DALLAS, Nov. 18, 2024 – As advancements in preventing cardiovascular disease and stroke continue, affecting nearly half of U.S. adults, experts are pushing for new ways to deliver these innovations to the public. The American Heart Association (AHA)’s Center for Health Technology & Innovation announced the winners of its annual Health Tech Competition during the AHA’s Scientific Sessions 2024.
Powerful Medical, based in New York, was named the overall winner, as well as the winner of the Science subcategory. HekaHeart, also of New York City, won in the Business category. The AHA, a leading voluntary health organization dedicated to healthier lives for all for over a century, uses the competition to promote technological developments that can transform heart and brain health.
Star Jones, an AHA national volunteer, lawyer, and TV personality, served as a judge. She shared her personal perspective, saying the technological solutions discussed resonated with her own journey. “Thirteen years ago (during open heart surgery), I had an amazing standard of care,” Jones said. “Technology solutions that can level the playing field to get world class care wherever they live is important. Several solutions address the ability to get that same standard of care no matter what your race is, your location is, no matter your income level – and that innovation is so important.”
The annual Health Tech Competition provides a platform for healthcare technology start-ups to showcase innovative solutions for cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Winning ideas address issues in areas such as antithrombotic, coronary artery disease/acute coronary syndrome, and heart failure, among others. This year’s competition was financially supported by the Laerdal Million Lives Fund and produced by the American Heart Association.
Powerful Medical, the 2024 winner, utilizes AI to assist physicians and care teams in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases. CEO Martin Herman noted that their current focus is heart attack diagnostics. This technology was selected based on the functionality of its prototype, scientific rigor, and potential impact on patient outcomes. The competition took place live from November 16-18 in Chicago during the AHA’s Scientific Sessions 2024, which is a premier global event for advancements in cardiovascular science and medicine. Finalists presented solutions for heart failure, pulmonary embolism, and other cardiovascular health issues.
HekaHeart was recognized for its business strategy. The company, a guideline-directed medical therapy-led heart failure clinic focused on optimizing virtual medical visits, focuses on helping cardiology groups and health systems to refine patient outcomes, ease the load on clinicians, and improve financial performance through various methods such as medication optimization.
As part of their awards, Powerful Medical and HekaHeart will receive membership to the Center for Health Technology & Innovation Innovators’ Network. The network connects entrepreneurs, providers, researchers, and payers to drive innovation in cardiovascular and brain health. Members can utilize access to the AHA’s digital guidelines and clinical recommendations. Members can also collaborate with the Center on studies that lower the cost of developing those studies independently.
