The six-month planning timeline is structured across four focused phases, each building upon the previous to ensure strategic clarity, institutional alignment, and implementation readiness.
Phase 1: Strategic Landscape Assessment (Month 1–2)
- Conduct a comprehensive inventory of current AI initiatives, programs, and capabilities across the institution.
- Perform a structured SWOT analysis to identify institutional strengths, gaps, and areas for strategic differentiation.
- Engage internal stakeholders to validate priorities and align on early signals of strategic focus.
Phase 2: Strategy and Policy Architecture (Month 3–4)
- Define strategic priorities across subcommittees, ensuring alignment with UTHealth Houston’s enterprise mission and long-term goals.
- Develop foundational policies and frameworks for AI governance, ethics, compliance, and risk management.
- Establish institutional guidelines for seamlessly integrating AI into academic, clinical, research, and operational domains.
- Identify critical infrastructure, platforms, and data capabilities required to enable future-state AI delivery.
Phase 3: Alignment and Ecosystem Engagement (Month 5)
- Refine strategic priorities based on iterative input from stakeholders, leadership, and technical experts.
- Build and formalize high-leverage partnerships across the AI ecosystem—including industry, academic institutions, policy leaders, and philanthropic organizations.
- Finalize a forward-looking AI governance model responsive to both emerging regulatory demands and institutional complexity.
Phase 4: Finalization and Strategic Rollout (Month 6)
- Complete and validate the institution-wide strategic AI plan through executive review.
- Design and launch a communication and engagement plan to inform internal stakeholders and external partners.
- Establish enduring governance and decision-making structures to oversee implementation, resource allocation, and sustained strategic execution.
Critical Enablers for Success
The successful development and execution of UTHealth Houston’s AI strategy will depend on the following key enablers:
- Executive Sponsorship: Sustained commitment from interim and incoming presidential leadership to elevate AI as an institutional priority.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Active engagement from faculty and leaders across schools, departments, and clinical enterprises to ensure alignment and integration.
- Transparent Stakeholder Communication: A consistent cadence of communication that keeps stakeholders informed, engaged, and aligned throughout the planning and execution lifecycle.
- Structured Governance and Accountability: Clearly defined decision rights, oversight mechanisms, and KPIs to track progress and ensure institutional alignment.
Core Deliverables
The Task Force will produce a focused set of deliverables that serve as the foundation for UTHealth Houston’s AI roadmap:
- A Comprehensive Institutional AI Strategy, articulating the vision, priorities, and path forward.
- Subcommittee Strategic Reports, detailing insights and recommendations across seven core domains: Research, Education, Patient Care, AI Technology, Data Platforms, Governance, and Partnerships.
- A robust AI Governance and Compliance Framework, addressing data ethics, security, risk, and regulatory alignment.
- A Stakeholder Engagement and Communications Plan, designed to support internal alignment and external positioning.
Closing Perspective
This strategic planning initiative represents a pivotal moment for UTHealth Houston. As the AI era rapidly reshapes healthcare, science, and education, UTHealth Houston is uniquely positioned to lead—not just as a participant, but as a pacesetter. Through clear strategic intent, rigorous execution, and institution-wide collaboration, this Task Force will deliver the blueprint to secure UTHealth Houston’s leadership in health AI for the next decade and beyond.
