Youth Opportunity to Uplift, Train, and Hope
A branch of the Misdiagnosis Association and Research Institute (MARI)
What is MARI Youth?
MARI Youth is a global initiative under the Misdiagnosis Association and Research Institute (MARI), a nonprofit research organization founded by Dr. Pooya Beigi, MD., with branches extending across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and beyond. MARI Youth empowers high school students to step into the world of scientific discovery, critical thinking, and health justice.
But this isn’t just about science. This is about the opportunity for youth to grow and learn how to transform health issues that are applicable to them. At MARI Youth, we equip students with the tools to recognize what others often miss. We teach them to think critically, ask better questions, and challenge the systems that have allowed mismedicine, as we at MARI like to acknowledge as the misdiagnosing, misunderstanding, or misrepresentation of medical care. Through our work and publications, we strive to improve the delivery of high-quality, equitable healthcare across all levels of the system.
Why Does Misdiagnosis Matter?
Misdiagnosis is more than a medical error, it leads to a plethora of unheard voices, unmet needs and possibly dangerous consequences.
MARI Youth brings young minds into the conversation, because we believe they will rewrite the narrative and that they are the future of research. By learning about the root causes of diagnostic error and being given the tools and opportunities to practice their research skills, youth can begin addressing the invisible crisis that is affecting real lives every day.
Our goals at MARI Youth Include:
- To develop and sustain programs that enhance the quality of education at a high school level and in interdisciplinary research.
- To facilitate the increase in the knowledge of students regarding misdiagnosis.
- Raise awareness about misdiagnosis of diseases, rare diseases, and errors in medicine from the perspective of multiple disciplines.
What is Mismedicine?
Coined by Dr. Pooya Beigi, Mismedicine was created to capture the full spectrum of harmful failures in healthcare that extend beyond misdiagnosis. It includes incorrect treatments, delayed or denied care, communication breakdowns, medication errors, implicit bias, and systemic failures that collectively harm patients. These issues often go unrecognized, yet they have serious, lasting consequences on patient outcomes. Mismedicine names what happens when medicine fails to meet its fundamental promise of healing.
This term was born out of the need for a unified, inclusive language that captures these complex, real-world issues, so that we can better understand them, talk about them, and fix them.
At MARI Youth, we believe that awareness is the first step toward change. That’s why we introduce students to the concept of Mismedicine, to help them recognize how healthcare can fall short, and how we can do better.
Through early training in research, ethics, and healthcare systems, MARI Youth empowers young people to:
- Identify patterns of medical error
- Investigate root causes
- Propose innovative solutions
By learning from the flaws in today’s systems, students become tomorrow’s advocates for safer, smarter, and more equitable care.
Why MARI Youth?
MARI Youth is a Hub of Opportunities for High School Students
Through our programs, including the summer research initiative REMY (Research Education for MARI Youth) and special projects like Healthy MYnds, MARI Youth members:
- Engage in real research on pressing health issues related to youth populations
- Learn to communicate scientifically and ethically
- Build leadership and teamwork skills
- Get mentored by professionals in medicine, psychology, and research
- Get an early start on making professional connections with a global network of change-driven youth
Previous Projects: Healthy MYnds
In 2020, our students dove into mental health research under the theme “Healthy MYnds”, examining how youth mental health was shaped, misunderstood, and increased during COVID-19.
Guided by mentors, students were involved in hands-on weekly workshops surrounding building intentional and transferable research skills. They were able to apply this new knowledge in partnership with their team and published their own research articles by the end of the summer where they were able to practice their presentation skills.
Future Research Topics
Some possible future research topics that MARI Youth students can participate in include:
- Mismedicine on social media platforms targeted to youth
- Health misinformation on youth-dominated social platforms (e.g., TikTok, Instagram)
- Barriers that impact youth in marginialized populations
- Youth awareness and understanding of their medical rights
Join the Movement!
We’re not just shaping future researchers and medical professionals. We’re developing compassionate, curious, and courageous leaders who will transform health systems from different levels.
If you’re a student who wants to ask deeper questions, have the opportunity to experience research with a team of like-minded students and professionals or a parent who wants to support meaningful education and opportunities for your child, then MARI Youth is for you!
Because the future of medicine belongs to those who can see what’s been missed.
📨 Get Involved
📧 info@mariresearch.com
Instagram | LinkedIn: @mariresearch