AIM-AHEAD & American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) Academic Community of Practice (ACP) Program
Program Directors
Legand Burge, PhD; Toufeeq Syed, PhD; Gordon Gao, PhD
Purpose
This program seeks to encourage Tribal Colleges and Universities leaders to come together in an Academic Community of Practice (ACP). ACPs are similar to advisory committees and foster social learning, through interaction and the sharing of experiences and knowledge. This uniquely defined ACP shares a common interest to start or expand data science, health informatics, and AI/ML curriculum in TCUs. Collectively the ACP will provide guidance in the development of the AI/ML curriculum by TCU faculty.
About AIM-AHEAD
Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Consortium to Advance Health Equity And Researcher Diversity (AIM-AHEAD) is an initiative funded by the National Institutes of Health that is dedicated to enhancing diversity in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), with emphasis on reducing health disparities and promoting health equity. Led by the AIM-AHEAD Coordinating Center, this initiative has cultivated a diverse nationwide consortium that embraces equity and transparency, aimed at leveraging AI/ML to enhance health outcomes across diverse and under-resourced communities. Through the establishment of strategic partnerships, targeted research programs, and engagement with key stakeholders, AIM-AHEAD continues to bolster participation and foster meaningful involvement within the AI/ML and health equity field.
Participants
The ACP focus is bringing together TCU leaders (i.e., provosts, academic deans, department chairs), researchers, and practitioners who are interested in advancing the teaching, learning, and application of AI/ML. This specialized ACP aims to enhance the quality and effectiveness of AI/ML education by leveraging collective expertise and cultivating a collaborative environment.
Impact
The central goal of the ACP is to start or expand data science, health informatics, and AI/ML curriculum in TCUs. The ACP will work with AIM-AHEAD to:
- Identify TCU leaders for executive awareness on the part of provost, academic deans, department chairs to ensure support for programmatic changes to existing health and information sciences programs necessary to provide students opportunities to pursue health informatics programs and career goals.
- Identify TCU faculty to receive professional development in health and computer/information sciences to prepare them to offer courses within a health informatics curriculum.
- Assist with planning for a comprehensive health informatics curriculum across a network of TCUs that will cover introductory and foundational topics, equipping students for diverse careers in health research and services.
Program Inquiries
All questions and inquiries regarding this program can be directed to the AIHEC HelpDesk. Please create a help ticket here: HelpDesk - Submit a Ticket