Southeastern Louisiana University Hosts AI Healthcare Conference with 150+ Attendees and Free Wachter Books

**TL;DR:** Southeastern Louisiana University’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences drew more than 150 participants to its AI in Healthcare conference, where each attendee received a free copy of Robert Wachter’s newest book.

Context: The conference, held in Hammond, highlighted real‑world artificial intelligence (AI) applications already in use at regional health systems. Speakers from North Oaks, Our Lady of the Lake, and Ochsner Health presented on topics ranging from predictive analytics to robotic process improvement. A remote keynote by UC San Francisco’s Robert Wachter examined both the promise and pitfalls of AI in clinical settings.

Key Facts: Over 150 students, faculty, and health professionals attended the one‑day event. Kenneth Tillman, assistant dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, said the conference shows Southeastern’s commitment to advancing healthcare education and collaboration. Every participant received a complimentary copy of Wachter’s book “A Giant Leap: How AI Is Transforming Healthcare and What That Means for Our Future.”

What It Means: The event underscores how academic institutions can bridge classroom learning with industry practice in fast‑moving tech fields. Researchers largely evaluate AI tools through retrospective cohort studies and small pilot RCTs, meaning benefits are promising but causality is not yet firmly established. Practical steps include seeking continuing‑education opportunities that pair theory with hands‑on demos and scrutinizing evidence before adopting new AI‑driven protocols.

Watch for upcoming partnerships between Southeastern and local hospitals to pilot AI‑driven workflow tools in the next academic year.