Highlights from the First Annual Healthapalooza

In February 2024, BPMI launched the first annual Healthapalooza event. Healthapalooza was created to accomplish these goals: to bring attention to the power of visualizing health to improve health literacy and enact positive change in the community by addressing a community health concern, to partner with off-campus industry leaders and stakeholders, and to create an engaging and exciting opportunity for ALL students on campus to create and innovate with BPMI students. We were excited to welcome 30 students from 10 different majors across 5 Iowa State colleges at the first annual Healthapalooza event.

We were thrilled to partner with Ames-based Mary Greeley Medical Center and medical visualization studio, iso-form, for the event. Mary Greeley generously donated $2,300 to sponsor student awards and iso-form and Mary Greeley gave their time, materials, and expertise to lead learning sessions, serve as judges, and participate. Their involvement was integral to the success of the event.

First, students were placed on a team and challenged to create an innovative, technological solution for a community health concern, posed by Mary Greeley. Mary Greeley staff members determined this year’s theme would be loneliness, a difficult topic to talk about as well as problem-solve, but one in need of attention here and well beyond the borders of our community. The week-long event kicked off on Sunday, February 27 with keynote speaker Ben Schmitt (Chief Information Security Officer, Mary Greeley Medical Center) and learning sessions (listed below) hosted by several individuals at Iowa State, Mary Greeley, and iso-form.

Sessions

Session 1: Health Literacy

Jessica Carter (Senior Designer, Mary Greeley Medical Center), Amy Dagestad (Executive Director of Inpatient Services, Mary Greeley Medical Center), and Kim Moss (Director of Biological and Pre-Medical Illustration, Iowa State University)

Session 2: Details on the Competition’s Health Prompt

Natallia Gray (Director of Healthcare Management, Iowa State University), and Jo-El Sprecher (Director of Patient Experience and Safety, Mary Greeley Medical Center)

Session 3: 3D Modeling; Tools, Technology, and Strategies

Em Kief (Assistant Teaching Professor, Biological and Pre-Medical Illustration, Iowa State University)

Session 4: Product Brainstorming: Methods, Tools, and Outcomes

Nick Klein (Director of Creative Services, iso-form) and Jessie Misner (Lead Product Designer, iso-form)

Session 5: Creative Artificial Intelligence for Project Development and Design

Johnny DiBlasi (Assistant Professor of Art and Visual Culture, Iowa State University)

Session 6: Innovation, Collaboration, and Teamwork

Judi Eyles (Director, Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship)

Showcase

With the topic, rules, and information gathered from the learning sessions, student teams were sent on their way to come up with the best innovative, technological solution for loneliness by the end of the week. At the Showcase on Saturday, March 2, seven teams pitched their ideas to a team of judges from industry and ISU faculty. All teams gave wonderful presentations and truly had great ideas aimed at combating loneliness and three winners were selected by a panel of judges. Read more about the winners below.

First place ($1,000 prize): Roam

An app designed to bridge the gap between old and new technology, allowing users to discover local events, groups, and activities tailored to their interests. Ching Kwan Yeung (Senior, BPMI), Kidan Girma (Sophomore, Industrial Design), and Steve Van Nguyen (Junior, Industrial Design).

Second place ($800 prize): Philia

An app aimed to help combat social loneliness often found in people experiencing new environments, illnesses, or circumstances by connecting people locally, regionally, and anonymously to find friendships based on interest rather than appearance. Alina Cielak (Sophomore, BPMI), Raegan Nelson (Junior, Genetics), and Garey Weaver (Junior, Biology).

Third place ($500 prize): The Third Place

A website aimed to connect others by sharing community events and volunteer opportunities for individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Maggie Abrams (Senior, BPMI), Erica Buettner (Junior, Industrial Design), Kayla Johnson (Junior, Psychology), and Sarah Willoughby (Senior, Biochemistry).


All of our event winners were invited to present at Mary Greeley’s First Friday event following Healthapalooza. Their innovative ideas were pitched again at this event to Mary Greeley’s staff on April 5.

This was such an engaging first Healthapalooza and we’re thrilled to have started this annual event. We received nothing but positive feedback and suggestions for helping this event grow and succeed again in the future.

Showcase gallery