WellLink and Northern Ohio HIMSS AI Center of Excellence Funded to Pilot AI Health Literacy Training Program to Advance Digital Equity
WellLink and the Northern Ohio HIMSS AI Center of Excellence announce they have been awarded funding to develop and launch an innovative AI Health Literacy Training Program aimed at building understanding, trust, and readiness for the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare.
Supported through a digital equity grant from the Cleveland Foundation, the program will provide community-based education to help individuals confidently engage with AI and emphasize health literacy, equity, and human-centered adoption. As healthcare systems increasingly integrate AI-driven tools, disparities in digital access and understanding risk leaving vulnerable populations behind.
“Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming healthcare, but its benefits can only be realized if patients and communities understand how to use it,” said WellLink President & CEO Brian Lane. “We are grateful to the Cleveland Foundation for supporting this vision and are pleased to work with our partners at Northern Ohio HIMSS to ensure innovation is inclusive by empowering individuals with the knowledge they need to navigate an increasingly digital healthcare environment.”
Program Overview
The AI Health Literacy Training Program will:
- Deliver four in-person cohort-based training sessions and one virtual session over the next year.
- Serve approximately 300 community members, with additional reach through digital resources and trained community navigators.
- Focus on underserved populations, including seniors, low-income households, and individuals facing barriers to digital access.
- Utilize a standardized, reusable curriculum designed for long-term sustainability and scalability.
Participants will learn how AI is used in healthcare, how it may impact care decisions, and how to safely and effectively engage with digital health tools.
Community-Centered Approach
The program will prioritize outreach in communities disproportionately affected by the digital divide and will be delivered in partnership with trusted local organizations. A “train-the-trainer” model will also equip digital navigators with the skills needed to extend learning into the community.
Instruction will be led by nationally recognized experts in AI-enabled health professions education and health literacy, including Nehal Khamis, MD, PhD, of Johns Hopkins University, and Karen Komondor, RN, BSN.
Measuring Impact
An independent evaluation, conducted in collaboration with Case Western Reserve University, will assess participant outcomes, including increases in knowledge, confidence, and ability to engage with AI-enabled healthcare tools. Findings will inform future expansion and best practices for AI health literacy nationwide.
Advancing Digital Equity
This initiative reflects WellLink’s broader mission to serve as a convener, innovator, and advocate for community health and well-being. By demystifying AI and making it accessible, the program aims to ensure technological advancement becomes a tool for greater health equity rather than widening disparities.
“Digital equity is essential to health equity,” said John Paganini, co-chair of the Northern Ohio HIMSS AI Center of Excellence, which he leads alongside Jennifer Owens. “We are preparing the community by building the understanding and confidence to actively participate in AI-enabled healthcare systems.”
About WellLink
Founded in 1914 as the nation’s first regional hospital association, WellLink is a national network that connects, supports and strengthens partners across the healthcare continuum. Through an integrated model that brings together membership, purchasing and innovation, WellLink helps members succeed in a rapidly evolving landscape. With the addition of The Healthcare Council, WellLink Health Alliance represents more than 800 facilities nationally, with WellLink Group Purchasing extending that reach to more than 32,500 member locations. Through its divisions, WellLink Health Alliance, WellLink Group Purchasing and WellLink Innovations, WellLink advances policy leadership, strengthens purchasing power and curates innovative solutions that help organizations operate smarter, grow stronger and better serve their communities. Learn more at www.welllinkcommunity.com.
About the Northern Ohio HIMSS AI Center of Excellence
The Northern Ohio HIMSS AI Center of Excellence brings together healthcare leaders and technology experts to advance the responsible and effective use of artificial intelligence in healthcare through education, collaboration, and innovation - improving patient outcomes, increasing operational efficiency, and ensuring safe, transparent adoption.
