Take Care of Planetary Health!

Ozden Gokdemir, Gizem Limnili, Nilgün Özçakar

Keywords: planetary health, undergraduate, curriculum

Setting:

Planetary health emphasizes the interconnectedness of human health and Earth’s ecological systems, aiming to improve quality of life while preserving natural resources and fostering sustainable ecosystems. This project seeks to (1) enhance first-year medical students’ awareness of planetary health, (2) empower them to disseminate knowledge among peers, and (3) cultivate environmentally conscious healthcare professionals equipped with foundational AI competencies. By integrating AI tools into environmental health education, the initiative also aims to bridge emerging technology with ecological stewardship.

Target group:

Groups of students will conduct research and prepare reports on specific topics related to planetary health. Students will present their presentations and projects to their fellow students in the faculty.

Description of the innovative practice or project:

Student groups will research planetary health topics (e.g., climate change impacts on disease patterns, pollution reduction strategies) and utilize AI-driven platforms for data analysis, predictive modeling, and visualization. Workshops on AI basics (e.g., machine learning for environmental datasets, and natural language processing for literature reviews) will supplement their technical skills. Students will design interactive, AI-enhanced presentations and posters (e.g., QR codes linking to AI simulations of carbon footprint scenarios). Peer evaluations and AI-assisted feedback tools will refine their outputs. Final posters will be displayed faculty-wide and at the Family Medicine Congress, with AI-generated infographics highlighting key trends. A dedicated session on World Environment Day will feature student-led AI demonstrations, such as chatbots educating visitors on sustainable healthcare practices.

Evaluation:

Next Steps:

Lessons learned:

Expected Outcomes:
Strengthened understanding of the health-environment nexus among students.
Increased AI literacy, enabling students to apply machine learning and data analytics to ecological and medical challenges.
Enhanced peer-to-peer knowledge sharing via AI-augmented educational tools.
Heightened awareness of pollution reduction and natural resource conservation.
Improved presentation and technical skills through AI-integrated project design.
Community engagement via AI-driven interactive exhibits, fostering societal responsibility.
Scalable AI frameworks for future planetary health initiatives in medical education.

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