Education
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (2021-2026)
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 262
Chancellor’s Full Tuition Scholarship
University of California, Santa Cruz (2017 - 2021)
Bachelor of Science, Molecular Biology, Summa cum laude
Research
Revisiting the Role of Structural Connectivity in Thalamic Nuclei Segmentation from HCP DTI and T1 Datasets
(April 2024 – Present)
Department of Radiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
PI: Dr. Manoj Saranathan, PhD
■ Conducted thalamic parcellation using high-resolution DTI and T1 data from 67 HCP subjects, applying probabilistic tractography and winner-take-all segmentation techniques. Developed and executed a pipeline using MRtrix software to filter 10M streamline tractograms for thalamo-cortical connections across 8 and 23 cortical regions.
■ Applied a machine learning-inspired winner-take-all (WTA) classification approach to derive dominant thalamocortical connectivity profiles and generate subject-specific segmentations.
■ Contributed to advancing methodologies for connectivity-informed brain parcellation with implications for deep brain stimulation and targeted neurotherapies.
Enhancing Survival Prediction in Early-Stage Lung Cancer: Integrating PET-CT Metrics with Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy
(April 2022 – Present)
Department of Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine
PI: Dr. Adin Mehmet, M.D.
■ Conducted a detailed research study evaluating the correlation between SUVmax, Deauville score, and various other metrics with survival rates in T1N0 NSCLC patients undergoing SBRT treatment.
■ Developed and executed robust data analysis techniques to ensure accurate and reliable research outcomes.
Revisiting LLMs and Lung Cancer Questions: How AI Responds to Common Lung Cancer Questions Two Years Later
(September 2024 – Present)
Department of Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA
PI: Dr. Arash Bedayat, M.D.
■ Designed and conducted a multi-institutional study assessing the diagnostic accuracy, consistency, and reliability of state-of-the-art large language models (GPT, Gemini, Claude, DeepSeek, Perplexity) in answering standardized lung cancer–related questions.
■ Developed methodology using Lung-RADS and Fleischner Society guidelines, and coordinated blinded grading by expert radiologists with inter-rater agreement analysis (Cohen’s Kappa).
■ Applied logistic regression and mixed-effects modeling to compare performance across models, highlighting advances and limitations in AI-driven medical decision support.
AI-Augmented Lung Cancer Screening: Evaluating GPT-4o for Lung-RADS Classification from Low-Dose CT Reports
(November 2024 – Present)
Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital
PI: Dr. Marc Succi, M.D.
■ Conducted a retrospective study of 268 low-dose CT lung cancer screening reports to evaluate GPT-4o’s performance in assigning Lung Imaging Reporting and Data System (Lung-RADS) categories.
■ Developed a standardized prompting workflow and compared model outputs against radiologist-assigned ground truth using accuracy metrics, chi-square tests, standardized residuals, and inter-rater agreement (Cohen’s and weighted Kappa).
■ Demonstrated that GPT-4o achieved 60.1% overall accuracy with strengths in lower-risk categories but systematic under-calling of high-risk lesions, highlighting both the promise and limitations of LLMs as adjunctive tools in radiology.
Can Large Language Models Flag Emerging Pandemics? An Evaluation Across COVID-19, Zika, and Mpox Case Reports
(September 2024 – Present)
Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital
PI: Dr. Marc Succi, M.D.
■ Designed and executed a multi-model study evaluating GPT-o3-mini, Gemini, Claude, DeepSeek, and Perplexity in answering 40 standardized lung cancer–related questions based on Lung-RADS and Fleischner Society guidelines.
■ Coordinated blinded grading by expert radiologists and applied majority-vote consensus, Cohen’s Kappa, and logistic regression models to assess accuracy and inter-rater variability.
■ Findings demonstrated GPT-o3-mini achieved the highest accuracy (75.8%) but with notable disagreement among raters, underscoring both advances and persistent limitations of LLMs for clinical decision support in oncology.
A Comprehensive, Pan-Model Framework for AI Benchmarking Across the Entire Clinical Workflow Frontier LLMs Have Deficits in Early Clinical Reasoning
(January 2024 – Present)
Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital
PI: Dr. Marc Succi, M.D.
■ Co-authored a multi-institutional study introducing the PrIME-LLM (Proportional Index of Medical Evaluation for LLMs), the first multidimensional metric to evaluate longitudinal clinical reasoning across differential diagnosis, diagnostic testing, final diagnosis, management, and miscellaneous reasoning.
■ Assessed 16 frontier LLMs (GPT, Claude, DeepSeek, Gemini, Grok) on 29 standardized clinical vignettes using stepwise prompting.
■ Applied ANOVA, regression analyses, and failure rate modeling to compare model families and reasoning-optimized architectures.
Endovascular Repair of a Recurrent CSF-Venous Fistula with drainage to a Basivertebral Vein
(June 2022 – Present)
Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine
PI: Dr. Amanda Baker, M.D
■ Authored a comprehensive case report detailing the endovascular repair of a recurrent CSF-venous fistula, emphasizing innovative techniques and clinical implications.
Publications
Published Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
Adin ME, Isufi E, Wu J, Pang Y, Nguyen D, Simsek Has D, Caner C, Aboueldaha N, Mossa-Basha M, Pucar D. Reactive axillary lymph nodes after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination: comparison of mRNA vs. attenuated whole-virus vaccines. Nuclear Medicine Communications. June 2024; 45(6):474-480. PMID: 38465449. Link
Chen R & Nguyen D, Fettel K, Nambudiri V. Diagnostic accuracy of ChatGPT in dermatology: A meta-analysis of textual versus visual prompts. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. September 2025. Link
Chen R, Fettel KD, Nguyen DH, Nambudiri VE. Evaluating the performance of ChatGPT on dermatology board-style exams: A meta-analysis of text-based and image-based question accuracy. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. April 2025 (Epub ahead of print). PMID: 40199380. Link
Chen R, Zhang Y, Choi S, Nguyen D, Levin NA. The chatbots are coming: Risks and benefits of consumer-facing artificial intelligence in clinical dermatology. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. October 2023; 89(4):872-874. PMID: 37328001. Link
Emin MA, Nguyen D, Shin C, Pucar D. COVID-19 vaccine-associated reactive axillary lymph nodes on FDG PET/CT: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nuclear Medicine Communications. September 2025. Link
Ito Fukunaga M, Soylemez Wiener R, Toomey S, Wagner J, Shi Q, Balakrishnan K, Nguyen A, Nguyen D, McKee M, Bankier AA, et al. Pre-visit preparation for shared decision-making in lung cancer screening in primary care: A quasi-experimental pilot study of a paper decision aid and an automated text messaging program. Journal of Medical Internet Research: Formative Research. August 2025; 9(1):e69044. PMID: 40961384. Link
Nguyen D, Kim G, Bedayat A. Evaluating ChatGPT's performance across radiology subspecialties: A meta-analysis of board-style examination accuracy and variability. Clinical Imaging. September 2025; 25(1). PMID: 40561783. Link
Nguyen D, MacKenzie A, Kim YH. Encouragement vs. liability: How prompt engineering influences ChatGPT-4's radiology exam performance. Clinical Imaging. September 2024; 115(1):110276. PMID: 39288636. Link
Nguyen D, Rahsepar A, Chalian H, Hassani C, Kim G, Bedayat A. Revisiting LLMs and Lung Cancer Questions: How AI Responds to Common Lung Cancer Questions Two Years Later. Academic Radiology. September 2025 (Epub). Link
Nguyen D, Rao A, Mazumder A, Succi MD. Exploring the accuracy of embedded ChatGPT-4 and ChatGPT-4o in generating BI-RADS scores: a pilot study in radiologic clinical support. Clinical Imaging. January 2025; 117(1):110335. PMID: 39549561. Link
Nguyen D, Swanson D, Newbury A, Kim YH. Evaluation of ChatGPT and Google Bard using prompt engineering in cancer screening algorithms. Academic Radiology. December 2023; 5(1):1799-1804. PMID: 38103973. Link
Nguyen D, Bedayat A. Re: ChatGPT in radiology exams: Promise, pitfalls, and pathways forward. Clinical Imaging. September 2025. (Epub ahead of print). Link
Williams B, Nguyen D, Vidal JP, Saranathan M. Thalamic nuclei segmentation from T1-weighted MRI: Unifying and benchmarking state-of-the-art methods. Imaging Neuroscience. May 2024; 2(1):1-16. PMID: 40041300. Link
Yu C, Hu K, Nguyen D, Wang ZA. From genomics to functions: preclinical mouse models for understanding oncogenic pathways in prostate cancer. American Journal of Cancer Research. October 2019; 9(10):2079-2102. PMID: 31720076. Link
Zhang Y, Chen R, Nguyen D, Choi S, Gabel C, Leonard N, Yim K, O'Donnell P, Elaba Z, Deng A, Levin NA. Response to Lee and Tung "Critical considerations remain for utilizing artificial intelligence chatbot to translate dermatopathology reports". Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. May 2025 (Epub ahead of print). PMID: 40324530. Link
Zhang Y, Chen R, Nguyen D, Choi S, Gabel C, Leonard N, Yim K, O'Donnell P, Elaba Z, Deng A, Levin NA. Assessing the ability of an artificial intelligence chatbot to translate dermatopathology reports into patient-friendly language: A cross-sectional study. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. February 2024; 90(2):397-399. PMID: 37804932. Link
Zhang Y, Chung J, Chen R, Malhotra S, Nguyen D, Levin NA. Testing the ability of artificial intelligence chatbots and dermatologic diagnosis mobile applications to diagnose melanoma and seborrheic keratosis. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. September 2024; 92(1):161-163. PMID: 39326789. Link
Swanson D, Nguyen D, Lee JA, Gerber B, Lee JL. Healthcare access and utilization among transgender and gender diverse adults in the All of Us Research Program. Journal of General Internal Medicine. August 2025. Link
In Press / Under Review / Submitted
Nahm W, Ruiz de Luzuriaga A, Sakunchotpanit G, Nguyen D, et al. AI-assisted simplification of dermatopathology reports for patient education: Basic vs. prompt-engineered approaches. JAMA Dermatology. August 2025. (Under Review)
Nguyen D, Bronson I, Chen R, Kim Y. A meta-analysis of ChatGPT-based differential diagnostic accuracy in radiological cases: 2023–2025. Frontiers in Radiology: Artificial Intelligence. July 2025. (Under Review)
Nguyen D, Shiang T, Ge C, Watts G, Sereni C, Radcliffe D, Kotecha H, Santos Nunez G, Kim YH. Radiation dose reduction using deep learning-powered ultra-low dose CT in detection of acute traumatic pelvic and hip fractures. Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography. September 2025. (Submitted)
Nguyen DH, Jangir VK, Das D, Bilgin A, Patterson D, Cacciola A, Saranathan M. Revisiting the role of structural connectivity-based parcellation in thalamic nuclei segmentation: comparison with recent state-of-the-art methods. PLOS ONE. September 2025. (Submitted) Preprint Link
Nguyen D, Musch G. Can functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) be used for objective pain assessment and anesthetic depth monitoring? Anesthesia & Analgesia. June 2025. (Under Review)
Rao A, Esmail K, Lee R, Jiang S, Arraiza Carlo B, Gill J, Khanna P, Kalmowitz E, Montagnese B, Heydari K, Jiao Q, Bott E, Nguyen D, Wang G, Hood M, Landman A, Succi M. A comprehensive, pan-model framework for AI benchmarking across the entire clinical workflow. Nature Medicine. August 2025. (Under Review)
Sakunchotpanit G, Patil M, Chen R, Nguyen D, Nahm W, Nambudiri V. Assessment of generative artificial intelligence policies across dermatology journals. Dermatology. August 2025. (Under Review)
Abstract/Poster Presentations:
Oral Presentations:
Peer-Reviewed Online Publication:
M. Ito Fukunaga, D. Nguyen, G.W. Ryan, M. Zaidi, A.E. D'Addario, A.M. King, A. Bankier, P.K.J. Han, R.S. Wiener, and K.M. Mazor.. (2023, May 18). "What Is a Lung Nodule?" - Providers' Answers and Analog Patients' Preferences in the Communication of Lung Cancer Screening Results. Link
Nguyen, D., Kumar, V., Patterson, D., Saranathan, M. (2025, May 25). Revisiting the role of structural connectivity in thalamic nuclei segmentation. Link
Non-Peer-Reviewed Online Publication:
Fettel, K; Chen, R; Nguyen, DH. (2025, September 15). Guide to the Medical School Application & Beyond. Link
Work Exp.
Giving a Boost - UMass Chan Branch
Co-Founder and Vice-President of External Affairs (April 2023 – Present)
■ Co-founded a free mentorship program led by UMass Chan medical students for premedical students in Massachusetts to foster a strong community of mentorship and reduce the burden of the medical school application process for aspiring physicians.
■ Provided guidance and support to medical school applicants, offering valuable insights on primary/secondary essays, and conducting mock interviews in the traditional and multiple mini-interview style.
UrAvgMedStudents YouTube Channel
Channel Co-Founder (April 2021 – Present)
■ Founded and co-managed a medical education YouTube channel (@uravgmedstudents), creating study strategies, Step exam prep guides, and productivity tutorials that grew an audience of 773+ subscribers and 91,000+ total views. Link
■ Designed and produced high-quality multimedia content, including long-form study sessions, resource reviews, and workflow tutorials, leveraging analytics to optimize engagement and viewer retention.
■ Built a supportive online community for pre-med and medical students, sharing personal experiences, mentorship, and evidence-based advice that improved accessibility of medical education.
UMass Chan Medical School Admission Committee Member
Student Member (August 2022 – May 2023)
■ Reviewed and evaluated applications for UMass Chan Medical School, assessing academic performance, personal statements, and extracurricular experiences.
■ Collaborated with faculty and committee members to holistically evaluate prospective students’ qualifications, character, and fit with institutional values.
■ Advocated for equitable consideration of applicants from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds.
UMass Chan Digital Medicine Optional Enrichment Elective
Founder and Student Leader (August 2022 – December 2022)
■ Established the innovative Digital Medicine OEE class, designing a comprehensive curriculum focusing on the application of technology in healthcare, including wearable devices, eICUs, machine learning, AI, and healthcare-oriented language models like ChatGPT.
■ Successfully networked and arranged for esteemed faculty and industry leaders to deliver guest lectures, offering students direct insights into the current digital landscape in the medical field.
UMass Chan Opioid Use Disorder and Medication Assisted Treatment Optional Enrichment Elective
Student Leader (September 2022 – April 2023)
■ Organized and facilitated discussion in a series of lectures focused on opioid use disorder and harm reduction.
■ Integrated American Society of Addiction Medicine Drug Abuse Treatment Act waiver training, which allowed medical students to prescribe buprenorphine upon graduation.
Worcester Public Restroom Initiative: A UMass Chan Capstone Project
Co-president (January 2022 – Present)
■ Collaborated with the Worcester Business Improvement District to advocate for public restroom infrastructure. Contacted MA House representatives and senators to advocate for Amendment #523 of Bill H.5007 (passed 07/14/2022), which provided $40,000 of funding to study the feasibility of constructing public restrooms and other public amenities in Downtown Worcester.
■ Studied how cities with similar characteristics to Worcester (Kalamazoo, San Diego, Portland, etc.) are implementing public restrooms and potential associations with opioid overdose rates, resulting in a presentation given to city officials.
UMass Chan Diagnostic Radiology Interest Group
Student Leader (May 2024 – June 2025)
■ Organized and hosted post-match discussion panels with recently matched applicants to provide peer mentorship and guidance.
■ Collaborated with faculty and residents to host Q&A sessions on careers, training pathways, and innovations in radiology.
■ Co-created a collaborative Slack forum where radiology residents shared daily “Case of the Day” challenges, engaging students in image interpretation.
UMass Chan Interventional Radiology Interest Group
Student Leader (September 2022 – May 2024)
■ Led annual IR simulation events with the New England Center for Stroke Research, enabling students to practice procedures on 3D-printed vascular models.
■ Partnered with IR residents to coordinate shadowing opportunities for medical students, fostering early exposure to the field.
Art Things
UC Santa Cruz: City on a Hill Press / Los Altos High School: The Talon
Journalism Videographer (August 2016 - August 2021)
■ Filmed, edited, and produced daily announcement videos using Final Cut Pro X, operating professional camera and audio equipment.
■ Produced four feature videos highlighting school events and student initiatives, strengthening campus communication and engagement.
■ Collaborated with editorial staff at City on a Hill Press in college to film and edit multimedia stories using Adobe Premiere CS6/CC, integrating video into digital journalism pieces..
■ Videos URLs: Loaves & Fishes (2020), City Council Candidate: Martine Watkins (2020), What is New Media Literacy (2017), New Media Center Feature (2016), Opinions on Cell Phone Policy (2016), Swim Across America (2016)
The Last Train (2017)
Executive Videographer (November 2016 - May 2017)
■ Led video production for a full-length short film created in collaboration with a student team.
■ Shot footage on a Canon 5D Mark II and managed audio recording and editing using Audacity.
■ Edited the final film in Adobe Premiere Pro CS6, ensuring professional-quality sequencing, color correction (Da Vinci Resolve), and sound integration.
■ Video URL: The Last Train (2017).
Flipped (2017)
Executive Videographer (November 2016 - May 2017)
■ Led video production for a horror genre full-length short film created in collaboration with a student team.
■ Shot footage on a Canon 5D Mark II and managed audio recording and editing using Audacity.
■ Color graded using Da Vinci Resolve to achieve horror-esque coloration across footage.
■ Video URL: Flipped (2017).
Skills
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