Eye-TEACH: Technology, Education, Artificial Intelligence, and Clinical Informatics in Healthcare

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The field of ophthalmology has been evolving due to changes and advancements in technology, data science, clinical informatics, and artificial intelligence (AI). Integration of new technologies into clinical practice, research, and educational programs presents both opportunities and challenges. These innovations have the potential to improve patient care, enhance diagnostic accuracy, and drive research in the vision sciences. However, an evolution in clinical training, education, and research practices is necessary to implement new technologies more effectively. Medical education has recognized the need to adapt to new technology, data science, and AI, and close the gap in understanding their use in clinical practice. There are few resources and programs focused on the integration of technology, data science, clinical informatics, and AI in medical education and training in ophthalmology. This meeting will allow for an opportunity to bring together physicians, researchers, and educators within these various disciplines for the shared goal of advancing ophthalmology training, education, and research by integrating new technologies, data science, informatics, and artificial intelligence. Specific aims include: (1) to explore the current state of ophthalmic education and education in vision science, (2) to address the potential gap between the development of new technologies and their implementation into ophthalmology education and training, and (3) to develop recommendations and strategies for leveraging technologies in education, research, and clinical practice effectively and sustainably. This conference will consist of focused sessions through which participants will hear from leaders in their respective fields, and workshops and networking events to discuss and learn methods to implement new technologies into ophthalmology training and medical education. Conference proceedings will be published in specialty journals, ensuring broad accessibility. We plan to submit to both clinical and research journals (e.g. Ophthalmology, Translational Vision Science & Technology, Journal of Academic Ophthalmology). An educator toolkit will be created and distributed, consisting of resources, conference materials, and information designed for program participants. Based on the results of the conference, a list of priorities will be established for future research and work in technology, data science, clinical informatics, and AI in ophthalmology training and education.