A&II Workshop, Reasoning First, AI Second with Dr. Dipu Patel
An in-person half-day, hands-on workshop for Samuel Merritt University faculty, co-sponsored by the Office of Academic Affairs
Friday, October 2, 2026
9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
at Samuel Merritt University
Oakland City Center Campus and SAC Campus
Please join Academic & Instructional Innovation as we welcome Dr. Dipu Patel, a recognized expert in AI for Teaching in the Health Sciences.
Dr. Patel will lead a half-day, hands-on workshop to Samuel Merritt faculty (all disciplines) to teach and assess clinical reasoning in an AI-pervasive environment. Building on faculty's existing prompting knowledge and recent assignment-redesign work, the session moves deeper into structured reasoning tools, applied directly to participants' own courses. Every activity is scaled for institutional AI access (Microsoft 365 Copilot), with optional use of free-tier ChatGPT and Claude where noted.
This event will be in person at the SMU Oakland campus. Breakfast and Lunch will be provided to attendees. Please RSVP (opens in new tab) to confirm your attendance.
About Dr. Dipu Patel
Dr. Dipu Patel, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, ABAIM, is a physician assistant, educator, and health professions leader working at the intersection of clinical reasoning, digital health, and artificial intelligence. She is Professor and Vice Chair for Innovation in the University of Pittsburgh's Department of Physician Assistant Studies, where she leads curriculum and faculty development in AI, digital health, and quality improvement.
With over 25 years of experience across emergency medicine, urgent care, and hematology/oncology, Dr. Patel brings a working clinician's perspective to how AI is reshaping healthcare education and practice. She is certified by the American Board of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and is the founder of ReasonFirst, a framework and toolset helping health professions faculty teach and assess clinical reasoning in an AI-pervasive environment.
She is the editor and a contributing author of Digital Health: Telemedicine and Beyond (Elsevier, 2024), and the author of the ReasonFirst book series, including Clinical Thinking with ChatGPT, Prompt Engineering for Healthcare Educators, and Reasoning First. Within the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), she served as President-elect (2024), President (2025), and Immediate Past President (2026). She also served for over a decade as Chair of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Physician Assistants, a gubernatorial appointment.
She speaks nationally on AI in health professions education and clinical practice, and advises institutions building AI-enabled tools for clinicians and educators. Her work centers on one conviction: technology should extend clinical judgment, never replace it.
At a Glance
- 25+ years in clinical practice: emergency medicine, urgent care, hematology/oncology
- Professor & Vice Chair for Innovation, University of Pittsburgh PA Studies
- PAEA President (2025); Immediate Past President (2026)
- Board-certified, American Board of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine
- Author of 3 books, including Digital Health: Telemedicine and Beyond
- Chair, Massachusetts Board of Registration of Physician Assistants (11 years)
