Technion Trailblazers: Introducing AI at home in Haifa with Einat Borohovich
Artificial intelligence is so much more than the latest buzzword. By blurring the line between human and technology, AI has proven its staying power and will undoubtedly shape the future of life on Earth. It is also no secret that when it comes to AI innovation, Israel punches above its weight class. I recently called upon the brightest minds in Israel to take an active role in shaping AI applications on a global scale, setting ethical standards and ensuring that this technology is used for good.
When I think of Israel’s AI prowess, I can’t help but place the Technion at the center of the nation’s huge engine for pumping out leading S.T.E.M. talent. In Israel and around the world, Technion alumni and professors are shaping the future of AI across industries, from cybersecurity and finance to manufacturing and agriculture. I had the opportunity to sit down for a conversation with a senior data scientist at Rambam Health Care Campus, Einat Borohovich, and dive into how this Technion alumna is transforming the healthcare industry with AI right in our own backyard of Haifa.
Michael: Since graduating, I know you’ve decided to stay in Haifa. I’m curious to hear more about what initially drew you to Northern Israel and the Technion.
Einat: Believe it or not, I’ve actually lived in Haifa for my entire life. I was born and raised just a few minutes away from the Technion’s bustling campus, so it was my dream to study there from a very young age. I ended up joining the military immediately after finishing high school, but my dream of studying at the Technion was always at the back of my mind.
I retook some classes and exams in physics, mathematics, and English before applying, but I was still nervous that I wouldn’t be accepted. Luckily, my hard work and persistence paid off, and I was offered a spot in the Technion’s Information Systems track to pursue my undergraduate degree. Then, about a week before classes began, I learned that a spot had opened in the Computer Science track: my top choice. It truly felt like fate!
Michael: What an inspirational story of resilience! I always enjoy hearing alumni stories from Haifa locals who have lifelong relationships with the Technion. Once you were on campus, how was your educational experience, and were there certain aspects of your studies that played a particularly large role in your future career aspirations?
Einat: I’m very grateful for the incredibly well-rounded education I received at the Technion, where I was given ample opportunities to pursue rigorous coursework and complete graduate-level classes as an undergraduate student. While I was initially accepted into the Computer Science track, I eventually transitioned into Industrial Engineering and Management to focus on statistics and operations research. This path also included software engineering, which allowed me to develop a robust foundation for my current career. I was also able to take more human-centric classes, like psychology and user experience design, where I was encouraged to consider the impacts of my work on end users.
When it comes to AI, I’m particularly glad that such a huge emphasis was placed on physics as a foundational element of my education. Studying alongside electrical engineering students, I gained a deep understanding of the quantum mechanics and physical infrastructure needed to operate advanced AI models. This background allows me to understand more advanced concepts.
Michael: The Technion’s emphasis on career readiness is truly a testament to the institution’s vital role in uplifting Israel’s status as “Start-Up Nation.” I’ve heard from so many professors about the important dual focus on both the theoretical and applied aspects of S.T.E.M. that all Technion students receive during their education. Did this interdisciplinary approach impact your decision to enter the medical field?
Einat: Definitely. My desire to apply my technical background and enact real-world change played a huge part in my decision to transition into the medical field. After graduating, I started working at Elbit Systems, a global defense technology company, where I shifted to data science. Later I joined Tikal, a software development consultancy. While I’m very grateful for everything I learned in these two positions, I always felt like something was missing and that I could be making more of an impact elsewhere.
When I received the offer to join Rambam Healthcare campus, it felt like a perfect fit. In my current role as a Senior Data Scientist, I love having the opportunity to impact hundreds of thousands of people each year in my very own community of Haifa where I was born and raised and still live today. Bringing together everything I’ve learned from my studies to improve the welfare of its people has been incredibly motivating. So far, my four years at Rambam have been some of the most rewarding years of my life.
Michael: It really sounds like you’ve found your calling. I’d love to hear more about what your day-to-day responsibilities look like at Rambam, especially your work with AI.
Einat: I specifically support the research department, working on the beginning stages of the hospital’s AI initiatives. My main focus is a partnership with Stanford University and KI Research Institute called the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP), an open-source community for researchers around the world. This project, led by Dr. Ronit Almog at Rambam, aims to standardize the data that comes out of clinical observation for a variety of research goals, including real-world evidence for drug effectiveness, patient-level prediction studies, and so much more.
The 21st century has brought about a huge spike in generated data, but it’s difficult to understand in its raw form. I work to maintain and standardize the OMOP database, which requires a ton of teamwork at both Rambam and beyond, making sure this medical data can actually be used by researchers for good.
Michael: What an exciting place to be at the inception of Rambam’s AI transformation! It seems like you’re just scratching the surface of what is possible with AI and healthcare. How do you think AI will continue to shape the healthcare industry moving forward?
Einat: The short answer is that AI has the potential to impact every part of the healthcare industry, transforming how doctors conduct pathology, predict diagnoses, and even give prescriptions. It’s truly just the beginning, and the medical community is still working collaboratively to figure out how AI can be used most effectively.
I’m really excited about the use of AI assistants we’re already starting to see in many U.S. hospitals, improving communication with patients and increasing the efficiency of day-to-day tasks for physicians. I hope that AI will continue to be used to make the patient-doctor experience even more personal. 20 years ago, physicians spent the bulk of their time note-taking and typing on the computer to document their work. With AI, some of this dictation could be automated, freeing up time for more face-to-face interaction between doctors and their patients, which is really what in-person medicine is all about.
Michael: I feel like the rhetoric around AI can so often turn negative, with growing questions about its impact on the job market and ethical use, so it’s great to hear an example of how AI is enhancing the human aspects of practicing medicine. I’m personally very optimistic about the positive impact AI will continue to have on our lives. Before we end, I want to give you a chance to share any advice that you have for current students at the Technion interested in entering the field of AI.
Einat: What a great note to end on! First and foremost, I think that Technion students often forget the power of our alumni network. Graduates can be a huge factor opening doors to professional opportunities, and former classmates have played a significant role when I’ve been looking for jobs in the past. I want to give a major shoutout to Ruti Donag, the CEO of the Technion Alumni Association. She does such an amazing job organizing and connecting alumni mentors with current students. I’ve tried to do my part and give back to the Technion community as a mentor. I used to serve as an advisor for young Technion graduates facing the job search for the first time, and I still engage as often as I can.
When it comes to the world of AI, the Technion is known for creating problem solvers and self-starters. I strongly believe that these are the skills students can hone during their time at the Technion to make themselves standout job applicants for careers in AI. A Technion education is both collaborative and individual. I learned to make the most of my community while studying at the Technion, bouncing ideas off my peers and taking creative approaches to solve some of the world’s most difficult challenges. I also learned the power of self-reliance, and I remember coming home from lectures to continue self-teaching to master difficult concepts.
Both sides of my Technion journey have made me a lifelong learner, and I encourage all students to continue this pursuit of knowledge well beyond graduation. In an AI landscape where so much new information arises each and every day, students interested in the field must constantly adapt to stay ahead of the curve. In my experience as a Technion mentor, students across the institution seem to be doing just this, so when I look at Israel’s dominance in AI innovation moving forward, the future is bright.
This Q&A was made possible by collaboration with the Technion Alumni Association.
Michael is the out-going CEO of the American Technion Society, and this blog reflects his own personal opinions, and not the ATS or Technion.
