AlphaLab Health Cohort 3 Founders with Allegheny Health Network (AHN) and Innovation Works staff

“This cohort of ALH includes a strong set of clinician-entrepreneurs who developed solutions to address the challenges they and their patients faced. We’re excited to see these individuals bringing their talents beyond the bedside to help revolutionize healthcare.” – Megan Shaw, Innovation Works

PITTSBURGH (PRWEB)
November 29, 2022

AlphaLab Health, a joint program of Innovation Works and Allegheny Health Network to accelerate the growth of healthcare and life sciences startups, announced the third cohort of companies to participate in the program. The AlphaLab Heath companies were competitively selected to participate in a six-month program that will help them navigate key risk points in the clinical and commercial development of their early-stage companies. The companies also receive up to $100,000 in pre-seed investment, wet and dry lab space, one-on-one and group education sessions, and access to clinicians, hospital executives and other experts who can help these emerging companies succeed through the early stages of development. This cohort features a wide range of companies covering diagnostics, therapeutics, medical devices, and healthcare IT.

“One of the main reasons that we chose AlphaLab Health was to establish a network of support for InnSights commercialization effort,” said Leanne Labriola, DO, MBA, president, and Co-Founder of InnSight Technology. “AlphaLab Health offers a unique connection to both an established hospital system as well as a partnership with Innovation Works which opens doors to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Pittsburgh. We are excited to be part of this cohort and looking forward to bringing our device to market.”

“We’re thrilled to be a part of Cohort 3 of AlphaLab Health. The partnership between Innovation Works and Allegheny Health Network provides a unique blend of expertise and mentorship across healthcare and entrepreneurship, which will be pivotal in building a scalable health tech company that will solve systemic challenges that affect the US healthcare system. Throughout the program, we look forward to continuing to build tailored software to help health plans meet the healthcare price transparency legislation, to ultimately improve access and affordability of healthcare for patients in Pittsburgh, and soon across the US.” – Ahmed Marmoush, CEO and Co-Founder of Handl Health.

“AlphaLab Health’s unique model provides companies direct engagement with the healthcare system, on both the provider and payer side, enabling them to test their assumptions and pilot interactions,” said Megan Shaw, Managing Director for Life Sciences at Innovation Works. “The partnership between IW and AHN leverages the best of both organizations, from networks and resources to first-hand experience commercializing products. This cohort of ALH includes a strong set of clinician-entrepreneurs who developed solutions to address the challenges they and their patients faced. We’re excited to see these individuals bringing their talents beyond the bedside to help revolutionize healthcare.”

“This joint-venture continues to provide value to the entire region through growing the innovation economy and nurturing new ways to advance health care,” said Dr. Jeff Cohen, chief physician executive, community health and innovation for AHN.” Top researchers and clinicians at AHN can help these entrepreneurs refine and advance their ideas and expand their own thinking about the future of care.”

2022-2023 AlphaLab Health Cohort

Advanced Optronics, Inc. – Takes the guesswork out of getting a cochlear implant. Advanced Optronics (AO) designs and manufactures implantable sensors for intraoperative monitoring. AO’s first product is an integrated force and position sensor for cochlear implants. These sensors provide real-time feedback during surgery to reduce trauma and avoid damage to residual hearing during implantation. Their solution empowers surgeons with the ability to perform less traumatic insertions and preserve residual hearing.

Expressive Painimation – Through human-centered design, Expressive Painimation developed an electronic pain assessment tool that utilizes animations to assess pain quality and type. The speed and saturation of the animations can be calibrated by patients to assess intensity and course. Painimation does not rely on words so language and literacy are no longer barriers.

Handl Health – Handl Health is a healthcare price transparency platform. Handl offers health plans a simple way to comply with the CMS healthcare price transparency legislation while digitizing how patients shop, book, and pay for healthcare, creating an unparalleled user experience and realizing an average cost saving of 28%.

InnSight Technology– InnSight Technology utilizes a multidisciplinary team composed of ophthalmologists, engineers, designers, and business experts to create novel ophthalmic diagnostic devices. Currently, they are focused on the development of a hand-held tool that can be used to change the standard for tear film testing. In addition, it provides a platform technology that can be used for other tear film biomarkers and other fluids. They have advanced the project from proof of concept to early prototype and have collected clinical data that shows the precision of their device, called the OcuCheck.

Noctem Health – Noctem Health is modernizing behavioral sleep care to serve all clinicians and their patients. NOCTEM® eliminates the hassles of traditional behavioral sleep treatments while maintaining the quality and continuity of care for patients.

Respair, Inc. – Respair is developing and testing a prototype for a novel endotracheal tube designed to reduce ventilator-associated events. The company has previously completed concept validation through 50+ stakeholder interviews in addition to developing a business hypothesis, submitting a preliminary patent through the University of Pittsburgh for product design, and completing a preliminary regulatory pathway assessment. Respair is currently finalizing incorporation status in addition to utilizing ISO standards to complete bench testing on animal and human trachea models to further validate and refine the design of the endotracheal tube prototype.

###

Media Contact

Terri Glueck, Innovation Works, Vice President, Communications,

(412) 818-8191, tglueck@innovationworks.org

Austin Price, Director, Stakeholder Engagement and Impact, Allegheny Health Network,

(412) 544-6513, Austin.Price@highmarkhealth.org

About AlphaLab Health

AlphaLab Health (http://www.alphalabhealth.org) is a program of Innovation Works (IW) in partnership with Allegheny Health Network (AHN). IW and AHN bring their resources and expertise together to deliver greater value to health and life science related companies in the Pittsburgh region, nurturing innovations that will change health care and create growth for the regional economy. AlphaLab Health gives entrepreneurs access to specialized clinicians, insurers, hospital administrators and domain experts that accelerate the new company’s growth. The program links emerging companies with early customers, corporate partners, potential investors and knowledgeable staff and mentors so entrepreneurs can bring to life the innovations that will change and improve patient care.

About Innovation Works

Innovation Works (IW) is the region’s most active pre- and seed-stage investor and one of the most active early-stage investors across the country. In addition to providing investment through the only seed fund exclusively focused on the greater Pittsburgh region, Innovation Works has numerous programs and accelerators to advance high potential startups in every type of technology: software, hardware and life sciences. IW’s renowned AlphaLab accelerators (AlphaLab, AlphaLab Gear and AlphaLab Heath) adapt to entrepreneurs’ time frames and educational needs with flexible start times, tailored programming and entrepreneurially-friendly investment terms. IW is the Southwestern PA Ben Franklin Technology Partner, a network of four statewide centers to advance innovation in Pennsylvania and partially funded through and overseen by the commonwealth’s Department of Community and Economic Development. For more information, go to http://www.innovationworks.org.

About the Allegheny Health Network:

Allegheny Health Network (AHN.org) is an integrated healthcare delivery system serving the greater Western Pennsylvania region. The Network is composed of 14 hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, Health + Wellness Pavilions, multiple employed physician organizations, home and community-based health services, a research institute, and a group purchasing organization. The Network provides patients with access to a complete spectrum of advanced medical services, including nationally recognized programs for primary and emergency care, trauma care, cardiovascular disease, organ transplantation, cancer care, orthopedic surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, women’s health, diabetes, autoimmune disease and more. AHN employs approximately 21,000 people, has more than 2,600 physicians on its medical staff and serves as a clinical campus for Drexel University College of Medicine and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Synergies Work is the largest business incubator and accelerator for entrepreneurs with disabilities in the US

ATLANTA (PRWEB)
November 29, 2022

Synergies Work, an Atlanta nonprofit that supports entrepreneurs with disabilities, announced today it has received a $50,000 grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation—the third such grant since 2019. Synergies Work will use the funding to continue providing accessibility to entrepreneurship with an expanding lens focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Among the statistics representing the 61 million U.S. adults who have a disability:

• At the national level, Black people have a disability rate up to 2.5 times higher than white people
• 1 in 4 women have a disability
• People with disabilities account for more than half of those living in long-term poverty

To date, 62 percent of Synergies Work program participants have been women and 54 percent have been people of color.

“From our early days, The Coca-Cola Foundation has been an ardent and passionate supporter of Synergies Work and the entrepreneurs we serve,” said Aarti Sahgal, Founder and CEO of Synergies Work. “We could not have evolved into what we are today without this funding support, and for this we are sincerely grateful.”

“People with disabilities must increasingly be brought into the DEI conversation,” said Saadia Madsbjerg, President of The Coca-Cola Foundation. “A core part of The Foundation’s mission is to make a difference in communities. This grant helps redefine the face of entrepreneurship by expanding opportunities for all with disabilities. Our funding to Synergies Work will bring greater awareness to the intersectionality of people of color, women, and disability.”

About Synergies Work

Founded in 2016, Synergies Work is the largest business incubator and accelerator for entrepreneurs with disabilities in the United States. The organization serves entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey—from ideation to exit. With the goal of building one world where people with disabilities belong, Synergies Work helps entrepreneurs with disabilities launch, grow, and maintain sustainable small businesses. Its approach is based on a fundamental belief that all individuals have boundless talent, an inherent curiosity to explore, and a passion to succeed. Synergies Work has received the Dave Hammis Innovation Award from the APSE (Association of People Supporting Employment First) and received second place and Audience Favorite grants from Truist Foundation’s Inspire Awards. The nonprofit is also part of the Moonshot Initiative in partnership with SmartJob and Enable Ventures which was announced at the Clinton Global Initiative. For more information on Synergies Work, visit http://www.synergieswork.org or contact the organization at mailto:synergies@synergieswork.org [synergies@synergieswork.org __title__ null].

About The Coca-Cola Foundation

The Coca-Cola Foundation is the global philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company. Since its inception in 1984, The Foundation has awarded more than $1.4 billion in grants to support sustainable community initiatives around the world, including protecting the environment; empowering women; and the overall well-being of communities through education, youth development, arts and culture, and economic development.

Share article on social media or email:

NY Top Doc – Dr. Michael E. Gribetz

SCOTCH PLAINS, N.J. (PRWEB)
November 29, 2022

Dr. Michael E. Gribetz is a board certified Urologist with over 40 years of clinical experience. Dr. Gribetz has been reviewed and approved based on merit by NY Top Docs for 2022. He is an attending urologic surgeon at the Mount Sinai Medical Center and an Assistant Clinical Professor at its medical school.

Dr. Gribetz’s clinical expertise combines compassionate personalized medical care in a private office setting with state of the art medical testing and surgical procedures, often performed in his in-office certified operating suite, alleviating the stress and anxiety of the hospital experience.

“One of the rewards of private practice Urology is the long term relationships with patients and their families, many of whom I’ve known for decades. This increasingly unique environment is valued by my patients who too often are exposed to large mass production clinics,” says Dr. Gribetz.

He has been on the cutting edge in performing in his office the minimally invasive Urolift procedure for the treatment of BPH. He is also widely acclaimed for providing his patients with state of the art diagnostic tools and treatment alternatives for benign and malignant diseases of the prostate, kidney and bladder.

His interests include the management of benign prostatic hypertrophy, prostate cancer sexual dysfunction, kidney stones, urinary incontinence, female urology, and the performance of vasectomies.

Dr. Gribetz has been honored repeatedly by Castle Connolly America’s Best Doctors, New York Times Superdocs, New York Magazine Best Doctors, and of course, NY Top Docs.

To learn more about Dr. Michael E. Gribetz, please visit: https://nytopdocs.com/doctors/michael-gribetz/

About Us

NY Top Docs is a comprehensive, trusted and exclusive healthcare resource featuring reviewed and approved Top Doctors and Dentists in New York online in an easy to use format. NY Top Docs only reviews and approves providers based on merit after they have been extensively vetted.

NY Top Docs is a division of USA Top Docs which allows patients to meet providers online before making their appointment.

For more information, e-mail us at info@NYTopDocs.com and/or visit http://www.NYTopDocs.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.

Share article on social media or email:

Southwest Eye Center’s 40th Anniversary of serving Arizona

“I know Dr. Bluth would be proud of the commitment everyone on the Southwestern Eye Center team shows to our patients on a regular basis. Truly, none of this would possible without them,” said Armstrong.

PHOENIX (PRWEB)
November 28, 2022

Southwestern Eye Center, an affiliate of American Vision Partners, is happy to be celebrating its 40th Anniversary.

Dr. Lothaire Bluth founded Southwestern Eye Center in 1982 in Mesa, Arizona. His vision was to provide the highest-quality eye care throughout Arizona. He saw underserved communities and purposefully opened his first clinic right next to the Falcon Field Airport so that he and his team could fly across the state to provide ophthalmic care.

“He really set the bar for how to treat people,” said Shane Armstrong, CEO of American Vision Partners. Dr. Bluth was best known for his pure drive to care for people, both in the sense of caring for his patients and in supporting his team of doctors and staff.

“It was watching him take care of patients both in surgery and in the clinic that really introduced me to eye care but also helped me to develop the ideals of caring for people, of wanting to help people, serving people. So he really impacted me in that way,” explained Dr. Jordan Bluth, OD, son of Dr. Lothaire Bluth and optometrist at Southwestern Eye Center.

While Dr. Lothaire Bluth is not able to celebrate the 40th Anniversary with the Southwestern Eye Center team, his values continue to make an impact. As Southwestern Eye Center has grown, Dr. Bluth’s vision has expanded with clinics across Arizona and New Mexico and continues to impact new partnerships across the Southwestern United States.

“When I decided that I wanted to go into eye care, my goal was to work with this organization just because I know the quality of the doctors and the people that have worked here. I’m proud to be able to say I’m part of the Southwestern Eye Center family, as well as a Bluth,” said Jordan Bluth, OD.

Southwestern Eye Center is now home to 58 optometrists and ophthalmologists, serving 21 clinics and communities with specialty eye care including care for cataracts, retinal disease, dry eye, corneal disease, glaucoma, LASIK and oculoplastics.

“I know Dr. Bluth would be proud of the commitment everyone on the Southwestern Eye Center team shows to our patients on a regular basis. Truly, none of this would possible without them,” said Armstrong.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (480-854-8185). Additional information can also be found online at http://www.SWeye.com

About Southwestern Eye Center

Southwestern Eye Center was established in 1982 in Mesa, Arizona, by Dr. Lothaire Bluth. Over the last 40 years, the practice has grown and continues to offer world-class technology and patient-first values across Arizona and New Mexico. The experienced team of doctors at Southwestern Eye Center are specialized in multiple fields of ophthalmology, including cataracts, retinal disease, glaucoma, and oculoplastics. Together, the caring team of physicians and staff make sure that their focus is always on providing the highest-quality eye care for their patients and convenient service for their communities. For more information, please visit http://www.SWeye.com.

About American Vision Partners

American Vision Partners is one of the nation’s largest and fastest growing eye care physician services organizations. AVP serves communities throughout Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Nevada, and California with more than 130 nationally recognized doctors and 120 locations. We partner with the most respected ophthalmology practices in the country and share a best-in-class management system, infrastructure and technology to provide the highest-quality patient care.

Our partner practices, including Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center, Southwestern Eye Center, Retinal Consultants of Arizona, M&M Eye Institute, Abrams Eye Institute, Southwest Eye Institute, Aiello Eye Institute, Moretsky Cassidy Vision Correction, Wellish Vision Institute, West Texas Eye Associates and Vantage Eye Center have on average been in practice for more than 30 years. For more information, please visit http://www.AmericanVisionPartners.com.

Share article on social media or email:

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (PRWEB)
November 28, 2022

Clever Care Health Plan Inc. (“Clever Care”) announced its partnership with Allied Pacific IPA, Alpha Care Medical Group, and Accountable Health Care IPA.

Allied Pacific IPA (Allied) is one of the largest provider networks in Southern California, serving over 350,000 patients in the greater San Gabriel Valley area. Alpha Care Medical Group (Alpha Care), founded in 1993, serves the ever-growing Inland Empire communities – expanding Victorville to Indio. Finally, Accountable Health Care IPA (Accountable) serves residents of the greater Long Beach area of Los Angeles County and Downtown Los Angeles.

The partnership combines Clever Care’s focus on whole-health Medicare plans and a quality patient-centered network of doctors, specialists, and hospitals in the greater Southern California area. Many of the providers in the three physician groups are bi-lingual and care for traditionally under-served populations.

“Our partnership with Allied Pacific IPA will provide Medicare beneficiaries more options in receiving the quality, culturally-sensitive healthcare they deserve,” said Peter Winston, Senior Vice President, and General Manager at Clever Care Health Plan. “Through this affiliation, Clever Care members will also have access to more hospitals in Greater Los Angeles.”

Brandon Sim, Co-CEO of Apollo Medical Holdings Inc. (“ApolloMed”), the value-based enablement company that partners with and manages the three IPA groups, said, “Clever Care and our IPA network of physicians share a strong commitment to providing high-quality, culturally competent healthcare right here in our communities. The partnership with Clever Care will offer Medicare patients more choices and enhance their access to care. Together, we will continue to fulfill our mission of serving the needs of our communities and allowing them to live their lives to their fullest.”

Clever Care offers a whole health approach that includes Western and Eastern medicine. Clever Care has over 15,000 provider facilities, over 50 leading hospitals, and an extensive network of in-language doctors and healthcare experts, making accessing care at any stage of your health journey easier. The company also offers plan options with unlimited acupuncture with access to over 600 acupuncture providers, cupping, herbal supplements, and a flexible allowance for golf, tai chi, gym memberships, and much more. In addition, Clever Care’s dedicated Medicare team and community centers provide in-language support services to ensure that nothing gets lost in translation so that members can optimize their healthcare services to best fit their needs.

About Clever Care Health Plan

Clever Care Health Plan, Inc. is a private Medicare Advantage Plan company based in Southern California that offers quality and affordable Medicare plans that focus on whole health. The company prides itself in removing healthcare obstacles by honoring and uplifting the cultural values of the communities it serves. Clever Care plans are centered around complete wellness and combine the healing therapies of Eastern medicine with the innovative practices of Western medicine. Clever Care understands that there is more to a person than their health. To learn more about Clever Care Health Plan, visit clevercarehealthplan.com.

About Allied Pacific IPA

Founded in 1992, Allied Pacific IPA continues to provide high-quality and patient-centered medical care through an extensive and accessible network of physicians, hospitals, and ancillary healthcare professionals. With 1,337 primary care and specialty physicians, Allied Pacific IPA (Allied) is one of the largest provider networks in Southern California, serving over 350,000 patients.

To learn more about Allied Pacific IPA, visit alliedipa.com.

About Alpha Care Medical Group

Alpha Care Medical Group, an Independent Physician Association (IPA), was founded in 1993 by community doctors who wanted to improve health care for the Inland Empire’s diverse communities. Today, over 1,479 primary care physicians and specialists continue to work together to provide high-value, affordable care to the residents of the Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, California.

For more information, visit alphacaremed.com.

About Accountable Health Care IPA

Accountable Health Care IPA is dedicated to promoting personal health and well-being through the coordinated delivery of care. With over 1,000 primary care and specialty physicians, Accountable Health Care IPA is committed to providing high-quality and patient-focused care to the Los Angeles and Long Beach communities.

CLEVER CARE HEALTH PLAN IS AN HMO AND HMO C-SNP WITH A MEDICARE CONTRACT. ENROLLMENT DEPENDS ON CONTRACT RENEWAL. OTHER PHYSICIANS/PROVIDERS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR NETWORK.

H7607_23_CM1465_M 11262022

Share article on social media or email:

“Mayor Eric Garcetti epitomizes what it is to be part of a community and lift one another through compassion and service,” said Project Angel Food CEO Richard Ayoub.

LOS ANGELES (PRWEB)
November 28, 2022

In the early morning hours of Thanksgiving Day, Mayor Eric Garcetti joined Project Angel Food CEO Richard Ayoub, celebrity supporters and 225 volunteers and staff to prepare and deliver 7,400 meals on Thanksgiving Day for seriously ill and housing insecure people throughout 4,700 square miles of L.A. County.

Project Angel Food CEO Richard Ayoub said, “Mayor Eric Garcetti epitomizes what it is to be part of a community and lift one another through compassion and service. As he rolled up his sleeves and helped plate meals, he brought attention that while this is a day most of us are surrounded by people we love, we need to remember that some people don’t have that. He reminded us that no Angeleno should be alone and with a warm smile, a conversation and a meal, our volunteers can change the entire day for our clients, become angels in the City of Angels.”

For many of the celebrities joining Project Angel Food’s Thanksgiving Day volunteer pool, the day was about sharing the experience with family. Volunteers included Lisa Rinna and husband Harry Hamlin; “Weird Al” Yankovic with his wife Suzanne and daughter Nina; Cheyenne Jackson and husband Jason Landau with their twins Willow and Ethan; American Idolfavorite Ava Maybee with her mother, and Melissa Rivers with son Cooper Endicott, continuing her mother Joan Rivers’ legacy of volunteering on Thanksgiving. Avatar: The Way of Water star Trinity Bliss brought her parents just weeks before the December 16 release of the highly anticipated film.

Jackson said he brought his children because, “I want to teach my kids to be grateful and thankful for everything that we have, and when you have the capability to give to other people, do it.” He also talked about the death of friend Leslie Jordan, a Project Angel Food supporter who died exactly one month earlier. “He was one of my best friends and it hit me really, really hard like so many people,” he said.

Bliss said, “I’m so honored to work alongside so many people to bring a warm, delicious, tasty meal to people in need.” Of her much-anticipated film, Avatar: Way of Water, Trinity added, “Avatar was amazing, but I think Avatar: The Way of Water is going to be just so much more dramatic and be an experience people are going to need to experience in theaters.”

Rinna reflected on the fact that Project Angel Food is the primary source of food for most of its clients. “It’s so important because that is going to be their only meal of the day.” Hamlin added, “to have the opportunity to give back is amazing.”

Other celebrities included Eileen Davidson (RHOBH, Days of Our Lives), Peter Porte (Days of Our Lives), Juan Pablo Di Pace (DWTS, Fuller House), Olympian Tai Babilonia, Tim Bagley (Gracie & Frankie, Will & Grace), Michael Hitchcock (The Resort, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Lawrence Zarian (The Kelly Clarkson Show), Marc Malkin (Variety), James Wallington and Will Jardell (Amazing Race Season 32 winners), Romeo Escobar (Survivor 42 runner-up), and parenting author Donna Tetreault.

The 7,400 meals being delivered on Thanksgiving included 1,600 traditional turkey dinners to critically ill men, women, children and their caregivers, 5,600 Medically Tailored Meals and breakfasts regularly scheduled for Thursday delivery, and another 200 meals were provided to Project Angel Food community partner PATH for residents for two of PATH’s Interim Housing and Permanent Supportive Housing sites.

Volunteers provided contactless “drive-by” pick-up of the meals which were then delivered to Project Angel Food clients. Traditional Thanksgiving dinners consisted of roasted turkey, root vegetables, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and a slice of pumpkin cheesecake. Vegetarian meals were also provided. The meal was sponsored by the Stanley and Joyce Black Family Foundation with Glamazon (Amazon’s affinity group for the LGBT+ community) sponsoring the volunteer event.

Project Angel Food strives to end food insecurity and improve health outcomes of critically ill men, women and children in Los Angeles with Medically Tailored Meals, delivered with care and compassion. Over 2,500 clients are fed daily. Project Angel Food delivers 1.3 million meals each year.

Photos: https://dam.gettyimages.com/assignments/lisa-rinna-celebs-volunteering-project-angel-food

Video: https://bit.ly/3GGzRCr

Share article on social media or email: