“Our goal wasn’t just to inspire students to innovate,” said McGuire. “We wanted to challenge them to find fundamental problems in healthcare and create impactful solutions. The results were beyond what we could have imagined.”
Why UConn?
Beekley Medical’s choice to partner with UConn stemmed from the university’s established culture of excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration. The Nursing and Engineering Innovation Center—one of the first of its kind—provides the perfect environment for fostering healthcare advancements that address unmet clinical needs. The competition reflects Beekley’s dual objectives: giving back to the community and seeking innovations that align with its mission to improve patient and provider experiences.
“We have a strong relationship with UConn, and their focus on interdisciplinary education mirrors our own belief that collaboration drives meaningful progress,” McGuire explained. “This initiative allowed us to mentor students, share our expertise, and potentially uncover ideas that could transform healthcare.”
Looking to the Future
With the success of this competition, Beekley Medical and UConn are already planning for the next iteration in spring 2025, giving students another chance to refine their innovations and win additional funding. Winners from the fall competition, like the creators of the "ChromaShield" patch and ZemiLabs' wearable biometric sensor ink, will return to continue their journeys toward bringing their ideas to life.
“This isn’t just about funding innovation,” said McGuire. “It’s about empowering students with the knowledge, mentorship, and resources they need to succeed. When we invest in young minds, we’re investing in the future of healthcare.”
About Beekley Medical: Founded in 1934 and headquartered in Bristol, Beekley is committed to investing in the research and development of simple, low cost, disposable products that help medical imaging, surgical, and radiation oncology professionals improve communication, productivity, and patient care. Beekley Medical has a long and successful history of partnering with inventors and entrepreneurs to bring new products to market.
About the UConn Nursing and Engineering Innovation Center: The center aims to improve healthcare, workforce, and economic development by promoting collaborations between nursing and engineering. It encourages the development and use of new healthcare technologies to meet clinical needs and improve healthcare quality.(e.g., safe, effective, efficient, equitable, timely, and patient-centered). The center will advance health care innovation for the state and nation through four core areas of focus: research, education, community engagement, and technology transfer.
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