BU alumnus Andac Akpulat, who completed his MSc in Digital Health & Artificial Intelligence in 2023, is already establishing himself as an emerging voice in the rapidly evolving world of medical AI. His journey began with a lifelong passion for technology and human wellbeing—an interest that grew during his undergraduate studies in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, where he focused on understanding brain anomalies. This early exposure sparked a desire to use engineering not just as a technical discipline, but as a tool to improve lives.

A Clear Path Toward Meaningful Impact

Andac Akpulat

Seeking a postgraduate course that connected programming with real-world healthcare challenges, Andac found Bournemouth University’s MSc in Digital Health & Artificial Intelligence to be the ideal next step. The programme stood out for its practical emphasis, innovative facilities, and opportunities to work closely with academics on live research. For Andac, it offered the perfect balance between technical depth and meaningful application.

“I wanted more than theory—I wanted to build tools that could genuinely help doctors and patients,” he explains. BU’s focus on employability, hands‑on learning and interdisciplinary collaboration made the university a natural fit for his ambitions.

A Dynamic and Supportive University Experience

Andac describes his BU experience as Inspiring, Innovative, Transformative. One of the defining aspects of his time at BU was the supportive and collaborative academic community. Instead of learning exclusively through lectures, he became involved in research projects addressing real healthcare challenges, including digital health solutions developed during the pandemic and early disease detection systems.

Working alongside academics as a student researcher gave him not only technical experience but also confidence in his ability to contribute meaningfully to the field. The diverse and vibrant student community further enriched his experience, providing opportunities for cross-disciplinary learning and personal growth.

Launching a Career in AI Engineering

After completing his studies, Andac stayed at BU for a period as a researcher before returning to Turkey to join AKGUN as an AI Engineer. Although he initially saw himself primarily working on medical imaging and diagnostic algorithms, the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence opened up new possibilities. His role has since expanded into developing conversational and intelligent digital assistants for healthcare—technology that is becoming increasingly important as medical systems adopt AI to enhance efficiency and patient support.

“The shift toward human‑centric, interactive AI has been thrilling,” he says. “I’m constantly learning how to make technology more intuitive, transparent, and trustworthy for clinicians.”

A Mission to Improve Healthcare Through Technology

What motivates Andac most is the knowledge that his work has the potential to support life‑saving medical decisions. Whether it’s improving diagnostic accuracy or designing systems that help clinicians work more efficiently, he finds deep purpose in creating AI tools that genuinely help people.

“Knowing that something I build might one day give a patient a faster or more accurate diagnosis—that’s what drives me,” he shares.

Advice for Future Students

For those considering a similar path, Andac encourages a mindset of curiosity and adaptability. “Don’t focus only on the code,” he says. “Understand the human problems you’re solving—that’s where real innovation happens.” He also reassures students that they don’t need to know everything at the start: “Adaptability and the willingness to learn are far more important than perfection.”