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The Physical Therapy Learning Institute is proud to host the

2025 Disruptive Innovation in Physical Therapist Education Virtual Summit:

​“Transforming Physical Therapy Education: Powered by AI
The Future Waits for No One
"

on April 4-5, 2025

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Gold Level Sponsor:

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We would like to extend our sincere appreciation for the Summit Sponsors and their contributions.  If you are interested in learning more about sponsoring the 2025 Summit download our Sponsorship Overview.

Summit Description: 

This summit is an insightful and forward-looking virtual summit around a truly disruptive topic, AI in Physical Therapy Teaching and Learning, where leading educators and innovators will explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the education of future physical therapists. This event is designed to facilitate high-level discussions around the integration of AI technologies in physical therapy education, with a focus on content generation, precision education, learner assessment, and learner-centered strategies. Discover how AI is revolutionizing teaching methods, enabling precision education through adaptive learning, personalized content, and predictive analytics. With AI-driven tutoring systems, educators can now offer tailored support to students, while content generation and delivery become more efficient, accurate, and adaptable to individual learning styles. Discussion and presentations will be centered around AI in the classroom and student tutoring, AI in clinical education, and administrative uses of AI (e.g., policies/accreditation).

Keynote Presentations:

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Ken Masters, PhD, HDE, FDE

​Ethics and Bias in AI 

Presented by: Ken Masters, PhD, HDE, FDE

The first of two keynotes will be delivered by Dr. Ken Masters, an Associate Professor of Medical Informatics in the Medical Education and Informatics Department at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman and a global expert on ethics and bias in AI. He's authored numerous papers and guidelines on the ethical use of AI, the creation of custom GPTs, and how health professional educators must prepare for a future with artificial general intelligence (AGI). Dr. Masters will delve into the ethical dimensions of AI in education. How do we ensure that AI tools are transparent, unbiased, and equitable in physical therapy training? This session will address both the promises and perils of AI, focusing on mitigating biases in data, algorithms, and decision-making systems. Dr. Masters will also address the need for educators to stay ahead of rapid technological changes. Just as large language models (LLMs) transformed classrooms unexpectedly, AGI holds the potential for even more dramatic shifts.

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Precision Education

Presented by:  Martin Pusic, MD

The second keynote will focus on precision education—the application of AI to create personalized learning environments that cater to each student’s unique needs and pace. This keynote will be delivered by Dr. Martin Pusic, MD. Dr. Pusic is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Director of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Research and Education Foundation and served as an investigator in more than 100 publications focused on learning analytics and the role and impact of research, data, and informatics on medical education and learning. This session will examine how AI enables data-driven insights into student performance, allowing educators to design interventions that maximize individual learning outcomes and prepare students more effectively for the demands of clinical practice.

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Martin Pusic, MD

Key Themes & Topics:

  1. Ethics and Bias in AI (Keynote)​

  2. Precision Education (Keynote)

  3. Integrating AI into the Curriculum: As AI becomes an integral part of healthcare, it is critical for physical therapy students to understand how to leverage AI for patient management and clinical decision-making. This session will explore how to teach students to use AI tools effectively, from predictive analytics in patient care to integrating AI into treatment planning. Attendees will gain insights on where and how to embed AI instruction into an already packed curriculum, balancing the need for foundational knowledge and skills with the rising importance of AI literacy.

  4. AI for Clinical Education Preparation: AI can enhance clinical education preparation by offering virtual patient simulations, enabling students to practice clinical decision-making in diverse, realistic scenarios. It can provide personalized feedback, track student progress, and adapt learning experiences to individual needs. Additionally, AI tools can analyze clinical case studies, helping students refine critical thinking and treatment planning skills, ultimately better preparing them for real-world patient care.

  5. AI in Learner Assessment: Explore how AI tools are enhancing learner assessment, offering more nuanced and continuous evaluation of student progress. From automated grading to real-time performance feedback in clinical simulations, AI is reshaping how educators measure student competencies and readiness for practice.

  6. AI in Student Tutoring: AI can provide personalized tutoring for physical therapy students, offering real-time feedback, adaptive learning paths, and interactive simulations that enhance clinical decision-making skills.

  7. AI in Faculty Administrative Roles: AI can streamline administrative tasks for faculty, including grading, scheduling, and managing student performance data. It can also assist in maintaining accreditation standards by automating compliance tracking and generating data-driven reports, as well as supporting policy development through analysis of institutional trends and best practices.

Objectives:

This summit is designed to provoke thought and action. Will the early adopters of AI change the future of physical therapy education, leaving those who hesitate behind? The discussions and insights shared will demonstrate that AI is not just a passing trend—it is a disruptive force that will shape the future of teaching, learning, and practice in physical therapy. Attendees will leave equipped with the tools and strategies needed to lead this transformation, ensuring they remain at the forefront of the educational revolution already underway. Prepare to embrace AI, or risk being left behind in an increasingly AI-driven educational landscape. Upon completion of this event, participants will be able to:

 

  • Understand the Ethical Implications of AI in Education: Participants will explore the ethical considerations of AI in physical therapy education, including strategies to mitigate bias in AI-driven decision-making systems.

  • Leverage AI for Personalized Learning: Attendees will gain insights into how AI can be used to create adaptive learning environments that cater to individual student needs, improving educational outcomes.

  • Integrate AI into the Physical Therapy Curriculum: Educators will learn practical approaches to embedding AI tools in physical therapy education, from clinical decision-making to patient management.

  • Utilize AI for Enhanced Learner Assessment: Participants will explore AI-driven tools that provide real-time feedback and continuous assessment, improving student competency evaluation and readiness for clinical practice.

  • Incorporate AI in Faculty Administrative Tasks: Attendees will discover how AI can streamline administrative duties such as grading and accreditation compliance, allowing educators to focus more on teaching and mentoring.​

Summit Format:
This virtual, online summit will occur April 4-5, 2025 (see detailed agenda below). Attendance is limited to 200 invited attendees representing a wide variety of interested parties in physical therapist education including educators from entry-level education programs, clinical educators, and educators from residency/fellowship programs.Over the course of the summit, there will be 2 keynote addresses and three sessions which will include a presentation followed by small group and general conversation around the application of the theme of the Summit across the continuum of physical therapist education (i.e.,entry-level/didactic education, clinical education, and residency/fellowship/continuing professional development). This will be followed by a general summary session to create action plans for innovation in our own environments. 

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AI Teaching Exchange: 

All attendees are encouraged to submit a short video presentation that is related to using AI in physical therapy education (DPT, residency, fellowship).  Some suggested topics include (not an all-inclusive list):

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  • Application of AI in Content Delivery

  • Application of AI in Learner Assessment

  • Application of AI for Tutoring/Advising/Coaching

  • Application of AI in Administration

  • Using AI for Custom GPTs

  • Bias, Ethics, Risks with AI in PT Education

 

The purpose of the AI Teaching Exchange presentations is to provide a forum for Summit participants of all experience levels and across all applications to connect and exchange innovative ideas on how to leverage AI tools to enhance teaching and learning in physical therapy education.  We hope that these presentations are an opportunity to highlight unique and innovative applications of AI but also to allow all Summit participants to further reflect on what AI can really look like in classroom and clinical teaching environments. We encourage all Summit participants to share their ideas - from preliminary to fully formed and implemented.  Consider these an opportunity for you to “have the floor” to share your thoughts, ideas, perspectives, initiatives, and/or data (if you have any).   All registered participants will have an opportunity to view the recordings before the conference begins. The recordings will not be shared beyond the Summit attendees without your consent. We believe this will foster deeper conversation and expose participants to a broad cross-section of valued opinions, informing a more robust live discussion.

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The details:

  • These presentations will not be peer-reviewed; however, as an invited conference participant, you may list these as an invited conference presentation. All submissions from invited conference participants will be accepted provided they meet the additional requirements below.

  •  The presentations must be no more than 6 minutes in length and no more than 10GB in size. Submissions longer than 6 minutes or or larger than 10GB will not be accepted.

  •  The conference organizers will preview presentations to confirm that they meet all requirements related to conference relevance. 

  •  You may use slides/graphics/video or other media to share your data or make your points if you wish.  We welcome all types of submissions (voice over Power Point, Zoom video, Quick Time video, etc.) produced in a high or low tech fashion.  We want to hear your ideas!  

  •  Only ONE teaching exchange presentation will be accepted per attendee, so select your topic carefully. If participants submit more than one, the conference planning committee will select just one to make available.

  •  Submissions should be recorded using video or meeting software that results in a shareable video file in an MP4 or MOV format. You can record using Zoom, WebEx, Adobe, or most other platforms that result in the creation of a single, sharable MP4 or MOV file. File size may not exceed 10GB.  We welcome all types of submissions produced in a high- or low-tech fashion.  We want to hear your ideas! 

  • Files must be named as follows: Last Name First Initial, and Topic # separated by an underscore, without spaces. For example, TepperS_Topic1.mp4 or AbrahamK_Topic2.mov. 

  • Files should be submitted  using this Google Form no later than April 1, 2025.

  • Submissions are eligible for recognition by PTLI. There will be a maximum of one “Innovator Award” and one “Influencer Award” in each of the three topic categories.

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Summit Agenda:.

To learn more about the speakers, click on their name below:

Friday, April 4, 2025 (all times are Eastern Time Zone):

4:00p-4:15p:

Welcome from PTLI President, Jennifer Green-Wilson; Summit Overview & Ground Rules (Karen Abraham); Introduction of Keynote Speakers (Greg Hartley)

4:15p-5:00p:

5:30p-6:15p:

Open Forum/Q&A with Keynote Speakers

6:15p-6:30p:

Preview of Saturday’s Agenda/Format (Summit Planning Committee)

Saturday, April 5, 2025 (all times are Eastern Time Zone):

To learn more about the speakers, click on their name below:

11:00a-1:00p:

Topic 1: Teaching with AI

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Facilitators/Group Disc:

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1:00p-1:30p:

Break

1:30p-3:00p:

Topic 2: Integrating AI into the Curriculum and Learner Competencies

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Facilitators/Group Disc:

3:00p-3:15p:

Break

3:15p-4:20p:

Topic 3: Administrative Applications of AI

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Speakers/Group Disc:

4:20p-4:30p:

Break

4:30p-5:15p:

Group Comments/Reflection (Greg) Closing Remarks, and Program Evaluation (Karen)

Topic1
Topic2
Topic3

5:00p-5:30p:

Recommended Summit Reading & References

Participants are encouraged to read or review the following articles prior to the Summit. 

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  • Adler-Milstein, Julia., & Holmgren, A. J. (2021). Next-Generation Artificial Intelligence for Diagnosis: From Predicting Diagnostic Labels to "Wayfinding." JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2021.1205

  • Bowen JA, Watson C.E. (2024) Teaching with AI: A practical guide to a new era of human learning. Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore MD.

  • Cloud-Biebl, Beth A., Hollman, John H., Krause, David A., & Calley, Darren Q. (2024). Detecting Artificial Intelligence-Generated Personal Statements in Professional Physical Therapist Education Program Applications: A Lexical Analysis. Physical Therapy, 104(1), pzae006. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzae006

  • Cornwall, Jon., Hildebrandt, Sabine., Champney, Thomas H., & Goodman, Kenneth. (2024). Ethical concerns surrounding artificial intelligence in anatomy education: Should AI human body simulations replace donors in the dissection room? Anatomical Sciences Education, 17, 937-943. https://doi.org/10.1002/ase.2335

  • Cuff, Patricia A., & Forstag, Erin Hammers. (2023). Artificial intelligence in health professions education: Proceedings of a workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/27174

  • Ferryman, Kadija., Mackintosh, Maxine., & Ghassemi, Marzyeh. (2023). Considering Biased Data as Informative Artifacts in AI-Assisted Health Care. The New England Journal of Medicine, 389(9), 833-838. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra2214964

  • Fortier K., Fagan J., Halle KA. (2024). AI in Clinical Education. Education Leadership Conference (ELC), Oakland CA.

  • Gin, Brian C., O’Sullivan, Patricia S., Hauer, Karen E., Abdulnour, Raja-Elie, Mackenzie, Madelynn, ten Cate, Olle, & Boscardin, Christy K. (2024). Entrustment and EPAs for Artificial Intelligence (AI): A Framework to safeguard the use of AI in health professions education. Academic Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000005930

  • James, Cornelius A., Wheelock, Kevin M., & Woolliscroft, James O. (2021). Machine Learning: The Next Paradigm Shift in Medical Education. Academic Medicine, 96(7), 954-957. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000003943

  • Lowe, Chan., & Colloton. (2024). Leveraging AI in PT Education Starting Now. ELC 2024.

  • Mangold S, Ream M. Artificial Intelligence in Graduate Medical Education Applications. Journal of Graduate Medical Education, April 2024, 115-118.

  • Masters, Ken., Benjamin, Jennifer., Agrawal, Anoop., MacNeill, Heather., Pillow, M. Tyson., & Mehta, Neil. (2024). Twelve Tips on Creating and Using Custom GPTs to Enhance Health Professions Education. Medical Teacher, 46(6), 752-756. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159X.2024.2305365

  • Masters, Ken., Herrmann-Werner, Anne., Festl-Wietek, Teresa., & Taylor, David. (2024). Preparing for Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) in health professions education: AMEE Guide No. 172. Medical Teacher, 46(10), 1258-1271. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159X.2024.2387802

  • Mollick, Ethan., & Mollick, Lilach. (2023). Assigning AI: Seven approaches for students with prompts. SSRN. https://ssrn.com/abstract=4475995

  • Morelli N. A Framework for Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning into Physical Therapy, Physical Therapy, 2024, pzae137, https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzae137

  • Savage, Thomas., Nayak, Ashwin., Gallo, Robert., Rangan, Ekanath., & Chen, Jonathan H. (2024). Diagnostic Reasoning Prompts Reveal the Potential for Large Language Model Interpretability in Medicine. npj Digital Medicine, 7(20). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-024-01010-1

  • Shen, Mei-di., Chen, Si-bing., & Ding, Xiang-dong. (2024). The Effectiveness of Digital Twins in Promoting Precision Health Across the Entire Population: A Systematic Review. npj Digital Medicine, 7(145). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-024-01146-0

  • U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Future of Teaching and Learning: Insights and Recommendations, Washington, DC, 2023. This report is available at https://tech.ed.gov

  • Watkins, M. Make AI Part of the Assignment. The Chronicle of Higher Education. https://www.chronicle.com/article/make-ai-part-of-the-assignment. AI - Assisted Learning Template.

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Recommended Podcasts on AI:​​

references

Questions?
Please contact Summit Organizers Karen Abraham at
kabraham@su.edu.

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

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