News from Mass Digital Health - Sept. 2019
Massachusetts Digital Health Council Releases New Report on State Ecosystem
Governor Charlie Baker released the results of a new report from the Massachusetts Digital Health Council during his remarks at the Digital Health Impact conference on September 9th in Boston. Governor Baker cited the Council's work to develop eight strategic initiatives to boost the sector. The report tracks the progress of the Massachusetts Digital Health Initiative, the public-private effort launched in January 2016 to boost the rapidly growing sector that sits at the intersection of healthcare and technology.

You can read the report here and the press release from the event here .
MassChallenge HealthTech Launches Applications for 2020 Accelerator
Applications for the 2020 cohort of MassChallenge HealthTech are now open. MassChallenge HealthTech accelerates innovation in the healthcare industry by connecting later-stage, digital health startups with industry champions to address some of our greatest healthcare challenges. Startups that have raised up to $10M in equity-based funding and have generated up to $10M in revenue are invited to apply. The early bird deadline is September 24, 2019 at 12 p.m. and the regular application deadline is October 8, 2019 at 12 p.m .
Pharma and Digital Health, a Marriage Made in Massachusetts
Did you know that Boston holds an unparalleled record for funding from the National Institutes of Health with more than any other city in the United States for 24 consecutive years and counting? This funding—spread across universities, research institutes, hospitals, and private companies—is the foundation that allows Boston and the Commonwealth to achieve breakthroughs in science and medicine. Now that research experience is combining forces with Massachusetts’ world leading life sciences infrastructure to create the next generation of digital therapeutic and digital diagnostic companies. Read more .
Price is Your Right Data Challenge Applications Are Open
Consumers have a difficult time figuring out what their health care actually costs. This challenge aims to tackle that problem by developing tools that inform consumers of their health care options and costs so they can make better decisions. Participants will use actual cost data from Massachusetts and New Hampshire and be evaluated on how well their tools turn complex data into simple information, identify opportunities to lower costs of care, and assist consumers in making decisions . Read more about the challenge here and apply here .
Apply for the Digital Health Sandbox Grant Program
Do you run a test environment for startups? Is your firm looking for a sandbox to further develop your products? We are seeking applications from companies and sandboxes to help grow our Digital Health Sandbox Grant Program.  Read more.
Explore the Mass Digital Health Jobs Board
The Mass Digital Health Jobs Board is the place to go if you are looking for a career in digital health. With nearly 2,000 posted positions from over 330 companies, it’s the only jobs board solely dedicated to digital health in Massachusetts. Plus, it’s updated daily with new openings and allows you to search for openings in 12 different fields in the digital health ecosystem. Start your search today at Jobs.MassDigitalHealth.org.
Mass Digital Health Roundup
  • With $7.8 million in funding, Figur8 launched a new platform to help clinicians better understand and measure movement. The platform, developed at MIT and MGH, targets muscle and joint movement with unique sensors.

  • What are they key differences between the digital health cultures on the east and west coasts? Well, for starters, the tech giants are mostly based in California while the hospitals, academic, and pharmaceutical world is in the Northeast. “…on the East Coast we take a long time because we want to get it right,” Lesley Solomon, SVP and chief innovation officer at Dana-Farber, said. “We want to have that evidence-based work show through, and say it is clinically validated, and therefore I can move forward on the product.”  

  • Buoy Health closed a $15 million Series B round of funding. Born our of Harvard Innovation Labs, Buoy helps individuals confidently navigate challenging health care issues and systems while lowering health care costs for employers and employees.  

  • American Well launched a new patient app that works within Epic’s EHR system. The American Well Telehealth Patient app will be offered within Epic’s App Orchard. 

  • CompanionMX named Carl Marci as its new chief medical officer. Marci, a co-founder, was previously a Senior Scientific Advisor to the company. 

  • Firefly Health closed a $10.2 million Series A round of funding to grow their new primary care platform.
Upcoming Mass Digital Health Events
Connect19
Date & Time: Monday, Sept. 23rd - 8:00 am to Tuesday, Sept. 24th - 12:30 pm

The CONNECT19 conference convenes industry experts from hospitals, health plans, and health technology organizations to discuss innovations and best practices to advance health care experiences through the use of digital engagement, consumer-centric design, and transparency measures.
The 6th Annual Thought Leadership on Access Symposium
Date & Time: Monday, Sept. 23rd - 7:00 am

The preeminent patient access conference for hospital and health system leaders, this year's event focuses on expanding boundaries and removing barriers in order to take control of change amid disruption.
The MedTech Conference
Date & Time: Monday, Sept. 23rd - 7:00 am to Wed., Sept. 25th - 6:00 pm

The MedTech Conference will bring together more than 3,000 medical technology professionals together to network, conduct business, gain access to capital and share insights.
NEHI's 2019 Innovators in Health Awards
Date & Time: Wednesday, Sept. 25th - 7:00 am

NEHI’s Innovators in Health Awards recognizes individuals who have made lasting contributions in health and health care and inspired the community with their vision and achievements. Join NEHI to celebrate this year’s forward-looking leaders and thinkers.
How Tech Companies are Leading Health Care Innovation
Date & Time: Monday, Oct. 7th - 7:30 am to 10:00 am

Keynote presenter Manu Tandon, the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center will lead a panel discussion exploring the enormous potential and possible pitfalls of tech companies as they begin to move into and transform healthcare.
Tap Into TechSpring
Date & Time: Thursday, Oct. 10th - 5:00 pm

Join TechSpring for their monthly open-house networking event in Springfield.
Connected Health Conference
Date & Time: Wednesday, Oct. 16th - 7:00 am to Friday, Oct. 18th - 11:30 am

The Connected Health Conference highlights practical, personalized, evidence-based methods to improve the care experience for patients, consumers, and providers. With deep roots in industry, government, academia and care delivery, the Connected Health Conference convenes the resources necessary to drive systemic transformation to implement the full power of connected health technology.
NEHI's 2019 Innovators in Health Awards
Date & Time: Friday, Oct. 25th - 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

The Boston Chapter of Aging 2.0, together with the Age Friendly Foundation and Mass eHealth Institute, is hosting its first ever “Revolutionize” conference with the goal of promoting creative collaborations among the varied sectors engaged in aging services.
This newsletter is curated by the Massachusetts eHealth Institute at MassTech as a coordinating entity for the Mass Digital Health Initiative, a public-private partnership building a stronger and more competitive digital health ecosystem across the Commonwealth. Learn more at massdigitalhealth.org .

If you would like to submit content for inclusion in future issues, email us at massdigitalhealth@masstech.org .  
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