At this year’s AAMC Learn Serve Lead conference, one session stood out to educators exploring the frontiers of technology in medicine: “AI Rx: Empowering Faculty with Clinically Relevant AI-Powered Curriculum.” Led by faculty from Stanford, the discussion examined how artificial intelligence is reshaping both health care and medical education and what that means for the next generation of clinicians.
What resonated most was how students are already integrating AI into their learning. Attendees shared examples of learners using tools like NotebookLM, OpenEvidence, and ChatGPT to practice OSCE scenarios, generate clinical reasoning prompts, and even simulate patient conversations through GPT-4o’s new voice capabilities. Some educators saw immense potential for empathy training, while others voiced caution about over-reliance, for instance, how AI scribes might make students less attentive to what’s truly relevant in patient interviews. Others echoed concerns about knowledge translation in the clinical setting, as tools like OpenEvidence make it easier to off-load complex reasoning and synthesize medical information without fully engaging in the cognitive process.
The open discussion underscored a shared concern: How can educators embrace AI without eroding the essence of clinical reasoning? Faculty emphasized preserving fundamental learning principles such as curiosity, judgment, and reflective practice, even as AI becomes more deeply woven into the curriculum. Many agreed that deliberate efforts are needed to protect and reinforce clinical reasoning education in an era where technology could inadvertently narrow students’ cognitive growth.
Ultimately, the message was clear: AI should enhance reasoning, not replace it. Educators must remain curious, critical, and collaborative as they guide students in using these tools responsibly. Students may be the early adopters, but it’s up to medical schools to integrate AI with intentionality and evidence.
At Sketchy, we’re energized by this conversation. As we develop AI-powered tools like DDx, our mission remains the same: to help students think more clearly, reason more deeply, and prepare for the realities of modern clinical care.
AI isn’t a shortcut. It’s a catalyst. And it’s up to all of us to shape how it strengthens the future of medical education.
