Bell Eapen MD, PhD.
Contact Me | LinkedIn | Twitter | GitHub
I am a dermatologist with a PhD in Information Systems from McMaster University. As the assistant professor of information systems at the University of Illinois, Springfield, I teach health informatics and data mining. I started my career teaching dermatology in India and later practiced for a decade as a specialist dermatologist in UAE. In my recent role as a lead software engineer (R&D) at the Mayo Clinic, I specialized in cloud architecture for Gen AI and multimodal machine learning using FHIR. I maintain several software libraries on GitHub. I focus on advancing Generative AI, multimodal ML, and FHIR within healthcare organizations and startups, particularly in under-resourced areas. As a consultant, my deliverables are prototypes instead of reports and advice.
Check out my GitHub repo and Contact Me for your next project! Consult free if you serve the underprivileged!
Professional Experience
- R&D Lead Engineer – Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA – 2022 – Present
- Research Fellow – Data-Intel Lab, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada – 2018 – 2021
- Specialist Dermatologist – Kaya Clinic, Dubai, UAE – 2007 – 2013
- Asst. Professor (Dermatology) – Sri Ramachandra University & Research Institute, India – 2002 – 2004
Education
Centre for Transfusion Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
Postdoctoral fellowship (Health Data Science) – 2022
Project: Proposed a new architecture for Transfusion Research Utilization, Surveillance and Tracking
(TRUST) database to facilitate blood utilization and health outcomes research
McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
PhD (Information Systems) – 2021
Thesis topic: Towards a theory of adoption and design for clinical decision support systems
McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
MSc in eHealth – 2015
Thesis topic: Evaluating the impact of Behavioral intervention technologies using a mHealth App
Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal, India
MD (Dermatology) – 2000
Thesis topic: Relationship between thickness of sunscreen lm and sun protection
St. Johns Medical College, Bangalore, India
Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) – 1997
Links
GitHub: https://github.com/dermatologist
eHealth BLOG: http://nuchange.ca
Dermatology BLOG: https://dermatologist.co.in
Machine-learning projects: https://gulfdoctor.net | https://skinhelpdesk.com
SOFTWARE LIBRARIES I MAINTAIN:
Python (PyPI): QRMine, pyomop, FHIRy, dadpy
JavaScript (npm): FHIRFormJS, UMLSjs
Java (maven): ckblib
.Net (NuGet): omopcdmlib
OpenMRS EMR: openmrs-module-dermimage, openmrs-module-nuform
Publications:
Eapen, B. R., Baba, V. V., & Sohail, M. (2023). Evidence-Based Management: A Design Theory, Template, and Technology for a Knowledge Delivery Platform. Metamorphosis, 22(1), 73-84. [Full Text]
Eapen, B.R., Kaliyadan, F. & Ashique, K.T. DICODerma: A Practical Approach for Metadata Management of Images in Dermatology. J Digit Imaging (2022). [Full Text] [Repo]
Eapen BR. Artificial intelligence in dermatology: A practical introduction to a paradigm shift. Indian Dermatol Online J 2020;11:881-9 [Full Text]
Eapen, B. R., Archer, N., & Sartipi, K. (2020). LesionMap: A Method and Tool for the Semantic Annotation of Dermatological Lesions for Documentation and Machine Learning. JMIR Dermatology, 3(1), e18149. [Full text]
Eapen BR, Archer N, Sartipi K, and Yuan Y. (2019) Drishti: a sense-plan-act extension to open mHealth framework using FHIR. In Proceedings of the 1st International Workshop on Software Engineering for Healthcare (SEH ’19). IEEE Press, Piscataway, NJ, USA, 49-52. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/SEH.2019.00016 [Full Text | Repo]
Eapen BR, Costa A, Archer N, Sartipi K. (2019) FHIRForm: An Open-Source Framework for the Management of Electronic Forms in Healthcare. Stud Health Technol Inform. 2019;257:80-85. [Pubmed | Full Text | Repo]
Eapen BR, Archer N, Sartipi K. (2020) Public Health Information Systems: From Data to Knowledge. PrePrint.[Full Text]
Eapen, B. R., Sartipi, K., & Archer, N. (2020). Serverless on FHIR: Deploying machine learning models for healthcare on the cloud. arXiv preprint arXiv:2006.04748. [Full Text]
Eapen BR, Archer N, Sartipi K. (2020). QRMine: A python package for triangulation in Grounded Theory, arXiv:2003.13519 [cs.CL]. [Full text]
Sáenz, J. P., Novoa, M. P., Correal, D., & Eapen, B. R. (2018). On Using a Mobile Application to Support Teledermatology: A Case Study in an Underprivileged Area in Colombia. International journal of telemedicine and applications, 2018.
Osman, O. T., Souid, A. K., Al-Mugaddam, F., Eapen, B. R., & Jafferany, M. (2017). Attentiveness of Dermatologists in the Middle East to Psychocutaneous Medicine. The primary care companion for CNS disorders, 19(2).
Sáenz, J. P., Novoa, M. P., Correal, D., & Eapen, B. R. (2016, November). Skinhealth, A Mobile Application for Supporting Teledermatology: A Case Study in a Rural Area in Colombia. In International Conference on Wireless Mobile Communication and Healthcare (pp. 160-163). Springer, Cham.
Eapen BR, Chapman B. Mobile Access to ClinicalConnect: A User Feedback Survey on Usability, Productivity, and Quality; JMIR mHealth uHealth 2015;3(2):e35 [Full Text]
Eapen BR. A new insight into the pathogenesis of Reiter’s syndrome using bioinformatics tools.International Journal of Dermatology March-2003. 42 (3); 242-243. [Pubmed Citation][Abstract]
Eapen BR. Molecular biology of Botulinum Toxin Serotype A (BoNT/A): A Cosmetic perspective. Journal of cosmetic dermatology (2008). 7 ; 221-225 [Pubmed]
Eapen BR. ONTODerm – A domain ontology for dermatology. Dermatology Online Journal 14 (6): 16 [Full Text] [Pubmed] [Project Home Page]
Eapen BR. Photosensitivity in Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome: A flux balance analysis of altered metabolism. Bioinformation 2 (2):78-82 (2007) [Full Text] [Pubmed] [Details]
Eapen BR. Schwann cell invasion by M. leprae: the probable trojan horse. Lepr Rev. 2008 Sep;79(3):335-7. [Full Text | Pubmed | Journal Website]
Eapen BR. Myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88): An innocent bystander or an active player – Pathway level analysis of expression data in psoriasis. Journal of Investigative Dermatology (Suppl). 2008; 128: S132 [Abstract – #787 [pdf]]
Eapen BR. Malignancy in dermatomyositis: A Bayesian Belief Network approach. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2007;73:445-5 [Full Text] [Details]
Bell Raj Eapen. M. Leprae genome revisited using the latest bioinformatics tools. (Gulf Journal Of Dermatology & Venereology – April 2002 issue)
Sandra A, Eapen BR, Shenoi SD. Effect of thickness of sunscreen on SPF. British Journal of Dermatology (Suppl). 2000; 143 (57): 24 [Citation]
Eapen BR. Structural analysis of Staphylococcal enterotoxin G (SEG) and its inactive mutant (SEGL29P) using the bioinformatics tools. Biomedicine. 2002; 22: 89-93. [Citation]
Eapen BR. Vit1 gene in Vitiligo – Letter to Ed. Indian J Dermatol Venerol Leprol. 2004;70:184.[Full Text] [Pubmed]
Eapen BR. Neural network algorithm to predict the severity of Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex. Indian J Dermatol Venerol Leprol. 2005;71:106-8. [Full Text] [Pubmed]
Bell Raj Eapen, Murali Srinivasan, Geetanjali Bhas. Antibiotic sensitivity profile of common bacterial pathogens in Dubai – A study of 107 cases. MEJFM 2005; 3(4): 28 – 32 [Full Text]
Bell Raj Eapen. Bioinformatics – A Clinician’s perspective. Bioinformatics – India Apr-jun(2003). 1 (1); 17-18. [Abstract]
Bell Raj Eapen, Shrutakirthi D Shenoi, Sandra A. Patch Testing with Shoe series in suspected cases of footwear dermatitis. Indian J Dermatol 2001; 46(3): 146-148
Bell Raj Eapen, T Salim, S D Shenoi. Clinical Presentation and treatment outcome in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. (Vol 47 No 3 July – September 2002, Indian Journal of Dermatology).
Bell Raj Eapen, Shobana S, Anandan S. Waist dermatoses in Indian women wearing saree Indian J Dermatol Venerol Leprol. 2003;69:88-89. [FULL TEXT][Pubmed]
R Sudha, SB Hussain, E Bellraj et al. Clinico Pathological study of Exfoliative Dermatitis. Indian J Dermatol Venerol Leprol. 2003;69:30-31.
Murali Srinivasan, Bell Raj Eapen, Geetanjali Bhas, Cyril Kumar T. Efficacy of Chlorhexidine Mouthwash as an Oral Antiseptic – An Invivo Study on 20 Patients. MEJFM 2005; 3(4): 28 – 32 [Full Text]
Eapen BR. Data sharing using internet: A suggestion – Letter to Ed. Indian J Dermatol Venerol Leprol. 2003;69:194.[FULL TEXT][Pubmed]
Eapen BR. EndNote 7.0. Indian J Dermatol Venerol Leprol. 2006;72(2):165-6. [Full Text] [Pubmed]
Eapen BR. Blog your clinical photos. Letter to Ed. Indian J Dermatol Venerol Leprol. 2006;72(3):231. [Full Text] [Pubmed]
Bell Raj Eapen. Informatics in Clinical Practice Monitoring and Strategic Planning. MEJFM 2006; 4(5): 72 – 76 [Full Text]
Eapen BR. Collaborative writing: Tools and tips. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2007;73:439-41 [Full Text] [Pubmed]
Eapen BR. Vitiligo, psoriasis and imiquimod: Fitting all into the same pathway. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2008 Mar-Apr;74(2):169. [Full Text] [Pubmed] [Author’s reply]
Eapen BR. ErbB2: Nonimmune genetic key to leprosy. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2008 May-Jun;74(3):272-73. [Full Text] [Pubmed]
Eapen BR. DermaMan: Scoring dermatology in your palm. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2008 Jul-Aug;74(4):424-6. [Full Text | Pubmed | Details]
BR Eapen. (2009): Delayed-Type hypersensitivity to latex: Computational prediction of MHC class II. precedings.nature.com [Full Text]
Eapen BR. Agent-based model of laser hair removal: A treatment optimization and patient education tool. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2009 July-Aug;75(4):383-87. [Full Text] [Pubmed] [Model Home Page]
Eapen BR (2009): Research in Cosmetic Dermatology: Reconciling medicine with business. Munich Personal RePEc Archive [Full Text]
Eapen BR. What if your dissertation aims fail?. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2010 Jan-Feb;76(1):80-2. [Full Text] [Pubmed]