MD+ 2025 Datathon

Theme: Empowering Patients Through AI

Dates: 10/27/25-11/19/25

Location: Remote

Team size: 3–6

Open to: Medical Students · Residents · Graduate Students

About the Datathon

What is the MD+ Datathon?

The 4th annual MD+ Datathon is a national, month-long event that brings medical students from various backgrounds together to explore complex healthcare challenges and create data-driven solutions. Hosted by MD+ and its partners, the datathon encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative thinking, and real-world problem solving using clinical datasets. This year, the theme is Empowering Patients Through AI.

From the datasets we provide, participants are asked to identify an addressable problem to explore by analyzing the dataset to create an actionable recommendation or product.

Why "Empowering Patients Through AI"?

Students are encouraged to interpret the theme broadly and creatively, drawing on their unique experiences and interests to define what "empowering patients" means in a data-driven context.

Some examples include health literacy, access to care, after-visit summaries, chatbots from chronic health conditions, insurance navigation, language accessibility, etc.

Who should join?

Medical students, residents, and graduate students pursuing degrees related to human health. Teams will consist of 3-6 trainees. Multidisciplinary teams are highly encouraged.

What you'll gain

Skills in data analysis and machine learning, experience tackling high-impact problems in patient care, and opportunities to publish work.

Additionally, the winners will receive a monetary prize!

Timeline

Anytime: Start finding teammates 2-5 more teammates. Find teammates here.
Friday, 10/24/25 @ 11:59pm AOE: Deadline for individual registration. Each individual submits this form. Register here.
Monday, 10/27/25 @ 7pm EST: Kickoff meeting. Google calendar here.
Monday, 10/27/25 @ 11:59 AOE: Team registration deadline. Register your team via this form. If you have not found teammates, reach out to us!
Monday, 11/3/25: Week 2 check-in. Our team will reach out via slack for check-ins.
Tuesday, 11/11/25: Week 3 check-in.
Thursday, 11/13/25 @ 11:59 AM: Final submission. Submit final projects here.
Wednesday, 11/19/25 @ 7PM EST: Pitch competition. Google calendar here.

FAQs

I have little/no data science or computational experience. Can I still participate?

Absolutely! Learning the computational tools is half the fun of the event. Participants will have access to tutorials walking through the basics of Python and R, and also how to go about analyzing the dataset. Datathon submissions are also judged on more than just technical complexity. In fact, datathon judges care more about the insights derived and the data analysis than the computational novelty or complexity of the project!

What is the time commitment?

We encourage all participants to attend the kickoff event and the pitch competition, but other than that, there are no required synchronous events. The time commitment is as much as you and your team want to put into the project!

What is the final product we are submitting?

Your team will submit a report (of any length) of your findings along with the code you used. The report should include the following headings: Background, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions.

Submission guidelines.

Do I need a team beforehand?

No. Search for teammates by adding your name and bio to these slides.

Can I see previous examples of projects?

Yes! Last year, our theme was "Responsible Generative AI," and all teams had the option to publish an abstract-version of their findings in PRISM's special edition journal. Read the issue here. In 2023, the theme was Value Based Care. Read example report submissions from 2023 here.