The College of Communication and Information congratulates Wade Rogers, a high school student who participated in the Florida State University (FSU) Young Scholars Program in the summer of 2024, for his acceptance into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Rogers credits his acceptance to the time he spent in the Young Scholars program, specifically interning under iSchool Professor Dr. Zhe He in the eHealth Lab. 

The FSU Young Scholars Program is a six-week residential science and mathematics summer program for Florida high school students with significant potential for careers in STEM fields. Rogers worked in the eHealth Lab from June to July 2024 to complete a project for the research component of the program. 

“I immediately felt grateful for Dr. He and the rest of the eHealth team for not only allowing high school students to spend their summer in the lab but for going the extra mile and mentoring us throughout our introduction to genuine research,” Rogers said. “The lab helped make this summer one of great substance, and it gave me lots to talk about and reflect on during my interview while also being the crown jewel of my application.” 

The eHealth project, “Analyzing the Ability of ChatGPT to Identify the Appropriate Reference for Medical Questions,” addressed a critical gap in patient care by leveraging large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT to assist patients in generating meaningful questions for their physicians based on their medical profiles. The interns analyzed and categorized AI-generated questions, identified key patterns in how these models classify questions as either general enough to be answered by AI or specific enough to require physician consultation, and discovered that the inclusion of keywords and examples significantly improved the model’s accuracy in sorting these questions.  

Rogers expressed that he greatly benefitted from working in a lab with a major focus on AI and grew a greater appreciation for it. “I left that much more prepared to wield these technologies in ways that tangibly benefit people, and the path to a fulfilling career where the top priority is to make life easier is that much brighter since I’ve had experience working on a real project that does just that,” he said.  

He also noted that Dr. He played a pivotal role in helping him develop research skills and identify the areas of the project where he could make the most meaningful contributions. This flexibility provided Rogers with a more tailored and specific experience.  

Above all, Rogers emphasized that his most valuable takeaway from the experience was the insight he gained about teamwork and the collective efforts involved in structuring a research project. During the interview process, he even referenced his time in the eHealth lab, highlighting the dynamic collaboration between himself, his fellow intern, and Dr. He when discussing his role in group settings. 

“When I learned that Wade was accepted into the prestigious MIT, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride and joy,” Dr. He said. “Wade’s acceptance to MIT reflects not only his remarkable talent and dedication but also the potential to foster young minds through research and mentorship. Knowing that our eHealth Lab provided a platform for Wade to explore cutting-edge technology and contribute to impactful research makes this moment even more special. It’s a reminder of the transformative power of education and the role we can play in shaping the next generation of innovators.” 

Wade will begin his studies at MIT in the fall of 2025 with plans to declare a Computer Science-focused major (Course 6) in his second year.