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News From Mass Digital Health at the Massachusetts eHealth Institute

October 2024

Digital Health Sandbox Challenge:

Advancing Health Equity in Massachusetts

MeHI is seeking startups and entrepreneurs who are developing and validating digital health-based solutions that support the goals of the Healey-Driscoll administration’s Advancing Health Equity in Massachusetts (AHEM) Initiative to compete in the third Massachusetts Digital Health Sandbox Challenge. This Challenge is divided into four tracks all aimed at meeting AHEM’s goals of eliminating racial, economic and regional disparities in health outcomes:


  • Addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) for Cardiometabolic Diseases;  
  • AI for Health Equity;  
  • Maternal and Infant Health;
  • The Medicaid Pilot Track (MPT). 


 Challenge finalists will compete for prizes worth $250,000 

 

Finalists will also take part in Mass Digital Health Connects, a three-month series of informative and interactive virtual workshops featuring prominent voices from across the ecosystem including venture capitalists, state and federal policymakers and leading researchers. The program will conclude with an in-person pitch competition in May 2025 where judges will recommend a winner in each track. 


A virtual launch event will be held on Wednesday, October 30 from noon - 1:00 p.m. In addition to providing an overview of the AHEM Challenge and the application process, the launch event will feature keynote remarks from AHEM co-Chair and Executive Office of Health and Human Services Undersecretary for Health Dr. Kiame Mahaniah, and a panel discussion with alumni of MeHI’s previous Sandbox Challenges. To register for the event, click here

 

Applications are due Thursday, December 19 

Click to Register for the Virtual Launch Event
Click to Download the Request for Applications
Click to Learn More and Apply

Mass Digital Health Networking Event

Join MeHI and the New England Deaconess Association (Deaconess) Sandbox on Thursday, November 21 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for the fourth event in the Mass Digital Health Sandbox Networking Series. These events bring together the dynamic Massachusetts digital health ecosystem to connect in person and showcase the amazing work of the R&D centers across the Sandbox Network. 

 

Each event features a panel discussion on a topic of interest, as well as an opportunity to network. This upcoming event will focus on "Opportunities for Disruption and Innovation in Senior Living Communities," examining the state of innovation in senior living facilities and opportunities for AgeTech to improve the residential experience. Deaconess's commitment to innovation and ability to leverage its patient population to provide user feedback on emerging technology makes them an ideal partner and pilot environment for AgeTech entrepreneurs.  

 

Join us for this panel and networking session to showcase the partnership between MeHI and Deaconess and their commitment to innovation and collaboration. Hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served. 

Click to Register

Applications Now Open:

Health IT Mentorship Program Spring Session

The Health IT Mentorship Program pairs students in an associate degree program at a Massachusetts community college with a mentor currently working in the health IT field. The program has a broad view of health IT that includes support with both software and hardware, as well as health information management, informatics, data analysis, digital health navigation and more.

 

MeHI is recruiting mentors and student mentees for the Spring 2025 session. We are looking for mentors that represent a variety of roles in health IT including both IT and information systems (IS) professionals. MeHI welcomes mentors from hospitals, community health centers, community-based organizations, provider groups and other health care organizations.


Participants should be available to meet virtually for at least one hour every two weeks from early February to late April for a total time commitment of six to 10 hours over the course of the three-month program. Applications are open and can be found here.

Click to Learn More and Apply

Cybersecurity

Health Care Provider Cybersecurity Monthly Call

Join MeHI and the MassCyberCenter on Thursday, November 14 at 10:00 a.m. for the monthly health care provider cybersecurity call. Representatives of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Commonwealth Fusion Center will provide updates on recent cyber threats and trends.


These calls are held on the second Thursday of every month and feature a discussion leader from MeHI, the MassCyberCenter, DHS, the Commonwealth Fusion Center and additional guest speakers to provide updates on emerging threats and address monthly interest topics.

Thursday,

November 14

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Click to Register

Health Care Cybersecurity Updates

Two U.S. senators have introduced new legislation called The Health Infrastructure Security and Accountability Act that would strengthen security standards for health information. Read more from The HIPAA Journal.


Findings from a recent report indicate an increase in Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks impacting the health sector. Read more from Healthcare Innovation.

Focus on Jobs

Health IT Jobs Board

Across the state, hospitals and health centers are seeking staff for a variety of health IT roles. A few of the over 100 opportunities from MeHI's Health IT Jobs Board are listed below:




To learn more and sign up for health IT job alerts, click here.

Mass Digital Health Jobs Board

As the only free resource solely dedicated to open digital health roles in Massachusetts, the MassDigitalHealth Jobs Board is the best way to find opportunities in this growing sector. Below are just a few examples of the over 1,100 open roles currently on the board:


Questions? Email Digital Health Innovation Director Katie Green at green@masstech.org.

Mass Digital Health Roundup

  • Boston-based Embr Labs was recently selected as a finalist for the 2024 Digital Health Hub Foundation: Digital Health Awards. Read more from PR Newswire.
  • Researchers at Cambridge-based Draper Laboratories are developing wearables to track mental health conditions. Read more from Boston Business Journal.
  • Wysa, an AI-powered mental health startup based in Boston, launched its safety assessment for Large Language Models (LLMs) in mental health support. Read more from BusinessWire.
  • Boston-based Amwell announced Marc Hirschhorn as its new chief financial officer. Read more from Healthcare Dive.

Opportunities

Applications Now Open:

UMass Lowell M2D2 Barracuda Bowl

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) at UMass Lowell recently announced that applications for their ninth annual Barracuda Bowl are now open. This year, the Barracuda Bowl is focused on supporting early-stage startups with innovative point-of-care solutions in heart, lung, blood and sleep health. Additional areas of interest include early detection methods, proactive treatments, population-level health strategies and new models for predicting long-term health outcomes. Selected applicants will pitch to a panel of industry leaders and investors ready to help entrepreneurs scale their innovations. Applications are due Monday, November 11.

Click to Learn More and Apply

Upcoming Events

Massachusetts Caregiver Coalition Breakfast

Join the Massachusetts Caregiver Coalition for their first annual Caregiver Coalition Breakfast. The event is an opportunity to expand the conversation around substantive change in support of working caregivers. The morning will include networking, breakfast and a panel discussion on strengthening caregiver support for employers and employees alike. Featured panelists for the discussion include Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones and Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh.

Thursday, November 7

8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Innovation Center

101 Huntington Avenue 2nd floor

Boston, MA 02199

Click to Learn More and Register

Health IT Careers Webinar

On Monday, November 18 from noon - 1:00 p.m., join this informative webinar to learn more about MeHI’s Health IT Mentorship Program and hear from a panel of health IT professionals about their career journeys. Panelists will discuss some of the challenges and opportunities posed by working in a unique health care setting such as a behavioral health organization, a community health center or a senior living facility. Attendees will have a better understanding of the Health IT Mentorship Program and the health IT career opportunities available in mission-driven organizations. 



Monday, November 18

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Virtual


Click to Register

MassChallenge 2024 Healthcare Challenge Program Kickoff Event

Join MassChallenge (MC) for the 2024 Healthcare Challenge Program Kickoff Event where health care founders, innovators and leaders come together to tackle some of the industry's biggest challenges. Attendees will hear live pitches from founders in the 2024 MC Healthcare Program as they showcase their innovative solutions set to transform the health care sector from improving patient outcomes to reducing costs. There will also be opportunities to network with health care innovators, industry leaders and experts.

Tuesday, November 19

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

MassChallenge

10 Fan Pier Boulevard,

3rd Floor

Boston, MA 02210

Click to Get Tickets

UMass LIFT Program Final Pitch Presentations

Join the UMass Lowell Innovative Fellows Training (LIFT) Program for an evening filled with new ideas, collaboration and innovation in aging and Alzheimer's disease. The UMass LIFT Program is a cohort-based accelerator initiative tailored for those passionate about aging-related innovations. Over the course of a semester, participants have engaged in 12 enriching sessions, delving deep into the realms of biotech and MedTech. At the final pitch event, these dedicated individuals will showcase their insights to a panel. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a community dedicated to advancing innovations in aging and Alzheimer's disease.

Thursday, December 5

4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

UMass Lowell

110 Canal Street, 3rd Floor

Lowell, MA 01852

Click to Learn More and Register
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