AI without anxiety: overcoming AI adoption fears for people who aren’t superusers

Recommended for: All attendees 

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to reduce administrative burden, improve efficiency and support clinical decision-making. Yet many physicians remain hesitant to adopt AI tools because of concerns about privacy, accuracy, medico-legal risk, workflow disruption and the potential impact on professional judgment.

This session explores the practical and psychological barriers that influence adoption. Through real-world examples and evidence-informed insights, participants will gain a clearer understanding of the risks and opportunities associated with AI in clinical practice.

This session emphasizes informed curiosity, moving beyond barriers to the first steps, and sustainable adoption rather than becoming an AI expert.

Learning Objectives 

By the end of this session, participants will be able to: 

• Identify common barriers that prevent physicians from adopting AI tools in practice
• Distinguish between perceived and actual risks associated with AI use in medicine
• Identify low-risk, high-value opportunities to use AI while maintaining professional judgment and patient confidentiality
• Develop a practical first step for integrating AI into their practice in a safe, sustainable and time-efficient manner

Speakers:

• Sam Wallenius, MD, Associate Medical Director, Physician Health Program, Physician Health Program

Presenter Bios:

Sam Wallenius, MD

Dr. Samantha Cook Wallenius is an Associate Medical Director with the Ontario Medical Association’s Physician Health Program. Outside of this role, she is a psychiatrist who has practiced general adult psychiatry in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. since 2008. 

Dr. Wallenius obtained her medical degree (MD) from the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine in 2003 and completed her psychiatry residency at the University of Toronto in 2008. Additionally, she completed her Master of Laws degree (LLM) in Health Law from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2024.

She is an Assistant Professor at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University and an adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto in the Department of Psychiatry where she is also the Assistant Program Director for the Collaborative Indigenous Psychiatry Residency Stream.

Dr. Wallenius has clinical interests in physician mental health, the dual diagnosis population, and Indigenous health and wellbeing

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