Healthcare education could forever be changed by a project created by three seniors. At MN, the IB Diploma Programme has been in place for well over twenty years. Students at Millard North participate in the Diploma Program, where they are challenged to think creatively and analytically.
One of the core components of the program includes the CAS programme (Creativity, Activity, Service), where students are tasked with demonstrating these values through a project.
Not only did seniors Anthony Le, Wesley Chen, and Pavan Athota develop an extremely unique project, but they also had the special opportunity to travel to Brazil to present it at a conference that took place in early June this year.
In an age where the topic of healthcare is often misunderstood, the students have chosen to take a stand through the development of this project. For their CAS project, the students designed and created an AI medical chatbot aimed toward improving medical literacy among those who don’t understand the medical system, a topic misunderstood by many young people.
All three of the students came from immigrant families and had a limited understanding of healthcare and finances growing up. So, they have been motivated to spread awareness of healthcare and finances to prepare the younger generation for medical challenges.
“Although it’s still a work in progress, our goal is to help adolescents learn about medical finances so they aren’t caught off guard by unexpected costs,” Le said.
Le, Chen, and Athota started working together on their project early in their junior year, along with guidance from Dr. Chun-Hua Tsai, a professor at UNO.
Le and Chen worked on the coding portion of the project, while Athota handled the website’s structure.
Initially, they struggled to get started due to their limited knowledge of artificial intelligence and the development process. Through trial and error, the three were able to make significant progress on their AI chatbot, which was manifested through their website, MedFinanceAI.
“Being able to interact with it — it’s easier and more engaging than reading. Chatbots feel more human and make learning easier,” Athota said.
Rhonda Betzold, the IB Diploma Programme Coordinator at Millard North, acted as another mentor who guided the students through the process, particularly the coding aspect
“I’ve just been so impressed with these students — their initiative, their humility, and their drive to help others,” Betzold said.
During the development of their project, they applied for and won the IB Global Youth Action Fund, a three-thousand-dollar grant given to only three student groups in the U.S. last year.
Following the development of their chatbot, the trio had the opportunity to present their project at the Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research (DG.O) 2025, taking place in early June. The conference is dedicated to the exchange of technological ideas and was held this year in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
To apply for the convention, they wrote a research paper about their project and published their findings. Their dedication to their work paid off, as their project was accepted to be presented at the conference in Brazil.
At this event, Le, Chen, and Athota presented their
CAS project, demonstrating how it functioned along with its application to real-world challenges. They showcased how their chatbot could explain different medical terminology, insurance options, and financial planning to better the understanding of the people in use of the platform and to educate people.
At the conference, the attendees could see the potential this project could have on the young population with limited knowledge of the healthcare world.
“Our long-term goal is to turn it into more than just a learning tool — something that offers real financial knowledge and practical support,” Athota said.
While they were in Brazil, the team was exposed to unique experiences and gained exposure to innovative ideas at the conference.
“I learned a lot about cultural awareness. I used to only think about healthcare from a U.S. perspective, but I realized how different it is around the world. It really opened my eyes to other systems.” Athota said.
Throughout the process, the three learned a lot about the different aspects of developing a project. To complete this extraordinary project, they needed to combine elements of teamwork, perseverance, and creativity.
The final product of the AI medical chatbot was proof of their resilience, effort, and compassion. Trusting in one another was foundational to the success of their project.
“The true value of the project lay in the skills and knowledge we gained along the way,” Chen said.