Members of UM Community Invited to Participate in HIT Forum

Free events include pitch competition, presentations form researchers and networking reception

JACKSON, Miss. – The Health Innovation and Transformation Center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center invites the LOU community to participate in the inaugural HIT Forum, an interactive event where health innovators from across the state can share their ideas for improving the health of Mississippians, connect with potential collaborators and compete for financial and infrastructural support to help make their ideas a reality.

What counts as a health innovation? The HIT Center is looking for new tools, techniques and applications that could improve how:

  • Clinicians manage or treat their patients
  • Individuals and populations track and meet their health goals
  • Organizations deliver health care or operate wellness initiatives

The HIT Forum, held in cooperation with global innovation company Plug and Play, will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 15 in the Norman C. Nelson Student Union on the UMMC campus. The schedule for the event is:

  • 10-11 a.m. – Introduction and keynote speaker
  • 11 a.m.-noon – Pitch competition
  • Noon-1 p.m. – Lunch and poster presentations
  • 1-2 p.m. – Fireside chat
  • 2-3 p.m. – Announcement of winners, awards, and closing remarks
  • 3-4 p.m. – Networking reception

Attendance is free, but you must register here.

The pitch competition is looking for innovative health care solutions from anywhere in the world. To apply for this competition, email a link to your business or innovation webpage to Terrence Hibbert, UMMC director of innovation, at thibbert@umc.edu.

The winner will receive:

  • $25,000 investment from Plug and Play
  • An opportunity to pilot the solution at UMMC
  • Start-up coaching from the HIT Center
  • Intellectual property review from the UMMC Innovation, Development and Licensing Office
  • A space in the business incubator at the UMMC Translational Research Center

The HIT Forum also will feature a business plan competition open to students and faculty of any Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning member. Entry instructions are available here and must be submitted by April 27. The winner of the business plan competition will receive:

  • $5,000 prize from the HIT Center
  • Start-up coaching from the HIT Center
  • Intellectual property review from UMMC’s IDL office.

IHL members also are invited to submit posters for the poster session before May 4 using the link here.

The forum will also feature a fireside chat with clinicians and researchers who will discuss their innovation journeys.

The University of Mississippi Medical Center is working toward home-grown innovation and partnerships with leading innovators from around the globe to reach that goal. Please enter and/or attend if you are interested in learning how Mississippi is innovating in health care or if you are interested in working to move the needle toward a healthier Mississippi.

For more information about the HIT Forum or HIT Center, contact Hibbert at thibbert@umc.edu.