Embracing Tradition with Cassie, Our Agentic AI Medical Assistant

At Humanate, we believe innovation is most powerful when it honors human stories. Recently, our CTO, Dr. Mark Benden, shared a special moment with one of his students from Bangladesh, Syeda Sharmin Duza, who gifted him a traditional Panjabi—a symbol of the country’s rich textile heritage.

"When the mother of your student from Bangladesh brings you a Panjabi made from hand-woven cloth and hand-embroidered patterns, you wear it! For those of you not familiar with Bangladesh, it is a culturally rich part of the world whose #1 export is textiles. There is a good chance that something you will wear this week was made in Bangladesh. Many of our students from that country (like #SyedaSharminDuza pictured here) are hoping to use their education to improve working conditions for the textile workers who often labor in cramped and poorly resourced workplaces.” -Dr. Mark Benden

This moment, captured in a photo with Cassie—our Agentic AI medical assistant—standing alongside Dr. Mark Benden and his student Syeda, beautifully reflects the intersection of tradition and innovation. While the Panjabi symbolizes Bangladesh’s rich textile heritage, Cassie represents the future of healthcare: technology designed to serve people with empathy, adaptability, and purpose.

Bangladesh’s textile industry employs over 4 million people and generates nearly 80% of the country’s exports. Yet many workers face unsafe conditions, long hours, and wages below the legal minimum. Students like Syeda Sharmin Duza aspire to change this reality through education and leadership. In her heartfelt reply, she shared:

“I truly appreciate the support you always provided to me, dear Professor. Thanks a lot for embracing tradition and creating space to share cultural experiences and values in such a positive way. I am super grateful and blessed to be a part of EOH here at Texas A&M University. Specifically, as your student, Dr. B. You are amazing.”

This exchange highlights the power of mentorship and cultural appreciation in education. Just as textiles are woven with care, our AI medical assistant Cassie is designed to weave empathy into every healthcare interaction.