Strengthening AI-Integrated Medical Education: Faculty Participation in International Workshop at UIC, USA
Three academics from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya-Prof. Saman Nanayakkara, Prof. Indu Nanayakkara, and Dr. Senani Samarasinghe-participated in an international workshop titled "Designing the Future of Education with AI: Tools, Simulation, and Research," held from 28 September to 2 October 2026 at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), USA.
The five-day programme was conducted by resource persons from UIC Medical Education, including Prof. Brian Gin, Dr. Ahreum Lim, Prof. Lauren Maggio, Prof. Yoon so Park, Prof. Ara Tekein and Dr. Kuan Xing.
The workshop explored the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in health professions education, focusing on AI-assisted educational research, virtual patient simulation, innovative student assessment, AI governance, and responsible implementation. Interactive AI Studios, collaborative discussions, and project-based activities provided valuable opportunities to explore practical applications relevant to undergraduate medical education.
The participation was made possible through the generous philanthropic support of Sivananthan Laboratories Inc., USA, enabling the participants to engage fully in this valuable international learning experience.
Ongoing Collaborations and Future Directions
Building on the workshop, ongoing collaborative work with the UIC resource team focuses on developing concept papers exploring AI-integrated teaching and learning strategies. These initiatives aim to overcome identified barriers to student engagement through innovative, learner-centred educational approaches.
The collaboration is expected to strengthen the Medical Education Unit's capacity to introduce, evaluate, and progressively integrate responsible AI-supported educational innovations into the undergraduate medical curriculum at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya.
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