Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Mass General Brigham Launches $100,000 Prize for Community Health Innovation
A $100,000 prize is up for grabs for innovative community healthcare ideas through Mass General Brigham’s Kraft Center. The winning team will showcase their work at the World Medical Innovation Forum, helping push medical care forward.
Two other teams will each receive $10,000 as runners-up. Healthcare workers, nonprofits, and innovators across the U.S. can submit their ideas until April 4.
“We established The Kraft Center for Community Health with a mission to expand access to high-quality, cost-effective healthcare for medically underserved patients, families, and communities,” said Robert Kraft in a statement.
“Good health is something you can’t buy. God forbid if you have a problem, you need access to the right support. And everyone in the community and country, in my opinion, should have that,” Kraft said to WCVB-TV.
Teams need to show how they address essential needs like food, housing, and financial challenges that impact people’s health. Success means showing their solutions work and can be scaled up.
Dr. Elsie Taveras highlights key health challenges the prize addresses. “Innovators, people who are doing really fantastic work out in the community to improve conditions like heart disease, substance use disorder, pregnancy-related deaths and cancer,” said Taveras to WCVB-TV.
New medical solutions typically take 17 years to reach patients – a timeline the hospital wants to cut down. They’re working hard to speed things up significantly.
Since 2011, the center has helped people through mobile health units, cancer care, and physician training. Things really took off in 2022 when the Kraft family donated $50 million.
Winners will be announced in June. This competition is the latest effort to improve healthcare access for underserved communities.
