Abstract
The public health workforce is transitioning significantly, with many experienced professionals retiring and an increasing demand for new competencies. Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into public health education presents an innovative solution to address these challenges. AI provides opportunities for personalized learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and scalable training, but AI introduces ethical challenges that must be addressed. Key regulations such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) are crucial in guiding the ethical use of AI in education and practice. AI can enhance public health education by fostering interprofessional learning and preparing a workforce capable of meeting evolving health challenges. Ethical considerations surrounding data privacy, bias, and regulatory compliance are examined. The importance of AI literacy for seasoned professionals is discussed, as they will be pivotal in mentoring the next generation of public health workers. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated technology adoption, making this an ideal time to integrate AI into public health education. Although AI offers valuable insights and tools, public health professionals must learn to assess AI outputs to ensure equitable and effective outcomes critically. A balanced approach to AI in public health education that combines technological innovation with ethical responsibility is needed for the field’s advancement. Establishing guidelines and governance frameworks for AI integration in public health education, promoting AI literacy in health education programs, ensuring data privacy and ethical use, and advocating for interprofessional partnerships to shape AI policies to support public health goals are critical.
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