Three employee-led projects at New York-based Northwell Health have been awarded a total of $1.3 million in funding as part of its 2025 Innovation Challenge. The funding will support the development of innovative approaches to care delivery and scientific advancement aiming to transform the future of health care. The announcement was made during the health system’s Made for Big Ideas Showcase on May 1.
Lead investigators of the three winning projects included:
- Eric Gantwerker, MD, pediatric otolaryngologist at Northwell Health’s Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park, for his work on an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled detection program that can help diagnose pediatric sleep apnea based on sound recordings from home devices;
- Phillip Connell, MD, Northwell Obstetrics and Gynecology gynecologic surgery fellow, for his work on a new technology platform that connects operating room monitors, a wireless camera and extended reality glasses for streaming of high-quality, low-latency video;
- Matthew Barish, MD, vice-chair of the Imaging Service Line, CMIO, for his work on an all-in-one radiology platform for AI insights, clinician feedback, and continuous diagnostic improvement.
“At Northwell, we’re proud to cultivate a culture that empowers our team members—no matter what department you work in—to promote innovative and new ways of thinking to improve how we deliver care,” says Michael Dowling (pictured), Northwell president and CEO, in a release. “These submissions showcase our team’s most unique approaches for addressing major health care challenges.”
Hundreds of Northwell employees have submitted ideas to the competition since it launched in 2017. To date, the health system has awarded funding for 15 projects to help advance their projects and develop their inventions. After a rigorous screening process, six finalist teams are chosen to present their pitches in person to an esteemed panel of judges. This year’s judges included Bunny Ellerin, digital health expert and entrepreneur; Jessica Federer, board member of Angelini Ventures; Sunny Kumar, MD, partner at Informed Ventures; and Russ Richmond, MD, CEO and co-founder of Laudio.
“At Northwell, our team members are our greatest asset, and we believe that the best ideas often come from the people closest to the work,” said Jason Naidich, MD, senior vice president and chief innovation officer at Northwell, in a release. “This competition is a testament to Northwell’s dedication to creating the future of healthcare and its unwavering support for the visionaries who lead the way.”
2025 Innovation Challenge Winners
This year’s winners include:
AI-enabled Detection of Pediatric Sleep Apnea
Presented by Gantwerker and Patrick Scheffler, MD, assistant professor of otolaryngology at Northwell, this program helps collect data from home devices and applies it to AI-enabled analysis that can help diagnose pediatric obstructive sleep apnea, especially for families who cannot access sleep centers for studies.
“We’re so excited for this funding so it can go directly into creating this application and make a big difference in pediatric sleep apnea care,” Gantwerker says in a release. “The goal is to expand access of sleep studies, especially for those who currently lack it, significantly improving patient outcomes.”
New Technology Platform for the OR
Presented by Connell and Johnny Zhang, a specialist with the Biomedical Design Center for Learning Innovation, this invention combines a camera and XR glasses with existing operating room equipment, including monitors, cameras and lighting, to stream high-quality, low-latency video. The result is a portable, immersive experience offering real-time, AI-enhanced surgical assistance, including live remote expert consultations. This technology promises to transform laparoscopic surgery and expand access to minimally invasive procedures.
“This platform is going to start by increasing access to minimally invasive techniques locally and nationally,” Connell says in a release. “But it will also build into a platform that helps surgeons improve their efficacy and improve patient safety by not being inhibited by all the wires and bulky systems that currently surround the patient.”
Other team members include: Michael Nimaroff, MD, MBA, senior vice president and executive director of Northwell OB/GYN and chair OB/GYN at North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center; and Allison Neuwirth, project manager with the Biomedical Design of Center for Learning Innovation.
All-in-One Radiology Platform
Presented by Barish and James Thannickal, this new program streamlines radiology workflows by seamlessly integrating and assessing various AI tools. This allows radiologists to efficiently review and incorporate AI-generated insights, leading to faster, more accurate diagnoses and improved patient care.
“Patient care can suffer when mistakes and different AI tools get in the way of clinical care,” says Thannickal in a release. “This program will not replace humans but help create a more streamlined process for radiologists for better patient outcomes.”
Other team members include David Hirschorn, MD, chief of informatics and imaging; and Daniel Nicosia, software engineer.
“Since 2017, the Innovation Challenge has consistently provided an exceptional platform for our Northwell colleagues to present their inventive solutions,” said Richard Mulry, president and CEO of Northwell Holdings, in a relase. “We are delighted to collaborate with them, furthering these advancements and broadening their influence on how care is provided and experienced not just within Northwell, but across the health care landscape.”
The last innovation challenge, held in 2023, awarded two transformative projects: iNav (AI-driven cancer patient navigation) and StrokeFighter (bioelectronic therapy for stroke). Each received $500,000 to further their research and development.
Other past projects funded have included research into a noninvasive diagnostic test for endometriosis, a therapeutic drug candidate as a potential treatment for HPV infection, real-time actionable data related to ED utilization, and the allocation of clinical resources and infrared thermography for early detection of tissue pressure injury.
