Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVISInstitute News
Starting with the 2025/26 school year in summer 2025, there will be a new offer for Bremen students at the secondary school Oberschule am Waller Ring, which has a health focus: recently, the school authorities approved the “Digital Medicine” specialization. It sheds light on the part of medicine that addresses the question of how digital methods can improve healthcare. The role of imaging techniques and the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) are prominent examples. The profile is offered in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS. The first trial run is now starting at the MEVIS partner school Oberschule am Waller Ring (formerly part of the Walle school center). It enables interested students to take a look at the future professional fields of medicine.
Medical processes are becoming increasingly complex at a rapid pace. They can no longer be managed without targeted computer support, for example when it comes to detailed questions about diseases and treatment options. With the help of computer programs, medical doctors can identify diseases earlier and more accurately, weigh up treatment options and greatly reduce side effects.
The availability and utilization of data are, therefore, a key component. Data networking plays an increasingly important role in digital medicine. Data and insights gained from them are integrated from different areas of discipline and from several clinics in order to learn from them. Electronic patient records (ePA) are becoming more widespread. Digital assistants are increasingly being used in clinics. The development of new AI tools will accelerate this trend. For example, algorithms can help detect tumors on X-ray images at earlier stages or provide data-supported information on the most promising therapies. However, this development also harbors risks: How can data protection be guaranteed if the programs are trained with vast amounts of medical data?
The new “Digital Medicine” specialization at the upper secondary Walle addresses these topics with teaching modules and an interdisciplinary approach. It shows students interested in this professional field perspectives that go beyond traditional medical studies. In particular, it aims to emphasize the great importance of mathematics, physics and computer science in combination with the life sciences for future development. The approach allows for differentiated testing and evaluation of new technologies that are used in digital medicine and enables students to deal with diverse aspects of the topic in a practical and contextualized manner.
Fraunhofer MEVIS developed the concept together with teachers at the Waller Ring secondary school. Its central element is teaching modules that the teaching staff can implement. Using diagnosis and treatment of tumors as an example, the modules address the areas in which digital tools are already being used in medicine, the scientific expertise behind them and the achievements research could enable in the future. For example, AI tools can help to collate and analyze existing examination results during the initial consultation. When analyzing CT or MRI images, algorithms help specialists to detect and precisely measure a tumor and assess whether a treatment is effective.
These teaching modules can be covered as cross-cutting topics in all subjects of the specialization. These include three to four courses. Concretely, all students take the advanced biology course, which coordinates the specialization and cooperation, for three years. The subject of computer science teaches the basics and enables a close connection to the research areas and working methods at Fraunhofer MEVIS. The same applies to the compulsory subject math. The “Model Region Industrial Mathematics” (MOIN) project, in which MEVIS is involved as part of the “Campus Neighbourhood Visibility” sub-project, allows a special focus to be placed on mathematics in the modules. As a deeper specialization, the subject of mathematics can also be chosen as an advanced course with an increased number of hours. The psychology profile subject complements the thematic focus and expands the subject area.
In addition, Fraunhofer MEVIS offers regular insights into everyday research to systematically integrate extracurricular activities into the school day, for example in the form of lectures, workshops and joint discussions with medical doctors and scientists. They report on their work in science, their progress, but also the obstacles they face. Female researchers want to show that computer science, math and physics are no longer male domains and thus interest young women in their field of work.
A special approach is taken by STEAM workshops (STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, All other disciplines and Mathematics). The contextualization of math and AI, for example, offers students the opportunity to approach the topics in new ways, e.g., through artistic processes, and thus gain broader access to digital medicine.