Spotlight on AI: UMD Researchers Work to Improve Public Health

Predicting outbreaks of deadly diseases. Helping parents make informed vaccine decisions. Spotting patterns in the treatment of chronic illnesses that can lead to better patient outcomes. 

These are just a few of the innovations that University of Maryland researchers have developed as they work to make artificial intelligence (AI) a powerful tool for addressing health problems in the 21st century.  

Each Friday this October, we will highlight how the UMD is shaping the future of AI and transforming sectors of society through our research, education and service. This week we’re focusing on projects across campus that unite experts from public health, computer science, communications, medicine, climate science and more to create smarter, faster and more effective solutions for broad societal health challenges.

• In a study of peripheral artery disease, researchers in the School of Public Health used AI to analyze over 1.5 million hospital cases involving the condition that can lead to leg amputations. The AI helped uncover patterns in amputation-related decisions that weren’t explained by clinical or environmental factors alone, helping medical researchers and hospital systems better understand the human and systemic factors that influence care.
   
• University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing intern Abby Abaku ’26 is researching the possible links between "food deserts"—areas with limited access to healthy food—and rates of diabetes among Maryland residents. By analyzing public health and geographic data with machine learning tools, the project helped identify trends that could guide local policy and community health interventions.
   
• Researchers from the College of Arts and Humanities, School of Public Health and University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies and the School of Medicine at the University of Maryland, Baltimore are developing an AI-powered chatbot designed to answer parents’ questions about the HPV vaccine. This system tailors its responses based on the user’s communication style, while still relying on scientifically accurate information. Once refined, the chatbot will be tested in real-world clinical settings.  
   
• Recognizing the growing role of data in public health, the School of Public Health launched a new course that teaches graduate students how to use AI and machine learning tools in their research. This course gives future health professionals hands-on experience with data analysis and predictive modeling—skills that are becoming essential in the field.
   
• In a global project spanning eight countries, UMD is leading the development of an AI system to help predict diarrheal disease outbreaks linked to extreme weather, such as floods and heat waves. The project, called AWARE, will combine climate data with health information to provide early warnings for associated infections, which are common after severe weather events. It’s a team effort involving faculty from the School of Public Health, the Philip Merrill College of Journalism, and the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences, as well as international collaborators.  
   
• In partnership with the University of California, San Francisco, UMD researchers are working to improve how electronic health records are shared and used. Using machine learning, the team is developing a system that helps identify the most relevant patient information across different health care systems. This could lead to better, more efficient care for patients—especially those who see multiple providers.

To learn more about how the University of Maryland is shaping the future of AI, visit ai.umd.edu.