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Mount Mary to Harness AI Power to Narrow Gap of Health Disparities

Mount Mary University Occupational Therapy (OT) and User Experience (UX) Design faculty and students are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to narrow the gap in health disparities among underserved populations.

The team designed and developed CulturaBot, an app using data analytics and generative AI to create unique, individualized care plans that take culturally relevant information into consideration.

In early 2024, Mount Mary University was selected as a funding recipient by the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Health Equity Initiative to turn the vision into reality.

The team used cloud-based tools and technology funded with credits from AWS to collect information from a variety of scientifically reliable and respected open sources. Their app can be used by practitioners to create plans that apply multicultural considerations, often overlooked by the current healthcare delivery model.

The project was spearheaded by Dr. Kari Inda, occupational therapy chair. Inda recognized the need for making people—especially those from traditionally underserved and marginalized backgrounds—feel respected in a system that often discounts their lived experiences. She believes that incorporating cultural information fosters a respectful and collaborative approach to the care process and is critical to the success of long-term wellness outcomes.

The team initially focused on African American, Indigenous, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ populations, with plans to continue expanding the scope. Inda and her team hope that practitioners will use CulturaBot to help patients become more active participants in their healthcare.

Now nearing completion, the app will launch in 2025. Dr. Inda and her team envision new opportunities for their product, with plans to expand the technology into other sectors. Mount Mary University is currently in discussion with strategic business growth consultants, venture capital groups, and companies to determine the next steps for marketing and distributing this innovative technology.