As students from the third academic cohort of the nation’s first master’s degree in personalized medicine and applied engineering (PMAE) progress through a unique curriculum, the program’s co-director, Daniel Wiznia, MD, explains why advanced technology is playing a growing role between medicine and engineering.
“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 said. “Technology is available today to streamline patient-specific, tailored treatments that also help physicians achieve improved clinical outcomes. As this technology progresses and becomes more widely utilized, there is a need for skilled engineers who are adept in this space. The PMAE program is designed to provide graduates with these skills and empower them to push the boundaries of personalized patient care.”
Through a collaboration between Yale School of Medicine (YSM), the Yale School of Engineering & Applied Sciences (SEAS), and the Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation, Yale created the PMAE program in 2022, which is designed to keep pace with the most cutting-edge and emerging technologies available, such as image processing technology, 3D printing, custom surgical planning, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, and machine learning tools.
The academic program is designed to prepare biomedical, mechanical and electrical engineers, computer science majors, pre-med and pre-PhD students, medical students, and physicians with the tools to develop innovative 3D solutions for personalized medicine and surgery. It begins with an eight-week clinical immersion program, enabling students to shadow clinical mentors from more than 20 clinical and surgical departments and receive training to identify needs for either new devices or improvements on existing resources. Two semesters of coursework then follow, where students learn about 3D modeling and printing, personalized medicine software, and medical device design before culminating in a research thesis.
Highlighting the clinical aspects of this master’s program, Wiznia said, “For prospective students, 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 course work.”
Students currently enrolled in the program have STEM backgrounds, hail from several different countries, and have a range of ways in which they plan to use the experience and skills gained from this program. Recently, those in the program also took over the Yale School of Medicine Instagram account to show what a day in the life of a PMAE student is like.
Meet some of the PMAE students:
Hometown:
Roslyn, New York, United States
What is your educational background?
Before coming to Yale, I earned my undergraduate degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from Brown University. I conducted my honors thesis research in a biomedical engineering lab at Brown, which sparked my interest in how engineering principles can be applied to improve medicine. In my sophomore year, I was accepted into the Donald and Vera Blinken FlexMed Early Assurance MD program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. I could have started medical school right after graduating, but I decided to defer my MD start date to pursue the PMAE master’s at Yale. My goal in this program is to deepen my understanding of personalized medicine and applied engineering before beginning medical school.
Why Yale?
Yale has a distinguished history of medical innovation, being the first institution in the U.S. to treat cancer with chemotherapy and to introduce antibiotics for bacterial infections. The PMAE master’s program at Yale builds on this legacy, equipping students to continue shaping the future of medicine. It offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore applied engineering principles and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, 3D printing, augmented/virtual reality, and biotechnologies—all of which are critical to advancing medicine.
What interests you about personalized medicine and applied engineering?
Personalized medicine focuses on tailoring healthcare to the unique needs of each individual, which represents a crucial shift in medical practice. In my future career as a physician-scientist, I'm passionate about advancing the widespread adoption and accessibility of personalized medicine, as I believe it has the potential to vastly improve the health and lives of people everywhere.
What are you most looking forward to about this program?
I’m eager to contribute to the development of personalized treatments that can significantly improve patient outcomes. My master’s thesis, guided by Professors Paul Turner and Jon Koff at YSM, focuses on developing personalized phage therapy to treat drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in cystic fibrosis patients. I'm excited to be part of this innovative work that could have a profound impact on patients' lives.
What are your hobbies outside of academics?
Outside of class, I enjoy spending time with friends, working out, running, cycling, and exploring nature. I also work for Yale Ventures as an Associate for the Roberts Innovation Fund. In my role, I support Yale engineering faculty and their innovations on the path to commercialization or greatest impact.
What’s next?
I will be attending the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai following the Yale PMAE program and hope to become a physician-scientist in the future.
Hometown:
Lima, Peru
What is your educational background?
I have a background in biomedical engineering.
Why Yale?
I chose Yale because it offers more than just a prestigious name; it’s a place where innovation and collaboration genuinely thrive. It provides opportunities to collaborate with leading companies in the field and access to prestigious research labs. The university offers a one-of-a-kind master’s program, which aligns perfectly with my academic and professional goals. The coursework isn't just theoretical—it gives hands-on experience with high-end tools I want to master. Yale also has the 3D Collaborative for Medical Innovation (3DC), a novel point-of-care lab led by top experts where I can apply what I’m learning in real-world healthcare settings.
What interests you about personalized medicine and applied engineering?
I am passionate about making a positive impact on patients' lives, improving physicians' workflows, and enhancing healthcare systems by developing personalized solutions using advanced tools like medical imaging, 3D printing, extended reality, artificial intelligence, and more.
What are you most looking forward to about this program?
I look forward to gaining specialized skills in cutting-edge technological tools, building a strong professional network, and deepening my expertise in applied research and innovation. I’m also excited to be part of the 3DC, a point-of-care 3D printing lab.
What are your hobbies outside of academics?
I enjoy playing soccer, traveling, and engaging in water sports.
What’s next?
I plan to leverage the skills and knowledge gained from this program to drive impactful innovations in healthcare. This includes publishing my research but also collaborating on cutting-edge projects that bridge the gap between personalized medicine and emerging technologies like 3D printing and extended reality. I’m also committed to mentoring the next generation of engineers who share a passion for transforming medicine.
Hometown:
Hong Kong, China
What is your educational background?
Bachelor of science, major in biochemistry, and minor in genetics and genomics
Why Yale?
YSM is one of the world’s leading medical schools and the university’s campus is absolutely stunning.
What interests you about personalized medicine and applied engineering?
I want to better understand and become more involved with developing innovative, cutting-edge medical devices and products that improve the well-being of patients.
What are you most looking forward to about this program?
I am looking forward to clinical immersion and the thesis project, as well as learning more about cutting-edge technology.
What are your hobbies outside of academics?
I enjoy playing the cello, dancing ballet, volunteering, and my new hobby, which is playing the carillon.
What’s next?
I am preparing for medical school after this program.
Hometown:
Berlin, CT, United States
What is your educational background?
Biomedical engineering at UConn
Why Yale?
I chose Yale for the opportunity to work on cutting edge medical research the unique chance to work with and learn directly from doctors at Yale New Haven Hospital. Spending as much time in a hospital setting as I have as an engineering student is something that likely would not have been available to me elsewhere.
What interests you about personalized medicine and applied engineering?
Personalized medicine interests me because we often get to look at more niche cases where standard treatments may not work. These cases often present unique problems that we must solve to help the patient. I feel that with these challenges comes a need for more creativity as we try to solve the puzzle of how to adapt to each patient’s particular anatomy or disease.
What are you most looking forward to about this program?
Something I have really enjoyed and look forward to continuing is expanding my skills in 3D medical modeling. In our coursework we have had lessons on the use of 3D imaging and modeling for diagnosis, medical device design, and surgical planning. Learning how to use various software packages and how to apply them to a clinical setting has been very interesting.
What are your hobbies outside of academics?
I am a big outdoors person and I especially love to hike and swim. I also enjoy going to the gym and cooking. I additionally work part time at my town pool as a youth swim coach during the summer.
What’s next?
I hope to find an industry job as a biomedical engineer after graduating.
Hometown:
Shenyang, Liaoning, China
What is your educational background?
Computer science at Georgia Tech
Why Yale?
Yale is a world-renowned institution that provides an exceptional academic environment and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. It brings together leading scholars and researchers from diverse fields all over the world, while its vibrant and humanistic campus environment makes me feel home. Studying in such environment encourages innovation and motivates me to strive for excellence.
What interests you about personalized medicine and applied engineering?
PMAE has an interdisciplinary intersection of medicine and technology that enables students to apply engineering means to the complex clinical challenges. It holds immense potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery and clinical outcomes. The integration of its clinical insights and technological expertise will bring us a unique opportunity to make impactful contributions to healthcare communities.
What are you most looking forward to about this program?
Clinical immersion and hands-on research opportunities. As a computer science student, the opportunity to shadow at one of the world's leading hospitals is incredibly exciting. I observed surgical procedures and gained valuable insights into the engineering materials and methods used in clinical practice. I find it extremely fascinating how I am able to apply cutting-edge engineering approaches to real clinical problems during research.
What are your hobbies outside of academics?
Volleyball, singing, and reading
What’s next?
PhD