The inaugural class of the Knight Foundation Fellowship in Healthcare Technology Innovation graduated last month. The cohort of 26 fellows concluded their 10-month fellowship with team presentations on pioneering concepts to address unmet healthcare needs. A multidisciplinary panel of South Florida innovators, executives and investors and Baptist Health clinical thought leaders considered their potential solutions and judged their presentations.
Inspiring the next generation of innovators
Launched in September 2021 by Baptist Health Innovations, with generous support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the revolutionary fellowship employs an immersive environment to inspire the next generation of innovators in South Florida. The commencement of this first cohort signals that it is time to usher in a new class of fellows for the next program, which begins September 30, 2022. The application submission period for the fellowship is June 1 through August 5, 2022.
Training healthcare technology innovation visionaries
With training and support, the fellows of the Knight Foundation Fellowship in Healthcare Technology Innovation work in multidisciplinary teams to develop new healthcare products, services and innovations that benefit patients, providers and the community. “Their experiences are broadened through interaction with healthcare subject matter experts and business leaders who share their respective personal and professional journeys,” says Barry Katzen, M.D., chief medical innovation officer at Baptist Health Innovations.
The fellowship combines concepts from elite academic institutions into a focused curriculum that augments classroom discussions, skills-based learning materials, case studies and presentations by world-class innovators and entrepreneurs with team-based experiential projects that focus on opportunities identified and selected by the teams.
Empowering professional entrepreneurs
This year’s group of fellows presented ideas to enable facile communication among care providers through the novel application of technology; improve the assessment and outcomes of stroke patients; and alleviate the burden of supply and staffing shortages on clinical workforces. The breadth of topics — ranging from needs assessment and economic modeling to regulatory navigation and presentation fundamentals — aligns with the breadth of the personal and professional skills developed among the innovators during the program. This multidisciplinary approach aligns to the diversity aims of the fellowship.
Driving innovation through diversity
Subscribing to the tenet that innovation must be viewed from a diverse, multidisciplinary lens, the Knight Foundation Fellowship in Healthcare Technology Innovation is committed to supporting and training a diverse group of innovators. Fellows and, then, their dedicated teams are selected to provide diversity of thought, perspective, experience and background. Fellowship cohorts are comprised of Baptist Health employees as well as community members who have a breadth of skills and professional experience. The inaugural cohort included clinical administrators, tech leaders and regional entrepreneurs.
“Upon graduation, fellows become part of an active and robust community of innovators at Baptist Health South Florida and throughout Miami,” said Mark Coticchia, corporate vice president at Baptist Health Innovations. “They also have the opportunity to sharpen their skills by participating in a series of team-based innovation challenge programs commencing in early 2023.”
Engineering the future of healthcare
By the end of the committed program’s fifth year, more than 100 South Florida innovators representing Miami’s rich culture and talent will have completed the Knight Foundation Fellowship in Healthcare Technology Innovation. The Baptist Health and Knight Foundation teams are confident these fellows will comprise a professional and productive network that will lead the region’s healthcare innovation activities for years to come.
The Knight Foundation Fellowship in Healthcare Technology Innovation application submission period is now open through August 5, 2022. For more information about the fellowship eligibility criteria, application process and to apply, please visit Knight Foundation Fellowship for Healthcare Technology Innovation | Baptist Health Innovations.