Page 56 - Mass General Brigham - Innovators Guide 1.2

56 INNO V AT O RS GUIDE | M ASS GENERAL BRIGH AM

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Faculty outreach

10 and engagement

Optimizing the innovative output of Mass General Brigham is a continuing The Innovation managed Innovation Community Expansion Initiative (ICEI)
system priority. has an active program in multiple areas:
Achieving that overarching goal requires a practical Optimizing Clinician and Early Career Outreach. Spearheaded by
understanding that the immense commercial potential of an its Clinician-in-Residence, these peer-led efforts provide
academic medical center rests within a distinct culture and the innovative tailored, on-line information designed to inform, encourage
organizational structure. Reaching and enabling innovators output of Mass and demystify the innovation process. They seek to engage
in that environment requires an active, on going engagement clinicians in their environment and provide the information
effort built around a recognition of the many demands on General Brigham and encouragement necessary to drive innovative thinking
their time. is a continuing and achieve actionable outcomes. In parallel outreach efforts
Ensuring the highest level of service is a key goal. Innovators, are designed to reach junior staff early in their Mass General
Brigham career to inform them of key opportunities and also
current and potential, have many responsibilities as part of system priority. issues around working with industry.
their position. Being an inventor is rarely one of them. Getting
an idea from an academic setting into the commercial Female and Underrepresented Minorities. These efforts are
realm further complicates that challenge. Organizational, cultural and designed to reach female and minority staff to help overcome a historic
physical barriers present enduring challenges. Innovation works to share pattern where commercialization participation at best has been 25% of
information and assistance in a fashion male or majority levels. They focus on mentoring, peer modeling and
that helps them be effective in the limited time they can spend providing visibility to faculty with leaders in the investment and corporate
on commercialization. communities.

This support occurs in many ways. The most direct is through Innovation The World Medical Innovation Forum is both an educational and business
staff – Licensing Managers, TAG and others interfacing with faculty to development effort. This signature gathering seeks to energize and
guide them through to an outcome. Most departments have a designated educate Mass General Brigham faculty by highlighting industry priorities
internal point of contact to provide initial support to potential innovators. It and opportunities. At the same time, it advances system business
also involves an ever-expanding number of electronic tools delivered development by drawing top level executives and investors to the Forum to
mostly through Insite but also Innovations Wellspring information interact with system faculty around cutting edge topics and technologies.
management system. The Forum is annually organized around a key clinical or technology
topics. Themes have included cancer, AI, neurosciences, cardiovascular,
Innovation also manages several educational programs. These include a coronavirus and gene and cell therapy: worldmedicalinnovation.org.
cycle of annual departmental briefings plus tailored sessions around key
commercialization topics. There are several on-line services that provide
tailored support that details information on every step of the innovation
journey from before its start until after its conclusion.