Artificial Intelligence in the Internal Medicine Clerkship: Results of a National Survey

Purpose

Artificial intelligence (AI) in medical education is rapidly evolving. The nascent literature about the use of AI in clerkships is sparse. In this national study, we explore how internal medicine (IM) clerkship directors (CDs) conceptualize the roles that AI may play in clerkship learning environments.

Method

From September to December 2024, the Clerkship Directors in Internal Medicine of the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine conducted its annual, nationally representative survey of IM CDs at 141 US and US territory-based medical schools with Liaison Committee on Medical Education accreditation. This study is based on 21 questions about the use of AI in IM clerkships.

Results

The survey response rate was 80.1% (113/141 unique medical schools). Most CDs (58.8%) perceived that it was “somewhat important” or “very important” to incorporate the use of AI in the medical school curricula and identified several AI topics as particularly relevant to teach students in the IM clerkship. However, no respondents reported the inclusion of AI content or AI-specific teaching in their clerkship curriculum. CDs reported multiple perceived barriers to explicitly teaching about AI in the IM clerkship, with faculty and CD knowledge about AI (84.2% and 75.4%, respectively) as the leading barriers.

Conclusions

The results of this survey found that IM CDs believe that AI plays an important role in medical education and the IM clerkship, yet there is limited structured teaching about AI within their clerkships. To prepare for this new era in medical education, institutions need to invest in CD and faculty education on AI so they can safely lead students in today’s learning environment.