The partnership will see Marshall University helping Soma Lab Inc to develop the SimCare AI platform for use in counseling, which the university will then pilot.
Marshall University and Soma Lab Inc, DBA SimCare AI, have formed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see the university working with the company to develop a new AI-driven simulation software for use in counseling. After the software has been developed, the agreement will also allow the university to pilot test the software among students who are studying to become counselors.
According to an article on Marshall University’s website, Dr. Eric T. Beeson, who serves as the chair of the university’s Counseling Department, was quoted as saying of the software and partnership, “This technology solves a problem that did not have a solution before: how do we get high fidelity training repetitions for students prior to field experience? This partnership allows us to innovate the educational experience and respond to workforce demands while keeping our professional and ethical commitments at the center. We are excited to explore how emerging technologies can support, not substitute, the deep relational work that defines counseling and healthcare.”
The software is being developed with counseling applications specifically in mind, though Beeson noted there is possible application to other healthcare fields, as well. Through the partnership, Marshall University faculty will be involved in the development, and students will be involved in the pilot testing phase. SimCare AI will facilitate the technical expertise for the development and will provide training to use the software. Marshall University will also seek grant funding following pilot testing to help fund the rollout of the software for broader use.
Vrishank Saini, the CEO of SimCare AI, said, “Marshall’s students and faculty bring the kind of insight that makes a pilot truly meaningful. This pilot allows us to create training simulations that mirror real-world counseling scenarios while tailoring the experience to the unique needs of counselor education. By co-designing the pilot together, we can make sure the technology reflects the realities of counselor training and always keeps the focus on human connection at the center of learning.”
Both parties involved in developing the software are cognizant of the potential ethical ramifications of utilizing artificial intelligence in this type of work, and are committed to responsible development and use.
For more information about Marshall University, visit the school’s website.