Daniel Gomez Carrillo, M.D., a postdoctoral research fellow in the Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, received national recognition from the Association for Academic Surgery for his research on improving patient understanding during the surgical consent process. His manuscript was selected for the 2026 Best AAS Manuscript Submission by an AAS Resident or Fellow Award and was presented earlier this year as a quick shot presentation at the Academic Surgical Congress in Orlando, Florida.
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he study evaluates how artificial intelligence tools can be used to improve the readability of surgical informed consent documents while maintaining the fidelity and accuracy of the clinical information they contain. Because many consent forms are written at reading levels that exceed recommended standards for patient comprehension, the research examines whether AI-assisted optimization can help make these materials more accessible to patients without compromising clinical meaning.
“Informed consent should ensure that patients truly understand the procedures, risks, and alternatives being discussed,” Gomez Carrillo said. “Our goal was to evaluate whether artificial intelligence can help translate complex medical language into information that is easier for patients to read while preserving the integrity of the clinical content.”
- Manuscript Title: Speaking Patient's Language: Assessment of Readability and Fidelity of AI-Optimized Consent Forms
“This recognition highlights Daniel’s commitment to improving patient-centered communication in surgery,” said senior author Brenessa Lindeman, M.D., MEHP, the vice chair of education in the Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery. “His work explores how emerging technologies like artificial intelligence can help make complex surgical information more understandable for patients while preserving the accuracy and integrity of the consent process.”