Medical education plays a crucial role in shaping the next generation of healthcare providers. The design of educational tools, the diversity of case studies, and the inclusivity of medical curricula directly impact how future doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners approach patient care. At Sketchy, the teams behind our new DDx platform are leading these efforts—working to ensure that DDx not only enhances clinical reasoning but also prepares students to care for diverse patient populations effectively. As AI becomes more integrated into medical education, addressing bias at the foundational level is critical. By taking an equitable approach to how we build educational experiences, we help make AI itself more equitable—ensuring that our tools recognize and account for bias rather than perpetuate it.
In honor of International Women’s Day, we’re highlighting the voices and contributions of some of the women on our product and content teams whose work is shaping the future of medical education for good.
Addressing Gender Bias in Medicine
Gender bias in medicine has been well-documented, from the historical misdiagnosis of women to disparities in treatment. Addressing this issue starts at the level of healthcare education, ensuring that future providers are equipped with the knowledge and awareness to recognize and mitigate these biases. Many conditions affecting women are underrepresented in medical education, leading to delays in diagnosis and suboptimal care.
Pooja Jethani, MD, MS, DDx Senior Content Strategist - AI, highlights the impact of these biases:
“It’s no secret that women are misdiagnosed more often than men. The word ‘hysteria’ originates from the Greek word ‘hystera,’ meaning uterus. Hysteria was a common diagnosis for women in the 1900s, and unfortunately, gender bias in healthcare is still prevalent today. DDx aims to expose students to an array of case topics early and often, and this includes exposure to women’s health. We have cases on breast cancer in a 35-year-old woman, PID, fibroids, PCOS, and more.”
By integrating a wide range of cases—including those that highlight conditions often overlooked or dismissed in women—DDx provides students with the opportunity to sharpen their diagnostic skills without the risk of real-world consequences.
One such case is multiple sclerosis (MS), a condition that disproportionately affects women. Myra Aquino, MD, Senior Content Strategist, shares why developing this case for DDx was particularly meaningful to her:
“One case in particular that I'm proud to have worked on is a multiple sclerosis (MS) case. MS affects women roughly three times more than men, and it often occurs in their 20s and 30s when they're just really beginning to build their lives, families, and careers. This case was particularly meaningful because it focused on subtle but key symptoms--- like fatigue, heat sensitivity, and sensory changes--- which can often be easily overlooked or dismissed due to the woman's busy lifestyle (whether it's due to work, caregiving, or other responsibilities often delegated to women). MS also impacts women differently than men due to their biological and physiological differences, which has implications not only for their disease progress and response to treatment, but also for their mental health, reproductive health, and their relationships.
Through this DDx case, we want to ensure that students and health professionals can catch MS early, start treatment and counseling, and improve long-term outcomes for these women, not just from a medical standpoint but from a quality-of-life standpoint as well. This allows clinicians to treat the patient holistically and brings women one step closer to living their lives on their own terms.
The Role of Women in Shaping Medical Education
Women make up half the population, yet their representation in research, education, and medical leadership still lags. Ensuring that women’s voices are integral in the development of medical education is key to fostering a more inclusive and effective healthcare system.
Danielle Dyess, DDx Principal Product Manager, emphasizes the importance of this representation:
“Diverse perspectives in medical education are essential to preparing the next generation of healthcare providers to deliver effective, empathetic, and inclusive care. When women and other underrepresented voices are actively involved in designing medical education technology and curricula, we help eliminate biases that could shape not only students’ learning experiences but also their ability to provide equitable care in the future.”
Ashley Tran, MD, DDx Content Strategist further explains:
“Diversity in healthcare is crucial in ensuring better patient outcomes. Studies consistently show that a diverse and representative healthcare workforce improves patients' access to care, perception of care, and outcomes. However, in addition to this, promoting diversity in medical education is important for breaking down barriers to academic and professional advancement. Ensuring that students have access to mentors that share similar backgrounds and experiences to them is important in empowering trainees to develop confidence and navigate career challenges effectively.”
DDx leverages AI to immerse students in diverse patient interactions, simulating the wide range of clinical encounters they will face in real practice. Through lifelike cases, DDx replicates authentic patient language, questions, and concerns—helping students develop both clinical preparedness and necessary sensitivities based on their background, culture, age, and gender. Orr Ganel, DDx Product Manager, shares a personal experience that underscores the importance of such exposure:
“I think exposure is a big part of how DDx can empower students to feel confident in their ability to treat all kinds of people. With DDx, we have the opportunity to expose students to a broad range of patient presentations, including rare conditions or symptoms that can be easily misdiagnosed. Over a decade ago, I went to the doctor with severe abdominal pain that was brushed off with a gyno referral, which turned out to be appendicitis. Exposure to a diverse bank of patients is one way we can prepare tomorrow’s clinicians to feel confident treating anyone that walks through the door.”
Shaping the Future of Healthcare Together
At DDx, we are proud to have a team of women and men whose expertise and lived experiences are helping shape a medical education platform that strives to be forward-thinking, inclusive, and impactful. By integrating diverse patient presentations, addressing gender biases in diagnostics, and fostering clinical confidence, DDx is contributing to a future where all patients—regardless of gender, race, or background—receive the care they deserve. Elissa Naglieri, DScPAS, MS, PA-C, Subject Matter Expert for DDx, further concludes:
"Diverse perspectives, especially women’s voices, are crucial in medical education in ensuring more inclusive and effective patient care. Women bring unique insights into patient experiences and clinical decision-making, ultimately improving outcomes for diverse populations. By amplifying women’s voices in healthcare, we inspire future generations of healthcare professionals and drive advancements that better reflect the needs of all patients."
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the contributions of the women behind DDx and the countless women in healthcare who are pushing for a better, more equitable future in medicine. Their work is not just shaping medical education—it’s shaping the future of patient care itself.
The landscape of clinical education has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past five years, largely driven by the global shift toward virtual learning during the pandemic. This abrupt transition forced medical institutions to adapt quickly, moving away from traditional, in-person classroom settings to digital platforms that could support remote education.
The Rise of Technology in Clinical Education
The rapid adoption of technology in medical education has extended far beyond video conferencing. Artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) have all played a role in reshaping the way future healthcare professionals learn and practice clinical skills. These advancements have provided students with immersive, interactive experiences that bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application.
"The need to shift away from in-person learning during the pandemic has profoundly transformed the way students receive their medical education," Seth Politano, DO, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences noted. "Over the past five years, there has been an increased reliance on technology, which has not only facilitated remote learning but also brought the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced digital tools into the limelight."
The Emergence of Web-Based Simulation Tools
Among the most promising innovations in medical education are web-based simulation tools, which offer an interactive way for students to develop clinical reasoning skills in a psychologically safe environment. Platforms like DDx by Sketchy are at the forefront of this shift, providing a case-based approach that helps learners practice differential diagnosis and decision-making from anywhere at any time. By simulating real-world patient scenarios, these tools allow students to apply their knowledge in a structured, guided format—reinforcing key clinical concepts while building confidence in their diagnostic abilities.
As medical schools and training programs continue to integrate these technologies, web-based simulations are emerging as a powerful supplement to traditional methods of clinical education. Unlike physical simulation labs, they are accessible anytime, anywhere, making them a scalable solution for institutions looking to enhance their curricula.
What’s Next? A More Hands-On, Tech-Driven Approach
Looking ahead, clinical education is poised to undergo even more significant changes. The next phase will see a shift from passive knowledge acquisition—where students primarily absorb information—to a more hands-on approach that emphasizes real-world skill development and critical thinking. Seth Politano, DO further noted,
"Clinical education is poised to undergo a significant transformation. This evolution is driven by the growing integration of technology into medical education, which not only enhances access to information but also reshapes the roles of educators and the learning experiences of students."
The role of medical educators will also continue to evolve. Rather than simply delivering information, instructors will focus more on fostering clinical reasoning, facilitating skills practice, and reinforcing learning through real-world scenarios and feedback. Meanwhile, students will need to develop not only core clinical competencies but also proficiency in emerging medical technologies.
Preparing for the Future of Medical Learning
As the healthcare landscape grows increasingly complex, medical education must continue to evolve to ensure that future clinicians are prepared for the realities of patient care. By embracing new tools and teaching methods—such as web-based simulation platforms like DDx by Sketchy—clinical education can equip students with the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing medical environment.
The next five years will bring new opportunities—and challenges—but one thing is certain: technology will remain at the heart of medical education’s transformation.
