RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences recently delivered an intensive series of events as part of the AI2MED Incubation Lab at RCSI, bringing together students, staff, and healthcare professionals to explore the practical use of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
Delivered over a two-week period in May, the programme formed part of the wider EU-funded AI2MED project, in which RCSI is one of 11 partner institutions and one of five sites leading Incubation Lab activities. The initiative aims to create shared spaces where diverse stakeholders can engage with AI through hands-on, collaborative learning experiences, while building the skills and critical awareness needed for responsible innovation in healthcare.
Across three core formats—interactive workshops, a student hackathon, and an online seminar—the programme reached approximately 80 participants, reflecting a strong appetite for accessible, practice-focused AI education.
Exploring AI through hands-on workshops
Two in-person workshops formed a central pillar of the programme, each designed to move beyond passive learning and into applied, real-world engagement with AI tools.
Participants worked through practical exercises and group-based prototyping activities, exploring how generative AI could support everyday tasks while also developing a critical understanding of its limitations. Core concepts included how AI models generate outputs, why errors such as hallucinations occur, and how to evaluate results in context.
Feedback highlighted the value of this approach, with participants consistently emphasising the importance of understanding “how the models work and how they generate their answers” and the opportunity to apply this knowledge in hands-on exercises.
The workshops also reinforced the importance of responsible AI use, encouraging participants to identify risks such as bias, over-reliance, and inappropriate data use, and to consider when AI support is—or is not—appropriate in professional practice.
Collaborative problem-solving at an AI Hackathon
The programme also included a student-focused AI in Healthcare Hackathon, which offered a fast-paced environment for innovation and collaboration.
Working in small teams, participants developed prototype ideas addressing real healthcare challenges, supported by mentors and structured guidance. A patient representative was involved as both a judge and mentor, helping to ground discussions in lived experience and reinforcing the importance of user-centred design. Students were encouraged to incorporate user-focused design principles throughout, ensuring their solutions reflected real needs in healthcare settings.
Participant feedback reflected the value of this format in fostering creativity and confidence. Many highlighted the opportunity to collaborate with peers from different backgrounds and to explore the practical challenges of implementing AI solutions in healthcare settings, including regulatory and data considerations.
One participant noted that the experience demonstrated how “everyone has a part and an opportunity in improving healthcare,” underscoring the role of interdisciplinary thinking and innovation in shaping the future of the field.
Broadening access through interactive online learning
Complementing the in-person activities, the Gen AI Mythbusters: Truth vs Hype online seminar provided a low-barrier entry point for a broader audience.
Using a live “Truth or Myth?” polling format, the session invited participants to engage with common misconceptions about generative AI, followed by short, evidence-based explanations grounded in healthcare contexts.
Designed to be accessible and interactive, the session required no prior knowledge and enabled participants to build foundational understanding in a psychologically safe environment. Feedback indicated strong engagement, with participants highlighting improved understanding of how AI produces outputs and expressing interest in further opportunities to learn.
Strong engagement and consistent impact
Across all events, participant feedback demonstrated consistently positive outcomes. Attendees reported improved understanding of AI concepts, increased confidence in using AI tools, and greater ability to critically assess outputs and make informed decisions about their use.
Notably, many participants emphasised the value of interactive and hands-on elements, as well as the opportunity to engage with real-world applications rather than purely theoretical discussions. There was also clear demand for further sessions, particularly those offering extended time for practical work and deeper exploration of tools.
Building momentum for future engagement
The May programme represents a key milestone within RCSI’s broader Incubation Lab activities under AI2MED, demonstrating the effectiveness of a multi-format approach in engaging diverse audiences and supporting meaningful learning.
By combining innovation-focused activities such as hackathons with structured workshops and accessible online sessions, the initiative highlights how institutions can support both innovation and responsible practice in the use of AI in healthcare.
Further Incubation Lab events are planned in the coming months, as RCSI continues to expand its programme and deepen engagement across its stakeholder community.
Photo: Anton Grabolle / https://betterimagesofai.org / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
