On July 3rd, 2025, the academic and medical communities came together in Ghent for HINT.Connect 2025—an event filled with reflection, innovation, and interdisciplinary dialogue. Hosted by HINT.GENT, the event united researchers, educators, clinicians, and ethicists to explore one of the most pressing questions in modern healthcare: How can we responsibly integrate AI into medical practice?
Year in Review: Building a Strong AI Ecosystem
The event opened with inspiring words from Prof. Barbara Vanderstraeten (co-chair of HINT.GENT), on behalf of Prof. Hans Van Vlierberghe (Research Director Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences UGent) and Prof. Lennart Martens (co-chair of HINT.GENT) introducing the first HINT.Connect.
Joke Verbeke, coordinator of HINT.GENT, presented the network’s milestones and ambitions. Since its official launch in December 2024, HINT.GENT has evolved into a dynamic, interdisciplinary community. Over 300 participants attended the inaugural event, and momentum has only grown.
HINT.GENT is built around three core pillars:
1. Education
Goal: Equip healthcare professionals with essential digital and AI literacy.
Focus: Critical thinking, responsible AI use, and curriculum development.
Next: Finalize competencies, train educators, and distribute teaching materials.
2. Ethics, Law & Economics
Goal: Translate abstract AI policies into practical guidance.
Focus: EU AI Act, legal liability, and ethical considerations.
Outputs: Infographics, whitepapers, and public-facing resources.
3. Research & Innovation
Goal: Support cross-institutional AI-health research.
Focus: Data infrastructure, proposal support, community-building.
Activities: Hackathons, mock interviews, and intro sessions at UZ Gent.
2025 Highlights
- Launched the HINT.GENT website, newsletter (+300 subscribers), and LinkedIn community (+300 member).
- Hosted successful HINT.Pulse and Deep Dive sessions.
- Participated in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Research Day.
- Represented UGent at the World Expo Osaka, spotlighting Flemish innovation and visited Osaka University regarding the AI Hospital project and the AIDE project.
Looking Ahead
Exciting projects on the horizon include:
- New AI hub 'The BrAIn' at Campus in Zwijnaarde: A new collaborative hub for AI and health research.
- Upcoming events like the HINT.Innovation Sprint (Oct 23–24) and HINT.Innovator Summit (Dec 5).
- New formats: Journal Clubs, Research Bytes, and more Deep Dives.
Keynote: The Metamorphosis of Medicine
In her captivating keynote, Prof. Sigrid Sterckx explored the evolution of diagnosis and care, from early clinical observation to modern AI systems. Titled “From Testimony, to Touch, to Technology, and Back?”, her talk challenged the audience to rethink the patient-doctor relationship in an age of automation.
Takeaways included:
- The diminishing role of patient narrative in diagnostics.
- How automation can lead to burnout and detachment.
- The potential of generative AI to ease administrative burdens and revive empathetic care.
Interactive AI Quiz
Led by Pieter Callebert, the AI quiz brought learning and laughter through six rounds that covered:
- Technical concepts (e.g., CNNs)
- Ethical dilemmas and explainability
- Regulation and real-world applications
- Fun pop culture questions (AI in music and movies)
Closing the Loop with Connection
The day ended with a networking reception, reinforcing what HINT.Connect is all about: bringing people together to shape the future of healthcare through curiosity, responsibility, and collaboration.