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APA & MeetingsFull Access

Innovation Zone Adds New Touches to a Familiar Formula

Published Online:19 Feb 2020https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2020.2b9

Abstract

A bigger stage, a more interactive Innovation Lab competition, and digital research posters highlight some of the changes to APA’s “meeting within a meeting.”

Photo: People in a conference room sitting on chairs discussing with each other.

Oscar & Associates

The Mental Health Innovation Zone—APA’s celebration of technology, innovation, and creative thinking—will be back at this year’s Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. Located in the Grand Hall of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the Innovation Zone will feature a main stage that will host panel discussions, product demonstrations, lively TED Talk–style lectures, and other events over the course of four days.

The main event, APA’s Innovation Lab, will be held Sunday, April 26. In this competition, seven hopeful teams will pitch their ideas on how to improve the delivery of mental health care to a panel of judges from business, technology, and health care industries. After receiving feedback, the finalists will revise and strengthen their proposals before presenting their final pitch.

Audience members will be encouraged to play a more active role in the competition this year, including greater dialogue with contestants and a role in choosing the winners of the competition. A number of prizes will be awarded, including the $10,000 Grand Prize. (The deadline for pitch proposals has closed.)

Also new this year: The Innovation Zone will host MindGames—APA’s popular trivia contest for psychiatry residents. It will be held on the Innovation Stage on Saturday, April 25.

In between the planned programs, attendees can enjoy some quiet time in the Innovation Zone’s lounge area to recharge their brains (and their mobile devices) or visit some technology exhibit booths, including one for SMI Adviser, APA’s Clinical Support System for Serious Mental Illness.

This year’s Annual Meeting will include a poster session dedicated to innovation. Presenters were encouraged to submit a digital poster that could make use of videos or animations; e-posters will be displayed on the Innovation Zone Stage in between sessions.

Attendees who want a little more activity might want to take part in APA’s “Scavenger Hunt.” This type of event, which was piloted at the 2019 IPS meeting, involves attendees tracking down a series of QR codes; once scanned with their phone camera, each code will provide a clue about the location of the next code. Anyone who completes all 10 has a chance at winning a prize, but every participant should have fun along the way and meet some interesting people. ■

The Mental Health Innovation Zone will be open from April 25 to April 28. MindGames will take place on Saturday, April 25, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. The Innovation Lab will take place on Sunday, April 26, from noon to 5 p.m. More information on the Innovation Zone and program updates can be found here.