(Reuters) – On Wednesday, Adtalem Global Education announced a collaboration with Alphabet’s Google Cloud to introduce a new credential program in artificial intelligence. This program is specifically designed for students and healthcare professionals, focusing on the use of AI tools within clinical settings.
Set to launch in 2026, this initiative will offer students and healthcare practitioners from Adtalem’s networkâincluding Chamberlain University and Walden Universityâpractical experience with Google Cloud’s AI resources, such as the Gemini models and Vertex AI services.
As part of the program, participants will engage in coursework that covers the application of AI in clinical settings as well as critical ethical issues, patient safety protocols, and hands-on training with healthcare-specific AI technologies commonly utilized in clinical environments.
This move comes at a time when hospitals are increasingly turning to AI to address staffing challenges, even as many doctors and nurses feel unprepared to embrace these new technologies. Adtalem serves a diverse network of over 91,000 students and boasts approximately 365,000 alumni.
Michael Betz, Adtalem’s chief digital officer, remarked that the “collaboration with Google Cloud provides our students with a distinct advantage in their professional journeysâwhether they are treating patients, delivering mental health support, or managing healthcare teams.”
He further stated, “Our graduates will confidently join the workforce equipped with the skills to leverage AI for superior clinical decision-making, minimizing time spent on documentation and increasing meaningful patient interactions.”
Brent Mitchell, vice president of Google Public Sector, noted that this collaboration aims to empower clinicians to integrate AI “safely, responsibly, and effectively.”
According to a recent Harris poll, over half of healthcare workers in the U.S. are currently seeking to leave their positions.
The survey also indicated that 42% of respondents are concerned that AI could eliminate certain elements of their jobs, with less than halfâ41%âreporting comfort in using AI tools in their day-to-day roles.
(Reporting by Puyaan Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
