A student team dedicated to improving the maternal mortality rates in Arkansas captured one of the top prizes at Demo Day, a bi-annual event showcasing a semester of learnings in the U of A's McMillon Innovation Studio. 

"As young women in our community, we recognized the need for better maternal health in the United States," said team lead Valeria Mazariegos.  

"Given that the U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed country (and) Arkansas has the highest of any state, we wanted to make a change in our community." 

The team, which included Ellis Freel, Sierra Greiner and Marielis Cubero-Perez, partnered with Community Clinic to develop a comprehensive postpartum program that incentivizes participation through a progressive rewards system. 

This program consists of six 30- or 60-minute joint appointments that both the mother and baby will attend which are incentivized via a progressive reward system, Mazariegos said. 

The partnership is a "powerful example" of cross-disciplinary collaboration that can lead to real-world impact, according to Emily Goucher, manager of the women's health program at Community Clinic who worked with the student team. 

"We were able to create a program that not only addresses a critical need in our community but also serves as a model for other healthcare organizations looking to improve postpartum care," Goucher said. 

Goucher and Mazariegos said funding their reward incentives has been challenging. The team plans to conduct maternal drives at local establishments and schools alongside applying for state grants that support maternal health. 

Mazariegos's team was part of the Product's Team program in the Studio, which helps teams create a product that has a viable go-to-market strategy. The project started in the Studio's Design Teams program, which is centered around three impact tracks — organizational, social impact and entrepreneurial.  

Students then harness human-centered design principles to solve pressing industry problems, create social change or work toward their own startup ideas. Teams that show commercialization opportunity from their design teams move into the Studio's Product Teams program, which specializes in zero-to-one development. 

"It was incredible working and leading a team of all talented young women, who were dedicated to a singular mission. We worked as one, each of us pulling our weight but in the same direction," Mazariegos said. 

Launched in 2016, the studio is the innovation hub for the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and is open to students across the U of A campus. The studio works to develop future leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators by cultivating their creative mindset and connecting them to opportunities to make real-world impact.

Students in the studio are given access to valuable mentorship and resources — providing further support to cultivate their creative skills and empower them to deliver impact innovation through organizational, social and entrepreneurial change. 

Jessica Andrews, the Studio's interim director, said she was proud of the team for their tireless work across two semesters. 

"Incentivizing and encouraging new moms to return for postpartum care can help providers identify risks to physical and mental health, support new moms in recovery and overall wellbeing," Andrews said. "I'm proud of the team's and Community Clinic's dedication to this critical issue.

FALL 2024 DEMO DAY WINNERS  

AUDIENCE CHOICE

J.B. Hunt