Student pharmacist Ben Moore one of only nine students in US invited to prestigious Stanford Medicine X conference
Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 |
With much talk across the nation about healthcare and what lies ahead in the future, Lipscomb University student pharmacist Ben Moore was part of a select delegation that got a unique opportunity to learn about emerging technologies and the impact it will have on the industry in the future.
Moore, a fourth-year student pharmacist enrolled in the dual PharmD-healthcare informatics graduate certificate program, was one of only two student pharmacists and one of only nine total students in the country selected to participate in Student Leadership Program at the prestigious Stanford Medicine X conference this fall. The students were selected from a record number of applicants.
At the conference Moore joined the other eight students who represented medicine and undergraduate research from institutions including Harvard, Dartmouth, Arizona State University, the University of Miami and the University of California, San Francisco among others. He attended sessions at the conference, held Sept. 16-18, and took part in the Engagement & Producer track, in which he partnered with ePatient scholars in attendance for collaborative design challenges.
“This is a significant honor for Ben, and is a testament to the important work he is doing in his research as well as the implications it has for the future of healthcare,” said Roger Davis, dean of the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences. “It also recognizes Ben’s leadership and excellence in his pharmaceutical studies. We are proud of him and the way he represents our program.”
Stanford University’s Medicine X (MedX) is a conference that focuses on how emerging technologies will advance healthcare while enabling and empowering patients to be active participants in their own care. Held annually, the conference brings together a range of healthcare stakeholders.
“The conference is built with a patient-centered focus, to envision and collaborate the future of participatory medicine,” said Moore. “The ‘X’ trailing the conference’s name is symbolic for the infinite possibilities that technologic innovations can have in progressing the future of medicine. MedX fosters a co-creative spirit by placing the patient first and adopting an inclusive environment where each voice is equal. At MedX true collaboration thrives unlike any other academic conference.”
A hallmark of Lipscomb’s College of Pharmacy is a focus on preparing its students to develop relationships with their patients and to provide compassionate care, the importance of which was reinforced by conference sessions and speakers.
Keynote speakers for the conference included Jonathan Bush, CEO of athenahealth; Susannah Fox, chief technology officer U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and Lindred Greer, organizational behavior expert, Stanford Graduate School of Business. Special session presentations focused on the topics of “The future of President Obama’s Precision Medicine Initiative,” “Abuse vs. Access and the Role of Technology and Design” and “Confidentiality vs. Data Sharing to Inspire Innovation.” In addition, master classes were offered with four knowledge experts and more than 160 breakout sessions following five tracks — business, design, ePatient, implementation and research — featuring innovators and researchers from around the world were part of this year’s conference line-up. Another fourth-year student pharmacist from Lipscomb University, Cameron Davidson, had work he is a co-author on presented at MedX. Davidson had worked in the months leading up to the conference with collaborators from the University of California – San Diego, Global Health Policy Institute, and IEEE on the use of blockchain technology to help combat counterfeit medications. While Davidson did not attend the conference in person, one of his collaborators presented their work at MedX.
“Ben really had his eyes opened to the non-traditional career possibilities for pharmacy by taking part in MedX as well as the voice of the patient,” said Kevin Clauson, Pharm.D and associate professor in the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, who accompanied Moore to the conference. “It also gave him an opportunity to engage in professional networking in that setting. Ben represented the college in a fantastic manner and has already started brainstorming with some of the others selected for the Student Leadership Program for future endeavors.
Moore said that the interactions and stories shared with patients were among the most beneficial aspects of the experience.
“I was able to hear various patient pharmacy experiences and engage in meaningful dialogue on ideas to improve pharmacy care,” he said. “MedX also provided me the opportunity to connect with providers worldwide and engage in multiple conversations on how our profession can continue to create and innovate in the healthcare system.”
He said the experience also gave him new perspectives about patient-centered care and how technology can be the catalyst to drive healthcare change. The three key lessons Moore said he learned through his participation in MedX are that:
- Patients must be allowed an equal voice throughout the entire care process, especially when collaborating healthcare change and innovation. Patients are the direct consumers of healthcare and their experiences are invaluable. The traditional view of healthcare can suppress their voice through a hierarchical relationship with providers. Academic conferences and organizations that seek to drive change in healthcare must allow an equal voice for patients in order to truly co-create and maximize the full potential of any innovation.
- Today’s healthcare system is full of data, which is not currently valued to its full potential due to current technology infrastructures. Large amounts of data are being created not only from the healthcare system but also from consumer health devices. Innovative ways to connect, integrate, and mine healthcare data are needed to maximize its benefits. As healthcare standards modernize and data becomes more accessible, patients will be able to participate in their own healthcare like never before.
- Being disruptive is a good thing. Challenging the status quo is needed. Thinking like a rebel is a positive attribute. Every process has room for improvement. Healthcare professionals should never be satisfied with today, but rather be looking into the future to improve care for the patients of today and tomorrow.
Moore said he plans to stay connected with some of the new contacts he made at MedX through a Facebook group that has already been created with the goal to continue innovative ideas fostered at the conference.
“I would definitely recommended MedX to any student pharmacist who is passionate about technology and co-creating the future of healthcare,” said Moore. “The experience invoked for me a passion to be both a change maker and patient advocate in my practice setting. I want to acknowledge and thank the Lipscomb College of Pharmacy and Dean Davis for making this opportunity possible. I also want to thank Dr. Clauson, Dr. (Beth) Breeden and the Lipscomb Master of Health Care Informatics program for fostering an environment of learning and continued growth in this field.”
A native of Arlington, Tennessee, Moore also secured an informatics summer internship for the Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy-Vanderbilt program in 2015.
Founded in 2006, Lipscomb’s College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences was the first one established in Middle Tennessee. With nearly 300 students enrolled in the PharmD program each year, Lipscomb was the first college of pharmacy in the area to establish residency programs and offers intentional coursework on the intersection of ethics and practice in health sciences. The college offers undergraduate degrees in nursing, kinesiology and nutrition; master’s degrees in exercise and nutrition science and health care informatics; and a doctorate of pharmacy degree. For more information, click here.
—Group photo taken by Robert Pugliese; Other photos provided courtesy of Kevin Clauson