Faculty development and institutional readiness for incorporating AI in health professions education- A narrative review

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is presently reshaping higher education in a rapid way, due to the high engagement of students with AI. The study's aim was to explore strategies driving transformation in higher education at large and particularly dental education. This article is a narrative review adopting a structured approach for literature search, study selection, and data extraction. A comprehensive search of electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect for studies published between 2015 and 2025 was conducted. The review is discussed under the themes of transformative education, institutional readiness, including resistance to change, ethical considerations and global perspectives in health professions, and dental education. Further, transformative education explores faculty development, including micro-credentials and lifelong learning, a safe learning environment, infrastructure, and assessment. AI is well acknowledged in both health profession education and clinical practice. While GenAI has the potential to improve creativity, feedback, and collaborative learning, the issues of plagiarism, assessment validity, and authorship transparency are also discussed. AI encounters limitations in gauging psychomotor dexterity and clinical reasoning. Ethical concerns about algorithmic prejudice, data privacy, monitoring, and the deterioration of human-centered learning are also included. To conclude, transformative strategies for institutional readiness to be considered under the domains of governance and policy, curriculum integration and faculty training, academic integrity and assessment reforms, and leadership and change management to ensure proper integration of AI and to prepare competent, adaptable, and socially responsible health professionals. Maintenance of human oversight at the center of higher education is essential, and universities should treat AI as a catalyst for modernization rather than a threat.