The $25,000 AACOM grant will help prepare future physicians to use artificial intelligence responsibly in patient care.
HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS––Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (SHSU-COM) has been awarded $25,000 through the Innovations in Graduate Medical Education (GME) Development Grant from the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM). The three-year award will support a new initiative, AI Across Residency, focused on bringing artificial intelligence training into residency programs.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is already showing up in healthcare, helping with diagnosis, patient communication and everyday clinical work. But while many doctors in residency may have been exposed to AI tools, few have received formal education on how to evaluate and use them in practice as the technology evolves.
At its core, AI Across Residency focuses on helping physicians learn how to use emerging technology in ways that support patient care, not distract from it. As more healthcare systems adopt new tools, doctors trained to use them effectively can help reduce delays, improve efficiency and support better outcomes, especially in rural and underserved communities.
The program will be based at SHSU-COM and carried out across residency programs connected through the Sam Houston Regional Education Consortium. It focuses on training doctors in family medicine, internal medicine and rural medicine while building a model that other residency programs can adopt.
Support for the program also comes from SHSU-COM’s Medical Artificial Intelligence Institute, which brings together clinicians, researchers and educators to advance responsible, patient-centered use of emerging technologies in healthcare.
“This work is about preparing physicians for the reality of modern medicine,” said Thomas J. Mohr, DO, vice president for medical affairs at Sam Houston State University and dean of SHSU-COM. “We want our residents to understand these tools, think critically about them and use them in ways that support better care for patients.”
Rather than focusing on a single set of tools, the program introduces AI in stages, moving from basic understanding to real-world use in patient care.
Key components include:
- Learning how artificial intelligence works and how to use it responsibly
- Practicing with real-world case examples and simulations
- Using technology to support clinical workflows and quality improvement
- Training faculty and building support across residency programs
- Resident-led projects focused on improving patient care
- Tracking results to better understand how these tools affect care and efficiency
“Artificial intelligence is already changing how care is delivered in real clinical settings,” said Vinoth Sittaramane, PhD, DVM, director of the Medical Artificial Intelligence Institute at SHSU-COM. “This program helps residents learn how to work with these tools in a thoughtful way, so they can spend more time focused on patients while using technology to support their decisions.”
With support from the Innovations in Graduate Medical Education Development Grant, AI Across Residency helps ensure future physicians are prepared to use emerging technology in ways that strengthen patient care, improve access and better serve the communities they call home.