The first competition of its kind in the state
New Haven, CT (Feb. 17, 2025) – The Yale New Haven Health (YNHHS) Center for Health Care Innovation is proud to announce the launch of the Health AI Championship, a premier competition designed to showcase groundbreaking applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. The competition invites innovators from health systems and hospitals across Connecticut to develop impactful AI-driven solutions that address critical challenges in patient care and healthcare operations.
Bringing together leaders and innovators from health systems, the Health AI Championship fosters collaboration and innovation, creating a dynamic platform to accelerate AI adoption in healthcare. Up to 8 proposals will receive funding, with a maximum award of $100,000 for first prize. Participants will also have the opportunity to refine and strengthen their innovations with expert mentorship and strategic support.
“We are thrilled to launch the Health AI Championship at a time when AI’s potential to revolutionize healthcare has never been greater,” said Lee Schwamm, MD, SVP and chief digital health officer, YNHHS and associate dean, Digital Strategy and Transformation, Yale School of Medicine. “By inviting innovators to share cutting-edge ideas, we are not only fostering collaboration but also paving the way for real-world applications that can significantly improve patient outcomes and streamline healthcare operations. This initiative is more than a competition – it’s a step towards designing more efficient, learning healthcare systems.”
The competition is open to employees and faculty affiliated with hospitals and health systems in Connecticut. Six hospitals have already committed to participating in Yale New Haven Health’s AI Championship, including Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Gaylord Hospital, Nuvance Health, Hartford HealthCare and UConn Health.
The Health AI Championship features a multi-phase structure, including:
- Initial selection of proposals by each participating institution
- Independent judging of the shortlist
- The “National Conversation on Health AI Implementation Symposium” where leaders will share perspectives on implementing responsible and trustworthy AI, and team finalists will pitch their projects to an independent panel of experts
The winning team will also have the opportunity to validate their solution at Yale New Haven Health, providing the opportunity for impact in a real-world clinical setting.
Interested innovators, researchers, and healthcare professionals are encouraged to visit HealthAIChampionship.org for detailed information on eligibility, submission guidelines and key dates. The competition is funded by a grant from ARPA.
Yale New Haven Health (YNHHS), the largest and most comprehensive healthcare system in Connecticut, is recognized for advanced clinical care, quality, service, cost effectiveness and commitment to improving the health status of the communities it serves. YNHHS includes five hospitals – Bridgeport, Greenwich, Lawrence + Memorial, Westerly and Yale New Haven hospitals, several specialty networks and Northeast Medical Group, a non-profit medical foundation with several hundred community-based and hospital-employed physicians. YNHHS is affiliated with Yale University and Yale Medicine, the clinical practice of the Yale School of Medicine and the largest academic multi-specialty practice in New England. Yale New Haven Hospital is the primary teaching hospital of Yale School of Medicine. www.ynhhs.org
