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Fourteen innovators in Chicago , Detroit , Los Angeles , New Orleans, New York and Philadelphia to receive seed funding from a pool of over $1M , mentorship and more to advance health equity solutions
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. , June 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- After an extensive search for the top changemakers in six key U.S. cities, Johnson & Johnson today announced the 14 awardees of its Health Equity Innovation Challenge. The awardees, who possess lived experience and a deep understanding of the communities they serve, were selected for their work in generating solutions to help close racial health and mortality gaps in six cities where Black and Brown individuals experience significant health inequities: Chicago , Detroit , Los Angeles , New Orleans, New York City and Philadelphia .
The Health Equity Innovation Challenge was created by Johnson & Johnson as a part of the company's "Our Race to Health Equity," a bold, aspirational commitment to help eradicate the public health threats of racial and social injustices by eliminating health inequities for people of color. The Challenge aims to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and socioeconomic impact by supporting innovative solutions from local entrepreneurs, start-ups, innovators, and community-based organizations that have the potential to advance health equity.
Selected from a pool of more than 180 applicants by an independent judging committee, each awardee is receiving seed funding from a pool of more than $1 million from Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., mentorship from renowned entrepreneurs and public health experts, and access to the Johnson & Johnson - JLABS ecosystem, which includes networking opportunities and more, to advance their innovations. One such awardee, Formerly Incarcerated Transitions (FIT) Clinic, is focused on reducing recidivism and improving health outcomes by providing continuity of care and other reintegration resources for formerly incarcerated individuals.
"Locked away and mostly forgotten, incarcerated individuals suffer poorer health outcomes and lasting emotional and psychological trauma," said Anjali Niyogi , founder and director of Formerly Incarcerated Transitions (FIT) Clinic. "The Challenge funds will enable us to equip the justice-involved population with tools for success by increasing access to reentry peer support groups, holistic medical services, and educational materials about community-based health systems."
Finalists of the Health Equity Innovation Challenge were selected by Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and an independent panel of judges, including Uché Blackstock, M.D. , Founder and CEO of Advancing Health Equity; Helene Gayle , M.D. , President and CEO of Chicago Community Trust; Cato T. Laurencin , M.D. , Ph.D., University Professor at the University of Connecticut and CEO of the Connecticut Convergence Institute; Thomas LaVeist , Ph.D. , Dean of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Tulane University ; Eddie Martinez , Executive Director of the Latino Equality Alliance; Herman Moore , Owner, CEO and Chairman of Team 84 and former Detroit Lions Wide Receiver; and Kiera Smalls , Co-Founder of Strides and Executive Director of the Running Industry Diversity Coalition.
"Innovation plays a key role in addressing health inequities, but that innovation doesn't always come from a big company like Johnson & Johnson. The individuals that are living, breathing, and experiencing these inequities know what they are and why they are happening, and they have great ideas for how to solve them," noted Seema Kumar , Global Head, Office of Innovation, Global Health and Scientific Engagement at Johnson & Johnson. "We are incredibly grateful to all of the innovators and the impact they're making for under-resourced communities across the country – from stimulating diversity in science and healthcare, to reducing barriers to better health outcomes and affordable care – and so much more."
Additional information on the 2021 Challenge awardees and their community-based innovations can be found below. For more information on the Johnson & Johnson Health Equity Innovation Challenge and the 2021 awardees' stories, please visit www.jnj.com/health-equity-innovation-challenge .
Chicago, IL Awardees
Detroit, MI Awardees
Los Angeles, CA Awardees
New Orleans, LA Awardees
New York City , NY Awardee
Philadelphia, PA Awardees
About Johnson & Johnson At Johnson & Johnson, we believe good health is the foundation of vibrant lives, thriving communities and forward progress. That's why for more than 130 years, we have aimed to keep people well at every age and every stage of life. Today, as the world's largest and most broadly-based healthcare company, we are committed to using our reach and size for good. We strive to improve access and affordability, create healthier communities, and put a healthy mind, body and environment within reach of everyone, everywhere. We are blending our heart, science and ingenuity to profoundly change the trajectory of health for humanity. Learn more at www.jnj.com . Follow us at @JNJNews .
SOURCE Johnson & Johnson