Menda Health co-founders along with AAPM leadership and Innovation Challenge co-founders.
This year’s 3rd Annual Innovation Challenge Presented by AAPM + MIT Hacking Medicine and Supported by Saluda Medical and Enable Health, with an educational grant from Abbott, embedded within the AAPM’s 40th Annual Meeting, again showcased a dynamic Shark Tank-style competition among the brightest innovators aiming to revolutionize pain management.
Participants, ranging from established startups to aspiring healthcare entrepreneurs, pitched their groundbreaking solutions aimed at improving the lives of those affected by pain. The competition was fierce, with Menda Health taking home the ‘W’, demonstrating the vibrant potential of innovation in pain medicine.
Menda Health was founded by Arun Nijhawan and Kartik Shastri to help others get answers, and regain their life from chronic pain by providing virtual video sessions with a licensed pain therapist using an evidence-based neuroplasticity approach.
Menda Health also took home the M.M. Sadipe Entrepeneurship Award, offered in memory of Dr. Kayode Williams’s late father-in-law, a life long entrepreneur, and the inaugural Audience Choice Award in honor of Dr. Subash Jain, voted on by Innovation Challenge attendees.
The competition was intense, with 5 finalists chosen from a pool of more than 40 entrants. These finalists had the opportunity to showcase their innovative solutions to fellow leaders in pain medicine through a concise five-minute pitch, followed by a three-minute Q&A session with a discerning panel comprising experts in pain medicine, seasoned entrepreneurs, and potential investors. This rigorous selection and presentation process underscores the challenge’s commitment to fostering groundbreaking ideas in the field.
Dr. Salman Hirani and Dr. Brian Mayrsohn, co-founders of the Innovation Challenge.
Dr. Salman Hirani, co-founder and co-chair of the Innovation Challenge, remarked, “This year’s event exceeded our expectations, with an overwhelming display of innovation and commitment to solving complex pain challenges. The quality of entries underscores the bright future of pain medicine.”
Dr. Brian Mayrsohn, co-founder and co-chair of the Innovation Challenge, added, “The collaboration between AAPM, MIT Hacking Medicine, and our sponsors, Saluda Medical, Abbott Labs, and Enable Health, has created a unique platform for innovators. This synergy is not just about the present; it’s a launchpad for what’s next in pain medicine.”
AAPM and its partners remain committed to nurturing an ecosystem of innovation in pain medicine. As we reflect on the successes of this year’s Innovation Challenge, we are already looking forward to the future, where the ideas presented continue to evolve and positively impact patient care.
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