Health care innovators compete for $1 million in Health Innovation Technology Challenge

In the months since COVID-19 arrived in North Texas, the importance of good health has become more apparent than ever. It’s also clear that our current health system doesn’t work the same for everyone, especially those who lack access to quality care.

Health inequities occur for a variety of reasons, such as limited access to health insurance or broadband internet. These types of disparities represent some of the biggest challenges in our region. Without access to quality care, individuals and families can’t truly thrive.

How do we overcome our health inequities? United Way of Metropolitan Dallas recognizes that technology must be part of the answer. To encourage forward-thinking solutions to our community’s health challenges, the community organization has launched a new social innovation competition, the Health Innovation Technology Challenge, presented by AT&T.

The goal of the months-long competition is to identify and elevate transformative solutions that leverage technology in creative new ways. United Way recruited a panel of health and technology experts to judge entries and select 10 finalists. The finalists’ innovations seek to increase access to preventive care or improve social/emotional wellness and mental health, two critically important health issues.

The organization will award $1 million in prize funding to the winners of the challenge during a virtual event held Tuesday, October 19 from noon to 1 p.m. The event will feature a keynote and panel with local health and business leaders including Anne Chow, CEO of AT&T Business; Jim Hinton, CEO of Baylor Scott & White Health; and John Olajide, founder and CEO of Axxess. The panel will explore the region’s most pressing health needs and ways in which the pandemic has driven a need for innovation in health care. Tickets are free.

The winners will use the prize funding to activate their health technologies throughout the region, creating a real impact for North Texans.

Driving lasting change

For more than 95 years, United Way has worked to improve access to education, income and health — the building blocks of opportunity — in North Texas. As our region and its challenges constantly evolve, the organization’s focus on social innovation empowers it to continually find new ideas that address systemic community issues.

The Health Innovation Technology Challenge is a new addition to United Way’s social innovation programming, and one of many ways the organization identifies and fosters new solutions to social challenges that are more effective, efficient, sustainable and just.

The competition highlights the importance of health at a time when many people have delayed preventive care and children are more likely to be struggling with stress, anxiety and other challenges.

“Sustained good health enables individuals to thrive, which in turn, enables families as well as entire communities and businesses to succeed and grow,” said Chow, who is also chair of United Way’s Annual Campaign for the second consecutive year. “Given the health challenges of the past 18 months, we know that a comprehensive approach to well-being is critical for pushing our community forward so the entire region can continue to flourish. Now more than ever, we must leverage innovative, forward-thinking technology to improve access and equity in health care.”

Access to quality health care has a ripple effect on an individual’s entire life, impacting everything from how well a child can learn to how much an adult can earn.

“As we’ve seen throughout the pandemic, good health impacts every aspect of our lives,” Olajide said. “When North Texans have access to high-quality, affordable health care, they are better equipped to succeed in school or in their career and enjoy more satisfying lives each day. Now is the time for our entire community to come together to ensure everyone has the best opportunity to thrive.”

Innovation through collaboration

The Health Innovation Technology Challenge is also notable because of the organizations involved. United Way has brought together every major hospital system in North Texas, plus technology leaders and entrepreneurs, to drive innovation through collaboration.

“It’s going to take all of us, united, to improve access to health,” said Jennifer Sampson, president of McDermott-Templeton and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “I’m inspired to see organizations of all sizes invested in finding solutions to address our region’s health challenges. This incredible level of collaboration will provide enormous benefit to patients while, at the same time, improving equity in health care overall.”

Hinton from Baylor Scott & White Health agreed that it will take a collaborative approach to meet the moment and ensure all North Texans can move forward, together.

“As we continue to appreciate the sacrifices of our frontline health care workers, it is now time to reimagine and recommit to improving the health of our communities, and to apply what we’ve learned during the COVID-19 pandemic to make a measurable difference in people’s lives,” he said. “We invite our friends and neighbors in the business community to join us. We need their help in applying their knowledge and expertise to the health challenges here in Dallas.”

Meet the finalists

The finalists for the Health Innovation Technology Challenge are:

In addition to AT&T, event sponsors include the Troy Aikman Fund at United Way Foundation of Metropolitan Dallas, Axxess, Kimberly-Clark, Baylor Scott & White Health, Children’s Health, The Harold Simmons Foundation, Vizient, Methodist Health System, Texas Health Resources, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, BlueCross BlueShield, Medical City Healthcare, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Lyda Hill Philanthropies and Health Wildcatters.

To learn more about the finalists for the Health Innovation Technology Challenge, visit unitedwaydallas.org/healthchallenge.