The Sharon Disney Lund Medical Intelligence and Innovation Institute (MI3) at CHOC is a unique and first-of-its-kind institute that creates, focuses and executes projects in the areas of intelligence and innovation in pediatric medicine. These two interrelated disciplines, extremely limited in development in the pediatric realm, hold great promise to change the trajectory of pediatric care around the world.
MI3 aims to foster robust developments in artificial intelligence methodologies, as well as innovative advances in emerging areas such as genomic medicine, regenerative medicine, robotics, nanotechnology and medical applications/devices.
The MI3 and Medical Intelligence Society (MIS) monthly meetings at CHOC provide a unique opportunity to learn about the latest advances in data intelligence and medical innovations, and provide a forum to network and exchange ideas with fellow innovators. These meetings include guest speakers, interactive discussions, and are open to everyone at CHOC and the outside community.
Please join us every second Monday of the month at 2-4:30pm PST.
AIMed is the result of initiatives from CHOC Children’s Sharon Disney Lund Medical Intelligence and Innovation Institute (MI3) with the purpose of advancing data science and artificial intelligence in medicine around the world.
Medical Intelligence Society is a venue for clinicians interested in data science and artificial intelligence. Our vision is to create world leaders in the application of data science and artificial intelligence in healthcare through education.
The International Society for Pediatric Innovation (iSPI) was formed to address the unmet need for an open global network focused on innovation leadership. iSPI provides a unique opportunity for pediatric leaders to be at the cutting edge of technological influence and creative energy.
The Innovation Institute is a healthcare incubator and leading provider of medical device and healthcare innovation solutions. We are experts in funding and support for healthcare innovation worldwide.
Formed by a team of leading clinicians and data scientists, The American Board of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (ABAIM) has emerged as the authoritative body for medical AI education and certification.
The MI3 Summer Internship Program at CHOC offers invaluable experience for anyone interested in or merely exploring the health care field. With more than 50 expert mentors across multiple fields, students are immersed in areas that are relevant to the future practice of pediatric medicine, including genomic medicine and personalized medicine, regenerative medicine and stem cells, nanomedicine, robotics, artificial intelligence and more.
Innovation requires two key ingredients: bold ideas and courage. CHOC is fortunate to have both renowned thought leaders in pediatric medicine and courageous donors with a vision to truly transform children’s health. The Sharon D. Lund Foundation is one such forward-thinking donor. In keeping with the generous spirit of Walt Disney’s daughter Sharon, the Foundation supports projects that not only impact children in Orange County but globally. It was with a $5 million donation from the Foundation that CHOC founded the Sharon Disney Lund Medical Intelligence Innovation Institute (MI3), bringing together key people from within the hospital and beyond to foster creativity.
Sharief Taraman
MD, DABPN, DABPM, FAAP
linkedin.com/in/drtaraman
Do you have any tips for those who may want to innovate?
The best thing to do is contact us at CHOC MI3. Here’s the thing—there’s so many opportunities to innovate at CHOC, just let us know you want to innovate. We have interns who come here every summer, so if you have an idea and want to access young minds please reach out and we can help you become a mentor.
Do you think that clinicians and associates at CHOC are at an advantage to innovate in a special way?
Absolutely. Children have a natural tendency for innovation-so my advice is to listen to your patients. When they ask, “Dr. Taraman, Why do we do it this way?” I try to listen. We should incorporate the patient and/or the parent when identifying problems. When they say “I’m frustrated” we should listen. Same goes for nurses, technicians, etc. There are no better people for innovation—usually the people closest to the problem are the ones best able to identify it. They may not have the answer, but they know where to start. I always say that if you don’t have your sails up, you won’t catch it. In other words, if you’re not present you will miss that opportunity for innovation.
Wanda Rodriguez
RN, CPN, Clinical Nurse IV 12 AWS, Department: Med Surg 4th Floor
How did your innovation journey with CareXR start?
Dr. Chogle: Few years ago, I experienced the magic of virtual reality (VR) firsthand and started thinking of its possible applications in medicine. Hearing stories about parents who were afraid or uncomfortable while caring for children after they are discharged from the hospital made me think about how we can help these parents become more capable and less stressed. I came up with the idea of using VR to educate parents about their child’s medical device and allow them to practice their newly learnt skills in the virtual world.
I was invited to a CHOC Pediatric Hackathon at the Innovation Lab, and that’s where I pitched the idea. I was truly fortunate to meet Wanda there, and I found out that she was trying to find ways to solve the same problem. Our hackathon team included MI3 and nurse scientists, and it was a great experience. Wanda and I became partners as a result of this experience, creating what would later become CareXR.
Wanda: I feel like God brought us together. I teach families every day how to care for children with things like PEG tubes, so they’ll be prepared when they leave the hospital. We demonstrate proper care on mannequins and give them printed materials to take home, but like Dr. Chogle, I wanted to come up with a new way to educate them, and to allow them to practice the skills. I have a passion for acting in plays and that came in handy when I was asked to star in our educational videos by the CareXR team. It has been a great experience for me.
How did you move from a prototype to an actual VR module?
Dr. Chogle: After the Hackathon we were approached by the Innovation Lab to further develop our concept. We initially created a high-level overview of the concept and the components that we felt were necessary to create an impactful educational experience for parents. We then presented the concept to Bioflight VR who immediately liked it and chose to be our creative partner. From there, we got down to the finer details of each module and worked on the scripts for the videos and the algorithms for the interactive VR modules. Bioflight VR shot the videos with Wanda teaching on the mannequin baby. It took a lot of hard work and patience to create those videos. Wanda really stepped up with her exemplary acting skills and made sure we did not need more than 1 day to shoot all the videos. We got a taste of “lights-camera-action” experience with the uber-talented Bioflight VR team. We are constantly working with BioFlight to test and refine the modules. It has been quite a journey from concept to prototype to an actual product and I have learned a lot. The CareXR platform we created has exceeded my expectations and I am excited for its upcoming launch at CHOC and Valley Children’s.
Matt Keller, Innovation Lab: Suzy and I approached the team after our hackathon, and right away, we knew these two would be great partners. They’ve been fully engaged through the entire process, spending a lot of hours working with our team and with BioFlightVR to create a unique parent education platform.
How do you feel about being innovators?
Dr. Chogle: I am more of a doer than a talker. I love that I get to explore solutions to problems and make the solutions into reality. CHOC has created an amazing environment of innovation by having MI3 on campus and its close collaboration with Innovation Lab. At CHOC, I am encouraged to create solutions for everyday problems that we face as clinicians, and that makes my job very interesting and even more rewarding. For future innovators, all I would like to say is that for every 10-20 ideas you have, there will be one idea that will be groundbreaking. So do not stop imagining and do not stop trying, as luck favors the brave!
Wanda: I agree completely. My manager has been supportive every step of the way, and I really appreciate that. It is fun to work on this project as part of a team. We all have a great sense of humor, respect for each other, and excitement working on this product together. Everything has fallen into place. We have learned so much, and we continue to learn every day. That’s what I love most about the innovation process.
When did you become interested in innovation and how do you see problems differently?
It goes back to when I first became a nurse at CHOC. I remember attending a nursing conference where they showcased different innovative, med-tech solutions, and I thought, that’s what I want to do. I always try to think about problems in light of possible solutions. Hearing about or seeing problems and thinking about ways to solve them is one way that bedside nurses can grow, in addition to learning about different specialty areas and what they are doing. Sometimes, innovation can come out of shared frustration. It is not just seeing a problem but taking the time to think through the challenge. Most problems can be fixed in some way, so it’s important to envision different ways to solve them.
How do you apply this to your day-to-day role in the emergency department?
I always ask myself “why” and “how”, and this helps me to come up with possible solutions. I’ve put several ideas in the Innovation Portal on PAWS and have met with Matt Keller and innovation team members to explore my concepts. I really enjoy the interactive process and discussion about my ideas. CHOC has invested in innovation, supporting providers and associates and encouraging new ideas, and I think that’s great. I don’t think a lot of hospitals have this kind of culture.
What areas of innovation are next for you?
I look at Dr. Chang and Dr. Feaster who are leaders in artificial intelligence at CHOC. I am interested in exploring how AI can be applied in my department and throughout CHOC. It would be interesting to use big data to explore different use cases. It would be amazing to have CHOC host an event around sharing big data and how we can apply AI in innovative ways.
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Former MI3 interns all start medical school together, credit their CHOC experience
Three of CHOC's MI3 internship alumni embark on a new, exciting journey together: attending the same medical school.
CHOC MI3 Innovation Day 2021 celebrates novel advances past and present
CHOC Innovation Day 2021 was held June 25 in honor of the late Nick Anas and highlighted innovations by CHOC providers and associates.
Dr. Anthony Chang, a bold visionary for artificial intelligence in medicine, has put CHOC on the international stage
CHOC's chief intelligence and innovation officer, Dr. Chang, works to develop uses of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve healthcare.
CHOC Centrum North Building
1120 W. La Veta Ave.
Suite 860
Orange, CA 92868
To contact MI3, email us at MI3@choc.org
What do you envision the field of pediatric medicine will look like in 2040? CHOC brings together innovation and intelligence leaders from across the globe for Pediatrics 2040, an exciting conference focused on game-changing and emerging technologies shaping the future of pediatrics—and how parents, clinicians and health care leaders can best be positioned for the next era of medicine.
