Despite the enormous impact that artificial intelligence (AI) is having on the world, including the pharmaceutical world, the technology is still rarely covered in pharmacy education courses, with a few exceptions.
For example, at the University of Florida’s College of Pharmacy, researchers are using AI tools to address the nation’s health care challenges, from developing new cancer drugs to containing the spread of cancer. opioid epidemic. The University has also strengthened its teaching around AI for students enrolled in the pharmacy program.
Similarly, the University of California’s pharmacy program has added AI courses to its curriculum in recent years.
As AI becomes more prevalent in healthcare, pharmacy schools will need to introduce AI into their curriculum to prepare students to effectively use these tools in their practice. This could include courses to understand how AI tools work, how to interpret AI results, and the ethical considerations surrounding the use of AI.
“Interestingly, the topic of AI does not always receive the attention it deserves in the curriculum,” said Sam Brackett, PharmD, director of operations at Altruix and a 2016 graduate of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in 2016. “This gap is a bit concerning because AI has the potential to reshape the pharmaceutical industry.
Pharmacy schools must integrate AI into their curriculum to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills; The program is expected to cover topics such as AI fundamentals, data ethics, privacy regulations, and cybersecurity.
When interacting with students at industry conferences, Brackett often encourages them to deepen their knowledge of AI and data analytics alongside their pharmacy studies.
“By adopting this dual skill, they can make more informed decisions and better understand how AI can improve patient care, safety and privacy,” Brackett said. “Pharmacy students should prepare for a future where AI is integrated into their practice by developing an understanding of how this technology works and its potential applications in healthcare. They should also familiarize themselves with the ethical considerations of using AI and understand how to use it responsibly.
Bryan Shaw, PharmD, senior director of pharmaceutical analytics and informatics for healthcare services company Vizient, noted that currently, AI is not commonly addressed in pharmacy educational programs across the countries, although many schools are actively exploring how these concepts best fit into their curricula. . It is also the subject of active discussion in many major forums to assess its potential role in future accreditation standards.
“Research is underway in (the healthcare industry) to determine where AI is most applicable and effective, while maintaining safe and ethical patient-centered care, as its emergence is still quite recent development in the field,” he said.
In preparation for the continued evolution and integration of AI in healthcare, students should take the time to understand the basic concepts involved and how they interact with the pharmacy profession.
“The most pressing concepts are the ethical and legal consequences of using AI in healthcare and how it could directly and indirectly impact our patients,” Shaw said. “As a profession, pharmacists are lifelong learners, and it would be prudent for us to ensure we understand the implications of something that has the potential to greatly influence the care we provide to patients across the world . »
But as with any new technology, challenges exist: There are often knowledge gaps when it comes to understanding AI concepts, including machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing. Additionally, pharmacy students may lack training in data science and programming, which are essential to leveraging AI.
Open access to AI technology platforms, such as ChatGPT, is still in its early stages, leading some pharmacy schools to discourage the use of AI capabilities due to the potential negative impact that it could have on student learning.
In preparation for using AI, pharmacy students should understand the basic concepts of AI and its applications in pharmacy and healthcare in general. This can be achieved by taking interdisciplinary courses combining technology and healthcare. They also need hands-on experience with AI tools, possibly through internships, workshops or projects.
Another important area of study is the ethical considerations and regulations surrounding the use of AI in healthcare, including patient privacy and data security.
Pharmacy schools are where emerging cohorts of new pharmacists are trained. These pharmacists need to be aware of these trends and equipped to perform ever-changing professional roles, and AI plays an important role in this. Pharmacy schools can help students with their learning by integrating technology solutions into their curriculum, as well as educating students about AI.
