T-CAIREM delivers 5-day Healthcare of the Future Bootcamp to PEI students

In August, T-CAIREM hosted its Healthcare of the Future Bootcamp: Introducing AI to Tomorrow’s Doctors, Nurses, and Coders for high-school students across Prince Edward Island and beyond. With generous support from the Rotary Club of Charlottetown and the Literacy Foundation Inc., 43 students participated in this transformative week-long program.

The bootcamp was co-led by Gemma Postill and Anglin Dent, both MD/PhD candidates at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine. Students participated in expert-led seminars, collaborative group projects, and final presentations alongside esteemed guests. Students left with hands-on coding experience, a deeper understanding of artificial intelligence in healthcare, and new connections with like-minded peers from neighbouring schools. The program also offered students a glimpse into university life and the career pathways emerging at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and innovation.

Throughout the week, participants established a solid foundation in technical literacy, learning the core concepts of AI and machine learning. Just as importantly, they developed critical thinking skills—learning how to ask the right questions and consider the broader ethical and social implications of AI in healthcare.

“The Healthcare of the Future Summer Program gave students more than technical skills—it gave them an understanding of how healthcare in rural environments like PEI can evolve with AI,” said co-lead Postill. “Their creativity and thoughtfulness left me optimistic about the future of AI in rural healthcare ecosystems.”

By the end of the program, students’ curiosity about AI had grown into genuine confidence in its potential to solve real-world challenges. One participant reflected that while they had always thought of AI as futuristic and abstract, the bootcamp revealed how much AI is already embedded in healthcare, including PEI.

Postill continued, “This program demystifies AI. Instead of seeing it as a magic black box, students now see it as something they can understand, shape, and even challenge. That perspective is powerful in shaping the next generation of healthcare leaders.”

The students were divided into teams and tasked with designing AI-driven solutions for pressing healthcare issues. The week concluded with a Pitch Session from the teams, where students presented their week-long research and presentations. Each group brought a unique approach: some developed tools for prehospital triage for injuries, while some developed personalized care management tools. Across all projects, students demonstrated impressive creativity, empathy, and collaboration.

“Delivering this program for high-school students was such a rewarding experience,” added Dent. “Some students came in excited about healthcare, while others were passionate about engineering and computer science. By the end of the week, they were combining their strengths and imagining real-world solutions to improve the healthcare system. Watching that transformation was inspiring and fun.”

Media Highlights 

June 18, 2025: "Students learn about AI in health care". Gemma Postill discusses the upcoming  "Healthcare of the Future" summer program with the University of Prince Edward Island. (Island Morning with Mitch Cormier)

June 18, 2025: "AI in Healthcare Program". Gemma Postill is featured for the "Healthcare of the Future" summer program, which she developed and implemented with the University of Prince Edward Island. (CBC TV Compass)

June 10, 2025: "P.E.l. students offered boot camp in Al". Gemma Postill is featured for this project, which she developed and implemented. (Charlottetown Guardian)