Ethical, Effective, Empowered: Policy and Practice for Tomorrow’s Health Professionals

Abstract

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) rapidly expands across healthcare and higher education, universities face urgent questions about safety, ethics, and AI's impact on student learning and wellbeing. This presentation explores the real benefits and risks of AI adoption in health-profession programs, citing emerging global evidence of decreased peer connection, increased accuracy concerns, and student anxiety about academic integrity. These issues highlight the need for institutional leadership to develop clear, supportive AI policies—policies that safeguard learning while promoting innovation. Building on the seminar’s objectives and the broader theme of “Artificial Intelligence in Health Care Services,” this session examines practical policy models at the institutional, program, and course levels. The aim is to demonstrate how universities can balance academic freedom with shared ethical standards, while also addressing mental health pressures related to AI dependence and uncertainty. The session concludes with a skills-focused segment on effective prompting, showing how educators and students can use AI safely and productively and how improved prompting can enhance the policy development process itself. By linking risk awareness, wellbeing, and responsible innovation, this presentation offers a pathway for preparing future health professionals to use AI ethically, confidently, and grounded in human-centered care.