Biodesign for Digital Health
Student Experiences
The primary goal of the Biodesign for Digital Health course is to train students in a process for creating innovations that meet digital health needs. We accomplish this through class lectures, panels, discussions and team work. Learn more about the experiences students have in the course through these stories and testimonials.
The teams featured here continued to develop their technologies beyond the term of the Bioesign for Digital Health course through our extension funding programs. Read about the Biodesign NEXT extension funding program, which is currently available to students taking select Biodesign courses. Other projects from the course are highlighted on our Health Technology Showcase page.
Project Spotlights
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Managing Diabetes in Pregnancy with a Digital App
Monitoring blood sugar levels and sharing the data with care providers can be overwhelming. Malama makes it easier.
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Beaming Health: When Passion and Need Align
When Marissa Pittard and Chris Olmanson were assigned to the same class project team in the Biodesign for Digital Health course, they initially had no idea that their shared commitment to helping families and children with special needs would lead them to launch a company in the space. But just a few years later, Beaming Health is helping tens of thousands of families access the services and support they need to help their children thrive.
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Stanford Biodesign Team Creates App To Help Caregivers Meet The Challenges Of Dementia
The effort required to meet the daily, changing needs of a loved one with dementia is exhausting and even debilitating to the health of the caregiver. A new mobile app developed out of the Biodesign for Mobile Health course helps caregivers manage these challenges and remember the person they knew before dementia.
What Students Are Saying…
“Biodesign [BIOE273] was the most INCREDIBLE class I have ever been part of. I loved collaborating with people from different disciplines. It really motivated me to keep pushing forward with asking the right questions and considering the right aspects of creating a sustainable solution. Biodesign completely changed my thought process on how to try to help and serve my community as a physician in the future. I can't thank you enough!”
“It is easily the most important class I have taken in my entire undergraduate career. Learning about the emerging mobile health industry from entrepreneurs, doctors, VC partners, and other key leaders of the field taught me about the importance of needs finding, research, prototyping, iteration, and developing a great business model in any new venture.”
“Amazing network and understanding of the digital health landscape!”
“Speakers are knowledgeable/experienced in their field and able to provide unique perspective relevant to the topic at hand ... It's nice that moderators change from panel to panel, so the class gets a diversity of opinion.”
“I went from knowing nothing about the Biodesign process, and the field of mobile health, to knowing a great deal. I also improved my ability to work with team members from other disciplines, an important skill.”
“This class is a wonderful opportunity to engage with world-class medtech professionals and learn from their unique experiences. The project component is demanding but well worth the effort for anyone interesting in pursuing entrepreneurial activities in bioengineering.”
“The Biodesign for Mobile Health Immersion Program has been, and continues to be, one of my favorite experiences at Stanford. As a medical student in the program, I have found it incredibly invigorating to tackle medical challenges and engage in patient problems through a different perspective. I strongly believe that the multidisciplinary, team-based, and hands-on approach to learning has enriched my education and will aid me in developing future innovations that will truly help society.”
“Overall, this was a SPECTACULAR course and by far one of the most valuable learning experiences I have had throughout my education.”
“This class is a wonderful opportunity to engage with world-class medtech professionals and learn from their unique experiences. The project component is demanding but well worth the effort for anyone interesting in pursuing entrepreneurial activities in digital health.”