HARRISBURG, PA — Professor Teray Johnson, Ph.D., MS, MBA, a faculty member and alumna of Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU), has co-authored a new peer-reviewed paper exploring the foundational language healthcare professionals need to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine. The paper, “Artificial Intelligence in Medicine: A Definition of Terms,” was published in the Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives (Vol. 16, Iss. 2, 2026) and co-authored with Dr. Melvin Blanchard, chair of the Department of Medicine at Greater Baltimore Medical Center in Towson, MD.
As AI tools become increasingly embedded in clinical, operational, and administrative healthcare settings, Johnson and Blanchard argue that healthcare professionals and leaders must develop a shared vocabulary to engage with these technologies responsibly. The paper defines essential AI concepts – including machine learning, generative and agentic AI, large language models, artificial neural networks, and prompt engineering – and pairs each with concrete clinical examples to illustrate real-world relevance.
Dr. Johnson, who also serves as Director for Data Automation and Transformation at Lifepoint Health, brought a distinctive perspective to the research by bridging the gap between healthcare operations and emerging technology. Her dual expertise positions her to understand not only how AI tools function, but also how they are adopted and overseen within complex healthcare organizations.
The paper emphasizes that AI literacy is critical to ensuring these technologies are used ethically, transparently, and in service of improving patient outcomes: a message that aligns closely with Harrisburg University’s mission as a STEM-focused institution preparing professionals to lead in technology-driven fields.
“I am thrilled to see this work published, and I hope it serves as a useful starting point for healthcare leaders who want to engage with AI meaningfully rather than be overwhelmed by it,” said Dr. Johnson. “If we can establish a common language around these technologies, we can put ourselves in a much stronger position to implement them in ways that genuinely improve patient care. That’s what this is ultimately about.”
The full paper is available online at the Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives.
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