University of Pennsylvania Integrates AI into Dental Medicine Curriculum

The University of Pennsylvania is systematically integrating artificial intelligence into its professional curricula, moving beyond theory to hands-on, critical application. At Penn Dental Medicine, led by Vice Dean Faizan Alawi, students now use generative AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude to analyze complex patient cases with unknown disorders. After forming their own differential diagnoses in groups, students compare their clinical reasoning against AI-generated suggestions. This exercise is designed not to replace judgment but to teach future dentists how to interpret, question, and responsibly incorporate AI insights, while identifying limitations and biases in the outputs.

Parallel to this, the school has developed 'Dr. Byte,' a generative AI tutorbot embedded within the Canvas learning management system. Dr. Byte provides on-demand explanations and case-based prompts to support didactic learning. In the School of Nursing, Professor Liz Emery has students use AI to create personalized three-day meal plans based on calculated energy needs, then critically evaluate those plans for errors, cost, and cultural appropriateness. Meanwhile, in an 'Introduction to AI' course, students use large language models (LLMs) to research how AI is transforming entry-level roles in their chosen fields, creating a 'personal roadmap' of skills needed to thrive. These initiatives, highlighted for AI Month by CETLI, represent a shift toward embedding AI fluency as a core component of professional readiness.