Beyond the Screen: Medical Education in the Era of Artificial Intelligence

Abstract “Screen retreat,” where trainees instinctively turn to the electronic medical record (EMR) rather than the bedside when questions arise, has overtaken medical education. While often justified as efficient, this reliance displaces patient interaction, increases cognitive burden, and offers a psychological refuge from the uncertainty of direct care, where challenge leads to learning. As a result, trainees miss out on developing skills in communication, empathy, and clinical judgment. In the era of artificial intelligence, this shift risks further diminishing the need for human physicians. Medical education must urgently be recentered on bedside engagement and the intentional cultivation of uniquely human capacities.