Less than half of radiology departments offer artificial intelligence-related educational initiatives, with even fewer employing formal AI leaders, according to new research published Tuesday.
Imaging has seen considerable interest in AI and particularly deep learning in recent years, with booming growth in publications over the last decade. Academic institutions have sought to respond by launching formal artificial intelligence centers and introducing new curricula, experts wrote in Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology.
Researchers recently sought to explore the prevalence of such endeavors, assessing the websites of 62 radiology departments that receive funding from the National Institutes of Health. About 89% had at least one AI researcher on staff, but only 5% had a leadership role focused on this space.
“In the new era of AI, these findings provide a key benchmark for radiology departments considering implementing formal AI initiatives and highlight potential areas that departments may consider exploring,” David Li, with the faculty of medicine at the University of Ottawa in Ontario, and co-authors wrote Jan. 11.
Researchers identified study subjects utilizing the Academy for Radiology & Biomedical Imaging Research’s report for fiscal 2019. All of those included in the analysis were affiliated with a university, hospital or foundation located in the U.S. National Institutes of Health funding ranged from $77,000 up to more than $97 million, with an average of about $10.6 million.
Of the 62 institutions, 47% had formal AI educational initiatives, including internal seminars, external symposia and workshops. Only 3% of departments advertised their training pathway or program to residents or fellows. About 18% of AI initiatives were led by radiology departments, while other entities such as engineering took the reins elsewhere. Researchers reported a significant correlation between the amount of NIH funding and presence of artificial intelligence research endeavors.
Among the study sample, 37% of departments reported partnerships with the AI industry. Li and co-authors believe this number needs to go up, and appointing formal AI leaders in radiology departments is one important piece of the puzzle.
“Although AI product vendors have the expertise and resources to develop radiology AI algorithms, academic radiology departments have the clinical expertise and data required to validate these algorithms,” the authors reported. “As the AI marketplace rapidly matures and evolves, radiology departments will need to learn how to partner with these companies in ways that will maintain important priorities like patient privacy.”
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.