Agfa HealthCare Institute Recognizes McMaster Student for Innovation in eHealth

from: http://www.agfahealthcare.com/global/en/main/news_events/news/archive/he20101129_student.jsp

Agfa HealthCare Institute Recognizes McMaster Student for Innovation in eHealth
Student wins annual Agfa HealthCare Institute Innovation Challenge for progressive ideas in diabetic patient care

Press release
Student wins annual Agfa HealthCare Institute Innovation Challenge for progressive ideas in diabetic patient care
November 29, 2010 17:00

- Students challenged to create proposals for eHealth solutions relating to universal access, privacy and ease of use for a healthcare issue.
- Participation in Challenge for Ontario’s post-secondary students up 900% compared to last year.
- Award includes scholarship or summer employment opportunity at Agfa HealthCare.
(RSNA Booth #8336) Agfa HealthCare, a leading provider of IT-enabled clinical workflow and diagnostic imaging solutions, today announced the winner of the 3rd annual Agfa HealthCare eHealth Innovation Challenge. Michael Mak from McMaster University developed an idea around how to support and educate diabetic patients belonging to the First Nations community through the use of a cellular technology system called DiabeTEXTs. The solution is a cost-effective, grassroots-empowering medical informatics system that addresses some of the fundamental challenges in remote and rural First Nations diabetic patient care.
Challenge engages talented Canadian minds

This year, over 500 students, a 900 percent increase from 2009, registered in the exciting month-long competition designed to engage the most talented Canadian minds from various disciplines in information technology, health sciences and engineering faculties, among others, across Ontario's post-secondary institutions. Agfa HealthCare asked students to submit proposals around a solution associated with universal access, privacy and ease of use pertaining to disease diagnosis, medical treatment and overall healthcare management. Past winners of the Agfa HealthCare Institute eHealth Innovation Challenge have realized new career and patent opportunities from their winning submissions.
Thought-provoking ideas for making eHealth a reality across Canada

"New ideas and innovative solutions are the most critical elements to making eHealth a reality across Canada. This year has proved to be the most exciting yet for the Agfa HealthCare Institute eHealth Innovation Challenge, as we had presented a very big question to over 500 fresh and intelligent minds," said Jeff Nesbitt, Vice President of Government Relations and Strategic Programs, Agfa HealthCare in Canada. "Hundreds of fascinating and thought-provoking ideas were presented to the committee, and choosing only one winner was the most difficult part of the event."
Bringing together business and healthcare to develop innovative solutions

Mak was awarded the 2010 Agfa HealthCare Institute eHealth Innovation Challenge and a $3,000 CAD scholarship or a summer employment opportunity at Agfa HealthCare, with all finalists also receiving a guaranteed job interview.
"With over 500 students involved in this year's competition, it was so exciting to be selected as the winner," said Mak. "The challenge has been a really educational experience as I had the unique opportunity to work with some of the best minds in business and healthcare to massage my idea into a feasible solution to help patients in Canada."
Addressing real-life issues leads to innovation

Sun Life Financial has sponsored the Agfa HealthCare Institute eHealth Innovation Challenge since 2009, and provided mentors and a competition judge for this year's finalists.
"Sun Life recognizes how important it is to educate today's youth and provide opportunities for them to contribute to real issues," said Sun Life Financial Canada's Senior Vice-President of Individual Insurance and Investments, Kevin Strain. "Ontario's post-secondary students offer a great source of innovation that is not taken advantage of often enough. Investing in this challenge provides them with the opportunity to showcase their talent and create real life solutions to important issues."
Annual Challenge lets students contribute to improved healthcare in Canada

The annual Agfa HealthCare eHealth Innovation Challenge was created to provide Ontario students with the opportunity to help improve the quality of patient care, support the continuation and growth of Canada's Health Informatics industry and drive the advancement of healthcare IT solutions. The top five finalists received an all-expenses-paid trip to Waterloo, Ontario, to present their ideas to a panel of judges on November 20th. Finalists engaged in personal coaching sessions on pitching strategies with key industry influencers and select lead sponsoring organizations such as: Sun Life Financial, Research in Motion (RIM), Christie, Jet Airways, Ontario Centres of Excellence and The Health Technology Exchange, St. Mary's Hospital, as well as senior software architects from Agfa HealthCare in Canada.