The Cooper University Health Care Innovation Center announced the opening of registration for its third annual New Jersey Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Challenge. The event is designed to foster community-driven, sustainable solutions to critical health disparities impacting underserved populations across the state.
The challenge offers participants comprehensive online education and training focused on SDOH issues, health informatics, and business pitching. This specialized training aims to equip individuals and teams with the tools necessary to create and implement viable solutions that improve lives.
“Our goal is to bring together participants who care deeply about helping people who are negatively affected by SDOH issues such as homelessness, food insecurity, lack of access to health care, and substance abuse,” Neal Lemon, associate vice president for technology commercialization and innovation said. “Our primary goal is to spur community collaboration to improve health outcomes and take advantage of new technologies to foster business innovation.”
Cooper is actively seeking to expand the reach and strength of the event by welcoming additional corporate sponsors and partners. Current institutional collaborators include the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), the New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII), and Rowan University.
“We’re really hoping to see participation in the Challenge from across the state from private and public partners such as these,” Lemon added, emphasizing the need for broad engagement.
The 2025 SDOH Challenge is being held virtually from now through Oct. 29. The initiative will culminate in a final presentation event scheduled for Oct. 30 at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden, where teams will pitch their sustainable solutions.
Registration and additional information can be found here.
