Expert Discusses Pharmacogenomics to Revolutionize Drug Therapy

In an evolving landscape of health care technology, artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how patients interact with medical professionals, and pharmacists are at the forefront of this digital transformation. Don Roosan, PharmD, PhD, associate professor in data sciences at Merrimack College, discussed the delicate balance between cutting-edge AI technology and the irreplaceable human touch in patient care.

Roosan delves deep into the ethical considerations of AI-powered patient communication, exploring how advanced language models can revolutionize pharmacy services while maintaining the core principles of patient safety and trust. At the heart of this innovation is Ada, a sophisticated large language model trained exclusively on pharmacy and clinical data, which has demonstrated near-perfect accuracy in handling complex patient cases.

But technology is not about replacement—it's about enhancement. Roosan emphasizes that AI should complement, not compete with, human health care providers. This approach addresses critical concerns such as patient privacy, emotional understanding, and the need for transparent communication. Pharmacogenomics emerges as a particularly exciting frontier, where AI can act as an expert assistant capable of analyzing genetic data with unprecedented speed and precision. By instantly matching patient genetic variants to known drug interactions, AI has the potential to personalize medication recommendations and prevent adverse reactions.

Patients can receive instant, accurate information at midnight through an AI chatbot while still maintaining a deeply personal relationship with their pharmacist. As health care continues to navigate the complex terrain of technological innovation, this approach offers a promising blueprint—one that prioritizes patient care, leverages cutting-edge technology, and keeps human compassion at the center of medical practice.

"With AI, it can update the new information the moment it hits the scientific community," Roosan said. "That's a huge win for both the pharmacies and the patients because we can actually save more lives at the end of the day. We have to remember the pharmacy still plays a critical role."

READ MORE: American Pharmacists Month Resource Center

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