As a member of a National Academies Roundtable on Genomics and Precision Health, School of Nursing dean tackles critical issues surrounding AI and health care.

Angela Starkweather (PhD, ACNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN), dean and professor at Rutgers School of Nursing, is helping drive the national conversation on how genomics and artificial intelligence will redefine health care—bringing a vital nursing lens to discussions shaping the field.

Starkweather serves as an ex-officio member of the Roundtable on Genomics and Precision Health of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. She was appointed to the Roundtable in 2023 as the representative of the American Academy of Nursing, one of the Roundtable’s organizational sponsors.

The Roundtable brings together leaders across sectors—including government, academia, industry, health systems, and patient advocacy—to address how advances in genomics can be applied in clinical care. Members identify scientific and policy priorities and explore opportunities to support innovation and implementation of genomic applications in health care.

What genomics and precision medicine mean

Genomics is the study of a person’s genes—the instructions in our bodies that influence how we grow, develop, and respond to disease. Precision medicine uses genetic information, along with lifestyle and environmental factors, to tailor care to an individual.

For example, genomic information can help identify which medications are most likely to be effective—or cause side effects—for a particular person. It can also support earlier diagnosis and more targeted approaches to prevention and treatment.

New publication highlights national dialogue

In March 2026, the Roundtable published proceedings from its public workshop, Exploring Applications of AI in Genomics and Precision Health.

Starkweather served on the workshop planning committee and moderated a session on the “Future State of Genomics AI Applications,” which examined potential uses of AI in multi-modal diagnostics and translational genomics research.

Summarizing the full-day workshop held in October 2025, Starkweather said it explored how AI is already being used across both research and care settings.

“Discussions covered a range of topics from how scientists use AI for translational genomics research, to how clinicians, patients, and caregivers use AI in health settings,” she said.

She noted that participants examined not only current applications but also future uses—alongside the social, ethical, and policy challenges that accompany them. Among the barriers discussed were incomplete electronic health record data, interoperability issues, and inconsistencies in clinical guidelines that complicate how information is shared and interpreted.

Participants also emphasized the need for stronger data infrastructure, including “robust information architecture, harmonized standards, representative training datasets, and rigorous evaluation” to ensure AI tools are valid, reliable, and fair.

Starkweather added that patient and caregiver perspectives highlighted a shift in expectations, as more individuals turn to AI to help diagnose and manage complex conditions, raising important questions about how these tools should be integrated into clinical care.

Ethical and governance considerations were central to the discussion, Starkweather reports, including “privacy risks, transparency in AI development and use, appropriate regulatory oversight, and the importance of human involvement in clinical decision-making.”

Elevating the role of nursing

“The future of AI is already here—it is shaping how genomic information is understood and how clinical decisions are made.” Nursing must help blaze the trail, Starkweather said. “As trusted professionals,” she added, “we need to lead in research, education, policy development, and decisions about care delivery, as well as the care itself, to ensure the best outcomes for patients and families.”