The Power of Connection: Redefining Clinical Learning with Technology
Article By: Sama ayoub
With the growth of Artificial Intelligence and its accessibility, its use as a synergist tool in many fields, including education, has become a topic of particular discussion and relevance. One can describe the use of AI as a double-edged sword, as liabilities accompany every advancement. However, responsible development with thoughtful regulation can allow us to embrace the benefits of AI for the betterment of medical education, advancing the skills of our future physicians.
Guided by this principle, the Medical Education Technology and Humanities Conference (METC) convenes every year. As the name of the conference itself notes, the advancement of technology goes hand in hand with the humanities. The conference brings together educators, healthcare professionals, and innovators with the shared goal of embracing "The Power of Connection: Leveraging Technology for Humanistic Medical Education".
The conference stood as an opportunity for aspiring health care professionals like Ann's Mahboob, a first-year medical student, to learn from and collaborate with fellow educators in the health fields and practicing physicians on ways to optimise tools like AI, VR, and digital learning platforms to enhance medical education. As a medical student who is approaching his clerkship rotations that focus on supervised hands-on and practical training experiences in the hospital, Anns found an opportunity to incorporate AI in enhancing his learning alongside his peers.
Among the lectures, interactive workshops and poster presentations presented by participants at the conference, Mahboob led a workshop and poster presentation titled "AI-Assisted Virtual Reality for Teaching History-Taking Skills to Clerkship Students." His project showcased the success of utilizing VR to create simulations real-life clinical encounters which would translate as an opportunity for students to practice their history taking skills in an environment that is controlled and safe, cultivating the confidence of students as they master communication skills necessary throughout patient-physician encounters.
The presentation was met with enthusiastic feedback from conference attendees and earned First Place in the poster competition. Reflecting on the experience, Anns shared,
“It was a great pleasure to present our work on AI-assisted VR in teaching clerkship students history-taking skills at the inaugural METC conference—our workshop was greatly enjoyed by the assembly and our poster won first place at the conference, too. We hope to share our findings with the wider world through publication, soon.”
These conferences serve as more than just places to present research; they are also settings where patients, doctors, and families can develop a stronger sense of community. They put the human experience at the centre of healthcare by promoting discussions that go beyond clinical results. These meetings enable emotional connection, shared understanding, and a shared commitment to more compassionate, patient-centered care by bringing together a variety of voices. In these situations, medicine becomes a shared journey between carers, families, and the people they serve, rather than merely a science.