AI Meets Public Health: A Four-Day Immersive Workshop at the University of Arizona
The University of Arizona Data Science Institute with the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH) announces the Public Health & AI Summer School to be held on June 9–12, 2025. The four-day immersive summer school is designed for public health professionals, students, researchers, and faculty to engage in hands-on skills in AI and practical public health innovation. The sessions will take place at the Health Sciences Innovation Building (HSIB), 1670 E. Drachman Street, Tucson, AZ 85721. Register on Eventbrite to save your seat and to learn more.
Led by Dr. Onicio B. Leal-Neto from MEZCOPH and organized in partnership with the Center for Biomedical Informatics and Biostatistics (CB2), the Data Science Institute, U of A DataLab, and the Institute for Computation and Data-Enabled Insight (ICDI), the summer school builds on the momentum of the U of A DataLab’s earlier workshops and activities series - GenAI & Foundation models, NextGen Geospatial and the AI Makerspace. The summer school is a collaborative effort between MEZCOPH and the key campus partners which reflects a shared commitment to advancing AI literacy and capacity in public health research and practice.
The summer school attendees will delve into essential topics such as AI and machine learning fundamentals, digital epidemiology, generative AI in public health, digital biomarkers, spatial epidemiology, scientific literature management with AI, and ethical governance of AI systems. The workshops features interactive sessions where attendees will experiment with tools for data management, visualization, and low-to no-code AI platforms. These experiences will deepen both technical expertise and critical thinking around AI’s applications in real-world public health scenarios.
With AI reaching new levels of growth and integration into research and operational workflows, this summer school offers a timely opportunity to understand and apply AI in domains such as disease surveillance, risk forecasting, administrative support, and precision public health. The curriculum is designed to be inclusive and accessible, requiring only a foundational understanding of public health. To help make it easier for a broader range of participants to participate, MEZCOPH students and faculty can apply for financial support through the U of A Dean's Fund to help cover attendance costs. The information on how to apply is available upon request during registration.
The Public Health & AI Summer School is more than a training opportunity. It is a space for collaboration, exploration, and innovation at the intersection of data science and public health equity. It emphasizes the U of A leadership’s commitment to prepare public health professionals to responsibly and effectively connect AI for an effective global health impact.
As seating is limited, register soon through Eventbrite for the June 9-12th Public Health & AI Summer School at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/public-health-ai-summer-school-registration-1343451592879. Send questions about the Public Health & AI Summer School to Dr. Onicio Leal at onicio@arizona.edu.
If you are interested in exploring applied AI sessions for your discipline or new topics for the U of A DataLab, please email the Data Science Institute at RII-datascienceinstitute@arizona.edu.