Workshop: Reasoning First, AI Second with Dr. Dipu Patel

An Academic and Instructional Innovation (A&II) In-Person Half-Day, Hands-On Workshop
for Samuel Merritt University Faculty

Co-Sponsored by the Office of Academic Affairs

Friday, October 2, 2026
9:30 AM to 2:00 PM
at Samuel Merritt University
Oakland City Center 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.

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)

AI Literacy for Faculty

Reasoning First, AI Second: A Workshop Proposal for Samuel Merritt University 

Prepared by Dr. Dipu Patel, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, ABAIM  ·  ReasonFirst.ai 

OVERVIEW 

This half-day, hands-on workshop equips Samuel Merritt faculty (approximately 40–60 attendees, 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. 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Apply the RTCFC framework to construct prompts that strengthen, rather than replace, clinical reasoning.
• Evaluate AI-generated clinical output for accuracy, bias, and equity using a structured audit checklist.
• Design a reasoning-forward teaching case, and an implementation plan for one course you teach. 

WORKSHOP OUTLINE (4 HOURS, ON-SITE) 

Exact timing adjustable to the institution's preferred schedule; individual activity durations are also flexible depending on group size and discussion. Total on-site commitment approximately 4.5 hours.

Faculty should bring 1–2 assignments they would like to revise or redesign using AI.

Questions

For questions about this event, contact Academic and Instructional Innovation at: aii@samuelmerritt.edu

Learn about more Samuel Merritt University events.