Edozie Ezeanolue, now a student at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, had an unconventional start to his journey into medicine. Despite being surrounded by a family of healthcare professionals, Ezeanolue initially resisted pursuing a career in medicine, wanting to carve out his own path.
“At first, I was like … I don’t really want to do something my parents do. I want to sort of do my own thing,” he recalls.
An entrepreneurial spirit characterized Ezeanolue’s high school years. He dabbled in various projects, launching clothing companies, creating YouTube content, and reviewing sneakers with friends. Alongside this, he nurtured a keen interest in technology and coding.
It wasn’t until he began volunteering at clinics and shadowing doctors that Ezeanolue’s perspective shifted. The intimacy of healthcare work struck him as profoundly rewarding, presenting opportunities to connect with patients during vulnerable moments.
“Being able to talk to people, being able to see and help people in their most vulnerable moments and actually form a connection with them while they trust you in these transient little interactions, I feel like [that] was something that stood out to me,” Ezeanolue shares.
This pivotal experience solidified his commitment to entering medical school. Ezeanolue went on to attend the University of Notre Dame, majoring in science preprofessional studies while simultaneously gaining startup experience through a university incubator.
After graduating, Ezeanolue returned to Las Vegas, attending the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine in 2022, which allowed him to support his family and stay connected with his younger brother as he grew up.
In a fortunate twist of fate, Ezeanolue’s mother introduced him to a startup company that piqued his interest. Freed AI, a revolutionary artificial intelligence medical scribe, enhances the healthcare experience by generating patients’ charts during doctor visits.
“It was nothing like I’ve ever seen before. It was nothing like she’s ever seen before or her nursing group friends,” he remarks.
The potential of AI in medicine rekindled Ezeanolue’s interest in technology and its capacity for real-world impact. Witnessing a tool that could significantly ease the charting burden on healthcare providers inspired him.
Recognizing an opportunity, Ezeanolue reached out to Freed AI’s founder and shared his enthusiasm for the company’s mission and his prior startup experiences. This initiative led to Ezeanolue joining the team, where he utilized his knowledge to automate processes within the company.
“… he [the company founder] brought the work on to me and then I brought the work on to automation. I think that became a common theme where the more I automated, the more I was able to build these different dashboards and analytics, and really provide some sort of structure and automation to the company,” Ezeanolue explains.
His role expanded significantly, evolving from head of customer operations to head of business and AI operations. Freed AI has grown rapidly, currently assisting over 20,000 clinicians and recording more than two million patient visits each month.
While balancing the demands of medical school and startup work, Ezeanolue reflects on his journey. “It’s been really fun … it’s been really rewarding. It’s definitely been really challenging, but I also feel like I’ve gotten a lot out of it,” he states.
Looking to the future of medicine, Ezeanolue is optimistic about technology’s role in shaping healthcare.
“I think it’s very easy for technology to, if it gets in the hands of the wrong people, to further corrupt it [healthcare],” he warns.
Ezeanolue hopes to witness initiatives that ensure technology acts as a net benefit to healthcare, especially amidst rapid advancements in AI.
“I just hope that it makes healthcare more equitable instead of the other way around,” he adds, reflecting his vision for an inclusive and accessible healthcare landscape.
In his unique blend of aspirations and experiences, Ezeanolue exemplifies the future of medicine at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and personal connection, striving to create a positive impact on the lives of both patients and clinicians.
image source from：unlv
