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Adtalem and Google Cloud team up to launch AI credential program for healthcare workers

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Adtalem Global Education announced on Wednesday a new partnership with Google Cloud to launch an artificial intelligence credential program designed to train healthcare professionals in using AI tools for clinical practice. The program, scheduled to begin in 2026, will be available to students and clinicians across Adtalem’s institutions, including Chamberlain University and Walden University.

The initiative will provide hands-on experience with Google Cloud technologies such as Gemini models and Vertex AI, alongside coursework covering AI applications in healthcare, ethical standards, and patient safety. Participants will also learn to use AI-driven tools already being deployed in hospitals and clinical systems.

The partnership comes as healthcare systems face severe staffing shortages and increasing demand for digital solutions. Despite the rapid adoption of AI across medical settings, many clinicians remain unprepared to integrate it into their daily practice. Adtalem, which serves over 91,000 students and has 365,000 alumni, says the program will help bridge that gap.

“Our partnership with Google Cloud gives students a competitive edge — helping them use AI responsibly to improve clinical decision-making and spend more time with patients,” said Adtalem Chief Digital Officer Michael Betz.

Google Public Sector’s Brent Mitchell added that the collaboration aims to ensure healthcare professionals can implement AI “safely, responsibly and effectively.”

Amazon Pharmacy to open prescription kiosks at One Medical clinics

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Amazon Pharmacy will begin offering in-person prescription pickup for the first time through electronic kiosks located inside its One Medical primary care clinics, starting in Los Angeles this December. The kiosks will dispense common medications such as antibiotics, asthma inhalers, and blood pressure treatments, marking a new step in Amazon’s healthcare expansion.

The initiative aims to reduce shipping costs and make prescriptions more accessible for patients, said Hannah McClellan Richards, vice president at Amazon Pharmacy. Patients can consult pharmacists virtually at the kiosks, which will carry inventory tailored to each clinic’s needs.

While One Medical members — who pay $199 annually for access to primary and urgent care — will be the first to benefit, non-members will also be able to use the kiosks after appointments. Amazon plans to expand the model nationwide in 2026, and is already in talks with other health systems for potential partnerships.

The kiosks won’t dispense refrigerated or tightly regulated medications such as GLP-1 weight-loss drugs or controlled pain treatments.

Amazon’s move builds on its 2018 PillPack acquisition and its 2023 purchase of One Medical, as it seeks to integrate pharmacy, logistics, and primary care under one network. Analysts say the plan could help Amazon cut delivery costs — one of its largest operational expenses — by positioning inventory closer to consumers.

Apple Watch gains AI-powered high blood pressure notification feature

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Apple unveiled a new AI-driven health feature for the Apple Watch Series 11, launching Friday, that can notify users if they may have high blood pressure. The notification tool, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, will also roll out to Apple Watch Series 9 and later models in over 150 countries.

Unlike a traditional blood pressure cuff (sphygmomanometer), the Watch does not measure blood pressure directly. Instead, Apple used machine learning to analyze sensor data from its large-scale Heart and Movement Study, launched in 2019 with 100,000 participants. Researchers identified patterns in the watch’s heart-related signals and validated the resulting algorithm in a dedicated study of 2,000 people.

The feature is designed to prompt users to check their blood pressure with a cuff and consult a doctor if alerts appear. Apple Vice President of Health Sumbul Ahmad Desai emphasized that the company has long pursued ways to detect hypertension, a condition affecting over 1 billion people worldwide, half of whom remain undiagnosed.

Cardiology expert Ami Bhatt called the rollout significant, noting it could help reduce risks of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease by prompting early detection. Still, she cautioned that the tool is not a replacement for professional diagnosis and carries risks of both false positives and false reassurance for those who don’t receive alerts.

The addition highlights Apple’s broader push into preventive healthcare, positioning the Watch as not only a fitness tracker but also an early-warning tool for chronic conditions.