On 13 January 2026, a particularly topical and practice-oriented guest lecture took place as part of the course Digitalisation in Healthcare & eHealth within the bachelor’s program Social, Health & Public Management. DI Dr Stefan Richter, MBA, a medical informatics specialist, certified AI manager and AI Officer of Tirol Kliniken GmbH, was invited to speak on the topic “Artificial Intelligence in Medicine: Applications, Limitations and Perspectives.”
In his lecture, Stefan Richter provided a well-founded yet accessible overview of the use of artificial intelligence in the healthcare sector. Drawing on concrete examples from practice, he demonstrated how AI is already being applied in areas such as diagnostics, medical documentation, nursing support and administration—contributing, for example, to the relief of healthcare professionals and the improvement of care quality. At the same time, he highlighted existing limitations, risks and ethical challenges, particularly with regard to bias, data security, liability issues and the responsible use of generative AI.
Another key focus was placed on regulatory frameworks, especially the EU AI Act, and on the question of how healthcare organizations can implement AI in a strategic, legally compliant and responsible manner. It became clear that AI is not an end in itself, but a tool whose value depends largely on competent governance, clear rules and well-trained users. It was also emphasized that artificial intelligence imitates human intelligence but has not yet reached it, instead functioning as a supportive technology.
The lecture attracted considerable interest among students of the department, as well as students from other departments and external guests, who actively participated in the subsequent discussion and raised numerous questions. The lively exchange clearly demonstrated how relevant and forward-looking the topic of artificial intelligence is for future professionals and leaders in Social, Health & Public Management.
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Stefan Richter explains AI applications for recording patient-doctor conversations ©MCI/Aaron Heimerl
Students of the bachelor’s degree program Social, Health & Public Management attending the guest lecture ©MCI/Aaron Heimerl
Head of Department Siegfried Walch moderated the guest lecture ©MCI/Aaron Heimerl
Social, Health & Public Management | Bachelor
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