Beeline Reader
MIT Solve is searching for clinicians, educators, engineers, and artists across the globe to participate in the $5 million Global Surgical Training Challenge funded by Intuitive Foundation. This Challenge aims to increase access to simulation-based surgical training through low-cost, open-source training modules.
Solve is hosting Solveathon workshops—virtual, high-energy events designed to build multidisciplinary teams and strengthen their applications for the Global Surgical Training Challenge. Workshop participants will be well positioned to apply for several $200,000 grants, allowing teams to develop and test their prototype surgical training modules.
From July to October, 2020 these Solveathon workshops will bring together people across five regions of the world to build low-cost, open-source surgical training modules, especially in resource-constrained settings.
Not a surgeon? No problem! Educators, engineers, artists, and clinicians are invited to participate in these workshops. In the Team Building Solveathon, you’ll get to network with other innovators, and learn more about existing training projects. In the Refinement Solveathon, you’ll improve your project through design thinking exercises developed by experts at MIT.
VIEW REGIONS AND REGISTER HERE
Here’s what to expect:
Solveathon workshops will be hosted virtually in five regions around the world. Each region will have three activities: online networking, a Team Building Solveathon Workshop, and a Refinement Solveathon Workshop.
During these Solveathon workshops, you will:
Connect with professionals interested in surgical training
Further your understanding of the Challenge and requirements to apply
Build or expand your project team
Refine your project through facilitated design thinking activities developed at MIT
Learn to compile a skills assessment framework.
All workshops will be hosted virtually via Zoom, a free video conferencing app. Online networking will also be available via Slack, a free online chat app.
More about Solveathon workshops:
The Solveathon workshops for each region incorporate key countries in similar time zones. Given our focus on surgical training in resource-constrained settings, the Challenge requires the project lead to be working in a lower or middle income country in one of these regions. Participants outside of these regions should join the region most relevant to their work or a Solveathon in a convenient time zone.
Team Building Solveathon
If you’re interested in expanding or joining a project team, the Team Building Solveathon is for you. In this workshop, existing teams will pitch their projects and describe their technical and people needs. Those without a team will either have the chance to join an existing team, or form their own. Think of the Team Building Solveathon as a matchmaking event for surgical educators and technologists!
Refinement Solveathon
If you’ve formed a strong team and want to build your project, the Refinement Solveathon is for you. In this workshop, expert facilitators will guide you through a series of activities designed to strengthen your project. These activities are collaborative, engaging, and even fun! Participants will have the chance to receive feedback on their projects from expert mentors from around the world.
At the end of this workshop, each team will have developed a theory of change, key product features, a user journey, skills assessment framework, a succinct pitch, and a project overview on MIT Solve’s open innovation platform. These products will help you to apply for the Discovery Awards (applications open in September, 2020), which will grant 10 teams up to $200,000 to develop and test their surgical modules.
We encourage everyone to participate in both workshops to prepare for the Discovery Awards.
