This spring at a prestigious conference in Athens, Greece, Luddy Indianapolis student Amulya Veldandi (above, left) heard a speaker mention that he still remembered presenting his first scientific poster 22 years ago.
That speaker was addressing the attendees of the IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging. He was giving the opening plenary talk at the same conference where he made his first presentation – and where Veldandi and fellow Luddy School student Ria Treesa Raju (above, right), were to present their own inaugural research posters.
“This story was incredibly inspiring and motivates young professionals like me to strive for long-term success in research,” says Veldandi. “This experience has reinforced my commitment to a career in imaging informatics.”
Veldandi and Raju, both medical professionals, are earning their M.S. degrees in Health Informatics at IU’s Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering in Indianapolis.
“Attending the ISBI Conference at Greece has helped me understand the possibilities in the field of informatics research,” says Raju.
Exploring AI in medical imaging
In their separate research projects, both Raju and Veldandi explored the impact of artificial intelligence in the field of medical imaging.
Raju presented her paper, “A Scoping Review on Quantization Methods for Medical Imaging AI,” at the conference. This research project, she says, “focuses on model optimization, specifically using quantized-aware training to make models more deployable in low-resource settings. We reviewed various methods and evaluated which ones offer better performance.”
Another research project Raju is working on focuses on heart health, using Indiana state health records.
“I am analyzing factors contributing to cardiovascular death using data from Indiana state health data,” she says, “aiming to uncover the unique factors contributing to cardiovascular death from this data.
“I also work at the IU School of Dentistry, where I see more practical applications for informatics.”
Raju, who was born and raised in Bahrain, says her journey into health care began when she moved to India to pursue her bachelor’s degree in dental surgery.
“After graduating, I worked for about a year, where I realized the vital role that informatics plays in health care – from billing to diagnosis and treatment.
“Witnessing the transformative potential of data and technology in health care inspired me to pursue a master’s in health informatics,” she says.
“My primary interest lies in developing AI models, imaging informatics, and applying natural language processing (NLP) techniques to make a meaningful impact in the health care field.”
Partnering with Emory University
Veldandi says her research, “Measuring Impact of Radiologist-AI Collaboration: Efficiency, Accuracy, and Clinical Impact,” evaluates the impact of artificial intelligence integration on radiologists’ efficiency and accuracy in diagnosing medical images across different modalities. The research was conducted in partnership between Indiana University and Emory University.
“The wait times for patients to get a scan in the U.S. can be exhausting,” she notes.
“By reducing radiologists’ workload with AI, we can supplement their efforts, improve health care efficiency, and prevent misdiagnoses and unnecessary radiation exposure.
“The positive reception of our research has motivated me to further explore the potential of AI in improving diagnostic accuracy and efficiency,” she says.
“I am more determined than ever to contribute to the advancement of medical imaging practices through technology.”
Using AI to speed up radiology
In her research on radiologist-AI collaboration, Veldandi noted that diagnostic accuracy varied with AI assistance.
“Some radiologists’ accuracy increased from 84 percent to 95 percent, while others decreased from 91 percent to 86 percent. This variability underscores the need for personalized AI integration in radiology,” she says.
“We aim to explore the insights of the radiologists to better understand how AI integration in radiology can be made smoother for both radiologists and informaticians. This aligns with my goal to innovate and improve radiological practices through technology,” says Veldandi, who also works at the IU School of Medicine’s Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences in the Dr. Yu-Chein Wu Lab with neuroimaging data to develop AI-driven diagnostic solutions.
Looking ahead, Veldandi adds, “I would like to continue my research in the field of imaging informatics post-graduation, focusing on creating innovative solutions that directly impact clinical decision-making in radiology. My goal is to contribute to the advancement of medical imaging practices through technology, improving patient outcomes and health care delivery.”
Addressing a need with evolving technology
Veldandi earned her Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery from Gandhi Medical College in Hyderabad, India, and has experience as a general physician.
“During my medical training and subsequent practice, I developed a deep understanding of clinical workflows and patient care,” she says.
“Coming from a developing country with a huge population like India, where health care is a challenge for most people, I realized that health care professionals could greatly benefit from the use of AI and data analytics to enhance efficiency and accessibility.”
Veldandi says her journey into health informatics began during the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the critical role data and technology play in health care.
“Witnessing the power of data analytics and AI in managing the pandemic, I realized the immense potential of these tools to transform health care.
“This experience motivated me to shift my focus to health informatics, where I could leverage my medical knowledge and combine it with advanced technological skills to drive improvements in health care delivery and patient outcomes.”
Luddy School opens new horizons
Both Raju and Veldandi credit Luddy Indianapolis with setting them firmly on their new career paths.
“As someone with zero knowledge in informatics before starting this program, my studies at the Luddy School have been instrumental in providing me with a solid foundation in health informatics and in shaping me into a professional in this field,” Veldandi says.
“The curriculum has equipped me with the necessary skills in data analysis, machine learning, and deep learning, all of which are critical for my research in imaging informatics.”
Raju agrees, noting “The Luddy School has provided me with a robust foundation in informatics through unique and practical coursework.
“Reflecting on my journey, I remember struggling with the basics of coding in my first semester,” Raju adds. “Now, as I look at how far I’ve come, I can clearly see how much my skills have evolved, thanks to the comprehensive education and mentorship I’ve received.
“This growth not only strengthens my technical abilities but also reinforces my passion and commitment to making meaningful contributions to the field of informatics.”
Mentorship at Luddy School was key
Working as teaching assistants and conducting research with Luddy School Associate Professor Saptarshi Purkayastha (right), Ph.D., has been a major influence in their academic careers, say Raju and Veldandi. Both have worked with him through the Purkayastha Lab for Health Innovation.
“While the entire faculty has been incredibly supportive, Dr. Purkayastha has been instrumental in my entire growth and journey,” Raju says. “Working at the PLHI lab as a research assistant and serving as a teaching assistant has equipped me with invaluable theoretical skills and practical experience.”
Veldandi credits Purkayastha for providing her with the opportunity to take part in significant projects that expanded her research horizons.
“His mentorship has been invaluable,” she says, and has clarified how she plans to make health informatics part of her future career.
“I aim to utilize my health informatics degree by developing AI-driven solutions that enhance diagnostic accuracy and efficiency in radiology,” Veldandi explains.
“By combining my health care background with informatics expertise, I hope to innovate and implement technologies that streamline imaging processes, improve diagnostic precision, and ultimately reduce health care disparities.”
‘On the front lines of health care’
“What sets our program apart is students like Amulya and Ria, who bring rich clinical experience to the world of health informatics,” says Purkayastha, Program Director of Health Informatics at the Luddy School. “Their ability to bridge the gap between health care practice and cutting-edge technology is truly remarkable.”
He adds, “Amulya’s work on radiologist-AI collaboration exemplifies the innovative spirit we foster at Luddy. Her prior education as a clinician, and now studies in informatics is not just learning about AI; she is actively shaping how it will be integrated into health care delivery.”
And, noting Raju’s prior experience as a dentist, he remarked, “The transition from dental practice to health informatics can be challenging, but Ria has embraced it wholeheartedly.
“Her work on AI model optimization for medical imaging to support low-powered devices at the last mile, demonstrates how quickly she has adapted her dental knowledge to push the boundaries of AI applications in health care.”
“What impresses me most about Amulya and Ria is their commitment to improving patient care through technology,” Purkayastha notes.
“They understand the real-world implications of their research because they’ve been on the front lines of health care. This perspective is invaluable as we develop AI solutions that can truly make a difference in clinical settings.”
Media Contact
Joanne Lovrinic
jebehele@iu.edu
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