Duke Health and Microsoft have formed a five-year partnership to utilize generative AI and cloud technology in healthcare, aiming to advance health equity and patient care responsibly. The collaboration will include the establishment of a Duke Health AI Innovation Lab and Center of Excellence. Microsoft will provide training and create a secure cloud environment using Azure. Ethical considerations are prioritized, and the partnership seeks to develop AI-based solutions to improve healthcare while adhering to the highest ethical standards.
Duke Health and Microsoft have joined forces in a groundbreaking five-year partnership to harness the potential of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud technology in healthcare. The collaboration seeks to advance health equity and enhance patient care through the responsible and ethical utilization of these cutting-edge technologies.
The partnership will leverage Duke Health’s extensive expertise in medical research and patient care alongside Microsoft’s proficiency in developing and deploying AI and cloud solutions. A key aspect of this collaboration involves establishing a Duke Health AI Innovation Lab and Center of Excellence, dedicated to driving innovation and transformation in healthcare.
According to Craig Albanese, MD, CEO of Duke University Health System, the partnership aims to shape the future of healthcare and create a new standard that is not only innovative but truly transformative.
Microsoft will play a significant role in the partnership by providing Duke Health with training to build and maintain a skilled ‘cloud-savvy IT workforce.’ Additionally, Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform will be utilized to create a secure cloud environment, optimize IT operations, streamline clinical care, promote health equity, and advance research.
Jeffrey Ferranti, MD, Senior Vice President, and Chief Digital Officer of Duke Health emphasized that the collaboration would propel Duke to the forefront of digitally-focused health systems. They will also research the reliability and safety of generative AI in healthcare, ensuring that ethical considerations remain a top priority throughout the development process.
The partnership aims to develop innovative AI-based solutions to augment healthcare, including personalized patient education tools and automation of administrative tasks to reduce staff workloads.
Ethics and responsible AI implementation are core principles of the collaboration, with Duke University and Duke Health being founding members of the Coalition for Health AI. They are dedicated to ensuring the trustworthy and ethical use of AI in healthcare, adhering to the highest ethical standards.
For Microsoft, this partnership marks yet another milestone in its commitment to advancing AI and cloud technologies in healthcare. They have recently focused on clinical trial matching, social determinants of health (SDOH) analytics, and responsible AI implementation through their Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare and Azure AI Services for Health offerings.
Overall, the collaboration between Duke Health and Microsoft is poised to revolutionize healthcare by harnessing the potential of generative AI and cloud technology while ensuring ethical and responsible implementation.
