The International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad has introduced a new online course ‘AI for Medical Professionals’. This is a first-of-its-kind course in India, developed in collaboration with the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, along with IHub-Data.
The 12-week online onboarding course aims to equip all medical professionals with essential skills for understanding, assessing, and implementing AI technologies in clinical practice. Designed to enhance patient care and operational efficiency, the course covers both theoretical knowledge and practical tutorials on AI basics, machine learning, and deep learning. Moreover, participants will engage in case studies focused on clinical applications such as screening, diagnosis, prognosis, and patient management. Additionally, the course will address ethical and governance issues surrounding AI tools and techniques.
The course will be delivered through video lectures, weekly contact sessions, and interactive case studies. It also includes quizzes, assignments, and assessments, leading to certification upon completion. Approximately 200 medical professionals, including senior faculty and research members from top medical institutions, will attend. These professionals, with postgraduate degrees, represent 41 specialties and are distributed across 24 states and 56 cities in India. Consequently, renowned regular and guest faculty from both IIITH and NAMS will actively participate in delivering the course content.
Key figures in the field attended the virtual launch event. This includes Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the Department of Science & Technology (DST); Dr. Shiv Kumar Sarin, President of NAMS; and Prof. P. J. Narayanan, Director of IIIT Hyderabad, who was present to declare the course open.
During the virtual inauguration ceremony, Prof. P. J. Narayanan stated, “IIITH is proud to collaborate with NAMS on this initiative. As the leading institute in AI research in India, we believe it is essential that we share our expertise with the medical community. Consequently, this collaboration aims to equip the medical fraternity with insightful AI that improves judgments and diagnoses while supporting modern drug discovery.”
Additionally, Prof. Shiv Kumar Sarin emphasized that AI has the potential to bring paradigm shifts in medicine. “This AI course will enable all medical professionals to use advanced technologies in the diagnosis and management of patients. Since medicine is both an art and science, the combination of skills between doctors and engineers can result in innovative AI-supported solutions in medicine. Therefore, such programs will become integral to medical education over time and help students utilize AI technologies appropriately in healthcare.”
Moreover, Dr. Abhay Karandikar praised the course and highlighted the role of AI in expanding healthcare services. “We need supportive technologies like AI to enable doctors to reach a larger section of the population. Particularly in rural areas, this will present a major challenge. Hence, the collaboration between engineers and doctors is crucial in developing solutions that benefit society. Ultimately, this course represents a significant step forward in that direction.”
ANI
