SHAWNEE, Kan. — A recent Shawnee Mission West graduate is the youngest person to be named to the 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 Healthcare list.
The list recognizes young entrepreneurs around the country.
Erin Smith was recognized for her app 'FacePrint,' which helps detect early signs of Parkinson's Disease. The app is a series of tests, including nerve and cognitive assessments.
Patients "are shown a series of video clips or asked to replicate a series of facial expressions while their face is recorded by a computer webcam," said Smith. "What I've been able to do is develop a process that takes that facial footage and breaks it down with facial recognition software. I've been able to identify a series of facial muscle movements or different interactions between muscle movements that are distinctive patterns and can predict Parkinson's Disease."
Smith started working on the app in high school, in her biotechnology class.
She has since received a fellowship and is working on her app in California, which will include starting clinical trials. She plans on attending Stanford University when she is done with the fellowship.
