SC Connecticut News

Students enrolled in the nation’s first master's degree program in personalized medicine and applied engineering (PMAE) are experiencing a curriculum that bridges medicine and engineering. Daniel Wiznia, MD, co-director of the program, emphasizes the increasing role of advanced technology in this interdisciplinary field.

“There is an ever-growing need for personalized medicine and applied engineering because of the ways in which engineering is driving innovation in medicine,” Wiznia stated. He added that current technology facilitates patient-specific treatments, enhancing clinical outcomes and creating a demand for engineers skilled in this area. The PMAE program aims to equip graduates with these skills to advance personalized patient care.

The PMAE program was launched by Yale University through a collaboration between its School of Medicine, School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, and Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation. Established in 2022, it integrates emerging technologies such as image processing, 3D printing, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, and machine learning tools.

The curriculum is structured to prepare students from diverse STEM backgrounds for developing innovative solutions for personalized medicine and surgery. It begins with an eight-week clinical immersion where students shadow mentors across more than 20 departments. This is followed by coursework focusing on 3D modeling and printing, medical device design, and culminates with a research thesis.

“For prospective students," Wiznia said, "I would emphasize that you spend the first two months embedded in the hospital environment with surgeons and physicians prior to applying what you learned during your engineering coursework.”

Students come from various countries with STEM backgrounds. They recently took over Yale School of Medicine's Instagram account to showcase their experiences. Here are some profiles:

A student from Roslyn, New York holds an undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Brown University. They deferred their medical school start date at Mount Sinai to pursue the PMAE master’s at Yale to deepen their understanding before beginning medical school.

Another student from Lima, Peru chose Yale for its innovative environment that provides hands-on experience with high-end tools like those used at the 3D Collaborative for Medical Innovation (3DC).

A student from Hong Kong appreciates YSM's leading position globally and looks forward to clinical immersion as part of their studies.

From Berlin, Connecticut comes a student who values Yale’s unique opportunities to engage directly with doctors at Yale New Haven Hospital while pursuing biomedical engineering studies.

Finally, a computer science major from Shenyang appreciates Yale's academic environment that encourages interdisciplinary collaboration.

These students plan diverse futures ranging from continuing education at prestigious institutions to entering industry roles or academia after completing the PMAE program.