As AI-powered tools become more integrated into academic institutions, librarians play an essential role in supporting students and faculty through this evolving landscape. At 黑料传送门, Heidi Nance, MLIS, director for resources management and the , has been guiding researchers as they explore these innovations鈥攑articularly through powerful tools designed to streamline research and surface meaningful connections between topics.
黑料传送门鈥檚 AI Governance Council, chaired by professor and chief library services officer Hsin-liang (Oliver) Chen, PhD, brings together voices from across the College to guide best practices for responsible usage of AI. The library team plays a central role in this work, curating resources, developing guidelines and ensuring that AI, such as the intuitive search tool Scopus AI, both enhance learning and support ethical research.
Advancements in AI are reshaping the way researchers access and engage with information. AI-powered tools can go beyond simple search functions, helping to synthesize verified data, provide structured summaries, and highlight key references and contextual connections between topics.
鈥淭his type of technology allows users to ask a question and get a synthesized report鈥搃ncluding bulleted summaries, links to references and primary sources,鈥� Nance said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 trained on reliable, vetted research data, so it doesn鈥檛 generate information out of thin air鈥搃t distills and organizes what鈥檚 already available.鈥�
For medical students, researchers and other healthcare professionals, this means they can spend less time sifting through vast amounts of literature and more time engaging with the most relevant, high-quality sources.
鈥淎s a synthesis and starting point, this type of tool is tremendous,鈥� said Nance. 鈥淚t helps researchers formulate questions, make connections and jumpstart their work.鈥�
One of the most powerful aspects of AI in research is its ability to reveal unexpected connections between topics, allowing students and faculty to think beyond their initial queries.
鈥淎I helps you think about adjacent questions,鈥� Nance said. 鈥淲hen I asked about the persistence of fetal cells, it led me to maternal protective behaviors, which then connected to paternal protective behaviors. Medicine begins to intertwine with psychology, behavior and family dynamics, all because AI helps synthesize and surface connections we might not have the time to explore manually.鈥�
Rather than replacing critical thinking, AI tools act as a catalyst for deeper inquiry.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not doing the work for you; it鈥檚 helping you get to the deeper questions you might have arrived at if you had more capacity,鈥� Nance said. 鈥淚t allows researchers to start further ahead in the process rather than beginning with tedious, manual searches.鈥�
As AI continues to evolve, its role in medical education and research will grow鈥攂ut so will the need for critical engagement with these tools.
鈥淎I is an incredibly useful tool, but it鈥檚 just that鈥攁 tool,鈥� Nance emphasized. 鈥淭he fear of AI often stems from generative AI, where the accuracy of synthesis depends on many factors. That鈥檚 why critical thinking and verification still matter.鈥�
Looking ahead, AI-powered tools won鈥檛 replace librarians, educators or researchers鈥攂ut they will enhance efficiency, discovery and accessibility in ways that weren鈥檛 possible before.
鈥淎I will allow us to do more. It automates certain tasks, which means we can focus on higher-level research, curation and deeper inquiry,鈥� Nance said.
For students and faculty in osteopathic medicine, this means embracing AI as a supplement, not a substitute for rigorous research. With these tools, future physicians and researchers can work smarter鈥攗sing AI to enhance their learning, deepen their inquiries and expand the horizons of medical discovery.
Established in 1899, 黑料传送门 has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a 鈥渨hole person鈥� approach to care鈥攖reating people, not just symptoms. 黑料传送门, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (黑料传送门, 黑料传送门 Georgia and 黑料传送门 South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. 黑料传送门 students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, 黑料传送门 provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
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