Writing Center to offer training to build AI awareness and literacy
Every student at NEOMED interacts with Large Language Model (LLM) Artificial Intelligence daily—often without even realizing it. This does not mean that every student is actively using tools like ChatGPT, CoPilot, Gemini or Claude. In many cases, students engage with AI-powered features through tools they already use in daily academic life, like Gmail, Google Docs and Grammarly that use LLM technology to suggest sentences, check grammar or improve clarity. Smartphones offer predictive text and autocorrect, which rely on similar language models. Search engines like Google and Bing now provide smart summaries and answer suggestions. Even study tools like Khan Academy and Quizlet use AI to personalize learning and offer automated support.
These technologies are not always visible, but they are deeply integrated into the digital platforms that support learning. This seamless use of AI raises questions about authorship, academic integrity and awareness. For example, research databases such as EBSCOhost and Semantic Scholar use AI to summarize articles, recommend related sources, and suggest search terms. Citation managers like ScienceOS also rely on AI to help organize references and format citations efficiently. These features may appear to be simple conveniences, but they are powered by complex language models designed to assist users with writing, studying and research.
Faculty and staff at NEOMED are also affected by the presence of LLMs. Many tablet and word processing tools rely on AI for text suggestions and corrections. Email responses, calendar planning and even virtual assistant interactions with Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant often involve LLM technology. These tools help streamline communication, improve productivity and support day-to-day work, even if users are not fully aware of the AI operating behind the scenes.
Medical, pharmacy and dental students are turning to AI tools to supplement their learning, particularly for complex subjects like anatomy, pharmacology and pathology. These technologies offer on-demand explanations, interactive simulations and personalized study plans that enhance traditional instruction. Products like Notebook LM, Otter AI, and Fireflies provide expert notetaking and meeting assistance. When used appropriately, AI can support—but not replace—the critical thinking and human judgment essential to higher education.
LLMs are also becoming part of clinical practice. Epic Systems, the electronic health record (EHR) platform that several local hospital systems use, has begun integrating generative AI and LLMs to assist healthcare providers. These applications include ambient documentation, which transcribes conversations between patients and providers into draft progress notes. Other tools generate message responses tailored to a provider’s communication style or summarize patient history to support clinical decisions. Epic also uses AI to suggest billing codes and streamline administrative work. To promote safe use of AI in healthcare, Epic has introduced an open-source validation suite for transparency and oversight.
As LLMs become more common in education, communication, and clinical care, it is important for students, faculty, and staff to understand how these tools operate. They are no longer optional add-ons, but essential features of the digital systems used every day. Developing awareness of AI’s role—and learning how to use it responsibly—will help NEOMED’s community navigate the future with confidence, clarity and integrity.
To ensure that the NEOMED community is literate and trained on the use of these artificial intelligence tools, there will be several professional development opportunities throughout the summer, fall and beyond. The Writing Center, in conjunction with the Institute for Teaching Excellence, and the NEOMED Library, will host these in-person, hybrid, online and asynchronous events.
The first of two events in May are Monday, May 12, from 12:30 – 1 p.m., where the Institute for Teaching Excellence will be hosting a Prompt-a-thon as a follow-up to the April 14 Celebration which was focused on AI in Health Professions Education.
Then, on Tuesday, May 20, from 11 a.m. to noon, as the Writing Center and Library are hosting, for the second time, Dr. Sarah Z. Johnson to discuss Linguistic Justice and AI. Linguistic justice refers to the fair treatment of all languages and their speakers, ensuring that no one is disadvantaged or discriminated against based on the language they use. It emphasizes the right of individuals and communities to use, maintain, and develop their native or chosen languages in all spheres of social, political, educational, legal, and economic life. Linguistic justice in AI refers to the ethical principle and practical goal of ensuring that artificial intelligence systems, especially those involving natural language processing (NLP, treat all languages and their speakers fairly and equitably. It addresses the systemic biases and disparities in how different languages are represented, supported, and served by AI technologies.
Registration information for these two events will be released soon.