AUTHOR=Mohajer-Bastami Ata , Moin Sarah , Ahmad Suhaib , Ahmed Ahmed R. , Pouwels Sjaak , Hajibandeh Shahab , Yang Wah , Parmar Chetan , Kermansaravi Mohammad , Khalil Miriam , Khalid Ali Waleed , Khamise Ameer , Rawaf David , Hosseini Farzad , Agarwal Anurag , Lala Anil , Ahmed Shafi , Patel Bijendra , Fyntanidou Barbara , Egan Richard , Mougiakakou Stavroula G. , Jakob Dominik Andreas , Ribordy Vincent , Hautz Wolf E. , Exadaktylos Aristomenis K. 

TITLE=Artificial intelligence in healthcare: applications, challenges, and future directions. A narrative review informed by international, multidisciplinary expertise

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Digital Health

VOLUME=Volume 7 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/digital-health/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1644041

DOI=10.3389/fdgth.2025.1644041

ISSN=2673-253X

ABSTRACT=ObjectivesThis narrative review evaluates the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, summarizing its historical evolution, current applications across medical and surgical specialties, and implications for allied health professions and biomedical research.MethodsWe conducted a structured literature search in Ovid MEDLINE (2018–2025) using terms related to AI, machine learning, deep learning, large language models, generative AI, and healthcare applications. Priority was given to peer-reviewed articles providing novel insights, multidisciplinary perspectives, and coverage of underrepresented domains.Key findingsAI is increasingly applied to diagnostics, surgical navigation, risk prediction, and personalized medicine. It also holds promise in allied health, drug discovery, genomics, and clinical trial optimization. However, adoption remains limited by challenges including bias, interpretability, legal frameworks, and uneven global access.ContributionsThis review highlights underexplored areas such as generative AI and allied health professions, providing an integrated multidisciplinary perspective.ConclusionsWith careful regulation, clinician-led design, and global equity considerations, AI can augment healthcare delivery and research. Future work must focus on robust validation, responsible implementation, and expanding education in digital medicine.