The College of Education and Health Professions recently hosted the inaugural Innovate for Healthcare (I4H) Academy, featuring Shark Tank-style student presentations focused on improving healthcare access in Arkansas.

Two dozen students and 11 health faculty and area practitioners participated in the interactive one-day workshop on April 5. Top students across the college's various healthcare programs — including nursing, counseling, communication disorders, occupational therapy, athletic training, exercise science, and public health — collaborated as they learned more about innovation and entrepreneurship.

"That's the beauty of this college," said keynote speaker Judd Semingson, CEO of Northwest Arkansas Community Clinic. "Everybody needs to be at the table to help decide how to deliver better outcomes for patients."

Semingson, who was trained as a nurse, said innovation doesn't always mean creating a product. It can also revolve around a process. He encouraged students to scrutinize the gaps in the care process they'll likely see in future patients. "That gap becomes the opportunity to create and innovate," he said. "We can be influential."

The workshop focused on "Access to Quality Care in Arkansas" through the lens of empathy. Jessica Salmon, who has extensive experience leading companies and communities through the design thinking process, served as the facilitator. She led the group through a series of prompts designed to help them brainstorm solutions to problems that real Arkansans face.

"It all starts from a place of empathy," Salmon said, noting that empathy allows you to connect with a person, which leads to vulnerability and transparency. "Then you can hear the need," she said, "which turns into, 'How can I solve the problem?' We are all in a position to become problem identifiers and problem solvers."

Students worked together in breakout sessions alongside faculty and healthcare professionals to create a product prototype to help their "patient."

Dean Kate Mamiseishvili created the I4H event to boost students' knowledge of innovation and entrepreneurial methods and to equip them with practical tools and resources.

"In the caring professions, we often have empathy in abundance, but we don't always have the business know-how," she said. "They see a patient's daily struggles, though, so they're the most knowledgeable about how to help solve those struggles."

The I4H Academy is one of the WE CARE strategic plan's key action items aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship to respond to education and health challenges in Arkansas.

Students found it eye-opening and energizing to collaborate with peers from other programs within the college. "Working with students from various health professions majors helped me think about solutions in a way that I hadn't before," said Grace Nolen, a public health student. "I'm grateful for the experience."

Duffy Parker, an occupational therapy doctoral student, added, "This exceeded my expectations. I've enjoyed working with faculty and members of the community. We've learned from them and made great connections."

Chloe Denton, an exercise science major, said she felt intimidated at first. However, she quickly clicked with her team and enjoyed talking through the patient scenario to create an innovative product. Denton said the day was fun and constructive. "On tests, there's only one correct answer. In the real world, there are multiple solutions," she said.

Four student teams pitched their products to three faculty judges. The winning team proposed "Oasis Empowerment Retreat," a summer camp where adolescents with disabilities who age out of the pediatric healthcare support system can learn life skills while enjoying a fun community experience.

The judges challenged the students, who defended their ideas well.

The last event of the day was a fireside chat with local clinicians about ways innovation has accelerated their careers. Liane Hill from Community Clinic said she was impressed by the students' questions and outlook for the future. "They give me hope," she said.

Mamiseishvili received immediate feedback that the academy should become a recurring event in the college. Participants who filled out a post-academy survey said they would like to see the event expand to multiple days. Another commenter said they'd like to work on a real problem in Arkansas throughout the semester.

"I'm thankful to everyone who attended our first I4H event," she said. "They brought their creativity, openness to learning and collaborative spirit."

About the College of Education and Health Professions: The College of Education and Health Professions' six departments prepare students for a range of careers in education and health. In addition to its longstanding role of preparing educators and educational leaders, the college trains nurses, speech-language pathologists, public health specialists, recreation and sports professionals, counselors, occupational therapists, athletic trainers, and exercise scientists.