Everything You Need to Know About MESH Core 2024

In May, over 300 innovators from 10 countries and representing over 100 institutions, companies, and startups participated in the inaugural MESH Core 2024 Healthcare Innovation Bootcamp. This dynamic, two-day hands-on course, led by Marc Succi, MD, founder of the MESH Incubator, was held at the Mass General Brigham headquarters at Assembly Row in Somerville.

MESH, which stands for Medically Engineered Solutions in Healthcare, was established in 2016 as an in-house entrepreneurship center at Mass General Brigham and Harvard Medical School. The MESH Incubator offers a variety of programs and resources for clinicians, researchers, engineers, and more.

Among these is the MESH Core Healthcare Innovation Bootcamp, typically offered online and in small group sessions to those within the Mass General Brigham and Harvard Medical School systems. The bootcamp is designed to teach the fundamentals of healthcare innovation & commercialization by Mass General Brigham and industry world experts.

This year, for the first time, it was offered in person to a large audience both internal and external to Mass General Brigham as MESH Core 2024.

MESH Core 2024 kicked off on Monday, May 20^th, with a robust agenda featuring notable keynote speakers and panelists from across the Mass General Brigham system. Jag Singh, MD a Massachusetts General Hospital Cardiologist, and author of “Future Care: Sensors, Artificial Intelligence, and the Reinvention of Medicine” started off the lineup of sessions with an inspiring keynote on the transformative power of AI in healthcare. Singh highlighted critical gaps in our healthcare system and showcased the potential of AI through the story of Paul, a patient whose life was dramatically improved by AI-based strategies and continuous monitoring.

Mike Freni, MBA, followed with an inspiring talk on the evolution of digital health across the system. As attendee Elena Cavallo summarized, “Healthcare systems are being challenged to reinvent themselves. Many companies are offering “point solutions,” and there’s a great need to aggregate those solutions.”

The remainder of day one focused on key topics such as generative AI, machine learning, venture funding, and strategies for commercial success through interactive panels and speaker sessions. The day concluded with the Innovation Sessions, where attendees had the opportunity to present their innovations in brief, four-minute pitches, regardless of their project’s stage. These sessions spotlighted cutting-edge developments and practical applications in healthcare innovation, providing participants with visibility for their work and fostering networking opportunities.

Day two began with attendees arriving back at Assembly Row for further exploration of healthcare innovation topics. John Abele, the retired Founding Chairman of Boston Scientific Corporation, delivered the fireside keynote. Abele captivated the audience with his journey, as outlined in his book "The Ship in the Balloon," sharing his unconventional path to co-founding Boston Scientific and emphasizing the power of early adoption and collaboration. “Understanding why people do what they do, with all the hidden bias we're surrounded with... I think the general aspect of it is the balancing of many different disciplines," Abele reflected, highlighting the nuanced nature of human behavior and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. His insights, shared in conversation with Marc Succi, MD, provided valuable guidance for those navigating the ever-evolving landscape of technology and entrepreneurship.

The day's agenda was packed with engaging sessions. Katie Coffman, PhD, from Harvard Business School, led an interactive case study on "Inclusive Innovation at Mass General Brigham," emphasizing the importance of diversity and inclusivity in driving healthcare advancements. Attendees also participated in an introduction to patents and licensing, a panel discussion on emerging technologies like augmented and extended reality for next-generation care delivery, and sessions offering fundamental insights into drug development and gene and cell therapy. The day also included a workshop on crafting effective elevator pitches, crucial for succinctly conveying innovative ideas.

Concluding the day's events, Jeff Karp, PhD, delivered an inspiring keynote titled "The Power of the Question." Karp shared his personal struggles with ADHD as a child and recalled advice from his book “LIT: Life Ignition Tools.” The attendees were excited and inspired by Karp’s discussion, prompting many to stay and engage with him further.

The evening concluded with a networking reception, providing opportunities for attendees to connect, share their insights, and reflect on the innovative ideas discussed throughout the event.

Learn more about MESH Core at https://mesh2024.meshincubator.org.

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MESH Core is part of the Innovator Growth Division (IGD) co-directed by Diana Schwartzstein & Marc Succi, MD. For more information about the IGD, email igd@mgb.org.