SheSolves
Why SheSolves?
SheSolves aims to increase the participation of women in healthcare innovation across Mass General Brigham. Why? Because ~80% of healthcare is delivered formally and informally by women, and yet few women are part of the design and delivery of healthcare innovations.
By the Numbers—
80%
- Women comprise ~80% of the healthcare workforce in the US
- Majority of women (77%-94%) are the healthcare decision-makers for themselves and other family members
12%
- In the US, just 12.8% of patents have a woman as a primary inventor
- Only 21% of all US patents have at least one woman inventor
2%
- 2.4% of all venture capital investments went to women-led start-ups in 2021
- 85% of VC funding went to all-male teams in 2019
Of note, data show patents submitted by women are more likely to address women’s health issues.
We believe the healthcare system and the health of women would be better served if there were more women innovators.
True to our design-thinking methodology, we launched SheSolves with a survey to ask folks about their experiences in healthcare innovation. The insights shared with us were tremendous (N=426). Below are three major recommendations from our data:
Support the individual innovator and her idea as she traverses the product development process
Address infrastructure and systemic challenges that consistently prohibit women from participating in healthcare innovation
Build a community of peers and leadership that encourages women and advocates for their participation in healthcare innovation
Across all three themes, survey responses called for programming to center women, from funding opportunities to spaces to mentors and networks.
We’re designing programs tailored to meet these needs, starting with the SheSolves Awards.
SheSolves Awards
The SheSolves Awards is a request for proposal launched in January 2023 open to any Mass General Brigham employee who identifies as a woman. The SheSolves Awards aims to support the innovator (and/or team) and move her idea forward through funding up to $25,000 and product development support.
Contact Us
Interested in learning more about SheSolves? Let’s chat.
Sandra: sjbutler@mgb.org
