The Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) Path of Excellence gives medical students a unique insight into the rapidly expanding culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in biomedical research and medicine.
The I&E path offers firsthand experience on the innovation process leading to new biomedical devices, diagnostics, therapeutics, health IT, service line improvements, or policy advances. Other collaborators include U-M College of Engineering, U-M Medical School, Zell Lurie Institute, U-M Office of Tech Transfer, and U-M Ross School of Business.
For students who are passionate about improving health care through innovation, this path provides the resources, perspective and exposure to explore all aspects of this career choice.
Med students are encouraged to join this Path in their M1 year, however you can choose to apply during any year of med school. Students who sign up for I&E take the Foundation of Innovation seminar series during their M1 year.
The I&E path created a platform that could connect me with the right resources and opportunities to develop my interest into a major passion. It was the catalyst for many of my multidisciplinary experiences in medical school.
Faculty are eager to provide opportunities for I&E path students to learn and get involved on a project or research team. If something you wish to pursue is not offered, do not be afraid to reach out to faculty to try to make it happen. Get involved early and use the resources offered to you to get hands on experience in a unique aspect of the health care world.
I like being able to work on creative and innovative projects outside of the standard medical school coursework and having the support to do so. It’s a great way to exercise a different part of your brain.
Before med school, I worked in healthcare consulting and learned about medical device R&D. I wanted to apply my skills and experience to further innovative solutions for medicine. Today, my research is looking into novel imaging techniques for the retina, a project I found through the I&E path.
I have learned so much from the I&E path and have met amazing people. It gave me the resources to create impactful projects. I&E helped me network and find funding for my projects. The path helped me see medicine in a different way, to see challenges as opportunities to innovate.