AMIA Unpacked

In this episode of AMIA Unpacked, host Karmen Williams, DrPH, MBA, MSPH, MA, CPH, welcomes Dr. Kathryn “Katie” Brown, a postdoctoral research fellow in Biomedical Informatics at Vanderbilt Health, to discuss her journey into informatics and her research at the intersection of AI and rural health. Brown shares how her engineering and computer science background led her to explore the real-world impact of machine learning on patient care, including early work with sensor-enabled knee replacements, and how mentorship and the JAMIA Student Editorial Board helped connect her with the informatics community. Looking ahead to her presentation at AMIA’s Annual Symposium in Dallas, Brown explores the unique challenges of deploying AI in rural healthcare settings, from limited staffing and computing infrastructure to hospital closures, smaller datasets and changing demographics. She explains why these differences can affect model performance and potentially deepen health inequities, and emphasizes the importance of validating AI in rural settings, incorporating the perspectives of rural clinicians and patients, and recognizing that when it comes to healthcare AI, one size does not fit all. This episode is sponsored by Oracle Health & Life Sciences.   AMIA Unpacked is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode of AMIA Unpacked, host Karmen Williams, DrPH, MBA, MSPH, MA, CPH, welcomes Jordan Everson, PhD, MPP assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Georgetown University, to discuss the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence in U.S. hospitals. Dr. Everson explores how generative AI is transforming clinical and administrative workflows, shares insights from his national surveys on hospital AI use, and examines the governance, transparency, and trust needed for successful implementation. The conversation also addresses barriers to adoption, the importance of integrating AI responsibly into healthcare, and why equity and bias must remain central as AI technologies continue to evolve. This episode is sponsored by Oracle Health & Life Sciences.   AMIA Unpacked is produced by Association Briefings.

In the inaugural episode of AMIA Unpacked, host Karmen Williams, DrPH, MBA, MSPH, MA, CPH, sits down with Elizabeth Campbell, PhD, MS, MSPH, assistant scientist at Johns Hopkins and member of the Center for Outbreak Response Innovation, part of CDC-funded INSIGHT Net, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming public health. Campbell explains how AI tools can help agencies move from evidence to action by aggregating fragmented data, automating time-consuming processes, and supporting faster, more informed decision-making. She highlights influenza forecasting through CDC’s FluSight ensemble as a real-world example and emphasizes that AI is a tool to augment, not replace, human expertise. The conversation also examines issues of trust, transparency, and equity, as well as emerging applications in emergency response, outbreak detection, policy analysis, and tailored public health communication. This episode is sponsored by Oracle Health & Life Sciences.   AMIA Unpacked is produced by Association Briefings.

AMIA Unpacked is a new podcast from the American Medical Informatics Association, sponsored by Oracle Health and Life Sciences, exploring the real-world impact of AI and innovation in healthcare. Hosted by Karmen Williams, the show features conversations with clinicians, researchers, health system leaders, and emerging voices across the informatics community. Each episode breaks down how data, technology, and policy are shaping patient care today, while also offering insights on leadership, career growth, and what’s ahead in the field. Check out the trailer for season 1!