New AI in Education Research Program Drives Innovation in Healthcare Education

Julaine Fowlin, Ph.D.

September 30, 2025

In April 2025, the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (CATL) launched the inaugural AI in Education Research Program, a forward-thinking initiative funded by the Office of the Provost. This program is designed to empower educators to lead transformative, AI-driven research projects that reimagine learning experiences and outcomes across healthcare education.

By aligning with MUSC’s AI Strategic Goals, the program supports projects that advance the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) and prepare a future-ready, AI-competent healthcare workforce. These funded initiatives are set to shape the future of healthcare delivery, education, and research through responsible and visionary AI integration.

Project aims include:

Explore AI-based solutions that will enhance education programs or interventions.
Demonstrate measurable benefits for students as the primary end users.
Explore the potential of translating project interventions to other Departments and Colleges at MUSC

The inaugural call for proposals drew strong interest, with 17 submissions and 8 projects selected for funding. The project period runs from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026, and the selected Principal Investigators are now leading the charge in redefining what’s possible in AI-enhanced education.

Stay tuned as we spotlight these groundbreaking projects and the educators driving innovation at MUSC.

Meet the award recipients and discover the innovative projects they’re leading below.

Ashley Bondurant, College of Health Professions

Dr. Ashley Bondurant

Assistant Professor and Instructional Designer – College of Health Professions

TeachSmart AI: Enhancing Student Engagement Through A—Generated Video Instruction
>100 Students Potentially Benefited

Co-PI Name(s): E’lise Nessen; Ragan Dubose-Morris

Dr. Donna Kern

Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education – College of Medicine

Dean's Office

Expanding Coaching Capacity: Use of AI Powered Tools to Enrich Medical Students’ Academic Coaching Experience
>100 Students Potentially Benefited

Co-PI Name(s): Joe Blumer

Dr. Jeanhyong Park

Assistant Professor – College of Medicine
Emergency Medicine

Emergency Medicine Mock Case Challenger: An AI-Powered Simulation Platform for Medical Education
76-100 Students Potentially Benefited

Dr. Pongsakorn Poovarodom

Assistant Professor and Director of Innovation Laboratory – College of Dental Medicine

Reconstructive and Rehabilitation Sciences

Impact of AI-Automated Design Software Crown Fabrication in Digital Dental Workflows
76-100 Students Potentially Benefited

Co-PI Name(s): Fabio Rizzante

Group shot of faculty and graduates at commencement

CHP – Healthcare Studies Program

Preparing a Future Ready, AI–Competent Healthcare Workforce Through the AI-Integrated Healthcare Studies Program
26-50 Students Potentially Benefited

Co-PI Name(s): Lauren Gellar

Dr. Kelly Roelf

Assistant Professor – College of Medicine
Pediatric Hospital Medicine

BedsideIQ
>100 Students Potentially Benefited

Dmitry Shcherbakov, MUSC College of Medicine

Dr. Dmitry Scherbakov

Postdoctoral Scholar – College of Medicine
Department of Public Health Sciences

AI-Assisted Scoping and Systematic Review Class
>100 Students Potentially Benefited

Co-PI Name(s): Leslie Lenert

Dr. Ramsey Wehbe

Assistant Professor of Medicine – College of Medicine
Cardiology

PatientSimAI: Evaluating Multimodal Generative AI for High Fidelity Simulation-Based Clinical Education
>100 Students Potentially Benefited

About the Author

Julaine Fowlin, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Center for the Advancement of Teaching & Learning

Categories: Artificial Intelligence