Innovation meets impact: The 2025 IDEATOR tackles food insecurity in Northeast Ohio
On April 9–10, faculty, staff and students from NEOMED and University Hospitals (UH) came together in Cleveland for the third annual Healthcare Transformation IDEATOR—a high-energy, two-day innovation challenge designed to tackle some of the region’s most pressing health equity issues.
This year’s focus? Food insecurity, with a spotlight on its impact on maternal health and infant mortality in Northeast Ohio.
First launched in 2023, IDEATOR was created to foster bold thinking and collaboration between healthcare professionals, academic institutions and community leaders. Each year, participants are given a real patient story to spark empathy and creativity as they work in multidisciplinary teams to design actionable, entrepreneurial solutions. With support from expert coaches and access to practical tools, teams transform ideas into reality—all in just 48 hours.
Previous challenges have focused on issues like caregiver burnout, workforce shortages and gun violence. But this year’s topic struck a particularly personal chord. Research shows that pregnant people and families with young children face especially high risks when access to healthy, affordable food is limited. With that in mind, five teams came together to imagine a more nourished, equitable future.
From pharmacy students and physicians to social workers and administrators, participants brought their full selves—and their unique expertise—to the table. The energy was electric.
One of those teams was led by Ramy Ahmed, a fourth-year pharmacy student at NEOMED and a member of the winning team. He's pictured above on the far left.
Reflecting on the experience, Ahmed shared:
“Participating in The IDEATOR was a unique and eye-opening experience that pushed me to think outside the box and collaborate creatively with my team. Working alongside individuals from diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise allowed us to develop a well-rounded, functional solution to address food insecurity.
"We created a system that helps individuals maximize their SNAP benefits through budget-friendly, nutritious meal plans. I came to understand that food insecurity isn’t just about affordability—it’s also about time, access, and skills. This experience showed me the powerful impact healthcare professionals can have when we focus on the real challenges people face outside the clinic or pharmacy. Most of all, it inspired me to keep seeking innovative, people-centered solutions that truly make a difference.”
The event culminated in a public pitch competition, where teams presented their solutions to a panel of judges. Taking first place was Team NutriSNAP, whose idea centered on a mobile app designed to support Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) users. The app connects users to health navigators, nutritious and budget-friendly food options, and practical resources to stretch their monthly benefits—addressing a common challenge where most SNAP recipients run out of funds after just two weeks.
Kris Baughman, professor of Family and Community Medicine at NEOMED and a member of the second-place team, shared:
“I was pleasantly surprised by all of the current UH programs addressing food insecurity. Our group's challenge was how to reach families that were not yet connected with UH so they could benefit from the programs.”
As the 2025 IDEATOR wraps up, its impact is just beginning. Winning teams will receive funding, mentorship and continued support from an Entrepreneur-in-Residence to help bring their ideas to life. But even for those who didn’t take home prizes, the experience was transformative—a powerful reminder that meaningful change happens when people from different backgrounds come together with a shared purpose.
With another year of creativity and collaboration in the books, NEOMED and University Hospitals remain committed to building a healthier, more equitable Northeast Ohio—one bold idea at a time.
