The UF College of Medicine hosted its inaugural AI4Health: Improving Health through Artificial Intelligence conference April 20-22 in Orlando, bringing leading AI experts at UF together with practicing clinicians from across the country for a series of in-depth discussions on how AI advancements are transforming clinical practice and improving patient health.

Over the course of three days, speakers and guests participated in more than two dozen panels and workshops, sharing insights and exchanging ideas on the latest developments in AI in health care. With more than 140 scientists, clinicians and trainees in attendance, the gathering created valuable opportunities for networking with new colleagues and building future collaborations. The conference provided continuing medical education, or CME, credit to qualifying attendees, and offered virtual and in-person viewing options to provide accessible and hybrid opportunities.

For people with retinitis pigmentosa, the world they see often starts changing in childhood or as young adults. Their night and peripheral vision declines, eventually leaving most blind.

Now a group of researchers from the UF College of Medicine department of molecular genetics and microbiology are working on a solution: a gene therapy that has succeeded in three animal models. The findings are significant because they show that the therapy works in different species. That is crucial to advancing it to human clinical trials.

“Our ultimate goal would be to treat patients as early as we can — even before vision is lost — and while they can still learn to read and recognize the world around them,” said Alfred S. Lewin, Ph.D., a professor emeritus in the department.

During the 20th annual Mark S. Gold, M.D. ’75, White Coat Ceremony on April 30, students from UF’s largest medical school class to date celebrated earning their white coats alongside their peers and recited the college’s code of ethics.

Class of 2025 president Olivier Barolette shared remarks during the event, thanking the loved ones who traveled to see their family members on an important day and honoring others who could not make it.

“These past two years, I’ve seen how intelligent, capable and compassionate you all are,” he said of his classmates. “I’m so thankful and honored to be the class’s champion during events. As we head into our clinical years, I want to encourage you to continue to be a community and to help one another.”