Operation AI: Russia Launches National Program to Train Medical Students in Artificial Intelligence
Sechenov University is spearheading a national effort to prepare medical students for the era of data-driven healthcare with a new AI and data analytics program.
A Nationwide Initiative
Sechenov University has launched an ambitious new program to train future physicians in artificial intelligence and data analysis. Open to students at medical universities across Russia, the course marks a significant step toward embedding digital skills in clinical training.
The curriculum consists of five modules: AI fundamentals, project and resource management, data analytics, machine learning, and deep learning with neural networks. Students will learn to translate clinical problems into IT requirements, use low-code/no-code tools, and interact with large language models — skills increasingly essential in modern medicine.
“We emphasize project-based learning and
collaborative team work,” said Igor Shaderkin, Head of the Digital Department
at Sechenov University. “These teams can be initiated by either faculty or
students themselves.”
Graduates will be equipped to build clinical decision-support systems, analyze medical images, and develop telemedicine platforms — tools poised to transform how care is delivered.
Data Fluency for Clinical Precision
The nine-month, 256-hour course is delivered fully online and is free of charge under the Priority 2030 national education initiative. By targeting students from all regions, it ensures equal access to emerging digital competencies.
This program lays a foundation for a new kind of medical professional — one fluent in both healthcare and data science. With this dual fluency, physicians will be able to enhance diagnostic accuracy, accelerate treatment decisions, and deliver more personalized care.
If successful within Russia, the program may evolve into an international educational platform, with plans already being considered for an English-language version in collaboration with foreign institutions.
From Clinics Without Walls to Borderless Projects
Sechenov University is embracing digital transformation on a broad scale. Beyond training physicians, it now graduates specialists in bioengineering, nanotechnology, and health-related digital technologies.
In its biomedical science park, researchers are building artificial organs, 3D-printing tissues, and developing AI diagnostic tools. During the department’s demo day, students presented AI- and VR-based prototypes, including a VR surgery simulator, a 3D heart visualization system, and a virtual rehab environment for orthopedic patients.
The university also made headlines with a live-streamed telemedicine consultation and unveiled a VR therapy program for psychosomatic and pulmonary conditions.
One of Sechenov’s AI models even won an international competition, while applications opened for its Digital Campus and “School 21” programs focused on programming and medical data analysis.
Driving Digital Transformation
The launch of this course continues Sechenov’s broader digital reform efforts. In the next one to two years, the program could expand beyond national borders.
Classes will begin this fall. Top-performing students will be invited to join the university’s flagship innovation initiative, “Clinic Without Walls,” where they will work on next-generation health technologies with real-world impact.
