Students lead the way at Future of AI and Behavioral Health workshop
A collaborative milestone for UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences and Rice University
The recent Future of AI and Behavioral Health workshop marked a powerful moment of collaboration between UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences and Rice University’s Office for Educational and Research Initiatives for Collaborative Health (ENRICH). Co-hosted by Michelle Patriquin, PhD, ABPP, assistant dean for Digital Health and Innovation at UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences, and Sharon Pepper, EdD, MBA, Executive Director of ENRICH in the Office of the Provost at Rice University, the event was held on Rice’s campus and made possible through the support of Rice’s Ken Kennedy Institute, whose commitment to interdisciplinary innovation helped bring this vision to life.
The workshop brought together faculty, researchers, and students to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in behavioral health, from clinical simulations and virtual care to data-driven insights and personalized treatment. It served as both a research forum and a networking opportunity, designed to spark future collaborations and showcase student-led innovation in digital mental health. The event also offered a timely spotlight on the newly launched UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences, highlighting its commitment to advancing behavioral health through interdisciplinary education and innovation. Through cross-institutional dialogue and hands-on engagement, participants from UTHealth Houston and Rice University explored how AI can move beyond theory to drive real-world impact in behavioral health care.
At the heart of the event was a shared commitment to amplifying student voices. Through interactive poster sessions and a spirited idea-a-thon, students from across the Texas Medical Center were invited to co-create solutions, share perspectives, and imagine the future of behavioral health through the lens of technology and equity. Among the standout participants was Ana Cristina Ruiz, a master’s degree student in the Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences program at UTHealth Houston. Her project, “AI-Driven Clinical Simulations for Mental Health: A Trauma-Informed Approach,” was awarded Idea of the Year in the poster session. Ana’s concept proposes the use of AI-powered, trauma-informed simulations to enhance clinical training. By tailoring scenarios to reflect real-world complexity, her approach aims to improve clinical preparedness and ultimately lead to better outcomes for both future health care professionals and the patients they serve.
This collaboration between UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences and Rice ENRICH exemplifies what’s possible when institutions come together with a shared vision: to advance behavioral health through technology, elevate student leadership, and build a more connected academic and research community.