woman in AI and radiology

AI and Medical Imaging

CPD - short course
Digital health

What is an RCSI Online short course?

RCSI understands that healthcare professionals need to continuously grow and learn, enhancing their skills and expertise to meet the needs of an ever-evolving and complex healthcare environment and the changing demands of their roles. We know that sometimes a short and focused course in a specific subject area is all you need to meet your professional development needs at a point in time.

Our new and exciting CPD short courses will allow you to access transformative education, with topics and content delivered by subject-matter experts with industry experience and expertise. You will have access to leading-edge, highly relevant content delivered in a stimulating online learning environment, with exciting weekly course themes and formative knowledge checks. Each week, you will engage in a 1.5-hour live webinar session, accompanied by self-paced online activities to earn an RCSI Certificate on completion.

Why AI & Medical Imaging?

Artificial intelligence (AI) has enormous potential for use in medical imaging, which many specialties rely on for routine clinical care. Medical imaging – or more specifically clinical radiology – has several building blocks to allow AI to thrive: large relatively well-structured data sets; a history of digital adoption; and scale and growth in demand, but with persistent workload and funding pressures which incentivise innovation. AI can help enhance efficiency and free radiologists from low-value tasks to focus on the higher value-adding aspects of their role.

AI is already being widely adopted in the field of radiology and has demonstrated potential to outperform experienced radiologists in aspects of their clinical work. The adoption of AI in medical imaging has considerable potential, but brings new challenges such as avoidance of bias and how to explain findings.

This course will explain what AI is, and how it could be used to enhance patient care in medical imaging. It will also help you to consider the opportunities of AI and how associated risks can be best mitigated in a clinical setting.

Enrol for this course now

Follow in the path of former students who have embraced 230 years of teaching excellence. Driven by the promise of 'leading the world to better health', RSCI has been at the forefront of international healthcare education since our establishment in 1784, and we have a worldwide reputation for delivering excellent Undergraduate and Postgraduate health professions education.

RCSI's singular healthcare focus is evident through all our Postgraduate programmes, offering innovative, insight-rich and immersive development opportunities for both current and future leaders in healthcare.

This course will equip you with a comprehensive understanding of the AI and Medical Imaging. By the end of the course participants will be better able to: 

  • Outline the concepts underpinning artificial intelligence in its analysis of medical images.
  • Articulate the potential of artificial intelligence in healthcare and growing utilisation in medical imaging.
  • Illustrate the ethical challenges and mitigation strategies in the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
  • Appraise international approaches to the regulation of artificial intelligence for medical imaging.
  • Examine responsibilities and key considerations of deploying artificial intelligence in medical imaging.
  • Week 1: In week one, participants will delve into the introduction and fundamentals of AI, AI development in context, and the implications for medicine and society.
  • Week 2: In week two, participants will explore the key building blocks for AI in image analysis, including big data, algorithms, layered filtering of image data, and the utilisation of convoluted neural networks.
  • Week 3: In week three, participants will engage with the application of AI in medical imaging, covering its development and growth, how AI is applied in this context, and exploring examples of use along with their implications.
  • Week 4: In week four, participants will immerse themselves in discussions surrounding the ethics of AI, AI regulation in healthcare & medical imaging, reflections on ethics regulation, oversight, safety, clinical governance of AI, stakeholder liabilities, care delivery, and the international context.
  • Week 5: In the final week, individuals will craft their individual action plans based on their acquired knowledge. Ongoing feedback and guidance will be provided throughout the module, aligning with formative progress milestones and the weekly focus on the student summative.

This five-week course is fully online, so that you can study at a pace that suits your lifestyle. You will not be required to attend live sessions, ensuring flexibility for your schedule. The course consists of five weeks of content, including four weeks of teaching and a final week for completing a personal learning plan. Learning content is delivered primarily through pre-recorded video lectures and online activities.

Each week, there will be a recorded 90-minute webinar available, focusing on key topics. These webinars are accessible at any time for your convenience.

We understand that online learning might be a new experience for some. Our virtual learning environment (VLE) is intuitive, accessible, and easy to navigate. A dedicated programme coordinator will be available to assist with any technical difficulties or questions about learning online.

At the start of the course, we provide short orientation videos to familiarise you with the platform and course format.

John Duignan 

John Duignan is currently working as a Musculoskeletal Radiology Fellow at Vancouver General Hospital. He previously worked as a Consultant Radiologist at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. He holds a master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence for Medicine and Medical Research from University College Dublin.

His main interest is in taking an evidence-based practical approach to commercially available artificial intelligence healthcare tools. He hopes that this course will help participants progress through Gartner’s hype cycle to the 'plateau of productivity'.

Induction 19 February 2024
Live class 1 26 February 2024
Live class 2 4 March 2024
Live class 3 11 March 2024
Live class 4 18 March 2024

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will receive a RCSI Completion Certificate. Achieving this Certificate and earning continuous professional development (CPD) points involves passing weekly MCQs, engaging in online discussions, and participating in reflective exercises, including the completion of a personal action plan. These components are designed to be flexible, allowing you to progress at your own pace while ensuring a comprehensive learning experience.

Although this course does not carry credits as per the European Credit Transfer System, it upholds rigorous quality assurance standards to provide an excellent educational experience. The course has been approved by the RCSI Professional Development and Practice Committee and is accredited for CPD points in line with the Irish Medical Council guidelines. Participants seeking recognition in other jurisdictions should verify the applicability of these CPD points as per their local requirements.

Note: RCSI accepts no obligation to refund any fee, or part thereof, in respect of a participant who chooses to withdraw from or does not complete a course.

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