Transparency needed in addressing physician sexual misconduct

Canadian Medical Association Journal

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A new study on physician misconduct using publicly available data on 208 physicians involved in cases of sex- or gender-based violence, harassment, or discrimination found gaps in how physicians were monitored and sanctioned. The research is published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.251179.

Using media stories, legal decisions, and information from physician regulatory body websites, researchers identified 689 victims, of whom 585 were women or girls and at least 40 were children, over 5 years from 2019 to 2024. Sexual-boundary or sexual-misconduct complaints were the most common (75, 36%) followed by sexual assault (65, 32%), although definitions sometimes differed.

In some cases, the researchers found complaints that had not been reported on physician college disciplinary websites.

“[T]his study highlights the limitations of current data-management processes by Canadian medical regulatory bodies and raises concerns about the efficacy of current remediation strategies and monitoring practices,” writes Dr. Shannon Ruzycki, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, with coauthors. “Our findings emphasize how the lack of transparent, consistently reported, and accessible data about physicians involved in instances of sex- and gender-based harassment and discrimination restricts assessment of current strategies to address these behaviours.”

The rate of repeat behaviour was about 30%, a figure consistent with data from the United States.

The researchers suggest regulatory bodies should incorporate public consultation in the way they report cases of harassment and discrimination to help protect the public, while respecting physician privacy.

“The need for accountability and transparency from the colleges must be balanced with principles of due process and rights to physician privacy, especially since accusations of sex- or gender-based harassment or discrimination can have considerable personal and professional consequences,” they caution.

A national registry listing incidents by type, explanations, and outcomes and disciplinary action is a potential approach.

“The findings help to highlight an important problem for the medical profession in Canada: the tendency of its leadership and regulators to conceal sex- or gender-based misconduct perpetrated by physicians,” writes Dr. Kirsten Patrick, editor-in-chief, CMAJ in a related editorial https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.260574 .

However, the study has some gaps as it found only a handful of complainants who were physicians or other medical personnel.

According to Dr. Patrick, this doesn’t track with the findings of recent high-profile surveys of physicians and medical learners from the United Kingdom and US, in which reported rates of experiencing sex- and gender-based harassment in clinical workplaces were as high as 65% and 23% among those identifying as women and men, respectively. Data from Canada show similarly high rates of interprofessional misconduct.

Dr. Patrick calls for attention to address this issue in the medical profession.

“The medical profession in Canada needs to address its poorly hidden problem of sex- and gender-based discrimination, harassment, and assault. To do so will take a culture change in which the profession openly acknowledges the importance of the problem, owns its failure to address it, and takes steps to change regulatory and academic systems to prioritize believing victims, remediating offenders, and setting enforceable standards for behaviour.”

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Journal

Canadian Medical Association Journal

DOI

10.1503/cmaj.251179 

Method of Research

Content analysis

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Physician respondents in sexual misconduct concerns in Canada: a comparative case analysis using publicly available information

Article Publication Date

20-Apr-2026

 

Suicide prevention measures can help AI better protect young users

Canadian Medical Association Journal

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Suicide prevention approaches are key to making sure conversational AI is safe for youth, argues a commentary in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.251693. The adoption of AI chatbots by youth as a source of mental health support makes AI safety an urgent issue.

“With most teens reporting use of artificial intelligence (AI) ‘companions,’ conversational AI is rapidly becoming a first point of contact for distress and suicidality — often before clinicians or families are aware,” writes Dr. Allison Crawford, psychiatrist and associate scientist, and chief medical officer for 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) with Dr. Tristan Glatard, scientific director of the Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, CAMH, Toronto, Ontario.

A recent survey of 1060 youth aged 13 to 17 years in the US found that 72% reported using an AI companion and 52% reported regular use. According to recent data from OpenAI, more than 1.2 million ChatGPT users of all ages express suicidal ideation in their interactions each week.

The authors note the dichotomy in AI, a tool that can offer a sympathetic ear and potential support for someone in distress, but may, on the other hand, cause additional harm to people who are already in a vulnerable situation.

“A well-designed chatbot can normalize help-seeking, reduce isolation, and offer coping strategies at moments of distress; it could even support treating clinicians by helping to identify symptom patterns, early warning signs, and opportunities for outreach. However, in cases where poorly designed AI fails to recognize suicidality, mishandles disclosures, or provides unsafe or misleading responses, real harms can arise.”

The authors argue that this is a pressing public health issue that requires AI safety in suicide-prevention approaches, as well as safeguards from AI companies, data and legal protections, and more.

“The limits of AI agents should be acknowledged; such tools should have robust safeguards built in and direct users toward friends, family, community helpers, and trained crisis professionals as appropriate,” they write. “Embedding safeguards, partnering with experts and youth, and maintaining humility about the limits of technology can help ensure that AI serves as a bridge — not a barrier — to the human connections that are known to prevent suicide.”

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Journal

Canadian Medical Association Journal

DOI

10.1503/cmaj.251693 

Article Title

Urgent considerations for suicide prevention in the safe and ethical use of artificial intelligence

Article Publication Date

20-Apr-2026

 

1 in 3 parents say their young adult children don’t get enough physical activity

National poll suggests young adults may fall short on physical activity after high school, with time, screen use and lack of interest as top barriers

Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan

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National poll highlights low levels of activity after high school, with time, screen use and lack of interest as top barriers.
 

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Credit: Sara Schultz, Michigan Medicine

Younger children and teens often have built-in opportunities to stay active through gym class, sports and extracurricular activities.

But after high school, those structured options often disappear.

And many young adults struggle to stay active during this transition, a national poll suggests.

One in three parents say their child ages 18 to 25 is minimally active or inactive, according to the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health.

“Physical activity has a profound impact on overall health, but many people do not maintain the same level of activity as they get older,” said Mott Poll Co-Director and Mott pediatrician Susan Woolford, M.D.

“Young adulthood can be a particularly challenging time, especially as structured opportunities like sports and gym classes fall away. After high school, young adults often need to put in more effort to find activities they enjoy and make time for them.”

Barriers to staying active

Parents point to several reasons their young adult children are not getting enough physical activity. The most common barriers include lack of time, lack of interest and screen time or gaming. Fewer parents cite cost, lack of a workout partner or health limitations.

Parents of minimally active or inactive young adults were far more likely to point to lack of interest and screen use as major challenges.

“Parents are telling us that interest is a major barrier,” Woolford said. “If young adults do not find physical activity enjoyable, they are much less likely to make it part of their routine.”

Activity patterns shift with age

The nationally representative report is based on responses from 1,550 parents surveyed in February who have at least one child aged 18 to 25.

According to parents, younger adults ages 18 to 20 are more likely to participate in organized sports or social activities like dancing or skating. Those 21 and older are more likely to rely on gym workouts or physical activity related to their jobs.

“This shift may reflect a move away from social forms of activity to more independent ones,” Woolford said. “Social connection can make physical activity more enjoyable and may help people stay active longer.”

Many parents report trying to encourage their young adult children to be more active. Common strategies include verbal encouragement, suggesting activities, exercising together and, in some cases, paying for programs or offering incentives.

However, parents of minimally active young adults are more likely to say their efforts are not successful.

“Encouragement alone is not always enough,” Woolford said. “Finding activities that are enjoyable and accessible is key to helping young adults build lasting habits especially if activities can be linked to things they value.”

A ‘buddy’ approach, Woolford notes, can make a difference. Being active together can build accountability while also making the experience more social and rewarding, she says.

Building healthy habits for the future

Parents of less active young adults are more likely to worry about long-term health effects and even potential impacts on employment. Yet only about one in four parents say a healthcare provider has discussed physical activity with their child in recent years.

That represents a missed opportunity, Woolford says. Healthcare providers can play an important role in helping young adults find safe and appropriate ways to stay active, especially for those with health concerns.

She says young adulthood is a critical time for establishing lifelong health habits.

“A common challenge for young adults is maintaining a healthy lifestyle as they become more independent,” Woolford said. “For some, that means fitting exercise into a busy schedule or limited budget. For others, it’s about building a routine.”

“Parents can still play an important role during this transition,” she added. “The habits formed at this stage can shape long-term health and well-being.”

 

Advanced artificial intelligence algorithms and hardware acceleration techniques applied to material structure design

ELSP

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This review mainly includes three parts: machine learning, application, and hardware acceleration.

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Credit: Jiqun Zhang/China University of Petroleum (East China), Juhong Yu/China University of Petroleum (East China), Nianxiang Qiu/University of Electronic Science and Technology, Yong Liu/ University of Colorado Denver, Yangyang Song/Tongji University, Liang Zhang/Tongji University, Shiyu Du/ China University of Petroleum (East China) and Milky-Way Sustainable Energy Ltd.

Researchers have conducted a systematic review of advanced artificial intelligence algorithms and hardware acceleration techniques applied to material structure design, highlighting significant progress in material property prediction, material structural optimization, material discovery, information extraction in material text. Published in AI & Materials, this review provides crucial guidance for accelerating data-driven materials research and fostering the interdisciplinary development of next-generation functional materials.

Artificial intelligence and hardware acceleration technologies are profoundly transforming the research paradigm of material structure design. Traditional experimental trial-and-error methods and theoretical computational approaches often face limitations when confronting large-scale, complex material systems, constrained by lengthy development cycles and prohibitive computational costs. Addressing this challenge, Professor Shiyu Du from China University of Petroleum (East China), in collaboration with researchers from China University of Petroleum (East China), University of Electronic Science and Technology, University of Colorado Denver, Tongji University and Milky-Way Sustainable Energy Ltd., has conducted a systematic review of advanced deep learning algorithms and hardware acceleration techniques applied to material structure design, providing crucial guidance for accelerating data-driven materials research.

"Deep learning has far outpaced the processing capacities of conventional experimental and computational approaches," explains Professor Shiyu Du, emphasizing that the data-driven paradigm of "Big Data + AI" has become the fourth paradigm for materials science development.

The research team systematically categorizes applications across four key domains. In material property prediction, deep learning models accurately forecast bandgaps, mechanical behavior, thermal conductivity, and catalytic performance, often achieving accuracy comparable to density functional theory calculations while dramatically reducing computational costs. In structural optimization, generative models and convolutional neural networks enable inverse design of metamaterials and elastic structures to achieve targeted properties. In materials discovery, Transformer-based architectures and generative adversarial networks accelerate the identification of novel molecules and crystal structures by efficiently navigating vast chemical spaces. Additionally, natural language processing techniques, particularly BERT-based domain-specific models such as MatSciBERT, now enable automated knowledge extraction from the rapidly expanding corpus of materials science literature. Professor Du notes, "Establishing sizable, high-quality, openly accessible datasets remains a critical priority for advancing deep learning research in materials, alongside the growing importance of explainable AI techniques."

The research team further examines the hardware acceleration platforms essential for deploying these computationally intensive models. Graphics processing units (GPUs) remain the workhorse for large-scale training, while field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) offer customizable efficiency for edge deployment. Application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) achieve peak energy efficiency, and neuromorphic chips inspired by biological neural architectures promise ultra-low-power operation for specialized applications.

This review provides a foundational reference for researchers seeking to leverage artificial intelligence in material structure design, while charting a course toward more interpretable, generalizable, and computationally efficient approaches for developing next-generation functional materials.

Zhang J, Yu J, Qiu N, Liu Y, Song Y, et al. Advanced artificial intelligence algorithms and hardware acceleration techniques applied to material structure design. AI Mater. 2026(1):0003, https://doi.org/10.55092/aimat20260003.

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Journal

AI & Materials

DOI

10.55092/aimat20260003 

Method of Research

Literature review

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Advanced artificial intelligence algorithms and hardware acceleration techniques applied to material structure design

 

European Immunization Week 2026, For every generation, vaccines work: three countries reach 90% HPV vaccination target as Europe steps up action on cancer prevention

A new report from ECDC on HPV vaccination programmes in the EU/EEA highlights steady progress in cancer prevention efforts in the region

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)

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As Europe marks European Immunization Week (EIW) 2026, ECDC reports continued progress in HPV vaccination across the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA).

According to the new ECDC report, all EU/EEA countries now recommend HPV vaccination for adolescent girls and boys as part of their immunisation programmes, marking a major step forward in Europe’s’ cancer prevention efforts.

This progress is already translating into high vaccination uptake in several countries. The report indicates that three EU/EEA countries (e.g. Iceland, Portugal, Norway) have reached the 2024 EU Council Recommendation target of 90% HPV vaccination coverage among girls by the age of 15 years.

Fifteen years after HPV vaccination programmes were introduced in Europe, a growing body of evidence confirms that HPV vaccination is highly effective in preventing cervical cancer. Large-scale studies from European countries (e.g. Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark), as well as from other parts of the world, showed significant reductions in HPV infections and precancerous lesions, along with declining cervical cancer rates among women who are vaccinated.

Since 2020, European countries have reported a decreased incidence of cervical cancer among vaccinated women. Studies from Sweden, Denmark and the United Kingdom show that early administration of the vaccine increases its full protective potential. A Swedish study suggested that vaccination of girls before their 17th birthday reduced the incidence of cervical cancer by 88%. In an additional six-year follow-up, the Swedish study showed a sustained cervical cancer risk reduction and a population level decline in invasive cervical cancer incidence after HPV vaccination.*

‘The elimination of cervical cancer in the EU/EEA is becoming an achievable goal, thanks to the HPV vaccination programmes. The progress we are seeing across Europe demonstrates what can be accomplished when countries invest consistently in effective immunisation strategies,' said Bruno Ciancio, Head of Unit, Directly Transmitted Diseases and Vaccine Preventable Diseases, ECDC. ‘We are closely monitoring this progress and actively supporting countries to accelerate uptake and move faster towards cervical cancer elimination.’

The ECDC report showed that vaccination programmes and health system design are critical factors to reach high levels of HPV vaccination coverage. As an example, evidence from across Europe showed that school‑based vaccination programmes are particularly effective and tend to reach higher levels of coverage among both girls and boys.

To support monitoring and action, ECDC is today launching a new dashboard  displaying vaccination coverage for HPV and for other vaccine-preventable infections such as hepatitis B, measles and rubella vaccines. The dashboard provides a transparent, up‑to‑date overview of the performance of vaccination programmes across Europe and will support evidence‑based decision‑making to strengthen immunisation efforts.

Vaccination requires sustained efforts year after year to maintain protection across generations and prevent increasing numbers of people not getting vaccinated, including those groups underserved by healthcare providers.

Check out the ECDC latest reports, updated Atlas of Infectious Diseases, learning tools and other resources on the ECDC EIW 2026 page.

Join our event marking the European Immunization Week 2026, find out the latest data on vaccination and vaccine preventable diseases! Join the discussion with experts on the impact of vaccination across generations and learn from country experiences on effective strategies to improve vaccination uptake. 

When high vaccination coverage is achieved and sustained, HPV vaccination has the potential to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem. Despite the progress of vaccines in reducing HPV infections leading to cancer, screening programmes are essential to continue complementing vaccination due to the risk of infection by virus types not covered by the vaccines.

European Immunization Week is a reminder that closing gaps through collective efforts, commitment, and investment is essential, not only to prevent infections today, but also to reduce the burden of cancer and protect the health of generations to come.

 

SKKU publishes report on technological advances and research trends in perovskite solar cells

In collaboration with Clarivate, Professor Nam-Gyu Park’s research team highlights the rapid growth of solid-state implementation since its first successful realization in 2012

Sungkyunkwan University External Affairs Division (PR team)

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Perovskite Solar Cells: A Roadmap for Advancing Future Energy Innovation

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Credit: Clarivate 2026

Sungkyunkwan University announced the publication of a comprehensive report analyzing technological advancements and global research trends in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), which are emerging as a next-generation solar energy technology.

The report was jointly prepared by the research group of Professor Nam-Gyu Park from the Department of Chemical Engineering at SKKU and the university’s Performance Analysis Team, in collaboration with global academic data company Clarivate. It covers the fundamental concepts and technological evolution of perovskite solar cells, as well as the global research landscape and key trends in the field.

The report highlights a major turning point in 2012, when researchers at SKKU successfully developed the world’s first solid-state perovskite solar cell. Since then, the technology has achieved rapid efficiency improvements over a short period and has emerged as a promising next-generation solar technology. It is now considered a key solution with the potential to complement or even replace conventional silicon-based solar cells.

Based on data from Web of Science, the report also analyzes research performance by country, institution, and researcher. The findings show that the field of perovskite solar cells has grown rapidly since 2012, with China, the United States, and South Korea leading global research efforts. Among them, Sungkyunkwan University demonstrates world-class research competitiveness, ranking highly in key indicators such as publication output, citation impact, and the proportion of top 1% highly cited papers, establishing itself as a major research hub in the field.

The report further emphasizes that perovskite solar cells are a critical technology from both carbon neutrality and ESG perspectives, owing to their high efficiency, low-cost fabrication processes, and lightweight and flexible properties. In particular, advancements in tandem solar cell structures that surpass the efficiency limits of conventional solar cells are expected to further accelerate their commercialization potential.

Professor Nam-Gyu Park stated, “As future energy systems are expected to be largely electrified, the importance of electrification technologies continues to grow. Solar energy, which produces no carbon emissions, is anticipated to play a central role in the future energy landscape. In this context, low-cost, high-efficiency perovskite solar cells are expected to serve as a key technology in the next-generation energy society.

Sungkyunkwan University has played a pivotal role from the early conceptual development to technological advancements in this field, and will continue to lead global research efforts.”

Meanwhile, Clarivate and Sungkyunkwan University plan to co-host a global webinar in June to highlight research trends in perovskite solar cells.

Diverse device architecture and efficiency progress in PSCs

Credit

Clarivate 2026