As medical modalities such as imaging and diagnostic testing improve, physicians are getting better and better at understanding diseases. Specifically, with regard to cancer, tumors can be revealed before the patient starts to show symptoms. With this new understanding comes a key question: how do we act on this new knowledge? Although detecting smaller tumors has the benefit of preventing advanced stages of the disease, it also creates the need for smaller, less invasive tools to ensure a minimal amount of healthy tissue is damaged during transection. Advances in this field provide glimpses into the future of biotechnological R&D. For instance, a start-up called Prana Thoratic is developing a surgical tool that removes small lung tumors with minimal healthy tissue damage.
A clearer understanding of the meaning of diagnostic data often creates a demand for more diagnostic data so physicians can more easily gauge the health of a patient. New start-ups like Starling Medical are developing solutions that will allow physicians to get the diagnostic data they need without requiring physical samples delivered by the patient. Moreover, in the face of a greater understanding of the cardiovascular system and the diseases that affect it, new solutions to extremely deadly conditions such as heart failure are being developed. For example, a company called Bivacor has recently replaced the hearts of three patients with titanium substitutes.
These breakthroughs in physics, engineering, and computer science spur innovations in medicine that will undoubtedly shape the future of treatments. There are a variety of ways to contribute to this wave of innovation. Research and academia are often where innovations originate. Start-ups and most established companies work to convert this innovation into something that physicians and patients can use. Both of these ends of the spectrum require engineers, computer scientists, biologists, physicists, and virtually every other type of STEM role. In order for products to reach the patient, experts in business, history, and communication are needed.
So where does a high school student fit into this? Students in your position who are interested in contributing to medical innovation get the opportunity to think about how you want to contribute. Do you want to be a mechanical engineer that develops prosthetic limbs? How about the computer scientist who helps convert the brainwaves of paralyzed patients into movement in robotic arms? Maybe you want to be the historian or anthropologist who ensures these burgeoning innovations are accessible to all patients despite historical healthcare disparities. The options are limitless! While you are in high school, it would be beneficial to think outside of the box and explore the ways medicine overlaps with other fields. Have conversations with professionals, explore shadowing opportunities, and take advantage of the classes that your school offers. Doing so puts you one step above the rest, and may provide you with a better sense of where you fit into this innovative future.