On November 19, 2024, the Institute for Better Health (IBH) hosted its fifth Hazel McCallion Annual Lecture in Shaping Healthier Communities at the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus in Toronto, Ont. This year’s lecture, AI for Better Health: Accelerating for Human-Centred Impact, was a forum for conversation and exploration on the potential of AI that is ethical, responsible and centred on people to create better health. The room was energized by health system leaders, policy makers, community members, learners and change-makers focused on shaping a healthier future.
The event was marked by a keynote from preeminent AI thought leader and MacArthur Fellow, Dr. Sendhil Mullainathan, which explored the role of AI in medicine. Attendees gained insight on the greatest opportunities for AI while keeping equity at the forefront of their work. Dr. Mullainathan presented three views of AI, emphasizing why it’s integral to keep humans in the loop. He challenged attendees to think differently and view AI as “bicycles for the brain,” using new data and research to see things and ourselves differently.
An interactive panel built upon the key learnings from Dr. Mullainathan’s presentation with expertise from hospital, industry and community leaders: Adremi (’Remi) Ejiwunmi, Vice President, future Shah Family Hospital for Women and Children, Trillium Health Partners; Tomi Poutanen (CEO, Signal 1); and Tess Romain (President and CEO, Partners Community Health). The panelists captured perspectives of real-world, human impact of AI in health care, emphasizing the value of well-scoped problems, diverse data sets and co-design with point-of-care staff, patients and community members.
Thank you to everyone who organized and attended the event! Together, we’re thinking practically about what AI means for better health – we’re challenging and re-examining existing ways of doing things, and considering how people plus science and technology are shaping the future of health care.