Launch of global student design sprint – Innovate4Health

2020-08-27

ReAct North America (Strategic Policy Program) and the International Federation of Medical Students (IFMSA) are calling on students to take up the challenge and become the future innovators to address health inequities that are exacerbated by emerging infectious diseases, like drug-resistant infections and COVID-19.

Innovate4Health builds on previous iterations under the Innovate4AMR umbrella, which were recognized by the UN Innovation Network in 2019. While Innovate4AMR encouraged innovation through an international competition, this year, select participants will collaborate in a global design sprint, Innovate4Health.

Participants trained through Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

To encourage innovative design and systems thinking, participants will be trained through a special, non-credit course designed by the IDEA (Innovation+Design Enabling Access) Initiative at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. To refine their projects, students will be given opportunities for international collaboration with student teams and to network and learn from experts in infectious disease policy and advocacy.

Access to unique online learning experience

As so much education has already moved online, Innovate4Health has incorporated new methods of instruction and storytelling to provide a unique online learning experience. Students will “conduct” field visits through 360 Virtual Reality (VR) and ideate, iterate, and interact with their cohort through a collaboration platform designed for visual thinking.

Students, what do you want in the new normal?

In our current interconnected era, outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases are expected to become more common, but the COVID-19 pandemic is proving to be a transformative time for emerging infectious diseases, global health, sustainable development, and health equity.

• Students, what do YOU WANT in the new normal after COVID-19?
• Do you want to learn how you can design transformative innovations to bring forward your vision for an equitable and healthier new normal?