Cross-university collaboration drives innovation success: NEOMED and Kent State students triumph
The NEOvations Bench to Bedside program recently hosted its annual Innovation Challenge, drawing a record 64 participants for an evening filled with creativity, teamwork and problem-solving. Students from Northeast Ohio Medical University, Kent State University and the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa joined this dynamic event, making it one of the most diverse and well-attended competitions yet.
In an unconventional twist, participants were placed into randomly assigned teams, encouraging collaboration across institutions and fields. Each group was given a short window identify an unmet healthcare need, develop a solution and pitch it to the judges. The fast-paced format emphasized adaptability, ingenuity and cross-disciplinary thinking: hallmarks of the NEOvations Bench to Bedside program.
After an afternoon of spirited presentations, two teams rose to the top. The first-place winners, Nolan Meister, Yamini Kumar, Harris Skaramagas, Ajeet Kalepu and Carley Citron, impressed the judges with a redesign of the cervical collar, aiming to improve functionality and patient safety during trauma care. The second-place team, Macey Swearingen, Jace Lehfeldt, Collin Schofield, Olivia Fennecken and Bence Forrest, presented a concept to improve endotracheal tube (ET tube) procedures, offering a safer and more efficient approach to intubation. Both teams received NEOvations Bench to Bedside merchandise as prizes, though the true reward was the opportunity to build new skills and connections.
The event was supported by judges Linda Hale and Dr. Peter Di Rocco, who provided thoughtful feedback and guidance to each group. “Innovation is not just about new ideas…it’s about turning bold visions into real solutions that create impact,” said Fayez Safadi, Ph.D., Director of the NEOvations Bench to Bedside program. “That is exactly what this challenge is designed to inspire.”
More than just a competition, the Innovation Challenge served as a fun and casual way for like-minded students to meet, collaborate and apply their skills to meaningful problems in healthcare. Participants described the experience as an opportunity to connect with peers from different institutions and backgrounds, reinforcing NEOvations’ mission of moving ideas from bench to bedside.
Building on this momentum, NEOvations will continue to engage students through a variety of upcoming opportunities, including the Clinician Reverse Pitch and the annual competition in April. These events will provide additional platforms for students to share ideas, learn from experts and push the boundaries of healthcare innovation.
With record participation, creative new projects, and growing interest from across institutions, this year’s Innovation Challenge demonstrated the power of collaboration and curiosity. From reimagining the cervical collar to improving ET tube technology, the solutions presented underscored how students, when given the opportunity, can begin shaping the future of healthcare innovation.
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-- Submitted by NEOvations Bench to Bedside