Lakeridge spurs new solutions via Ontario Tech U

OSHAWA, Ont. – Ontario Tech University students are using artificial intelligence (AI) and technology to propose innovative solutions for key healthcare challenges, in collaboration with Lakeridge Health and the Brilliant Catalyst, Ontario Tech’s entrepreneurship and innovation hub.

Brilliant Catalyst joined forces with the Partnership for Advanced Technology in Health Care (PATH), to deliver this year’s Catalyst Challenge. PATH is an alliance between the university and Lakeridge Health launched in October 2024 to unite the strengths of Lakeridge Health, Durham Region’s integrated health system, and Ontario Tech University to improve patient outcomes, access, and sustainability in healthcare services, using advanced technologies such as AI.

“The Catalyst Challenge really highlighted the creativity and problem-solving skills of the student teams, and hearing their innovative approaches to health-care challenges was inspiring. This event reinforced the value of connecting education and research with health care to foster new talent and ideas. It was a perfect way to launch our collaboration with Ontario Tech, and we’re excited for the future of PATH – our Partnership for Advanced Technology in Health Care,” said Dr. Ilan Lenga (pictured), chief information officer, Lakeridge Health.

Over the course of the eight-day Catalyst Challenge, interdisciplinary student teams were challenged to collaborate and develop innovative ideas to address the most pressing challenges facing the health-care sector today through the lens of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Quadruple Aim, adopted by Lakeridge Health.

The top nine teams were invited to the January 31 challenge finale to pitch their exciting innovations to a panel of Lakeridge Health and Ontario Tech judges.

The three winning teams will now have the opportunity to formally bring their ideas to life with the Brilliant Catalyst’s Business Incubator, where they will receive access to exclusive resources, including continued mentorship, funding, and networking opportunities. The winning teams were awarded $2,000 prizes to help with the development of their solutions. They will also have the opportunity to further validate their solutions through a Lakeridge Health tour and lunch with the organization’s leadership.

Top student solutions: Social Impact and Sustainability Award
Axis is an AI-powered ‘physiotherapist in your pocket’, that uses augmented reality (AR) motion-tracking and machine-learning to diagnose, treat and prevent musculoskeletal injuries in real-time. Axis provides personalized rehab plans to make musculoskeletal care faster, more accessible and more affordable than traditional physiotherapy.

Student creators

• Jkwon Benjamin (Mechanical Engineering, first-year)
• Farah Diba Haidary (Biological Sciences, second-year)
• George Mensah (Health Sciences, second-year)
• Isabel Okonwo (Health Sciences, second-year)

Technical Innovation Award
MedRoute decreases emergency department wait room congestion by connecting prospective patients to the most appropriate medical facility and the proper health-care professionals based on specific needs. MedRoute streamlines physician workloads, and offers an avenue to rectify medical data and ensure quality of care.

Student creators

• Eloghosa Avenbuan (Biological Science, fourth-year)
• Mikayla Chiappetta (Biological Science, fourth-year)
• Abdullah Mustafa (Computer Science, second-year)
• Gabriella Pamy (Health Sciences, third-year)
• Blake Pezzarello (Commerce-Accounting, fourth-year)
• Mira Saad (Kinesiology, third-year)

Market Readiness Award
NavConnect is a hospital navigation tool whose realistic design will help users find their way around a hospital more independently. This app, to be piloted at Lakeridge Health, features speech-to-text, language accessibility, and tactile and auditory prompts. NavConnect’s accessible and customizable navigation will save hospital staff valuable time to focus on other patient services.

Student creators

• Tia Avutova (Biological and Biomedical Sciences, second-year)
• Saffiya Mehraban (Kinesiology, second-year)
• Aaliya Moolla (Life Sciences, second-year)
• Elaha Noori (Health Sciences, second-year)
• Hiba Patel (Life Sciences, second-year)
• Alya Rasoul (Life Sciences, second-year)

All participants were granted an honorarium, funded by the Experience Ventures program. Powered by the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at the University of Calgary, Experience Ventures enables post-secondary students to make an impact alongside real-world innovators through entrepreneurial thinking placements. Experience Ventures is funded by the government of Canada and is delivered nationwide, in partnership with post-secondary institutions such as Ontario Tech University.