WRITER: Lauren Goldstein, 575-646-5069, poet@ad.nmsu.edu
CONTACT: Wayne Savage, 575-646-2596, waynes@ad.nmsu.edu
HealthAssembly, an inaugural conference presented by Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University and hosted by Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, will take place June 14 at BCOM. The conference is held at the culmination of HealthSprint, a new five-month digital health technology accelerator program powered by New Mexico Gas Company that supports and grows promising startups in healthtech.
Participants and panelists will dive into the latest innovations in the Internet of Medical Things, including big data analysis, artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, security, telemedicine, patient participation, and investment. The event features keynotes from regional and national industry leaders, engaging panels and discussions.
In addition, the event features a pitch competition showcase from the inaugural cohort of Arrowhead Center’s HealthSprint accelerator. These visionary startup companies embody the leading edge of intersections of health and technology. The startups’ products look to make a difference in the lives of patients and the economic landscape of New Mexico.
“The growing demand and need for digital health is not about ‘technology.’ It’s all about scalable empathy, warm connections and personalized relationships that seamlessly integrates the in-person with the virtual or mobile healthcare experience,” said Dr. Faz Bashi, a key HealthSprint adviser. HealthSprint cohort teams are seeking this connection of the technical with the relational, to the benefit of both communities and participants.
The cohort of seven companies includes four woman-owned and one veteran-owned business. Those businesses are:
– BeneTrkr, which helps people such as the disabled, veterans or early retirees manage their income-limited benefits while working. The technology tracks earnings and hours worked, alerts the user when nearing limits, and helps them better understand work-incentive programs so they don’t lose benefits, or worse, have to pay them back.
– Care Companion accommodates an aging population through the use of assistive technology to help seniors live healthier, longer and more independent lives at home. The technology detects falls in a living environment and breaks the stigma of old, generic push-button technology.
– De Las Mías, a bilingual healthy lifestyle digital platform designed by Latinas for Latinas. The De Las Mías unique approach to healthy living is culturally connected, built on community, and evidence-based.
– RadPhysics, a comprehensive risk-reduction program that helps radiation oncology centers improve patient safety by minimizing errors, meeting quality measures and ensuring compliance.
– SANEsuite, a platform that empowers survivors of sexual and domestic violence by developing technology to help them heal.
– VisionQuest i-Rx, an automated solution for detecting diabetic eye disease, the leading cause of blindness in working-age population. The technology helps physicians and insurance companies increase compliance with required annual diabetic eye exams, which results in higher reimbursement, lower healthcare costs and blindness prevention.
– Zhennovate, a platform that helps organizations build more adaptive and engaging talents by scaling personalized interventions for constructive habit development in the contexts of mental well-being, career and leadership development.
The cohort curriculum uses the National Science Foundation I-Corps model of customer discovery to move startups through this process.
“It has been an amazing experience to watch the HealthSprint teams grow and mature their businesses,” said serial entrepreneur Scott Maloney, business adviser to the cohort. “Whether it be robust financial forecasts or partnership conversations with companies in the health industries, these teams have proven that their grit and passion rivals any established company anywhere in the world of health.”
The conference is open to the public and industry professionals, members of the community who would like to get an inside look at the up-and-coming trends and startups at the forefront of the digital health revolution. Investors can meet the most promising new digital health startups across New Mexico, and entrepreneurs at all stages can connect with investors, potential partners, and customers.
The event will draw industry innovators, including: Michael B. Jackson, Leader of Public Health at Amazon Web Services; Dr. Ries Robinson, Chief Innovation Officer at Presbyterian Healthcare Services and Chief Executive Officer of Medici Technologies; Mylena Walker, Director of Product Planning and Cost Optimization at Cardinal Health; Anthony Dohrmann, CEO of The Electronic Caregiver, a Las Cruces company, and many others.
In addition to the HealthSprint cohort’s formal pitches, there is an open call for health entrepreneurs from across the region to participate in a 60-second open mic in front of leading minds in the field. Up to 10 startups will be selected to give 60-second pitches to describe their venture and what additional skills and help they are looking for from the healthcare, technology, academic, and entrepreneurial community. Registration fees will be waived for open mic presenters. An application for this opportunity is available at arrowheadcenter.nmsu.edu/healthassembly, and must be received by midnight June 4.
HealthAssembly is sponsored by New Mexico Gas Company, Arrowhead Center at NMSU, premier sponsor hotel Home 2 Suites by Hilton in Las Cruces, silver sponsors Richard P. Feynman Center for Innovation at Los Alamos National Laboratory and 1st New Mexico Bank Las Cruces, and contributing sponsors HB Construction Services, Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, The Dickerson Group and Ramada.
Registration is open and tickets can be purchased for $35 at bit.ly/2qXkmye. Free student tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis by entering code student2018 at the same link.
For additional information, visit arrowheadcenter.nmsu.edu/healthassembly, or contact Wayne Savage at 575-646-2596.
