Innovating Med Ed with AI: Insights from the Macy Report - September 16

Christy K. Boscardin, PhD, is a Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Anesthesia & Perioperative Care at UCSF and serves as the Director of Artificial Intelligence and Student Assessment in the School of Medicine. Her research focuses on medical education including AI, assessment, data science, implementation science, and equitable access to quality healthcare. Dr. Boscardin is recognized nationally for her leadership in integrating AI into medical education. She also directs medical education scholarship within the Department of Anesthesia and contributes as Statistical Editor for Perspectives on Medical Education and sits on the editorial board of Teaching and Learning in Medicine. Dr. Boscardin currently serves as the chair of WGEA steering committee.

Brian Gin, MD, is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Education and Pediatrics at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. 

Dr. Gin completed his MD in both Pediatrics Residency and Pediatric Hospital Medicine fellowship at UCSF. He also holds an MA in Education and a PhD in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Health Professions Education (HPE) through a joint program between Utrecht University and UCS.

Throughout his experience supervising trainees in the health professions, Dr. Gin developed an interest in understanding the trust necessary to balance safe patient care with the often-conflicting goals of trainee autonomy and experiential learning. As a trainee in research in HPE, he integrated traditional methodologies with machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, drawing from his background in computational work on protein evolution.

His current research centers on understanding the process of entrusting trainees with clinical responsibilities and developing AI methods to enhance research, learning, assessment, and clinical decision-making. Dr. Gin aims to "democratize" AI within HPE by developing open-source AI toolkits that equip users to collaborate freely in this emerging field. As AI begins to play more significant roles in HPE and clinical practice, he is also actively developing frameworks to guide the entrustment of AI itself.

Jesse Burk-Rafel, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, directs research at the NYU Institute for Innovations in Medical Education. He is also a hospitalist and inaugural Research Coach in the Division of Hospital Medicine. With a background in bioengineering and translational research, Jesse leads grant-funded studies exploring the intersection of medical education, informatics, and AI. His work aims to optimize trainee clinical performance and develop personalized educational interventions. Jesse lives with his wife and two children in the Lower East Side of New York City.

Alison J. Whelan, MD oversees efforts that prepare and assist deans, faculty leaders, educators, and future physicians for the challenges of 21st century academic medicine. She leads a staff that addresses critical medical school data, administrative, and operational issues; explores new models of successful mission alignment; focuses on key student and faculty issues; transforms current models of education and workforce preparation across the full continuum of medical education; and supports medical school accreditation activities. 

Prior to joining the association in 2016 as Chief Medical Education Officer, Dr. Whelan served as Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. She held multiple education roles: course director, clerkship director, curriculum dean and ultimately was appointed the inaugural Senior Associate Dean for Education. In this role she oversaw the continuum of medical education from medical school admissions through CME. 

Dr. Whelan received her bachelor’s degree from Carleton College in 1981. She earned her medical degree from Washington University in 1986 and completed her postgraduate work and residency at the former Barnes Hospital, now Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Dr. Whelan is an internist and clinical geneticist.