Innovation Meets Impact

Healthcare Transformation IDEATOR competition tackles pressing issues in health inequity

By Taylor Szumski

According to Feeding America, more than 1.6 million Ohioans live with food insecurity. The link between food insecurity and negative health outcomes is well documented.

Northeast Ohio Medical University and University Hospitals hosted a high-energy, two-day innovation challenge to tackle this pressing health equity issue in April 2025. The third annual Healthcare Transformation IDEATOR brought together faculty, staff and students from the two institutions to develop ideas to address food insecurity, with a spotlight on its impact on maternal health and infant mortality in Northeast Ohio.

First launched in 2023, the IDEATOR competition was created to foster bold thinking and collaboration between healthcare professionals, academic institutions and community leaders. Each year, participants are given a real patient story to spark empathy and creativity as they work in multidisciplinary teams to design actionable, entrepreneurial solutions. With support from expert coaches and access to practical tools, teams transform ideas into reality—all in just 48 hours.The event culminated in a public pitch competition, where teams presented their solutions to a panel of judges.

Taking first place was Team NutriSNAP, whose idea centered on a mobile app designed to support Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) users. The app would connect users to health navigators, nutritious and budget-friendly food options, and practical resources to stretch their monthly benefits—addressing a common challenge where most SNAP recipients run out of funds after just two weeks.

Team leader Ramy Ahmed, Pharm.D. (’25), found the IDEATOR to be an eye-opening experience. “Working alongside individuals from diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise allowed us to develop a well-rounded, functional solution to address food insecurity,” he said. “I came to understand that food insecurity isn’t just about affordability—it’s also about time, access and skills. This experience showed me the powerful impact healthcare professionals can have when we focus on the real challenges people face outside the clinic or pharmacy.”

Winning teams receive funding, mentorship and continued support from an Entrepreneur-in-Residence to help bring their ideas to life.The 2026 IDEATOR competition will be held Feb. 11-12.