What is artificial intelligence or AI?
Artificial intelligence (or AI) is revolutionizing many areas, including health. Artificial intelligence makes it possible in particular to classify a very large number of data in a very short time, which is extremely valuable for diagnostic aid and decision-making, the development of new drugs, precision medicine, etc.
Since the covid-19 coronavirus epidemic broke out, there has been an increased interest in artificial intelligence.
The number of projects using AI has exploded around the world.
It’s a trend that Patrick Callier, head of chromosomal and molecular genetics laboratory of the CHU Dijon Bourgogne, follows closely.
He is the one behind the new University degree “Artificial Health Intelligence” created by the University of Burgundy, in partnership with several organizations: CESI School of Engineers, the CHU Dijon Bourgogne, the Georges-François Leclerc Cancer Center (CGFL), the BFCare Cluster…
There are only two DU “Artificial Health Intelligence” in France
“This is the second DU (university degree) of this type to be created in France. Until now, only Paris-Descartes University has offered this education, “said Patrick Callier.
Where did the idea to offer this training come from in Dijon? It all started when Davide Callegarin arrived as an assistant in the laboratory of chromosomal and molecular genetics of the CHU Dijon Bourgogne. Davide Callegarin is what is called an atypical profile, because he trained as a computer engineer before starting medical studies.
“Before having Davide as an assistant, I was interested in artificial intelligence, but now I understand what it is for: data that used to take days to analyze, now we do it in a few moments. “
Davide Callegarin was appointed on November 1, 2019, at the CHU Dijon Bourgogne. He is the first doctor in France specializing in artificial intelligence and he’s developing AI projects on the genetic side.
“We have been working together for about two years,” said Professor Callier. “With Davide, we created the 1st IA Health 100% Online Datathon, which was held from April 17 to 19, 2020 with the support of Dijon Métropole as part of the Health Technopole and which made it possible to bring out several projects.
Now we’re about to launch the DU. The presence of this specialist opens up paths that we did not have before. We are working on projects to seek new therapies and the possibilities for development are multiplied by 10.
Currently, my service is in discussion with a company to help make faster diagnoses. In genetics, it takes a long time to make a diagnosis. With AI, it goes much faster. The practitioner can focus on high added value tasks and leave the repetitive work to the AI. But, there’s always the human behind, AI will not replace the practitioner. It is up to the doctor to validate the artificial intelligence data“, insists Patrick Callier.
The hospital has to work with artificial intelligence. Anyway, I don’t see how a hospital can be viable without AI. It’s the future of health – Patrick Callier, professor of genetics – hospital practitioner at CHU Dijon Bourgogne
What is the program of DU “Artificial Intelligence Health”?
The training, which will start in October 2020, will take place face-to-face and / or remotely according to the health situation.
In total, 20 learners can be accommodated : the courses are aimed at health professionals, teacher-researchers in health sciences, executives and engineers in the digital and health industries, as well as doctoral and post-doctoral students in these specialties.
The teaching aims to make understand the challenges and obstacles of AI, at understand major applications as well as all organizational, regulatory, economic and ethical aspects, in order to design a project using artificial intelligence.
The courses will be given by national and international AI specialists and by speakers from the University of Burgundy, CESI School of Engineers and the CHU Dijon Bourgogne.
In total, six two-day teaching modules are planned, which should make it possible to “develop innovative projects, such as the analysis of medical data, medical imaging, drug development, robotization or even the city-hospital journey”, indicates the Joint Professional Development Unit Continuous in Health (UMDPCS) which is piloting this university degree.
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