NASK PIB Expert at the InfluenceMed Conference in Wrocław
On October 18–19, 2025, the InfluenceMed conference was held at the Wrocław Medical University, focusing on combating disinformation in the field of health.
The event attracted nearly 350 participants, both in person and online, and featured 12 discussion panels with experts, physicians, researchers, and medical influencers.
The conversation on how to effectively communicate reliable and verified medical knowledge included representatives from the academic community, notably from Wrocław Medical University, as well as the Silesian Medical University, University of Zielona Góra, Medical University of Białystok, University of Łódź, and the Warsaw School of Economics.
One of the panelists was Dr. Eng. Aleksandra Nabożny, an expert in Natural Language Processing (NLP) from NASK PIB. She participated in the panel titled:
“Are ChatGPT, search engines, and social media good tools for making diagnoses? Disinformation on the Internet – threats to the health and lives of Polish citizens. Clinical trial results are a reliable source of information. How to search for them effectively?”
Key Discussion Points
During the panel, experts addressed issues such as the decline in public trust in the media, the need for mandatory health education in schools, and the role of social media in shaping the image of physicians and simplifying medical communication.
Medical professionals advocated for the introduction of health education, while Dr. Nabożny emphasized the importance of expanding school curricula to include education on artificial intelligence, particularly regarding the limitations of these tools in sourcing and verifying information. She also noted that searching for health-related information online is not inherently wrong—what matters is ensuring easy access to certified and trustworthy sources.
The panel also explored the role of medical influencers, emphasizing the need to differentiate between individuals presenting themselves as experts and those with certified medical credentials. The speakers agreed that influencers without verified medical qualifications can negatively impact the public perception of the medical community. They also emphasized the importance of establishing a strong online presence for physicians and simplifying reliable medical information for the general public.
Why Is This Important?
In an era of rapidly growing AI tools and social media platforms, the credibility of health information is becoming increasingly critical. As Dr. Nabożny pointed out, awareness of technological limitations and the ability to critically assess content are essential for the safe and informed use of modern technologies.
The conference was organized by Wrocław Medical University in collaboration with Monika Rachtan, author of the program “Po pierwsze pacjent.” The organizers have already announced the next edition of the event for 2026.