July 10 event expected to bring together more than 350 leaders in healthcare
Philadelphia, PA – Independence Blue Cross today announced that it is a lead sponsor of the Converge Summit for Healthcare Innovation set for July 10, 2012 in Philadelphia. This day-long event is expected to draw more than 350 leaders in healthcare innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology from across the nation to Philadelphia.
During the Summit, several of the most innovative hospital leaders and top decision makers from the medical device, pharmaceutical, health IT, and investor communities will gather to discuss the leading trends driving transformation in healthcare, share best practices with those driving today’s health care innovations, and be introduced to the most promising startups. The Summit will feature:
- A 10-member Startup Showcase of digital health startups from throughout the country
- A keynote speech by Wil Yu, head of health IT innovation in the Department of Health and Human Services
- Insight on topics from tech transfer to telemedicine by physicians and executives from Penn Medicine, University of North Carolina, Children’s Mercy Hospitals & Clinics in Kansas City, Children’s Hospital Boston and Drexel University, among others; and
- More than three hours of dedicated networking time at an intimate event with decision makers from every sector.
“Independence Blue Cross is proud to serve as a lead sponsor of the Converge Summit for Healthcare Innovation,” said IBC President and CEO Daniel J. Hilferty. “Our goal is to transform healthcare in our region through innovation. This summit, and the important connections it will spur, moves us one step closer to that goal.”
Under the leadership of CEO Hilferty, IBC has aggressively committed to enabling health care innovation to occur both within IBC as well as externally. Internally, IBC has established an Office of Strategy and Innovation; partnered with an internationally-recognized innovation consultancy, ?What If!, on a comprehensive training and capabilities program; and recently completed an internal “Innovation Challenge,” where teams of associates competed to identify ideas for improving the experience of IBC customers.
On June 6, IBC publicly announced the “IBX Game Changers Challenge: Enhancing health and wellness through innovation.” Launched in partnership with Wharton Entrepreneurial Programs, the Department of Public Health of the City of Philadelphia, ?What If! Innovation Partners, and Venturef0rth, the Challenge is a six-week competition seeking innovative solutions that can improve our region’s health and wellness. Winners will receive a substantial grant toward implementation of their product or program as well as other support.
“We know that the challenges facing our health care system are too large to be solved within our four walls or the four walls of any one organization,” stated Hilferty. “We are committed to fostering innovation in the community, and our sponsorship of the Converge Summit is one more example of that commitment.”