What happens when you combine medicine, AI, and entrepreneurship? For Dany Alkurdi, a second-year medical student and Mass Academy alumnus, it’s a career shaping the lives of everyone around him. As the founder of MedX, he is bringing students and scientists alike together to promote innovation with dedication and a clear vision. Dany has done it all, from developing digital health tools at Dana Farber Cancer Institute to AI research at Princeton and WPI. But don’t take it from us! Here’s a closer look at how he’s making it all happen.

First, let’s go back to his roots. When asked about his journey, Dany shared that his time at Mass Academy provided a strong foundation for his career. "Mass Academy gives you critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which I learned are essential skills for innovation in medicine and AI. My experiences there taught me to approach challenges with curiosity and resilience," he said. He also talked about the value of being exposed to different fields, saying, "I think what's important for everyone, no matter what they study, is to get exposure to as many fields as possible. You don't need to be a master at everything, but you need to understand the two core concepts of every field so you can apply them to your own field."

MedX was created to bring together students and researchers, with the main goal of connecting technology and medicine. "I noticed a gap in how students and researchers could work together effectively at the intersection of these fields. MedX was born out of the need to foster meaningful connections and projects," he explained. The group works on various projects, such as developing machine learning algorithms for skin cancer detection and investigating medical malpractice. View more about MedX here. 

In discussing his AI research at Princeton and WPI, Dany explained how working in different environments helped him think in new ways. "Having a blend [of experiences] is crucial for tackling a lot of real-world problems," he said. At Dana-Farber, his work on digital health applications focused on improving the quality of life for cancer patients. "Understanding what the patients need and translating that into digital tools was challenging but very rewarding in a way," he said. One of his projects used AI to personalize cancer treatment plans.

For students who want to mix medicine, AI, and entrepreneurship, here’s Dany’s advice: "Thinking of concrete skills that are really useful is important. So, developing computer science skills, you're never going to hurt if you know how to code. Being really good at math, it's useful in literally any field." He also emphasized the importance of passion: "If you're doing something that you love, it helps so much."

Looking back on his journey, he shared, "Life is a grind. It never stops. And I don't mean that to be discouraging. I mean that to say you really just have to learn. You have to not wait for the finish line. You have to learn how to play infinite games."

Dany’s story serves as a reminder that hard work, curiosity, and openness to trying new things are the foundations of success. His journey proves that a combination of education, passion, and skills can open doors to a multitude of opportunities in medicine and beyond. For anyone with a similar dream, stay curious, develop valuable skills, and follow what you love.