Leading innovation at the Stanford Healthcare Design Challenge

Veena Krishnan, a freshman majoring in biological sciences through ASU Online, claimed the Grand Prize and the Best Use Case of InterSystems Technology Prize at the prestigious Stanford Healthcare Design Challenge (SHDC). Collaborating with teammates from UC Riverside and Texas A&M University, Krishnan led her team, ELA, to tackle a key Social Determinant of Health with a groundbreaking solution.

As the team lead, Krishnan spearheaded ELA’s efforts to design an innovative platform addressing health insurance literacy. The team advanced to the final round of the inaugural SHDC, where they presented their pitch to a distinguished panel of nine healthcare leaders and investors on October 18, 2024. Their compelling solution earned them victory, securing a total of $3,000 in cash awards and ongoing mentorship to bring their idea to fruition.

Tackling the health insurance literacy gap

Team ELA, motivated by personal experiences, identified a critical gap in tools available to help individuals navigate the complexities of health insurance. Their solution, an intuitive app, provides real-time education and assistance, empowering patients in the healthcare space.

“This app is designed to make healthcare more approachable and reduce the difficulties people face when trying to understand their coverage,” Krishnan explained.

What’s next?

In addition to the recognition and cash awards, the Stanford Healthcare Design Challenge team supported Team ELA post-competition. 

The competition’s principle of democratizing knowledge resonated with Krishnan. “Stanford’s idea was to provide participants access to knowledge and mentors,” she explained.

“This experience has shown us how much potential there is to create meaningful change when we combine our skills and perspectives,” Krishnan said, reflecting on her team’s journey. Despite juggling school work, the intense six-week challenge proved worthwhile. “It was hectic, but studying online helped me balance everything. Our team really went deep into our idea and made great progress in such a short time,” she said.

With exciting developments on the horizon, Krishnan and her team are poised to make a lasting impact on the healthcare industry—one step closer to simplifying health insurance literacy for everyone.