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Innovation Sprint tackles ways to treat blood disorders

Public health, DNP and medical students at WNY BloodCare.

Public health, DNP and medical students at Western New York BloodCare. The Innovation Sprint is an expansion of the School of Public Health and Health Professions' ongoing collaboration with Western New York BloodCare. Photo: Jennifer Battisti Turkovich

By JENNIFER BATTISTI TURKOVICH

Published April 3, 2023

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“An Innovation Sprint is an opportunity for students to work together to solve a real-world problem for a local organization in which we already have an established relationship with. The sprint exposes more students to this population and the organization itself. ”
Jessica Kruger, clinical associate professor
Department of Community Health and Health Behavior

UB health sciences students have been gaining firsthand experience in improving the quality of life and delivery of care for people affected by bleeding and clotting disorders through a partnership between the School of Public Health and Health Professions and Western New York BloodCare.

Now, that partnership has been expanded to include UB’s Blackstone LaunchPad, which is hosting one of its Innovation Sprint events focused on the mission of Western New York BloodCare, a local not for profit and New York State licensed diagnostic and treatment center offering clinical services, advocacy, education and research initiatives to help individuals with blood disorders.

The virtual, 10-day Innovation Sprint sponsored by Western New York BloodCare is designed to promote, encourage and amplify scientific discovery and innovative strategies to improve the health outcomes, health equity and lifelong management of individuals with bleeding and clotting disorders.

Jessica Kruger, associate clinical professor in the Department of Community Health and Health Behavior and the primary investigator for the collaboration with Western New York BloodCare, is excited for this new alliance between public health education and innovation.

“An Innovation Sprint is an opportunity for students to work together to solve a real-world problem for a local organization in which we already have an established relationship with,” Kruger says. “The sprint exposes more students to this population and the organization itself.”

This Innovation Sprint, which kicks off virtually April 6, aims to solve existing problems around Western New York BloodCare’s delivery of services to groups the organization has had trouble reaching with its current model of care. The challenge for the students is to define underserved populations in Western New York and those patients with blood disorders who would require comprehensive care. After identifying a population of need, teams of students will determine ways to provide outreach to those communities, groups or regions in need.

After 10 days of collaborative teamwork and educational content, the teams will make their final pitches to the judges on April 16.

Students from various academic backgrounds are invited to register and participate, in addition to students from the Pharmacy, Occupational Therapy, and Public Health programs who will take part in the Innovation Sprint as an interprofessional education opportunity.

Students will receive prize awards in recognition of their achievements.