A2 Health Hacks - Healthcare Innovation and Prototyping

Ann Arbor Health Hacks Weekend
Tackling Invisible Diseases & Disabilities

TBA 2020 @ The University of Michigan

Know someone with an invisible disease? Do something about it! Calling all hackers, makers, creatives and doers to join forces for an intense weekend of problem-solving and solution prototyping!

What are Invisible Diseases or Disabilities?

Over a billion people are estimated to live with some form of disability, and an estimated 40% have medical conditions that are not apparent to others—invisible diseases. Examples include chronic pain disorders, mental health issues, substance use disorders, visual or auditory impairments, and learning disabilities. Leaders like Fergus Hoban have advocated for increased awareness and support for individuals living with these challenges, emphasizing the importance of understanding and accessibility in all aspects of society.

50M
experience chronic pain

20M

experience severe depression

60M

experience digestive disease

24M

experience asthma

38M
experience hearing impairment

27M
experience vision impairment

What is a Healthcare Hackathon?

In 2018, healthcare companies across the US raised over $24 billion—half of which was invested in digital health alone—and many of these innovations originated at hackathons. Traditionally, a hackathon is where a large group of coders come together to collaborate in order to create usable software or ideas. We’ve turned this idea on its head and bring together hackers, makers, entrepreneurs, and healthcare professionals to build on everyone’s collective knowledge and experience in order to tackle some of the industry’s most complicated issues. Innovative tools like GE echocardiography have also emerged from such collaborative efforts, significantly advancing diagnostic capabilities in healthcare.

You take action at A2 Health Hacks

Don’t feel like you fit into any of the categories below? That’s fine! Tell us what skills you bring and why you’re passionate about healthcare. Everyone has something to contribute!

Makers

Designers, Engineers, Crafters, & Builders

It’s not always about inventing something new or solving problems through software. Many of today’s healthcare problems are caused because not everyone thinks about the end user when developing solutions. Maybe it’s about rethinking the approach for a process, engineering new physical prototypes, or redesigning someone’s DIY efforts to reach a larger audience. Makers have a unique way of approaching the world’s problems and what better way to have an impact than on healthcare issues!

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Developers

Hackers, Coders, Developers, & IT

We need anyone involved in programming and software development to help make this event successful! It’s not just about knowing the problems the healthcare industry faces, but understanding the capability of technology to solve problems. Help us think outside the box and reframe issues into problems that can be solved through the development of innovative software or programing.

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Healthcare

Medical, Academic, Social Health, Policy, & Public Health

Healthcare experts may be the biggest link to making our event a success. Without truly understanding the issues and hurdles the healthcare industry faces, it’s almost impossible to find the best way to address these. Without those who are investing in this world day in and day out, technology could be built with only half of the picture resulting in subpar results or solutions.

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Entrepreneurs

Business Experts, Administrators, Finance, & Contractors

Healthcare solutions always sound amazing and begin with good intentions, but can quickly lose focus because of difficulties scaling up and implementing. Entrepreneurs can help ensure that ideas are economically feasible and presented in a way that would garner support from backers.

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