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MCG researchers awarded $275K grant to study HIV and retinopathy correlation

It’s often said that “teamwork makes the dream work,” and scientists from different disciplines at Augusta University are a perfect example of that. Manuela Bartoli, PhD, research director and professor of ophthalmology at AU’s Medical College of Georgia, has joined forces with Eric Belin de Chantemèle, PhD, a physiologist in MCG’s Vascular Biology Center, to explore the link between HIV and retinopathy. The pair was recently awarded a two-year $275,000 grant from the National Eye Institute that will allow them to test different variables on a transgenic mouse model and assess how they impact the development of retinopathy. The project began with Bartoli and Belin de Chantemèle examining transgenic mice that expressed viral proteins linked to HIV. They found that the blood vessels supplying oxygen and nutrients to the mice’s retinas were not functioning properly. “So, we developed the idea that people living with HIV may be more prone to or progress more rapidly when they get one of the ischemic retinopathies that are very common, particularly diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration,” Bartoli said. “I think this is important because we’ll basically define a chronic HIV infection as a risk factor for the development of the most severe ocular disease.” Bartoli’s work focuses on ischemic retinopathies, which are conditions that reduce blood flow, oxygen and nutrients to the retina – the part of the eye responsible for vision. These disorders are the leading cause of blindness around the world. Different types include retinopathy of prematurity, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Several factors contribute to ischemic retinopathies, such as oxidative stress and inflammatory processes. Bartoli infers HIV might be another risk factor, but it’s tough to confirm as antiretroviral therapies make the virus nearly undetectable. “The number of people living with HIV is growing in terms of age, so most likely they will develop, at some point, a disease like age-related macular degeneration, which is really common in the elderly population,” Bartoli said. “We knew the individual has the acute infection, and because of the immunosuppression, they develop a number of infections that lead to retinal dysfunction. There was also reported what is called retinitis due to HIV. But with medication, these acute events disappear, and we don’t know, when you get older and develop one of these diseases, how is it going to progress?” While cART therapies can manage HIV, Bartoli noted they don’t fix the defective blood vessels in the retina. And it’s not just the retina. The big picture is that HIV alters blood vessels throughout the human body, therefore elevating blood pressure and causing cardiovascular disease. “We have blood vessels in every single organ, whether this is the heart, the lungs, the kidneys, the brain, the eyes, they are everywhere,” Belin de Chantemèle said. “As HIV is damaging the vessel, that would lead to dysfunctions in all those different organs.” “On top of that, people who have HIV usually have additional comorbidities. Very often people become obese, have diabetes,” he continued. The researchers plan to eventually move beyond mouse models and include human subjects in their study. “I’m already working with people around to try to get information,” Bartoli said. “For example, in the VA system.” The ultimate goal is to establish how HIV contributes to the progression of eye diseases, which will hopefully lead to a better understanding of why it happens and how to treat it. “If this individual who progresses more rapidly goes to the doctor when they are blind already or semi-blind, it’s too late for anything,” Bartoli said. “Blindness is the primary fear in people, so we’re going to combat the cause to prevent this side effect.” Discoveries at Augusta University are changing and improving the lives of people in Georgia and beyond. Your partnership and support are invaluable as we work to expand our impact. See more experts at Augusta University → Click here

Parenting Your Parents: When Did I Become the Adult?

My mother used to take her cordless phone with her when she went out for lunch. One day I finally asked why. “Well, I might need to make a phone call,” she explained. I said it was a cordless phone, not a cell phone, and that it only worked in her house. She looked at me with a completely blank expression. I tried again. She listened politely, though I’m still not entirely convinced she believed me. Her smile never reached her eyes. Then there were the calls for technical support. Mom would phone because she couldn’t get the television to work, and I would patiently walk her through using the remote. Press the button at the top. Nothing. The red button. I don’t have a red button. Twenty minutes later, it finally occurred to me to ask what she was holding. Her cell phone. We laughed about these things, and they were funny. They still are. But something else was happening that neither of us wanted to acknowledge. Slowly, I was becoming the person who worried about my mother, checked on things, and occasionally told her what she should or shouldn’t do. In other words, I was parenting my parent, though I’m quite sure she would have objected to that job description. This stage of life brings plenty of drama and absolutely no instructions. No pre-retirement class, no baby shower, and, disappointingly, no one arrives with useful equipment. You just wake up one day and realize you are telling the woman who once taught you to cross the street that she might not be safe driving at night. The Driving Dilemma Few conversations test family diplomacy quite like asking a parent whether they should still be driving, and I sometimes wish my MBA program offered a course on it. They will tell you they are excellent drivers. The garbage cans, curbs, garage door and passenger-side mirror may tell a slightly different story. Driving means independence: spontaneous trips to the grocery store, visits with friends, appointments, and the simple freedom to go somewhere without asking anyone. I learned that there is a difference between what makes me nervous or impatient and what is actually unsafe. Getting lost in a familiar neighbourhood, repeatedly hitting things, missing signals, or becoming confused behind the wheel are very different. Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) offers a useful senior driving resource and assessment toolkit that can help older drivers and their families assess driving ability, changing skills, and ways to adapt. I like the idea of introducing objective information into the discussion. It may go over better than announcing that the children have held a meeting and voted Mom or Dad off the highway. Technology: Funny Until It Wasn’t Technology gave my mother and I some of our funniest moments. The cordless phone going to lunch and the cell phone masquerading as the television remote were classics. Often, my first instinct was to grab the device causing the problem and fix it myself. That solved the problem quickly, but it didn’t help her the next time. Writing down a few steps, simplifying them, and repeating them, sometimes many times, worked better. A checklist taped beside the television could save both of us a lot of grief. Confusion about phones, email, texting and social media could leave her vulnerable to fraud, too. Today’s scams are sophisticated enough that none of us should be too smug about spotting them. I tried to establish a simple habit with Mom: if something looks strange, urgent, frightening or too good to be true, stop and check with someone before clicking, paying or sharing information. I wanted Mom to enjoy technology and stay connected, not be afraid of it. The trick was adding a few guardrails without wrapping the entire Internet in yellow caution tape. The Great Grocery Store Standoff I am a bit of a health nut, which made counselling my mother about nutrition particularly ironic, since I come by it honestly. Mom was the original health-food nut. We called her the wheat-germ fanatic. Wheat germ came onto the scene in the 70s, and as far as Mom was concerned, there was no food that couldn’t be improved with a generous helping. There were four of us kids, and we tolerated a lot in the name of good health, but we finally drew the line when the spaghetti sauce became so chewy from wheat germ that we couldn’t eat it. Then there was powdered milk. We didn’t always have a blender, so it didn’t mix particularly well. We called it clumpy milk. Fast-forward a few decades, and there I was, the daughter of the wheat germ fanatic, lecturing my mother on fruits, vegetables, protein and regular meals. She had her own standards too. Anyone caught buttering bread in her kitchen got a quick lesson in technique, right to the crust, she would say, watching closely until you got every corner. Mom understood healthy eating just fine. What had changed was her ability to manage it, and keeping food safe had become harder. Her freezer became so full that she eventually secured the door with bungee cords. Bungee cords have many legitimate uses, but appliance repair isn’t one of them. The door sometimes didn’t close properly, and food would spoil. Mom periodically complained about what she called her “morning flu,” and I began to wonder whether it had less to do with a virus and more to do with whatever archaeological specimen she had defrosted for dinner. The comedy had a serious side too. Health Canada’s food-safety guidance for adults 60 and over explains that older adults may be more vulnerable to serious complications from foodborne illness and offers practical advice on storage, leftovers and safer food choices (Health Canada, 2025). It also notes that you can’t always tell whether food is safe by its look, smell or taste. Mom’s standard was somewhat simpler: “It looks fine.” She also loved giving food away. I would leave her house carrying freezer-burned shrimp, a grey object that may once have been beef, and mystery packages from an unknown decade. Eventually, I told my brothers to stop arguing and accept everything Mom offered. Smile, say thank you, and take it home. What happened between her front door and our dinner plates was our business. I didn’t have to win every argument. Sometimes a workaround did more than another lecture and helped Mom keep some control over her own life. Then There Was Dad My dad presented a different set of challenges. He had a stroke at 66 that left him with no mobility on his left side and very limited speech. His understanding was fine, but getting words out was difficult. However, there were two words he could say particularly well: “beer” and “Susie.” I’m not sure what it says about me that I made the shortlist, but I’ve always taken it as a compliment. Communication could be frustrating for both of us because Dad knew exactly what he wanted to say, even when he couldn’t express it. He liked wearing the same clothes repeatedly, sometimes long after the stains on the front suggested it was time to change. Telling your father that he needs a clean shirt or a bath requires a particular kind of diplomacy that even graduate school does not teach. Helping the man who once looked after you with something as personal as bathing is strange and tender in equal measure. You want to protect his dignity, but you also can’t pretend hygiene doesn’t matter. I found it worked better when I didn’t turn it into a debate. I could make it part of the day, help where he needed it, and move on. It wasn’t always graceful. Sometimes he was annoyed. Sometimes I was. We figured it out, and his toenails were trimmed. Dad also developed a dessert philosophy I have never been able to disprove. He insisted on eating dessert first. When I suggested he might want to eat his dinner before dessert, his reasoning was simple: “Well, I can’t be sure I’ll make it to dessert, so I’m going to eat it first.” Fair enough, Dad. Have the pie. When the Funny Stuff Stops Being Funny This is the uncomfortable part of parenting your parents. One forgotten lunch may mean nothing. Regularly forgetting to eat is different. One confused encounter with a television remote is hilarious. Increasing confusion across several areas of daily life deserves attention. I found it more useful to look for patterns than to panic over every incident. With Mom, we tried using checklists on the fridge and Meals on Wheels. Then I would arrive to find six or seven meals sitting uneaten in the refrigerator, starting to spoil. Getting help didn’t mean I could stop paying attention. We had solved one problem, but not necessarily the whole problem. It helps to know you are not the only family trying to figure this out. It is easy to assume that if Mom or Dad won’t listen to our brilliant advice, we must be doing something wrong. Our parents are still adults. They don’t suddenly become compliant just because they reach a certain age. I had to learn when to push, when to seek help, when to quietly remove the questionable shrimp, and, perhaps hardest of all, when to keep my mouth shut. I Would Take It All Back Both of my parents are gone now, and time has reshaped how I remember those years. There were days when I was exasperated and frustrated, sometimes to tears. I worried. We argued. I wondered why they wouldn’t listen and whether I was helping or simply making everyone miserable. Watching the people you love lose pieces of their independence is hard, and trying to help without taking over can be even harder. Now I would give almost anything to have some of those moments back. I’d happily explain the television remote again. I’d take another package of freezer-burned shrimp without complaint. I’d negotiate another bath with Dad, let him wear the questionable shirt for one more day, and watch him eat his dessert first. If you are in the middle of parenting your own parents, I don’t have a perfect formula for you. Pay attention when something feels different, protect their safety without forgetting their dignity, and pick the battles that really matter enough to let the rest go. And laugh with them whenever you can, because some of this really is funny, even when it is also difficult and sad. At the time, I often thought I was dealing with problems that needed fixing. Looking back, I can see something else, too. Those frustrating, ridiculous, worrying little moments were also time spent with my mom and dad. I didn’t know how much I would miss them until there were no more remotes to explain, desserts to debate, or mystery packages to remove from the freezer. I’d take the whole messy job back in a heartbeat. Even the clumpy milk. Warmly,  Sue This is Part 1. I have a Part 2 that covers what nobody wants to talk about at dinner: who gets power of attorney, how you divide the work with siblings without a family blow-up, whether Mom or Dad should stay in their own home, and what all of this does to the person doing the parenting. I promise there is less shrimp in that one. My Book is Available for Pre-Order I hope you will consider pre-ordering a copy of Your Retirement Reset for you, a friend or loved one. It's available September 29, 2026 published by ECW Press - You can now order at Indigo or Amazon. And if you love supporting Canadian booksellers, please also check with your local independent bookstore. Most can easily order it for you.

Epidemiologist Available to Discuss Measles, Vaccination and Infectious Disease Outbreaks

As measles cases continue to rise in the United States, University of Delaware epidemiologist Jennifer Horney is available to discuss measles outbreaks, vaccination, vaccine hesitancy and the challenges of preventing the spread of highly contagious infectious diseases. The deaths of two unvaccinated Pennsylvania residents from measles — the first measles deaths in the state in 35 years — underscore the continuing public health risks posed by the disease. Horney, a former member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Board of Scientific Counselors, is an experienced epidemiologist who studies infectious disease outbreaks and public health preparedness. Horney can discuss: • Measles outbreaks and transmission: Why measles is among the most contagious infectious diseases and how outbreaks spread. • Vaccination: The effectiveness of the MMR vaccine and the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates. • Vaccine hesitancy and misinformation: What influences vaccination decisions and how public health messaging affects perceptions of vaccine and infectious disease risks. • Measles prevention and treatment: Why outbreaks can reemerge when vaccination coverage falls, and the role and limitations of vitamin A and other treatments. • Outbreak response and preparedness: How public health officials investigate and respond to measles and other infectious disease outbreaks, and what can be learned from previous outbreaks. To reach Horney directly and arrange an interview, visit her profile and click on the “contact” button. Interested reporters can also email MediaRelations@udel.edu.

King Tide Season Starts This Week. What They Reveal About Florida's Flooding Future

South Florida's king tide season begins this week, giving residents and communities a predictable chance to see how high tides interact with streets, stormwater systems and other infrastructure. King tides, also known as high-tide flooding, are amplified by sea levels rising globally combined with local conditions such as wind and changing coastlines. High-tide flooding already occurs multiple times a year in South Florida and is predicted to increase in frequency and severity as seas continue to rise. The South Florida Water Management District expects six periods of elevated tides in 2026: Aug. 11–14, Sept. 8–15, Sept. 24–Oct. 15, Oct. 22–Nov. 12, Nov. 22–29 and Dec. 22–27. The highest predicted flooding days of the year could occur near the Oct. 27 full moon, although the amount of flooding will depend on conditions at the time, including rainfall, wind and local drainage. “King tides are a predictable natural event, but they also provide a preview of the challenges Florida’s coastal communities may face during extreme weather events as seas continue to rise,” said Serena Hoermann, Ph.D., director of Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions and assistant research professor in the School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability. “They give communities an opportunity to plan for resilient infrastructure as these conditions become more frequent.” Hoermann said there are four things Floridians should be aware of during king tides: 1. Where water collects King tides can reveal flood vulnerabilities that may not be obvious under normal conditions. Residents can pay attention to where water collects along roads, near storm drains, in yards and in low-lying areas, as well as how long it remains, and how it affects everyday activities such as commuting, going to school and running errands. Because king tide flooding involves repetitive contact with saltwater, its corrosive effects can damage roads, vehicles, landscaping and other property and infrastructure. Those observations can help identify vulnerabilities and places where flooding could become more disruptive during heavier rainfall or tropical weather. 2. What happens when high tides meet heavy rain An elevated tide can become more consequential when it coincides with heavy rainfall — more than 3 inches in a day — which can occur during tropical storms, hurricanes or even strong daily showers typical during the summer months. When water levels are already high, stormwater systems may have more difficulty moving additional water away from streets and neighborhoods, potentially leaving flooded areas underwater longer. The same is true when winds push water toward the coast. Local wind conditions can make the difference between relatively minor water accumulation and more significant flooding. 3. How infrastructure responds King tides highlight the importance of decisions made long before flooding occurs. Hoermann said communities should account for future flood risk when deciding where to build housing and roads, how to design stormwater systems and how to protect wetlands and other natural buffers. Building codes can also help ensure new development is designed with future conditions in mind. That kind of long-term planning can be difficult to visualize, particularly when future conditions may look very different from what residents see today. 4. The cost of flooding A single flooding event may cost less than a typical insurance deductible, but repeated events add up. Hoermann said the cumulative costs can include lost business for shops, reduced mobility for seniors, delays for first responders and health risks from standing water. Planning for higher water now, she said, is generally less costly than retrofitting neighborhoods or addressing damage after chronic flooding sets in. In the meantime, Hoermann said residents can help by maintaining green space that gives water somewhere to drain, checking city and county websites for information on local flooding, and supporting development and building codes that account for future flood risk. Dr. Serena Hoermann and FAU's Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions are tracking how king tides signal Florida's flooding future, research that's shaping smarter, more resilient infrastructure planning. If you're a member of the media covering this story, connect with her by clicking her icon below.

Rethinking how data meets the atom

Quantum computing is often framed as a hardware race with attention fixed on machines that promise amazing speed. But a foundational mathematical problem remains unresolved. No complete framework yet exists for converting massive amounts of data generated by fields such as healthcare, disease surveillance, financial transactions and climate monitoring into units a quantum machine can process. “What exactly we are proposing is this: data is continuous,” said Arni S.R. Srinivasa Rao, PhD, professor and director of the Laboratory for Theory and Mathematical Modeling, Division of Infectious Diseases, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. “That means the generation of the data is continuously happening. And how to slice it down into pieces, that is what it is about. The slicing down of the data into smaller pieces, not too small pieces, but smaller enough for the computers to handle them in a meaningful way.” Rao and Steven G. Krantz, a professor of mathematics at Washington University in St. Louis, published their findings on “The Role of Quantization in Quantum Computing” in the July/August 2026 issue of SIAM News, published by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. “Quantization is a mathematical method, nothing to do with quantum computing,” Rao said. “But these two we are trying to mix together.” The problem with just chopping it up Classical computers store information as bits, switches that are either off or on, zero or one. Quantum computers use qubits, which can hold combinations of both states simultaneously, which is why they can theoretically process vastly more information at once. But qubits operate at the atomic level. Getting that data into a quantum machine requires breaking it down into atomic-scale pieces first. The math for doing that well, Rao and Krantz argue, does not yet exist in any complete form. The hard part is “slicing” it right. “Not slicing in a random, arbitrary way,” Rao said. “If you slice it in a way which is arbitrary, then you might miss, you might necessarily slice it where no information is required. Information is broken into pieces rather than combining the information. That’s what the mathematics is playing a role here.” Their research proposes using an ensemble of quantization techniques rather than a single method, with different mathematical tools matched to the different layers inside a dataset. A disease surveillance file might bundle together demographic data, income levels, infection status and housing type, for example. Each layer has its own structure. The partitioning, they argue, should flex to fit the problem rather than forcing every dataset through the same process. Mixing two worlds that don’t quite line up The second major contribution is a formally defined measure the authors call “atomic uncertainty.” It quantifies the mismatch between quantized data and the atomic structure that data is supposed to travel through inside a quantum processor. The mismatch exists because atomic models, the diagrams of electrons and nuclei that physics students study, are approximations. The actual behavior of electrons inside an atom follows probability distributions. There is inherent randomness in there that scientists have not resolved. Planets are called spheres, and textbooks draw them as smooth perfect balls, Rao explained, but their surfaces are cratered and irregular. The sphere is a useful model, not an accurate description. Atomic structure works the same way. When quantized data does not fit cleanly into that imperfectly understood atomic structure, the gap becomes computational error. At small scale, manageable. At the scale of real-world data inputs, those errors can compound into results that are simply wrong. “We are not trying to fix the error. We are trying to see how big the error is,” Rao said. This study illustrates the concept with a disease-modeling example, building a dataset that layers population age, income bracket, infection status and housing type. When the data is quantized and compared against a model atomic structure, the spaces do not fully align. That leftover mismatch is the atomic uncertainty. In a real quantum system processing actual disease data, it does not disappear but shows up as wrong answers about how a disease spreads. The next step, Rao said, requires industry partners to take the framework and build hardware around it. “Designing a computer is different from the actual making a computer,” Rao said. “We designed the method of slicing the larger, huge continuous data into smaller digestible computer bits, that’s called qubits. The industrialists have to build it. Like designing a mobile phone is different from actually making a mobile phone.”

Expert Opinion: DIY Peptide Injections Carry Risks Most People Never See Coming

Peptides are having a moment. People injecting them at home are chasing everything from weight loss and muscle recovery to sharper thinking and better sex drive. But according to UConn pharmacist and clinical pharmacologist C. Michael White, the bigger danger isn't just what's in the vial. It's what happens when untrained people try to draw up and inject these products themselves. White has been researching the gray markets for peptides, where companies sidestep FDA oversight by selling products labeled "for research purposes only." Because that labeling is a legal workaround, the companies can't legally tell buyers how to actually use what they're selling. "This means consumers must purchase any supplies they need and figure out the proper technique on their own," White writes. So he decided to test just how well people manage on their own. In a new study published in Public Health Reports, White and his colleagues recruited 20 people, 10 college students and 10 adults in their 60s, and asked each to reconstitute a semaglutide peptide product, draw it into a syringe, and inject a mannequin. They were allowed to research the process online or with AI beforehand. The results were rough. On average, both age groups got fewer than half the steps right. Some picked expired or cloudy dissolving liquid. Many miscalculated doses, couldn't clear air bubbles from the syringe, or injected into muscle instead of fat. Roughly half didn't know how to safely engage the needle's safety mechanism or dispose of it afterward. "These errors were serious and could increase the risk of infection, bleeding, over- or under-dosing, and needle sticks," White notes. What stood out most: Confidence didn't track with competence. After doing their homework, most participants in both groups felt "somewhat confident" they could do the injection correctly. Younger participants stayed confident even after fumbling through the process. Older adults, by contrast, adjusted their confidence downward once they saw how it actually went, which tracks with prior research showing older adults tend to be more accurate judges of their own ability on complex tasks. White's piece also digs into a potential fix on the table: In late July 2026, an FDA advisory panel recommended adding six widely used peptides, including BPC-157, TB-500, and Semax, to the list of substances compounding pharmacies can legally prepare. The panel's argument is that compounded versions would be safer than gray-market ones, since compounding pharmacies follow rules on sourcing and sterile production that the gray market doesn't. White isn't fully sold. Even if the FDA adopts the recommendation, he points out it would only apply to a handful of products, and it wouldn't change the fact that none of them have actually been tested for safety or effectiveness as finished drugs. The bulk of the gray-market risk stays exactly where it is. For more on the peptide boom and what the FDA is weighing, NBC News broke down the basics here: What are peptides and why is the FDA considering easing limits? Read the full article: Dr. White is Head and Distinguished Professor of the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Connecticut, and co-director of the university's Health Outcomes, Policy, and Evidence Synthesis (HOPES) research group. His research focuses on drug, dietary supplement, and illicit drug safety, quality, and cost, with a specific throughline into adverse events tied to drugs, devices, herbal products, and substances of abuse. View complete profile He's a recurring voice on drug and supplement safety specifically, most recently quoted in Health magazine's "4 Major Risks of Unregulated Peptides" (Aug. 18, 2026) and on KCBS Los Angeles radio discussing GLP-1 drugs and youth mental health (Aug. 10, 2026). Dr. White is available for interviews on peptide safety, the gray-market supplement industry, GLP-1 and weight-loss drug trends, and drug/dietary supplement safety more broadly. Media can reach out by clicking this profile icon below.

Expert Insight: From Checkboxes to Outcomes: The Truth About Accreditation in Behavioral Health

Healthcare organizations are under unprecedented pressure to improve access, demonstrate quality, and deliver better patient outcomes, particularly in behavioral health, where demand continues to outpace available resources. Providers face growing demand, workforce shortages, and increasing expectations of the quality of care. Accreditation is more than a checklist for regulatory compliance. It is a strategic framework for strengthening organizational performance, improving patient safety, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. In a recent episode of Fast Lane Care, host Gerald Maccioli, MD, MBA, FCCM, FASA, Chief Medical Officer at Adentris, sat down with Michael Johnson, MA, CAP, Senior Managing Director of Behavioral Health at CARF International, to discuss how leading behavioral health organizations are using accreditation to drive measurable outcomes, operational excellence, and long-term organizational success. Their conversation explores the evolving mindset about accreditation and how CARF accreditation is reshaping healthcare to improve lives. Michael W. Johnson, MA, CAP, is CARF's Senior Managing Director of Behavioral Health. He is a certified addictions professional and has more than 30 years of experience as a clinician, manager, and executive working in mental health, substance abuse, and intellectual disabilities. View his profile Want to learn more about CARF accreditation and its impact on behavioral healthcare? Watch the recent Fast Lane Care podcast featuring Dr. Gerald Maccioli and Michael Johnson on LinkedIn for insights into the future of quality improvement, patient safety, and operational excellence in behavioral health.

AU Hosts Congressional Hearing on 'Building an AI-Ready America'

The U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce held its first artificial intelligence field hearing of the year, titled "Building an AI-Ready America: How AI Is Creating Opportunities Across America's Workforce," at the Georgia Cyber Center at Augusta University on July 24. U.S. Rep. Rick W. Allen, who represents Georgia's 12th District and chairs the committee's Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, chaired the hearing. He was joined by U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina and U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath of Georgia. Jeffery Talbert, PhD, chair of Augusta University's Department of Artificial Intelligence and Health at the Medical College of Georgia and a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar, served as one of four witnesses at the hearing. "Today, we examine how artificial intelligence, AI, is creating economic opportunities for American workers, job creators and our communities," Allen told the committee. "There's no better place to hold this hearing than right here in Augusta." Allen said the combination of the Georgia Cyber Center and Fort Gordon provides the expertise needed to discuss AI. "Fort Gordon is just a short 30-minute drive from where we currently sit," he said. "It hosts the Army Cyber Center of Excellence and is home to Army Cyber School, which trains, educates and develops the Army's Cyberspace and Electronic Warfare workforce. Every year, thousands of people leave Fort Gordon looking for work." He added that the Georgia Cyber Center "was created to meet this growing demand and drive collaboration between academia, government and industry stakeholders to equip a superior cybersecurity workforce with the skills they need." Augusta University President Russell T. Keen told the committee it was an honor for AU's Georgia Cyber Center to host the hearing. "Congressman Allen has long recognized the important role that education, innovation and workforce development play in strengthening our state and our nation," Keen said. He added that AI "will continue to change how we live, how we learn, how we work and how we solve problems," and that Augusta University "intends to lead in that transformation in ways that strengthen our workforce, advance discovery, improve lives, change lives and save lives." Talbert, who has more than 30 years of experience in biomedical informatics, has published approximately 260 times and has led more than 100 funded research projects totaling more than $130 million. He told the committee that in health care, AI is demonstrating its greatest value through augmentation, helping professionals "work more effectively, reducing administrative burdens, improving patient outcomes and expanding workforce capacity." He pointed to ambient documentation technology, which converts clinical conversations into draft notes clinicians review and approve, as one of the industry's most successful AI applications. "Multiple studies show these tools reduce documentation burden, after-hours work and burnout," Talbert said. "One multisystem implementation found clinician burnout fell from approximately 52 percent to 39 percent." He also cited studies showing AI-assisted breast cancer screening detecting approximately 29 percent higher cancer rates, "helping more patients benefit from earlier diagnosis and treatment." America's opportunity, Talbert said, "is not simply to adopt AI, but to lead its responsible development, education and implementation." He pointed to Augusta University's Department of AI and Health, the first of its kind in Georgia, as an example of that approach. Allen closed the hearing by cautioning against a one-size-fits-all approach to AI policy. "The needs of a family farm are not the same as those of a hospital, a manufacturing plant or a small business," he said. "Congress must pursue flexible policies that allow businesses to adopt AI in ways that best suit their industry and workforce." JagWire has the full recap of the hearing and the Augusta Chronicle, Innovation & Entrepreneurs News and Traders Union also covered the field hearing. Augusta University experts in artificial intelligence, healthcare innovation and workforce development are available for interviews. If you're covering similar stories, reach out to schedule time.