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The CSPT Education Committee is pleased to present the upcoming CSPT Education Symposium on "Using AI Without Outsourcing Thought". The symposium will be on
Monday, June 8, 2026
9 AM PT / 10 AM MT / 11 AM CT / 12 PM ET / 1 PM AT / 1:30 PM NT
This is a timely discussion on AI in teaching and learning. We will focus on critical thinking, assessment, and practical use in educational settings. We are pleased to feature:
Michael Lee, PhD
Geisel School of Medicine, New Hampshire, USA
"Applications of A.I. in the Assessment of Pharmacology Knowledge"
Soroush Sabbaghan, PhD
University of Calgary
"Teaching Thinking in an AI-Embedded University"
Michelle Arnot, PhD
University of Toronto
"Personalized student learning through course trained AI- Virtual Tutor can expand student thinking"
Dr. Michael Lee is a tenured Professor of Pharmacology in the Department of Medical Education at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. He has been involved in teaching every area of pharmacology for over 20 years to students across the health sciences including undergraduate, graduate, medical, pharmacy, dental, and optometry students. He began his career in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine where he completed masters and doctoral degrees in Medical Sciences with a concentration in pharmacology. After completing his studies, Dr. Lee became a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Florida College of Medicine. He has served on the faculty at several pharmacy and medical schools including as a founding faculty member at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine in Orlando, Florida and at the Dell Medical School with the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Lee is actively engaged in medical education research, which is aimed at developing tools and strategies to improve student learning and the long-term retention of pharmacology knowledge. He is a Fellow ASPET Academy of Pharmacology Educators (FAAPE) in the ASPET Division of Pharmacology Education where he also currently serves as the Chair of the division.
Dr. Soroush Sabbaghan is an Associate Professor at the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary and serves as the inaugural Generative AI Educational Leader in Residence at the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning. His work focuses on the intersection of educational technology, teacher development, and equity. He has developed multiple AI-powered tools to support inclusive and evidence-informed teaching practices which are used in K–12 and higher education settings. Soroush has led several collaborative research projects on the ethical integration of generative AI in education, working closely with educators across Canada and internationally. He has served as Principal Investigator on funded studies examining the role of co-designed AI tools in reshaping professional values in teacher education and has published widely on AI literacy, human-centered design, and educational integrity. He is also the editor of Navigating Generative AI in Higher Education: Ethical, Theoretical, and Practical Perspectives, a volume that explores critical tensions and forward-looking frameworks for responsible AI use in academic settings
Dr. Michelle Arnot obtained her H.BSc. from Queen's University, Canada and her PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Alberta, Canada. She is currently a Professor, Teaching Stream, and the Associate Chair, Undergraduate Education in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Toronto. Following completion of her scientific training in neuro- and ion channel pharmacology, she has developed extensive experience in curricula development and is interested in how different teaching methods and interventions play a role in student learning and engagement. Her diverse curricula development and educational scholarship pursuits focus on teaching and learning within the context of experiential learning, community engaged learning, developing students’ professional and research skills, expanding EDIIA across program curricula and integrating Gen AI into student learning through a variety of means to improve student GenAI literacy while maintaining their critical thinking. These topics largely underscore her invited talks and publications. She is engaged in a variety of leadership and mentorship roles at the University of Toronto and was awarded the Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in Life Science Award.
