04 Feb Community-Driven Innovation
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Join us to hear about the importance of connecting communities, researchers, and entrepreneurial innovators to address the unmet health needs of communities across our region. Learn about the success stories from programs across the Pacific Northwest, with a focus here on Montana, and discover how these collaborations are driving health innovations with more voices contributing to the conversation.
This is the third session of the 2025 Biomedical Innovation Fireside Chat Series, hosted by the ITHS Technology Development Center.
- LeeAnna Muzquiz, MD, FAAFP, Associate Dean for Admissions at UW School of Medicine and a family practitioner with the Tribal Health department for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. She specializes in adolescent medicine, women’s health, and diabetes and is active in health policy and advocacy issues.
- Niki Graham, MPH, Community Research Navigator and Tribal Liaison at the University of Montana. She is known in her community (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes) for her ability to motivate, empower and energize audiences while maintaining the utmost level of respect for the community.
- Maja Pedersen, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, University of Montana, studies behavioral medicine with a focus on social connectedness, health, and physical activity in rural and tribal communities.
- Elizabeth Johnson, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, Montana State University, focuses on technology innovation, specifically relating to human research subject protections and integration of clinical trial information within the electronic health record.
- Moderated by Karen Brown, PharmD, Principal Investigator of Rocky Mountain REACH at the University of Montana. Karen builds infrastructure for health innovation aimed at improving patient outcomes and building healthy communities.
Series Sessions: Thursdays, 2-3pm over Zoom
- Jan 16, 2025: Women in Life Science and Healthcare Entrepreneurship
- Jan 30, 2025: Product Market Fit – Tips and Tricks
- Feb 13, 2025: Community-Driven Innovation
- Feb 27, 2025: Transitioning from Research to Commercialization
- Mar 13, 2025: Strategies for Broadening Participation in Clinical Trials
Biomedical Innovation Fireside Chats is an annual series of free, virtual events hosted via Zoom and recorded for those who can’t attend live. In each session, a regional program leader hosts a panel of biomedical entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts. These speakers will highlight their biomedical entrepreneurial journeys and share key information with attendees.
Learn more about the ITHS Technology Development Center: https://www.iths.org/investigators/services/technology-development-center/
