Join the 2025 IDEATOR Event
The third annual Healthcare Transformation IDEATOR is set to bring together thought leaders from University Hospitals and Northeast Ohio Medical University to explore the pressing challenge of food insecurity and its impact on families, with a particular focus on women, children and infants. This two-day, immersive event will empower participants to develop innovative solutions and entrepreneurial ideas to improve food access for vulnerable communities in Northeast Ohio.
Taking place on Wednesday and Thursday, April 9-10, in Cleveland, the 2025 IDEATOR workshop will provide a unique platform for collaboration between UH, NEOMED and local communities. Participants will engage in an intensive, hands-on experiences where they will be given a real patient story on day one, allowing them to begin brainstorming potential solutions. Teams will have access to expert coaches, resources and tools to help turn their ideas into feasible, impactful solutions.
On April 10, the workshop will culminate in a public pitch competition, where teams will present their ideas to a panel of judges. The winning teams will receive cash prizes and funding, along with support from an Entrepreneur-in-Residence to help bring their concepts to life. This collaborative event encourages innovation and fosters partnerships between health care providers, academic institutions and the community, all working toward improving patient care and addressing social determinants of health in the region.
We invite you to be part of this transformational experience and help create lasting change for the most vulnerable populations in Northeast Ohio.
If you are a student, please fill out this application form and an event member will be in touch with you. If you are a faculty or staff member and are interested in joining, please contact Ken Greaver at kgreaver@neomed.edu.
Reflecting on Last Year’s Success
The 2024 IDEATOR workshop tackled the multifaceted challenges faced by caregivers in Northeast Ohio, focusing on the intersection of health care and pressing community issues such as workforce shortages, gun violence and caregiver safety. Participants, including pre-selected UH employees and NEOMED faculty and students, worked intensively in teams with expert coaches to develop new, commercial solutions. On April 17, participants received a caregiver story that served as the foundation for their brainstorming process.
The workshop culminated in a public pitch competition on April 18, where teams presented their innovative solutions to a panel of judges. The event showcased the creativity and expertise of participants and emphasized the importance of collaboration between health care providers, academic institutions and the local community. Winning teams walked away with cash prizes, project funding and ongoing support to help bring their ideas to life.
As we look ahead to the 2025 IDEATOR, we are excited to build on the momentum from last year’s event and tackle the critical issue of food insecurity in Northeast Ohio. We invite you to join us for this year’s event and contribute to creating innovative solutions for the most vulnerable populations in our community.
Photos from 2024 IDEATOR
