Inaugural Tulane AI & Healthcare Design Lab a Rousing Success!
The Tulane AI & Healthcare Design Lab, a groundbreaking initiative held November 14-17 at the New Orleans BioInnovation Center and Jung Hotel, brought together 29 top applicants from around the world. Ranging in age from 20 to 60 and representing diverse disciplines such as AI, neuroscience, healthcare operations, and medicine, the participants embarked on a four-day immersive workshop applying cutting-edge artificial intelligence to pressing healthcare challenges.
A Biodesign Experience Like No Other
The workshop utilized the renowned Stanford Biodesign methodology, adapted to integrate AI's transformative capabilities in the healthcare space. Participants engaged in an intensive, executive-style experience that combined lectures, mentorship, and hands-on team collaboration. Despite never having met before, they worked in small groups to conceptualize and pitch fully developed healthcare ventures.
Mentorship played a crucial role in the attendees' success. Experts in AI, healthcare, data privacy, ethics, regulatory processes, and business strategy—assembled from around the globe—guided and inspired participants throughout the event. Sessions like "Pitchcraft" and "Intellectual Property and Regulatory Basics" provided practical insights, while roundtable discussions and networking events cultivated a collaborative, innovative atmosphere.
JoJo Platt, President of Platt & Associates and one of the Design Lab founding faculty and event organizers, remarked, “This was not just an academic exercise—it was about real-world problem-solving to build the future of medicine." and James Zanewicz, Chief Strategy Officer at the Tulane School of Medicine, emphasized that "Every team left with something meaningful, whether that was a new network, a clearer understanding of healthcare innovation, or the kernels of a viable project to take forward.”
The Winning Team and Unparalleled Networking Benefits
The event culminated in a dynamic pitch session where the eight teams presented their groundbreaking ideas to peers, mentors, and faculty members. All participants left the workshop with invaluable skills, actionable ideas, and lasting professional connections. Still, it was Advisor Lindsey Jardine's team, "Organ Prime," that walked away with the top spot for their innovative solution aimed at transforming organ allocation systems.
"Being an advisor at the Tulane AI & Healthcare Design Lab was an incredible experience," said Jardine. "Witnessing the creativity and dedication from such a diverse group was inspiring. Launching this new program has been a pivotal step in merging artificial intelligence with healthcare innovation, paving the way for transformative solutions that have the potential to make a real impact on people's lives."
Looking Ahead
From its innovative curriculum to its diverse group of participants and mentors, the inaugural Tulane AI & Healthcare Design Lab showcased the power of collaborative problem-solving at the intersection of AI and healthcare. The event serves as a shining example of how interdisciplinary collaboration can address some of healthcare’s most pressing challenges.
The Tulane AI & Healthcare Design Lab is already planning for next year, building on this year's overwhelming success. Interested in participating, mentoring, or sponsoring in 2025? Visit the Tulane AI & Healthcare Design Lab website or contact the organizing team for more details.
