17-year-old turns cancer treatment decisions into a 72-card game for students

In a San Diego high school classroom, a deck of 72 cards sits on a desk, each one representing a different cancer treatment option, side effect or patient factor. The game built from these cards was designed to help young patients and their families visualise complex treatment decisions, turning abstract medical information into something they can hold, sort and discuss. Its creator is Daniel Zhang, a 17-year-old student and cancer researcher who has spent his teenage years bridging the worlds of oncology, game design and education outreach. Beyond the lab, Daniel has helped bring science, technology, engineering and math learning to more than 1,500 children through workshops, mentorship and community programmes.