Overview
Each year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves far fewer health technologies for use in children than adults. This means that pediatric specialists do not always have access to the advanced tools they need to address the unique healthcare needs of their small, vulnerable patients.
Stanford launched Impact1 to improve the health, safety, and quality of life of pediatric patients and pregnant women. We do this by accelerating the development and availability of high-value, high-impact pediatric health technologies.
The program leverages Stanford Biodesign’s need-driven innovation process to accomplish this goal. It benefits from access to world-renowned clinicians and engineers at Stanford, as well as an unparalleled network of Silicon Valley experts in medical device product development, regulatory affairs, intellectual property, reimbursement, and commercialization.
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Get Involved
Stanford Innovator’s Forum
Every month, innovators from around the world join Stanford’s Innovators Forum to share their projects and receive feedback. We welcome projects at any stage, from idea to commercialization, that aim to improve pediatric or maternal health. Feedback and advising is provided by experts in the field with diverse skillsets and backgrounds spanning medicine, engineering, finance, reimbursement, and more.
The meeting is open to the public, so please join us – whether you have a project of your own, resources to offer, or simply an interest in pediatric and maternal care. We look forward to a lively discussion.
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Pediatric and Maternal Innovation Showcase 2025
March 17, 2025
Step into the future of health care at the eighth annual Stanford Medicine Pediatric and Maternal Innovation Showcase, on the Stanford University campus. This event will feature the UCSF-Stanford Pediatric Device Consortium Pitch Competition and thought-provoking discussions of collaborative innovation and artificial intelligence—from the ask to execution.
Leadership Team
James Wall Chair of Executive Board
and Founding Director
Janene Fuerch Co-Director
Kunj Sheth Co-Director
Marta Arenas-JalAssistant Director
Juliana PerlAssistant Director
Nathaniel GeorgeMaternal Health Fellow
Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationIgnacio PérezCongenital Heart Disease Fellow
Edwards Lifesciences FoundationElisabet Rosàs CanyellesAssistant Director
Alyssa AboReal-World Evidence Advisor
Yair BlumenfeldAdvisor
Anuradha DayalAdvisor
Antje KirschnerChief of Staff