International Conference on AI in Medical and Allied Fields Sets New Roadmap for Healthcare Innovation

LONDON - The International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Medical and Allied Fields, held in London on October 18-19, 2025, successfully concluded after two days of high-level discussions on the future of healthcare technology. Under the leadership of General Chair Professor Mohammed Sami Al Abadie and Technical Committee Chair Professor Dhiya Al-Jumeily OBE, the event gathered distinguished professionals from the UK, Iraq, and the US to address the integration of AI into medical practice and education.

Global Collaboration for Health Transformation

The conference opened with a comprehensive series of lectures exploring the evolution of AI in medicine, ethical governance, and clinical applications across various specialties. Delegates engaged with critical themes such as data transparency, explainable AI, and the necessity of sustainable digital transformation within healthcare systems. The sessions underscored that while AI offers immense opportunities, its adoption requires robust collaboration, training, and adherence to ethical standards to truly benefit patients and practitioners.

Strategic Roundtable: Bridging Education and Technology

The second day featured a pivotal follow-up meeting with a delegation of representatives from Iraqi medical and health-sciences institutions, including university presidents, deans, and officials from the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHE).

Chaired by Professor Al-Jumeily, this session focused on two primary strategic goals: strengthening AI utilization across Iraq's medical sector and developing the necessary curricula and staff capabilities. Discussions also posed broader strategic questions regarding the potential to nurture a Silicon Valley-style innovation ecosystem within Iraq.

Key Outcomes and Expert Insights

Significant contributions were made by leading experts during the roundtable:

• Curriculum Development: There was a strong consensus on the need to embed AI within medical school curricula, with a clear distinction drawn between academic education and professional training.
• Human-Centric Care: Professor Deiray Kader (Orthopaedics, UK) emphasized that while AI enhances efficiency, medical education must continue to prioritize emotional intelligence and critical thinking, skills that AI can support but not replace.
• Institutional Training: Dr. Ali Al-Sherbaz outlined a Cambridge-led approach to staff adoption, proposing structured training programs to upskill academic and clinical staff in the safe and effective use of AI.
• Data Sovereignty: Professor Al-Jumeily advocated for the establishment of a national data governance framework and a secure National Health Data Enclave to consolidate datasets for research under strict ethical guidelines.

Looking Forward: Baghdad 2026

The conference concluded with actionable recommendations, including a proposal for a Cambridge-led National Training Programme for Iraqi medical and nursing faculties. Furthermore, organizers announced plans to convene a similar high-impact conference in Baghdad in April 2026, coordinated by Professor Al-Jumeily and Professor Al Abadie in liaison with the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office.