Scope

Crafted a problem statement for the 6th annual George Hacks Hackathon, guiding student developers and designers to prototype innovative medical solutions within 24 hours.

Process

After years working in healthcare organizations, this was my first year as a problem statement sponsor. I used my experience as a User Researcher in clinical research, stories from friends and colleagues, and online sources to draft a two-page problem statement, including background and user acceptance criteria.

Solution

Presenting in-person to approximately 60 hackathon attendees and answering their questions through the hackathon, I clarified the user pain points and problem context, enhancing students' problem-solving abilities. This deeper understanding of underlying issues, such as the impact of language barriers in clinical trials, fueled their curiosity and led to more effective solutions. Read the full problem statement.

Results

Both teams that chose my problem statement won top prizes, Best Overall and Best Demo, with Teams Medscribe and Data Den taking home the awards.

This event provided all of the student participants a hands-on opportunity to gain experience in entrepreneurship and pitching while solving real-world problems and engaging with the healthcare innovation community.