2024 Hackathon

Groups came together to problem-solve, have thought-provoking conversations, and crowd-source solutions for the following issues: 

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Lighting the Future
Maintaining permanent and effective eyecare in regions with limited access requires initiatives that incorporate novel strategies that are locally self-sustaining. Country X in Africa is starting an ophthalmology residency program and is going before stakeholders to source the financial proposal. You are tasked with helping them design their proposal and maintain their physician workforce in the country. 

Winning Teams:

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• Overall Winning Team: Shamis Fallah, Julietta Gervase, Margarita Labkovich, Larry Schwab, Shilpa Thornton, and Daniel Zhu

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• Madhavi Reddy, Jared Tuttle, and Van Lansingh

Affordable and Equitable Care

Country X has provided eye care services at no charge to the patient for decades given funding support from the Ministry of Health and NGOs. The Ministry of Finance notes that the growing middle class has begun to pay for services such as education and health. Eye Departments in district hospitals are now required to submit a plan for introducing a fee system to capture income which can cross-subsidize patients who cannot pay.

At the same time, the Ministry of Health has asked you to improve access to eye care in a rural district where eye care is limited. Your task is to create a plan to establish basic eye care services, incorporating the newly mandated cross-subsidy model, in 10 Primary Health Care Centers in rural district X and include the capacity to provide primary eye care services, treatment, eyeglasses, and referrals. Consider the need to ensure the quality and sustainability of the services.

Winning Team: Lokeshwari Aruljyothi, Sean Collins, Scott McClintic, Ellen Miller, Jatniel Rodriguez, and Rasika Sudharshan

Sustainability in Ophthalmology

Sustainability in ophthalmology is broad, and spans everything from early detection to an efficient and effective team working with ophthalmologists to ensure high volume, quality, and equitable eye care. Early detection of eye conditions enables patients to get the care they need, when they need it, reducing complexity and costs. This efficiency helps facilitate more sustainable delivery of care. Country X has made strides in training ophthalmologists but does not have a way to train the Allied Ophthalmic Personnel (AOP) required to assist in community outreach, outpatient services, surgery, and follow-up. The Ministry of Health has learned that some countries are moving toward having full-time community-based vision centers to provide local screening and diagnosis with referral to the hub eye hospital for more advanced work up and surgery. You are tasked with establishing a national program for developing AOPs and establishing sustainable vision centers across the country.

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Winning Team: 
 

• Thilaka Arunachalam, Taylor Dehart, Greer Iton, Viana Phan, and Roberto Pineda