Workshop

What is the Workshop?

The Workshop is your essential foundation for success at HEALTH HACK 2026. Scheduled for 10 February 2026, this intensive preparatory session bridges the gap between inspiration and implementation, equipping you with the knowledge, tools, and connections needed to excel during the main hackathon.

Through technical domain introduction sessions, you'll gain hands-on exposure to cutting-edge healthcare technology challenges. Our expert mentors from Johns Hopkins and industry leaders will provide clarity on hackathon themes and tracks, helping you understand the real-world context of problems you'll be solving.

This isn't just another lecture series. It's an interactive experience designed to help you form stronger ideas, build better prototypes, and develop winning strategies. By the end of the day, you'll have direct access to mentors, refined problem statements, and the confidence to create impactful healthcare innovations.

Practical Exposure & Hands-On Learning

The Workshop is designed to provide participants with meaningful, real-world exposure to healthcare problem-solving and innovation workflows. These sessions emphasize guided learning, collaborative thinking, and strategic prototype planning to prepare teams for the main hackathon.

🧭 Real-World Healthcare Problem Mapping

Break down medical and societal challenges into structured, solvable innovation opportunities.

🧪 Hands-On Technical Breakout Sessions

Participate in guided activities involving datasets, medical device reasoning, AI tools, and biomedical insights.

🔍 Idea Refinement & Prototype Planning

Learn how to convert conceptual solutions into feasible prototype development pathways.

🤝 Expert Mentorship & Guided Support

Engage directly with domain experts from healthcare, engineering, AI, and innovation leadership.

By the end of the workshop, participants will have a refined understanding, structured direction, and strategic readiness for the main hackathon.

Why You Should Attend

Real-World Problem Context

Gain deep insights into actual healthcare challenges faced by medical professionals and understand how technology can create meaningful solutions that save lives.

Practical Solution Frameworks

Learn proven methodologies for designing healthcare innovations, from problem identification to prototype development and clinical validation.

Expert Mentorship Network

Connect with domain experts from Johns Hopkins and industry veterans who will guide your journey and provide invaluable feedback on your ideas.

Competitive Edge

Teams that attend the workshop consistently achieve higher success rates during judging, with better-defined solutions and stronger presentations.

What You'll Learn

Problem framing in healthcare innovation and identifying high-impact areas for technological intervention

Rapid prototyping approaches that balance speed with quality in time-constrained hackathon environments

Data-driven decision-making in solution design using evidence-based practices and clinical insights

Communication and pitching clarity to effectively convey your innovation's value to judges and stakeholders

Workshop Schedule

Time	Session	Mentor / Faculty	Format
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM	Opening & Welcome	University Leadership	Keynote
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM	Understanding Healthcare Challenges	JHU Experts	Talk + Discussion
12:30 PM – 01:30 PM	Networking Lunch Break	—	Informal
01:30 PM – 04:00 PM	Hands-On Team Activity	Technical Mentors	Workshop
04:00 PM – 05:00 PM	Idea Refinement & Feedback	Faculty & Industry Mentors	Mentorship Round