The Lewis Katz School of Medicine has established a Katz Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force to bring greater coordination, shared guidance, and strategic focus to AI-related work already emerging across the school. The task force is led by Akiyah Baugh, Director, Information Technology; Ryan Gibbons, MD, Assistant Dean of Faculty Affairs and John M. Daly, MD, & Measey Foundation Endowed Professor in Medical Education Innovation; and Munir Gunes Kutlu, PhD, Assistant Professor, Neural Sciences and Center for Substance Abuse Research. This team brings together individuals with expertise in administration, education, ethical clinical care, and research to establish shared guidelines, identify priorities, and ensure responsible AI use that advances education, research, clinical care, operations, and infrastructure at Katz.

"Artificial intelligence is already shaping how faculty at medical schools teach, conduct research, care for patients, and manage operations," said Amy J. Goldberg, MD, FACS, The Marjorie Joy Katz Dean of the Lewis Katz School of Medicine. “At Katz, we are committed to guiding the use of AI in ways to advance our mission while upholding the highest levels of ethics, integrity, privacy, and accountability."

The Katz AI Task Force will develop school-wide standards for responsible AI use, including guidance on data governance, privacy, risk mitigation, ethical principles, experimentation, evaluation, and deployment. They will evaluate potential AI applications to ensure they support the school's strategic priorities, explore practical elements of AI deployment, such as enterprise-wide feasibility, and pilot-test applications of interest.

The work will be carried out through six specialized subcommittees:

• Curriculum / Education and Faculty AI Training: focusing on integrating AI into curricula and preparing faculty to teach and use AI effectively.
• Clinical Care: focusing on AI applications in patient care and clinical workflows.
• Research: focusing on AI use in research design, data analysis, compliance, and integrity.
• Operational Efficiency: focusing on optimizing workflows, automation, and overall efficiency.
• Compliance, Risk, and Ethics: focusing on privacy, responsible use, and ethical standards.
• Infrastructure, Resources, Service Guidelines, Training, and Communication: focusing on infrastructure needs, shared services, access pathways, training, and communication.

The task force will also help foster a culture of shared learning across Katz by encouraging ongoing education, knowledge-sharing, and dialogue about AI across mission areas and functions. The Katz AI Task Force will also align with the University and Temple Health AI task forces to share best practices, exchange information, and support a coordinated, enterprise-level approach to AI use, as appropriate.

The task force will also guide the development of a new AI resource section for the Katz Portal that will provide the Katz community with updates, guidance, resources, and communication materials, helping to ensure transparency and clear communication.

As part of the Lewis Katz School of Medicine’s strategic initiative to expand educational access, Katz continues to grow its network of regional campuses through partnerships with leading healthcare systems.

Katz currently operates its regional campus with St. Luke’s University Health Network in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In 2025, the school also formalized an agreement with WellSpan Health to establish a new regional campus in York, Pennsylvania, which is expected to welcome its first students in August 2027.

Now, Katz has announced a new partnership with AtlantiCare to establish an additional regional campus in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The AtlantiCare Campus will become the school’s third regional campus and is expected to welcome its first class of students in 2029. The partnership reflects Katz’s continued commitment to expanding opportunities for medical education while helping address physician workforce needs across the region.

Read more about the partnership here: Temple Now story on the AtlantiCare partnership.

“Are you moved and overwhelmed? You should be. We have accomplished so much in just one year. And our momentum is only growing. Thank you!” 

Dean Goldberg shared those words at the closing of a dinner celebrating the champions and members of the workgroups driving Inspiring Excellence forward. More than 50 colleagues came together on Wednesday, October 15, to recognize the school’s incredible achievements in the plan’s first year of implementation.  

Champions from each of the seven workgroups spoke on their group’s work – how Year One goals were realized, and what is ahead in Year Two. Representing a cross-section of the Katz and Temple Health community, the workgroup members include faculty and staff from multiple departments across the school and hospital. Their work provides structure and facilitation for the deep, enterprise-wide collaboration driving progress forward. The evening was a welcome celebration and recognition of the hours of work and dedication that these leaders within our community have put in to help Katz continue to thrive in our big and bold vision for the future. Explore the Inspiring Excellence portal to learn who these champions and members are, and the objectives and tactics for their groups. 

 

Our Inspiring Excellence strategic plan is entering Year Two of implementation. Read more to learn about the incredible progress and accomplishments our community made in Year One, or read our full report. Year One News Story | Year One Report

This progress would not have been possible without the dedication of the workgroup champions and members leading our seven strategic initiatives. We also extend our thanks to the many partners across the school, health system, university and beyond who helped bring these efforts to life. Your collaboration and commitment continue to move us forward.  

Explore the Inspiring Excellence hub for more information about the plan, and what’s on the horizon for Year Two and beyond.