Innovation Week winners recognized as I am an MUSC Innovator Award Winners

With the goal of infusing innovation into every corner of the MUSC culture, the MUSC Office of Innovation created the I am an MUSC Innovator campaign, which raises awareness of the many forms that innovation can take, inspires others and recognizes individuals and teams that are making an impact, both publicly and regularly. To that end, each quarter, the campaign showcases innovative educators, researchers and staff members enterprisewide that have achieved that goal.

The MUSC Office of Innovation is proud to recognize the following teams as the second quarter’s recipients of the I am an MUSC Innovator award. Every year, the second quarter is represented by the winning teams and award-winning pitches at MUSC’s Shark Tank competition held during Innovation Week in April. These groups represent winners from across the enterprise. 

Michelle Spiegel, M.D.; Karen Melanson; Janet Byrne, R.N.; Jamie Allen, D.O.; Andrew Goodwin, M.D.

Project: “Electronic health record-embedded clinical decision support to reduce hospital-acquired infections.” This project is addressing an over-utilization of invasive devices that contribute to hospital-acquired infections, which are associated with poorer patient outcomes. By improving clinical decision support systems with rule-based logic, Epic will be able to identify and highlight central venous lines and catheters that are potentially eligible for removal from patients. 

Curry Sherard; Savannah Skidmore; Jesse Flynn; Joe Ruscito; Taufiek Konrad Rajab, M.D.
Project: “Innovative designs for ventricular assist device cannulas that improve outcomes for infants.” This team, led by two students, is looking to improve on a Berlin heart device in children by creating a new device with a simple switch that could divert crucial blood flow around a clog in a tube and keep babies who need a heart transplant alive longer. 

Edward Kilb, M.D.; Brad Petkovich, M.D.
Project: “Hitting the mark: Implementation of a central venous catheter curriculum to improve medical student self-confidence in quality and safety of procedures.” The goal of this project is to create a comprehensive central venous catheter training module with focus on ultrasound skill training, Seldinger technique and key steps in patient safety that would result in an improvement in student self-assessment of confidence with this singular invasive procedure.

Renee Wilson
Project: “Enhancing the patient experience: From car to care.” First impressions can be lasting impressions. This project will make services more accessible from the patient’s car to where they receive their care, including clear signage, valet parking, assistance from the care to the door, and they will be kept abreast of upcoming events in the region via a digital board. 

Prince Anand, M.D.; Camille Filoromo, Ph.D.; Ahmad Alqesseih, M.D.; Derek Dubay, M.D.; Natalie Wessels; Adrian Carlson, Pharm.D.; and Jay McCarley, Pharm.D.

Project: “Addressing disparities in kidney transplant in a rural community hospital.” The current process for kidney transplant recipients requires the patient to have excess funds saved for peri-transplant expenses, including housing caregivers while the patient is admitted to the hospital. This project will create a dedicated suite that supports comfortable living accommodations for a family member to remain in-room with the patient and will decrease the amount of money required peri-transplant and, hence, increase access to transplantation.

Evelyn LeBron-Cooper, Roldan Mandane, Joseph Fraser, Cyreano Hamoy, Corey Bess and Roxie Smallwood
Project: “The ‘ST’ edema sling.”This project would help male patients experiencing scrotal swelling to reposition themselves and aid in initiating mobility while also reducing discomfort and pain by relieving pressure on the affected area.

I am an MUSC Innovator nominations are submitted to the chief innovation officer and evaluated based on the merits of the innovation, including potential impact and unique factors that contributed to the innovation. Nominations are solicited on a quarterly basis but may be submitted for consideration at any time.

Do you know someone who should be recognized? Fill out and submit a nomination form.

Award criteria

To be eligible for the I am an MUSC Innovator Award, the individual or team must be:

• Employed by MUSC or attend MUSC as a student.
• Acknowledged within the organization for the creation of an idea, product or process that can solve a problem or create a new opportunity.
• Recognized as collaborative, respectful, adaptive to change and committed to quality care.