At the 8th Ghana FELTP Scientific Conference and Competency Graduation, the Dean of the School of Public Health delivered an inspiring address centered on this year’s theme: “Artificial Intelligence Innovation in Public Health Surveillance and Outbreak Response.”

The Dean highlighted the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in strengthening real-time disease surveillance, predicting outbreak patterns, and improving rapid response efforts. By integrating diverse data sources, including clinical records, environmental monitoring, social media analytics, and genomic sequencing. AI is reshaping the landscape of public health practice.

The message emphasized the essential partnership between technology and the public health workforce. The Dean celebrated the graduating cohort for their dedication, analytical expertise, and innovative mindset, noting that AI tools are most effective when guided by skilled professionals committed to safeguarding community health.

The speech also underscored important considerations such as equitable access to technology, ethical data use, and the continued importance of human judgment in public health decision-making. AI, the Dean noted, must enhance not replace the human centered foundation of public health.

Closing with a call to action, the Dean urged all participants to embrace responsible innovation, foster cross-disciplinary collaboration, and push the boundaries of what is possible in health security. The graduates were commended as the next generation of leaders poised to shape the future of public health surveillance and outbreak response.