May 18, 2021 at Conference Room, 6th Floor, Office of the President – Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University presided over the meeting of the AI in Healthcare Committee, attended by the appointed members and relevant personnel. The meeting was also online through Zoom Video Conferencing, which was attended by the members from different faculties.
The meeting began at 15:00 hours. Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, as the chairman of AI in Healthcare Committee, told the members that for driving the project forward, the committee has regularly met including the AI in Healthcare Clubhouse meeting at Bayasita Hotel. The agenda today would be conclusion of the past activities and planning for the next steps.
Next, Assoc. Prof. Nawarat Wara-Aswapati Charoen, Ph.D., Vice President for International Affairs, as the first Deputy Chairperson led the meeting into the first agendum by reporting about the appointment of AI in Healthcare Committee members. The Committee is chaired by Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of the University, with 3 relevant vice presidents being deputy chairmen: Vice President for International Affairs, Vice President for Digital and Vice President for Innovation and Enterprise. Then, there was a presentation of the summary of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare Meeting on August 31, 2020, which included the following issues: promotion of instruction, academic affairs, curricula, healthcare management work using AI and medical innovations, healthcare data set, and staff development in AI in Healthcare.
Assoc. Prof. Nawarat Wara-Aswapati Charoen, the first Deputy Chairperson added about sending 54 KKU lecturers to attend AI in Healthcare (MIT online course) “Collaborative Data Science for Healthcare”. The lecturers were from health science faculties and Faculties of Sciences and Engineering, who received certificates of attendance and joined in carrying out activities under the AI in Healthcare Clubhouse until there were recommendations for incorporating 5 issues in driving forward the AI in Healthcare for KKU. The suggested activities include: 1) management of data, 2) tools, equipment and resources, 3) support and motivation, 4) teaching development, 5) expected outcomes.
“The participation in AI in Healthcare (MIT online course) Collaborative Data Science for Healthcare by our lecturers is the best staff preparation. As high as 80% of the attendants received the Certificate from the course. Those who did not receive it had at least experienced what was going on. All of the 54 lecturers will be the important motivators of AI in Healthcare in the future,” said President Charnchai Panthongviriyakul.
The next agendum was the discussion for the work and plans for AI in Healthcare. Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University suggested that the 5 concluded issues derived from AI in Healthcare Clubhouse could be put into plans, especially in administration and management of data. There is the suggestion to set a Center for AI in Healthcare as the steering unit in the university so that the 8 relevant faculties can work together. If the center is under the University, then it should be under the strategic section. “That is the suggestion for the first start of AI in Healthcare to become an entity with responsible people. The work would follow the directions of those 5 issues. If everyone sees the importance to establish a center for AI in Healthcare, the committee will take important roles to support the work in the future.”
The AI in Healthcare project is under the policy given to Khon Kaen University by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. The University has appointed a committee in which the President is the chairperson. The project also corresponds to the policy of Khon Kaen University to become a hub in health care for people in the Northeast and the founding of an Excellence Medical Center. This project aims at promoting the strength in medicine and public health through the use of artificial intelligence. There will be a collaborative network of universities both domestically and abroad. Khon Kaen University has until today continuously organized activities in mobilizing this project.
News: Udomchai Supannawong
Photos: Atthapon Hampong
