The InnoPitch: A Collaborative Clinical Innovation Competition Enhancing Interdisciplinary Learning Among Undergraduate Students

Abstract Purpose Interdisciplinary collaboration and communication are increasingly recognized by employers and accrediting bodies as essential in solving complex clinical problems. Our pitch competition was developed to address these needs by engaging students from Biomedical Engineering, Business, and Nursing in a collaborative innovation challenge. Methods Student participants were placed into teams comprised of students from each school and presented with a clinical challenge, critical clinical issues resulting from this challenge, and its various etiologies. In addition, business concepts related to product innovation were emphasized. Students had two weeks to ideate potential solutions and formulate their ideas in a 3-minute pitch. Evaluation criteria included delivery and content of pitch, stakeholder understanding, solution concept, clinical feasibility, and market opportunity. Results Students completed surveys before and after their participation to assess perceptions and learning. Teams were able to develop a clinically, technologically, and business feasible solution addressing the clinical challenge. By including judges from the healthcare and innovation fields, students could directly assess the impact of their proposed work and get constructive feedback. Prior to the InnoPitch, only 25% reported interaction with students or faculty from other schools. Participant surveys showed students’ improved confidence in using stakeholder analysis, value propositions, the lean startup method and pitching as a communication tool. Conclusions The collaborative nature of the event led to novel ideas and gave students an enhanced appreciation of professional roles and the value of interdisciplinary work. The InnoPitch facilitated the learning of important concepts in clinical product design and innovation, and introduced the importance of soft skills.