Manhattan University hosted the inaugural lecture in its new ARCHtalk series on Thursday, February 26, featuring Dr. Anthony D. Mercando, a 1976 graduate of the university. Mercando’s presentation, titled “AI in Health Care: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” explored the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence within the medical field.
Dr. Mercando, who earned his degree in electrical engineering from Manhattan University summa cum laude, later received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology. He is currently a practicing cardiologist at White Plains Hospital Medical Center and White Plains Hospital Physician Associates, and also serves as the Director of AI Strategy at White Plains Hospital.
The lecture, held in Kelly Commons on the Manhattan University campus, was open to the public at no cost. A recording of the event is available on the Manhattan University YouTube channel, according to university officials.
Bridget Chalk, Interim Provost and Professor of English at Manhattan University, highlighted Dr. Mercando’s unique background as a key asset to the discussion. “He is the quintessential example of interdisciplinary study yielding exceptional results,” Chalk said. “As both an engineer and medical doctor, he brings extensive knowledge, extraordinary curiosity, and years of experience to his work in medicine and AI.”
Dr. Mercando’s career includes over 35 years of practice in Westchester County, New York. He completed his medical training at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, serving as Chief Resident during his residency. He holds board certifications in both internal medicine and cardiovascular disease and is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, as well as a member of the Heart Rhythm Society.
Beyond his clinical work, Dr. Mercando has maintained a long-standing interest in the intersection of technology and medicine. He has served as a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and an Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at Columbia University. He also works as an independent consultant in medical information technology, medical data analytics, and artificial intelligence and machine learning in medicine, and has authored or co-authored over 50 articles published in peer-reviewed journals, covering topics from coronary artery disease to complex heart arrhythmias.
The ARCHtalk series is part of the Manhattan University ARCH Exchange (Analytics, Research, Creativity, Humanity) program, launched last summer. The program aims to foster a multidisciplinary approach to education, preparing students for the evolving job market and promoting well-rounded development, according to university administrators.
Dr. Mercando resides in Bronxville, NY, with his wife, Lee-Ann, and their four children.
