About the Innovation Challenge
The University of Maryland Medical Center Innovation Challenge is a competition hosted by Dr. Bert O'Malley, UMMC senior leadership, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). The Innovation Challenge was launched in March 2021 with the goal of capturing new ideas and concepts, and to harness innovative spirit at the UMMC Downtown and Midtown campuses. Each year, the Innovation Challenge funds up to six inventive projects that advance health outcomes and improve the care experience. The projects have a 12-18 month timeline for completion.
The Innovation Challenge saw great success in its first year with nearly 100 applications received. From those applications, a total of six awards were given in July 2021, including three for $125K and three for $25K. These projects are now complete.
In 2022 and 2023, UMMC partnered with UMB to support a second and third cohort of Innovation Challenge Awardees. A total of six awards were given in January 2023, and seven awards were given in February 2024, totaling $915,000 in funding.
Have a Great Idea? Interested in Applying to the 2024 Innovation Challenge?
Intent to Apply Deadline - September 13, 2024
The continued interest and organizational appetite for innovation will bring the Innovation Challenge back for the fourth year in a row. Another six awards will be given in December 2024. The Intent to Apply deadline is September 13 and the full application is due October 4.
Innovation Challenge Team
Rajabrata Sarkar, MD, PhD
Division Head, Vascular Surgery
Vice Chair for Clinical Operations for the Department of Surgery
Director of Faculty Group Practice Operations
Innovation Challenge Program Mentor
Colleen Hughes Driscoll, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Medical Director, Drs Rouben and Violet JiJi Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Innovation Challenge Program Mentor
Victoria Francies, MPH, MBA-HA
Director, Clinical Effectiveness
Makensey Schuchart
Innovation Challenge Project Manager
Contact Us
Questions? Please email UMMC_Innovate@umm.edu.