Shuaib’s story

If you have a love of learning, Sussex is an amazing place to be.” SHUAIB KARMANI
Consultant spinal surgeon
Artificial Intelligence MSc
Startup Sussex winner, Nhealth.Ai
UC Berkeley and University of Sussex Big Ideas Contest Winner

‘After 30 years in medicine, my sabbatical offered an opportunity to explore a different field – one that has given me energy, enthusiasm and a new sense of purpose.

My interest in artificial intelligence (AI) began when my mother sadly passed away due to avoidable medical errors. Much of medicine is pattern recognition and protocols, and I began to consider how automated, intelligent systems could offer alternative approaches.

Shortly after I enrolled on my Masters, ChatGPT launched, and the world changed forever. AI is at the centre of many conversations, and it’s an exciting time to study the subject – especially at Sussex, which was home to some of its earliest pioneers.

Throughout my degree, I’ve been encouraged to explore ideas beyond my own discipline, attending lectures in areas as diverse as product development, international development and economics. I’ve also learned a great deal about entrepreneurship, which is a powerful way to make real-world impact.

I felt inspired to revisit an idea catalysed by my professional experiences and my own family’s journey. Around 220,000 hospital patients in the UK either die or suffer serious, avoidable harm every year, often because a patient’s vital signs aren’t monitored closely enough. Sussex gave me the support I needed to begin developing Nhealth.Ai: an automated smartwatch system that records patient data, calculates risk and alerts staff to any concerns.

We’re still in our preliminary development stages, but being recognised by initiatives such as the Big Ideas collaboration with UC Berkeley and Startup Sussex has been validating. I hope to continue exploring how AI can be deployed in medicine to prioritise care, reduce harm and alleviate workload – saving lives and money for the NHS.

Every day, I’m surrounded by students with such incredible energy who are going to change the world one day. If you have a love of learning, Sussex is an amazing place to be.’

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