Instructor Vicky Valverde Integrates Her Knowledge of Medicine in the AI She Teaches Her Students and the Work She Will Do at Goldman Sachs

Vicky Valverde is a Master’s student in Biomedical Informatics at Stanford University (class of ’21) and recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering also from Stanford University(class of ’20). Vicky is particularly interested in the applications of AI in drug development and brain machine interfaces. She is also very interested in venture capital and finance related to healthcare. After Vicky graduates, she will be joining the Healthcare Investment Banking team at Goldman Sachs in NY.

How did you choose what you studied in college? How did you end up studying AI?

“I have always had a strong interest in helping treat disease and improve people's quality of life. This led me to study bioengineering, which is at the intersection of medicine and engineering. During my undergraduate career, I realized that the field of medicine is shifting to the heavy use of artificial intelligence, which pushed me to get involved in the field. Following these goals, I will be pursuing a Master's in Biomedical Informatics at Stanford.”

What research/industry work within AI have you been focused on? What excites you about the future of AI?

“I am very interested in the use of AI in drug development given its potential to redesign, streamline, and improve the traditional production of drugs.”

What has been the highlight of your teaching experience with Inspirit AI?

“Witnessing the improvement of my students! Many come in with no knowledge of Python or AI, and are able to code on their own by the end of the program.”

What advice would you give to young people who are interested in studying AI or pursuing a career in AI in the future?

“Read about the field, start coding early, and don't be afraid to try things on your own!”