iMED Brings Engineering Innovation to Medicine Through the Power of Graduate Students

iMED team

Andreas Seas, Jay Rathinavelu, and Justin Chan are three medical students driving the rebranding of the MEDx-sponsored interest group, iMED (Innovative Medicine), formerly known as the Medicine and Engineering Interest Group. 

This revamped student leadership team is transforming iMED from a club to a collaborative environment where participants from diverse graduate specialties can learn the basics of innovation, entrepreneurship, and everything in between in order to eventually tackle larger global healthcare problems.

“iMED is about getting engineering tools in the hands of people with innovative inclinations,” said co-president Andreas Seas. “We are looking at how to get students to work together to build creative engineering-inspired solutions to problems that physicians see in clinic.”

 Where MEIG was a space reserved for medical students, iMED invites any graduate or professional student interested in bringing innovative change to healthcare to join participate. 

 “We want people from all over campus to participate in this exchange of ideas,” said Seas. “You don’t need a degree in this area. Bring your mind and we will learn how to explore and innovate together.”

 The three co-presidents have not only changed iMED’s branding, but iMED’s approach to collaboration. Their hope for 2021 is to build a community of academics who actively participate in stimulating discussions, workshops and brainstorming sessions. 

 “The experiences students have in the clinic and classroom and lab are not just a checked box, they are tools and opportunities that can be used to solve real world problems,” said co-president Jay Rathinavelu. “We want to help those ideas become reality.”

The leadership trio seeks to practice this method of addressing problems by partnering professionals in the field with students who bring different viewpoints and skills.

“Medicine never sleeps and it’s a tough field to change. It is up to future physicians to actively seek being part of the process of change and innovation,” said Chan.

The co-presidents hope to inspire and create an environment for the exchange of brainpower among scholars looking at the world’s problems in a safe space. 

“If you’ve ever thought there was something you could do or some idea you’ve had or some exploration that you think is outside of your grasp, iMED is for you,” noted Seas on a final note. “We want to help you to employ your experiences and knowledge to make medicine and health care better.”

For more information about iMED contact Andreas Seas (andreas.seas@duke.edu) or visit https://medx.duke.edu/community/imed