DermWorld Academy Insider: New course helps members assess and prepare for AI in dermatology

July 25, 2024

As artificial intelligence technologies continue to improve, it is becoming more and more common to see them used to help supplement work in professional settings. This is no different in dermatology offices, where artificial intelligence can be used to help reduce administrative burden, freeing up time for dermatologists that can be spent with their patients.

The Academy recently developed a Learning Center course on artificial intelligence, which allows you to learn how to define key AI-related concepts, describe current use of AI technologies in dermatology and identify opportunities for dermatologists to participate in the development of new tools, and assess the legal and ethical implications of AI use, among other topics. The course is free for members and offers up to 3 credits of continuing medical education.

In this exclusive DermWorld Academy Insider interview, Ivy Lee, MD, FAAD, and Veronica Rotemberg, MD, PhD, FAAD, chair and deputy chair of the AAD’s Augmented Intelligence Committee which helped develop the course, discuss the course, its benefits, and why members should take it.

DermWorld: What is the new artificial intelligence course, and why was it created?

Dr. Lee: The AI Bootcamp is a high-yield, curated collection of learning modules developed to boost AI literacy within our specialty and empower dermatologists to understand and critically analyze these technologies. Our hope is to invite dermatologists to co-create and lead the implementation of these technologies so AI can augment our human intelligence and capacity to deliver quality, ethical, and equitable care.

Dr. Rotemberg: Our goal with the course is to lower some of the barriers to understanding AI and to improve understanding around the current state of innovation in our specialty.

DermWorld: What can members expect to learn?

Dr. Lee: The online modules span a breadth of core topics, such as why and how AI is developed, validated, and implemented in dermatology. Dr. Robert Novoa led the creation of this course and has done a phenomenal job of inviting AI experts in dermatology to offer deep dives into the technical, cultural, and ethical complexities as well as practical tips in evaluating and applying AI tools in daily practice. These modules can be enjoyed as a series or stand-alone episodes.

Dr. Rotemberg: I think, as Dr. Lee points out, our goal was to make the course as practical and accessible to real world dermatologists as possible. We hope that, as we are faced with questions about when and how to implement AI in our practice, we have equipped our members with the tools to help them.

DermWorld: Why is it important for members to take the course?

Dr. Lee: AI is omnipresent in our professional and personal lives, and our patients and staff are using these technologies. This course was developed for busy dermatologists to demystify the hype and to shape the real-world use of AI in our practices and for our patients. Building our specialty’s knowledge base and experience with AI allows us to direct its implementation and align the evolution of AI with our values and priority of data-driven, patient-centric care.

Dr. Rotemberg: We also know that all of us are going to be asked important questions about AI in dermatology and AI in medicine in the coming years. We need to all be able to advocate for our patients and for our specialty in terms of how we will use these AI tools and what tools may really benefit us. We hope that this course will help us shape the future of AI together.