Innovation Hub

Innovation Hub

Announcing the Winners of the FY25 Emory Healthcare Innovation Challenge!

We are thrilled to announce the winners of the Innovation Challenge! After an incredible showcase of groundbreaking ideas and innovative solutions, our judging panel has selected the projects that best exemplify creativity, impact, and scalability.

Each of these projects demonstrated exceptional vision and ingenuity, addressing key challenges in healthcare with forward-thinking solutions. We are proud to support their continued growth and success through funding, mentorship, and strategic partnerships.

A heartfelt thank you to all of our participants for their dedication and passion for innovation. The future is bright, and we look forward to seeing how each of these projects evolves and drives meaningful impact.

Congratulations to our FY25 Innovation Challenge Winners

Jessica Saurman, PhD

Administration of Digital Clock Recall as a screening tool for Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment

Jordan Cattie, PhD

Creation of 3 single session interventions to address anxiety across clinic partners

Omid Razmpour

Creation of a real-time workforce analytics for reducing turnovers and retaining high value nurses

Michael Setteducato, MD & Natalie Lunsford

Use of Apple Watch to compare against Polysomnography for obstructive sleep apnea

Reema Dbouk, MD & Pam Vohra-Khullar, MD

Use of Large Language Models to assist patient queries for RNs and LPNs

Innovation Challenge Goals

The Innovation Challenge aims to improve care delivery, increase access, and boost efficiency while making practice more enjoyable. It supports smart investments and financial strength. By funding promising projects, we help them grow and succeed. We also encourage collaboration to quickly turn ideas into real solutions, set up organization-wide implementation, and explore opportunities for commercialization.

Promote

Promote Innovation:

  • Promote improved care delivery
  • Enhances access
  • Improves efficiencies and enhances the joy of practice
  • Optimizes investments and financial strength. 
Fund

Fund Viable Projects:

  • Provide financial support to promising pilot projects
  • Identify pilots with teh capacity to scale
Foster

Foster Collaboration:

  • Expedite ideation to practical application
  • Set a framework for enterprise-wide implementation
  • Identify potential for commercialization. 

Emory Healthcare Innovation Challenge

Call for Proposal

 

The Innovation Challenge is open to:

  • Researchers, Clinicians, and Staff within Emory Healthcare: Any internal member of Emory Healthcare is eligible to participate.
  • External Applicants Partnered with Emory Internal Staff: External applicants are welcome to join, provided they partner with an internal member of Emory Healthcare.
Innovation Hub

Submission Requirements

These comprehensive guidelines ensure that submissions are well-rounded and thoroughly prepared, facilitating the selection of the most promising and impactful projects.

Life at Emory Healthcare

Executive Summary (500 words max):

  • A brief overview describing the solution and its benefits.

Detailed Proposal (3 pages):

  • Problem Statement & Background: Outline the context and rationale for the project.
  • Description of the Innovation Solution: Explain how the solution works and highlight its unique features.
  • Objectives: Delineate who will benefit from the solution, clearly stating the goals of the project.
  • Methodology: Describe the approach and methods that will be used to achieve the objectives.
  • Impact of the Solution: Identify who will benefit from the solution and how.
  • SMART Goals: Define Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals for the project.
  • Previous Relevant Work: Highlight any previous work relevant to the project.
  • Comparison to Existing Solutions: Discuss how the proposed solution compares to current solutions and identify potential challenges along with mitigation strategies.
  • Expected Timeline: Provide a timeline outlining the major milestones and expected completion dates.
  • Evaluation & Metrics: Explain how the project's success will be measured and evaluated.
  • Financial Plan: Include a cost analysis and a summary pro forma showing the fiscal value at scale
The Initial Review


The initial review process will select semi-finalists based on the following criteria: innovation and originality, feasibility, potential impact on healthcare, and a comprehensive financial plan. This financial plan should include an overview of the total estimated costs and a high-level breakdown of major expense categories such as personnel costs, software, infrastructure, equipment, supplies, training, and marketing & outreach.

Ultimately, 10-15 proposals will be chosen to advance to the semi-final round.

Group of people working together

Semi-Final Presentations

Format:

  • In the semi-final presentations, each team will deliver a 5-minute pitch of their proposal, followed by a 5-minute Q&A session.

Outcome:

  • This process will determine the selection of up to 10 finalists who will advance to the final round.
Final Prensentation
Presentation of your Innovation Hub idea
Final Pitch Event 
(Shark Tank Style)
The Final Pitch event is designed in a (Shark Tank style) format, featuring a panel of evaluators. Each finalist will have 5 minutes to present their pitch, followed by a 5-minute Q&A session. This structure provides a concise yet comprehensive opportunity for participants to showcase their ideas and address any questions from the evaluators.

The evaluators will assess each pitch based on four main criteria. Presentation quality is crucial, as it reflects the clarity and effectiveness of the pitch. Innovation and potential impact are also key, emphasizing the idea's originality and transformative potential. Additionally, the feasibility and scalability of the proposal will be evaluated to determine its practicality and growth potential. Lastly, the team's strength behind the pitch is important, highlighting the capability and cohesion of the individuals working on the project.
Group of Nurses working together

Awarding and Funding

The awarding and funding process for the Final Pitch event is designed to support the development of innovative projects. The panel of evaluators will decide the funding amount based on the project's budget and needs.

Awardees must use these funds to develop and implement their projects within 12 months. To keep receiving funding, awardees need to meet specific milestones agreed upon at the start. This ensures they stay on track and make progress, encouraging timely and effective project execution. 

Post-Event Support
After the event, winners will get ongoing support, including mentorship from experts, quarterly progress reviews, and an annual showcase event to highlight their progress. Communication will keep everyone informed and excited. Internally, updates will be shared via email, newsletters, and the intranet. Externally, there will be press releases, social media campaigns, and partnerships with medical publications. A kickoff event will generate excitement and awareness.
Innovation Hub

Example of Past Awards

The Innovation Challenge has awarded several groundbreaking healthcare initiatives. These include expanding hospice services through virtual care at Emory facilities and integrating NeuroFlow with Epic for better primary care in early cognitive and mental health. An AI software to help radiologists detect breast cancer in mammograms was also recognized. Additionally, awards went to projects like replacing physical dry erase boards with automated digital ones and using virtual reality to improve the patient experience for those undergoing dialysis. These awards highlight the Innovation Challenge's commitment to innovative healthcare solutions.
New Care Models
  • Expand the hospice service to patients through virtual care and support provided by a nurse and/or provider at Emory facilities.
  • Leverage a collaborative care model of care and integrate NeuroFlow with Epic to expand services to primary care for early cognitive status and mental health care.  
Predictive Care Models/Clinical Decision Support tools
  • Implement an AI enabled software solution that assists radiologist in detecting breast cancer in mammography screening.
New Mobile and Clinical Support Apps 
  • Transition from a physical dry erase board to an automated digital care progression board.
  • Using virtual reality to facilitate relaxation and improve patient experience in patents who are getting dialysis.

Summary Timeline

summary timeline
Contact
Need help or have questions? Click the button below to send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!
innovationrfa@emoryhealthcare.org