Chantal McCulligh was diagnosed with anxiety and panic disorder at the mere age of 7 but that didn’t stop her from turning into the renowned anxiety warrior that she is today. Writer and content marketer by day, self-proclaimed anxiety master at night, Chantal began to share her journey online in hopes of ending the stigma attached to mental illness and to show others that their diagnosis does not control their destiny. Today, Chantal is the proud owner of Anxiety-Gone and the first ever subscription box service for anxiety warriors. She also enjoys yoga, meditation, the great outdoors and anything that raises her vibrations.
In 2015 she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. While the diagnosis was hard the answers were a source of relief. Ann Marie uses her diagnosis to show others living with an invisible illness that you can celebrate the small stuff while living with a chronic illness.
Stupid Dumb Breast Cancer is Ann Marie Giannino-Otis’ fierce and unconventional initiative to promote awareness, early detection, and advocacy, with a special focus on how the disease impacts younger people. On behalf of her organization, Ann Marie has been featured in area publications, appeared on TV, local radio, and Huff Post Live, and hosts a series of monthly events. Since its inception in 2012, Stupid Dumb Breast Cancer has raised and contributed over $750,000 to a variety of breast cancer organizations, including Stand Up to Cancer, Duke Hospital, Wilmot Cancer Center, the Upstate Cancer Center, CancerConnects, Personal P.Ink and the Maureen’s Hope Foundation.
Ann Marie communicates regularly with a growing network of patients, their loved ones, and supporters via a variety of social media, where she candidly shares her thoughts and experiences and welcomes others to join the conversation, discover their own strengths, and discuss their journeys. The advocacy extends from breast cancer to MS and mental health.
CHALLENGE TIMELINE
July 23, 2019
Welcome, Registration and Introductions
July 24, 2019
Live Pitch Session: Presentations
July 24, 2019
Award Winner Announcement
The Winner
Lief Therapeutics
Rohan Dixit is founder and CEO of Lief Therapeutics, a smart patch that tracks and improves biomarkers of mental health. Rohan is a device inventor, healthcare entrepreneur, programmer, data scientist, and
former cognitive neuroscience researcher at Harvard and Stanford. His primary focus for the past 10 years has been the intersection between mind-body interventions, science, and technology. As a repeat healthcare entrepreneur, he has created wearable device products that monitor and augment Mind Body Interventions. Rohan holds multiple patents for his work and has been featured in multiple media outlets. Rohan received his BA in Cognitive Neuroscience from Northwestern University.
Rohan Dixit
Founder
LYFEBULB AND UNITEDHEALTH GROUP PRESENT EMPOWERING PATIENTS: AN INNOVATION CHALLENGE IN DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY
The 2019 Lyfebulb–UnitedHealth Group Innovation Challenge will recognize the top Patient Entrepreneurs developing innovative ideas for better management of depression and anxiety using healthcare information technology, medical devices, diagnostics, consumer products, or services. Patient Entrepreneurs are individuals with a chronic disease, or those who have a close relative or loved one with a chronic disease, who have founded or lead a company bringing innovative solutions to the market place.
Lyfebulb is a chronic disease-focused, patient empowerment platform that connects patients and industry (manufacturers and payers) to support user-driven innovation. Lyfebulb promotes a healthy, take-charge lifestyle for those affected by chronic disease. Grounded with its strong foundation in diabetes, the company has expanded disease states covered into cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, and depression/anxiety.
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health care company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and helping to make the health system work better for everyone. UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which provides information and technology-enabled health services. For more information, visit UnitedHealth Group at unitedhealthgroup.com or follow @UnitedHealthGrp on Twitter.
Lyfebulb and UnitedHealth Group Launch Second Annual Innovation Challenge for Patient Entrepreneurs
Challenge aims to inspire patient-driven innovation in the management of depression and anxiety
Finalists will compete at UnitedHealth Group headquarters for a chance to win $25,000
MINNETONKA, Minn. and NEW YORK, May 13, 2019 /PRNewswire/ Lyfebulb LLC and UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) invite patient entrepreneurs to compete in “Empowering Patients: An Innovation Challenge,” for the second annual Lyfebulb and UnitedHealth Group Innovation Award.
This year’s challenge will recognize the top patient entrepreneurs developing innovative ideas for better management of depression and anxiety using health care information technology, medical devices, diagnostics, consumer products or services.
Eligible companies are those that are founded or led by a patient entrepreneur: someone who has been personally affected by depression or anxiety (themselves or through a loved one) and who develops a product or service to address an unmet need identified through personal experience. Companies based in the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec) are eligible to apply. The application, detailed rules and eligibility criteria can be found at click here. Applications are open until 11:59pm EST on May 31, 2019.
“Depression and anxiety are issues that particularly affect people living with chronic disease,” said Dr. Karin Hehenberger, founder and CEO of Lyfebulb. “We are honored to work with UnitedHealth Group on an issue that affects so many people in our community and nationwide. We are eager to tap into the unique insights that patients have, and leverage those to identify user-driven solutions by patient entrepreneurs for issues they face.”
A joint steering committee composed of Lyfebulb and UnitedHealth Group executives will conduct a thorough sourcing and screening process, and select 10 finalists who will be invited to the Empowering Patients event July 23-24, 2019, at UnitedHealth Group’s headquarters in Minnetonka. There, the finalists will pitch their solutions to a panel of experts (a jury) from the business, medical and patient communities. The jury will award a $25,000 prize to the company with the most innovative and impactful solution at the closing ceremony.
“Depression and anxiety weave through all areas of disease – chronic and acute – yet they are understudied and underserved in terms of dialogue and solutions today in the United States,” said Gene Baker, Ph.D., a research fellow at UnitedHealth Group. “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Lyfebulb and look forward to hearing from patients and entrepreneurs to learn more about the innovative, patient-driven solutions to help people living with depression and chronic disease.”
About Lyfebulb Lyfebulb is a chronic disease-focused, patient empowerment platform that connects patients and industry (manufacturers and payers) to support user-driven innovation. Lyfebulb promotes a healthy, take-charge lifestyle for those affected by chronic disease. Grounded with its strong foundation in diabetes, the company has expanded disease states covered into cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis and depression/anxiety.
About UnitedHealth Group UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health care company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and helping to make the health system work better for everyone. UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which provides information and technology-enabled health services. For more information, visit UnitedHealth Group at unitedhealthgroup.com or follow @UnitedHealthGrp on Twitter.
Contact:
Lyfebulb Karin Hehenberger, M.D., Ph.D., CEO 917-575-0210; Karin@lyfebulb.com
Join us for a panel and interactive discussion with key experts and patient representatives
Click to RSVP to attend
CHALLENGE TIMELINE
July 23, 2019
Welcome, Registration and Introductions
July 24, 2019
Live Pitch Session: Presentations
July 24, 2019
Award Winner Announcement
The Winner
Lief Therapeutics
Rohan Dixit is founder and CEO of Lief Therapeutics, a smart patch that tracks and improves biomarkers of mental health. Rohan is a device inventor, healthcare entrepreneur, programmer, data scientist, and
former cognitive neuroscience researcher at Harvard and Stanford. His primary focus for the past 10 years has been the intersection between mind-body interventions, science, and technology. As a repeat healthcare entrepreneur, he has created wearable device products that monitor and augment Mind Body Interventions. Rohan holds multiple patents for his work and has been featured in multiple media outlets. Rohan received his BA in Cognitive Neuroscience from Northwestern University.
Rohan Dixit
Founder
LYFEBULB AND UNITEDHEALTH GROUP PRESENT EMPOWERING PATIENTS: AN INNOVATION CHALLENGE IN DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY
The 2019 Lyfebulb–UnitedHealth Group Innovation Challenge will recognize the top Patient Entrepreneurs developing innovative ideas for better management of depression and anxiety using healthcare information technology, medical devices, diagnostics, consumer products, or services. Patient Entrepreneurs are individuals with a chronic disease, or those who have a close relative or loved one with a chronic disease, who have founded or lead a company bringing innovative solutions to the market place.
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THE PITCH COMPETITION
The 2018 Lyfebulb – UnitedHealth Group Innovation Challenge is the first of its kind for patient entrepreneurs in the area of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, following examples in diabetes and cancer.
Are you the patient entrepreneur who will win the 2018 Lyfebulb–UnitedHealth Group Innovation Award?
Are you the patient entrepreneur who will win the 2018 Lyfebulb–UnitedHealth Group Innovation Award?
Some of the best patient entrepreneurs will pitch their innovative idea and business to venture capitalists, UnitedHealth Group and Lyfebulb leaders, key opinion leaders, as well as patient advocates and representatives. After their presentation, they will respond to a round of Q&A by the judging panel. Outstanding patient entrepreneurs will be awarded prize money to further develop their idea:
Lyfebulb is a chronic disease-focused, patient empowerment platform that connects patients and industry (manufacturers and payers) to support user-driven innovation. Lyfebulb promotes a healthy, take-charge lifestyle for those affected by chronic disease. Grounded with its strong foundation in diabetes, the company has expanded disease states covered into cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, and depression/anxiety.
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health care company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and helping to make the health system work better for everyone. UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which provides information and technology-enabled health services. For more information, visit UnitedHealth Group at unitedhealthgroup.com or follow @UnitedHealthGrp on Twitter.
