Receiving the 2026 Stephen Huesing Scholarship represents not only academic excellence, but a commitment to advancing healthcare through innovation.
For Mutian (William) Ding, that commitment centres on finding practical ways technology can improve patient care while supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Starting out
As a University of Toronto MD/MEng. candidate, Mutian recognizes that technology has the potential to make healthcare both safer and more efficient. It’s a belief that shapes his medical education and active involvement in AI-driven research.
My graduate coursework [has] given me both the conceptual grounding and the technical fluency to engage with digital health as a builder and collaborator, not only as a learner.
One of his most significant research projects explored virtual surgical planning for maxillofacial reconstruction. Working alongside his principal supervisor and mentor, Dr. Joel Davies, Mutian helped develop an algorithm capable of automatically segmenting the fibula and its surrounding arteries before surgery.
The technology provides surgeons a clearer understanding of the available blood vessels before making an incision, helping reduce uncertainty during complex procedures. The tool has the potential to minimize unexpected complications, reduce surgical stress, and ultimately contribute to safer outcomes for patients.
Supporting medical students
While improving surgical care remains a major focus of his work, Mutian also turned his attention to another healthcare challenge: preparing future physicians.
Recognizing that medical students often have limited time to practice clinical skills, he spearheaded the development of Techne Academy, an AI-powered learning platform designed to make clinical training more accessible. Techne Academy allows students to work through realistic clinical scenarios with AI agents while receiving immediate feedback against standardized evaluation criteria. The tool keeps track oflearner progress over time and helps simplify complex educational content into organized study resources.
The journey ahead
Looking ahead, Mutian and his collaborators are focused on expanding these tools to strengthen clinical reasoning, one of the most important aspects of physician training. Their vision is to help learners build stronger diagnostic thinking skills by connecting medical concepts throughout every stage of their education.
Mutian’s work reflects a forward-thinking approach celebrated by the Stephen Huesing Scholarship: bringing together research, technology, and clinical practice to solve meaningful healthcare challenges, while helping shape opportunities for the broader digital health community in Canada.
Watch a video of 2026 Stephen Huesing Scholarship Winner Mutian Ding here.