At San Diego State University’s fifth Big Data Hackathon, Heluna Health’s Board Chair, Dr. Santosh Vetticaden, presented on behalf of the organization to highlight its ongoing research and evaluation initiatives. As an experienced biotech entrepreneur and co-founder of Visgenx, Dr. Vetticaden brought a wealth of knowledge to the event, sharing insights on the importance of data-driven innovation in healthcare. With a background spanning various therapeutic areas—cardiovascular disease, pediatric epilepsy, and infectious diseases—he emphasized the need for continuous healthcare improvements to address unmet needs in underserved communities.
The Hackathon itself, centered around “Enhancing Healthcare’s Digital Front Door,” called on student innovators to develop solutions for critical healthcare access and disparity issues. Participants from SDSU and surrounding colleges competed to create cutting-edge apps and solutions aimed at improving patient satisfaction, mental health challenges, and health management. Dr. Vetticaden’s keynote aligned with the hackathon’s mission, underscoring the potential of technology and research to create more equitable and effective healthcare solutions.
Heluna Health’s was proud to be represented as the organization is working on research initiatives in areas like climate and environmental health, and community outbreak preparedness. The Community Outbreak Preparedness Index (COPI) developed by Heluna Health helps counties assess their readiness for public health emergencies. The organization’s recent surveys revealed critical data about wildfire smoke impacts, extreme heat, and preparedness for extreme weather events, particularly among vulnerable populations. Dr. Vetticaden emphasized that initiatives like these play a crucial role in enhancing public health resilience, further highlighting the importance of data-driven solutions in healthcare settings.
By participating in events like SDSU’s Big Data Hackathon, Heluna Health continues to foster collaboration between academia, technology, and public health sectors, creating opportunities for future leaders to develop solutions that can make a meaningful difference.
