Every year, over 65,000 Americans lose their sight due to delayed diagnosis of eye diseases, even though up to 95% of these cases could be prevented with early detection. The shortage of ophthalmologists and long wait times—particularly in rural and underserved communities—only exacerbate this public health crisis.
PCOM Georgia osteopathic medicine student Saad Rahman (DO '28) has always been drawn to the interconnectedness of medicine, technology and social justice. When he is not studying, he's working with 360 Intelligent Diagnostics, a health technology company in Atlanta that leverages assistive AI to detect retinal diseases.
“Numerous people lose their vision every year, and not because we lack the tools to help them, but because they are rarely diagnosed in time. This is a gap we are trying to close,” said Rahman.
“We showed how AI can be a force for good, especially in communities hit hardest by chronic diseases like diabetic retinopathy.”
In the spring, Rahman had the opportunity to present his work with 360 Intelligent Diagnostics to his largest audience yet at the Center for Telehealth and eHealth Law Innovation conference at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C. With his team, Rahman demonstrated to legislators and lobbyists how individuals can screen for serious eye diseases without expensive equipment or specialized training. He explained that the application works with nearly any retinal camera; after uploading images, AI assesses the quality of the image and screens for diabetic retinopathy and other conditions, generating diagnostic reports within seconds. He shared how their tools can expand diagnostic capabilities, allowing for earlier detection and increased access to care, which has long been a challenge in the field.
“We showed how AI can be a force for good, especially in communities hit hardest by chronic diseases like diabetic retinopathy,” he said.
This AI tool is accessible beyond the US and has already been rolled out in rural areas of Pakistan, offering free screenings in communities where there is limited access to ophthalmologists.
“Speaking in DC was a chance to represent the next generation of physicians and to speak up for patients who are too often left out of the conversation. For me, innovation in healthcare only matters if it is driven by empathy, inclusion and impact.”
Rahman says this experience has completely reshaped his perspective on what it means to be a doctor.
“I used to see medicine and tech as separate tracks—but now I know they have to go together. If we want to shape the future of health care, we cannot just follow the system. We have to help build it.”
PCOM Georgia has been serving students and the community for 20 years as a branch campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), a private, not-for-profit, accredited institution of higher education established in 1899. Located in Suwanee (Gwinnett County), PCOM Georgia offers doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy and physical therapy. Graduate degrees are offered in biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science and physician assistant studies. The campus joins PCOM South Georgia in Moultrie in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state. Emphasizing "a whole person" approach to care, PCOM Georgia focuses on educational excellence, interprofessional education and service to the community. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 678-225-7500. The campus is also home to the Georgia Osteopathic Care Center, an osteopathic manipulative medicine clinic, which is open to the public by appointment. For more information, visit pcomgeorgiahealth.org.
For general media inquiries, please contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at 215-871-6300 or communications@pcom.edu. Visit our media relations page to view contact information for public relations personnel.
Joy Deibert
Assistant Director, News and Media Relations
Office of Marketing and Communications
Email: joyde@pcom.edu
Office: 470-572-7558
© 2025 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
