MD Student Wins 2023 Information Technology Award from Mass. Medical Society

Deniz Goodman, MD ‘26, has received the Massachusetts Medical Society’s (MMS) 2023 Information Technology in Medicine Award, which recognizes the development of an information technology tool that helps physicians practice medicine, teach medicine or pursue clinical research.

The MMS Information Technology in Medicine Award has been presented annually since 2001 and many winners have seen their projects make indelible marks on science, medicine and patient care. This year, the award was sponsored by Click Therapeutics, Inc. and came with a $5,000 award.

Goodman’s work is focused on the development of an ultrasound simulator application aimed at teaching the kinesthetic handling of various ultrasound transducers via point-of-care ultrasound probe motion and scanning simulation. The smartphone app boasts self-guided modules for individual ultrasound views, designed to enable remote learning in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Although point-of-care ultrasound has historically been taught through an in-person clinical curriculum, our app will allow students to learn from anywhere—free of geographical or financial constraints. I envision it being of particular benefit to students without local access to ultrasound machines, which can cost upwards of several thousands of dollars,” he explains.

Goodman completed his undergraduate studies through BU’s accelerated medical program with a double major in psychology and medical science. He was one of four fellows selected to join the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s Student Outreach and Research Fellowship for the class of 2024 and was also one of 30 scholars chosen for the Health Equity Leaders Program class of 2023.

Goodman’s involvement in the MMS dates back to the beginning of his medical school career. In 2022, he became the first medical student to be elected into an executive position on one of the medical society’s committees, serving as vice chair of the Committee on LGBTQ Matters.

Earlier this year, Goodman presided as chair of the New England Journal of Medicine Research Symposium, sponsored by the NEJM Group, a division of the MMS. He also played an important role in the medical society’s policy-making body, serving on the Reference Committee A, Public Health, and the Late & Deferred Committee for the House of Delegates. He also wasselected to represent the Suffolk District in the MMS annual meeting and will be representing Massachusetts in the American Medical Association Medical Student Section.

During the upcoming academic year, Goodman will serve a one-year term as Clinical Governing Councilor of the MMS Medical Student Section. He also will join the Committee on Legislation, through which he aims to advocate for patients and physicians by effecting legislative change at the state level.

In addition to his leadership in organized medicine, Goodman has a longstanding commitment to promoting health equity through service and research. He is particularly interested in identifying and addressing disparities within the field of ophthalmology and has co-founded the Boston Sight Savers organization to establish vision screenings at homeless shelters in his community. He was awarded the MMS Community Service Grant in support of this initiative and, as director of the organization, he aims to reduce the disease burden of glaucoma among the homeless South Boston population by identifying barriers to routine vision care and connecting at-risk individuals with glaucoma specialists.