PAHO and the University of the Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires conclude regional course with a dialogue on AI, education, and health

, 5 December 2025 (PAHO) - The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), through the Virtual Campus for Public Health (VCPH), held the webinar "Dialogue on Experiences and Challenges in AI, Education, and Health," an exchange space that marked the closing of the course "Teaching in Virtual Environments: Innovative Design, Coordination, and Tutoring," developed jointly with the University of the Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires (UHIBA).

The objective of the webinar was to share emerging practices and critical reflections on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in educational settings within the health sector, fostering a participatory dialogue among specialists in education, digital health, and new technologies.

Washington DC, 5 December 2025 (PAHO) - The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), through the Virtual Campus for Public Health (VCPH), held the webinar "Dialogue on Experiences and Challenges in AI, Education, and Health," an exchange space that marked the closing of the course "Teaching in Virtual Environments: Innovative Design, Coordination, and Tutoring," developed jointly with the University of the Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires (UHIBA).

The objective of the webinar was to share emerging practices and critical reflections on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in educational settings within the health sector, fostering a participatory dialogue among specialists in education, digital health, and new technologies.

In his opening remarks, James Fitzgerald, Director of the Department of Health Systems and Services at PAHO, highlighted that the Virtual Campus has become "a key tool for technical cooperation, offering open, inclusive, and evidence-based training opportunities." He underscored that teacher training is now essential in an increasingly complex and digitalized educational landscape.

Roberta Ladenheim, Advisor to the Rectorate of the Italian Hospital University, expressed gratitude for the sustained collaboration between both institutions and emphasized that the course and the webinar "represent a new milestone in a deep partnership that strengthens teaching capacities and creates continuous learning opportunities for health professionals across the Region." She also highlighted the importance of critically examining emerging technologies and ensuring their pedagogically sound integration into health education.

Marcelo D'Agostino, Chief of PAHO's Information Systems and Digital Health Unit, noted that the adoption of AI must be part of the continuous training of all professionals, regardless of specialization. "We are witnessing an irreversible transformation in health systems. The more we participate, the fewer biases and the better applications we will have. AI must be addressed from the ground up, in an ethical, safe, and strategic manner," he said, stressing PAHO's work on guidelines, foundational principles, and training plans for 2026.

The panel "Challenges and contributions of AI to the field of education and health" brought together a range of experiences showcasing how artificial intelligence is being integrated into education and health. Analía Baum, medical staff in the Health Informatics Department at the Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires, opened the discussion with a presentation on the development and results of the Tana GPT clinical chatbot, highlighting its application in the training of students and residents. Laura Magallan, Coordinator of the Educational Digital Technologies Team at UHIBA, addressed the opportunities and challenges of learning with AI from the perspective of educators and students who already use these tools in their training processes. Christian Milillo, Coordinator of PENT/FLACSO, presented regional perspectives on online education practices mediated by AI, focusing on pedagogical challenges and opportunities for innovation. The session concluded with an open exchange moderated by Virginia Jalley, Deputy Director of the UHIBA Department of Education.

Towards the end of the event, several course participants took the floor to share their impressions and key takeaways. They expressed their appreciation for the pedagogical quality of the program, the relevance of incorporating AI into their professional development, and the value of participating in a regional learning community. Their reflections demonstrated a high level of satisfaction with the training experience and a strong interest in continuing to deepen their knowledge in this area.

In closing, Gabriel Listovsky, Head of the VCPH Special Program, underlined that the collaboration between PAHO and UHIBA has enabled joint progress toward a regional agenda for educational innovation. "Building teaching capacities is essential for preparing a health workforce capable of meeting current and future challenges. AI offers important opportunities, but it also requires a critical and responsible approach. This course and this dialogue represent key steps in that direction," he stated.

Virtual Course: Teaching in Virtual Environments - Innovative Design, Coordination, and Tutoring

The course "Teaching in Virtual Environments: Innovative Design, Coordination, and Tutoring" was delivered through the VCPH platform in both Spanish and English, with simultaneous tutoring. The initiative aimed to strengthen the teaching competencies required to design and implement virtual learning projects supported by AI. A total of 120 professionals from 27 countries in the Region completed the program, selected from more than 4,000 applicants. Throughout the course, participants explored generative AI tools, analyzed their applications for content development, and worked on pedagogical and assessment strategies for online education.