing a general approach to analyze AI. This talk aims to advocate that data science best practices should be applied to AI similarly as with biostatistics. This will be presented by an AI engineer and includes organizing definitions of commonly used AI terms, defining the fundamental workflow of machine learning, examples of popular AI models in media/literature, and examples of analyzing existing widespread healthcare AI tools. Common pitfalls, strengths of AI, limitations will be discussed to promote educated enthusiasm and discretion for AI.
Panel: AI Implications for Public Health
9:50 – 10:45 am, Thursday June 22nd, 2023
Presented by: Tina Purnat (World Health Organization) and Dr. Jude Kong (York University)
This panel session will explore the complex interplay between people, information, and technology in the field of public health. This panel will delve into the ethical implications of technology, provide insights into the challenges posed by misinformation and disinformation in the age of AI, and consider the frameworks that guide AI use and the potential impact on inequalities. This session will also discuss data governance, AI colonialism, and the potential of AI to transform public health from reactive to proactive in its approach.
How Public Health can use AI
10:45 – 11:15 am, Thursday June 22nd, 2023
Presented by: Dr. Alberto Tozzi (Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù)
Artificial intelligence may become a powerful tool for public health. One interesting application is syndromic surveillance which may be particularly useful where laboratory resources may be not immediately available to confirm a disease and to explore local and global trends mining text from social media. The concept of predictive surveillance is starting to be applied for several challenges in public health such as hospital associated infections. An additional area of interest is represented by the recent availability of large language models which can be used to tailor communication for promoting public health actions to different targets. The many applications of AI in public health depend on data availability which may not be easy for regulatory and technical issues. Moreover, ethics should guide the development of AI tools in public health to avoid inequities.
Panel: Technologies that can be used in Public Health Work
12:45 – 1:45 pm, Thursday June 22nd, 2023
Presented by: Dr. Danielle Rasooly (Harvard Medical School)
Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to reshape health and medicine, offering personalized care benefitting both providers and patients and improving the health of populations. Although AI has made rapid advances in clinical medicine over the past decade, application has been slower in population health settings. However, the emerging abundance of large health and non-health-related data combined with breakthroughs in computation and AI models has tremendous potential in improving the delivery of public health. This talk will explore the role of AI for population health and assess the opportunities and challenges of its application.
Presented by: Dr. Noah Crampton (Toronto Western Family Health Team)
AutoScribe is an AI-powered digital scribe tool for clinicians. With a microphone in the exam room, as clinician and patient are talking, the AutoScribe AI listens and generates a corresponding accurate clinical note in real-time. Our service is unique in that it is highly customizable to individual clinicians and clinic workflows and documentation formats and styles. We are currently integrated into Telus PS Suite and OSCAR EMR with more to come (we do have a stand-alone app as well).
Ethics, Governance, and Regulation of AI
2:15 – 2:45 pm, Thursday June 22nd, 2023
Presented by: Dr. Simon Carroll (University of Victoria)
This session will focus on approaches to the ethical governance, policy and regulation of AI. It will take a social studies of science perspective to analyze the current framing and early initiatives to address the challenges and opportunities presented by AI as an area of innovative technological development
Day 2: Healthy Aging & Digital Equity
The Problems and Prospects of Aging with Care Technologies
9:45 – 10:45 am, Friday June 23rd, 2023
Presented by: Dr. Stephen Katz (Trent University)
Today digital technologies are becoming central in health care for older adults and to imagining aging futures, yet their promotion often overlooks their impact on social inequality and exclusion. This presentation offers a critical exploration of the dynamics of power and knowledge inherent to technological tracking, monitoring and surveillance systems and concludes with the example of digital solutions to problems of elder loneliness and isolation.
Panel Q&A: Social Isolation and Social Connection
12:15 – 1:00 pm, Friday June 23rd, 2023
Presented by: Dr. Gloria Gutman (Simon Fraser University), Dr. Lorie Donelle (University of South Carolina), Donna Gault and Rosaline Glynn (Hardy Bay Seniors Centre)
This session will focus on the opportunities for older adults to increase their social connections and reduce social isolation by the sustainable adoption of digital assistive technologies. Using examples from equity-seeking populations and rural and remote communities, the panelists will discuss the key features of successful assistive technology design and implementation with older adults, and what are some of the challenges older adults face in taking advantage of these opportunities.
Digital Horizons: Envisioning the Future of Public Health Access and Equity
1:50 – 2:20 pm, Friday June 23rd, 2023
Presented by: Dr. Josephine McMurray (Wilfred Laurier University)
We will explore the transformative potential of technology in the realm of public health and the opportunities and challenges it presents for equitable access to supports that allow Canadians to age well in a place of their choice. The transformation to a digitally inclusive and equitable public health ecosystem, will require digital health interventions that empower individuals and communities, and use culturally sensitive and inclusive design. We will also consider how public health practitioners must adapt to the evolving digital landscape, in an increasingly complex global context.