We #MakeHealth Fest 2014

What is the Maker Movement?

According to Wikipedia, it’s a technology-focused DIY (Do It Yourself) Movement, which emphasizes “learning-through-doing…in an informal, networked, peer-led, and shared learning motivated by fun and self-fulfillment. Maker culture encourages novel applications of technologies, and the exploration of intersections between traditionally separate domains and ways of working.”

In August 2014 the inaugural We #MakeHealth Fest took place at the University of Michigan. This is was an event inspired by the maker movement but with the unique twist of having a focus on health.

The goals of the event were to

Encourage "design for health" at a grassroots level; anyone, even kids should think of themselves as designers;
Learn about new tools and technologies (3D printing, mobile applications) that could be used to promote health (wellness or chronic disease management);
Bridge the gap between a technical and design community whose members want to work on health projects but need a health partner, and health partners (patients, caregivers, researchers) who have ideas but need a technical collaborator to bring them to life.

Andrew Maynard, one of the speakers at the inaugural event said it best in his video: “hack your world - make it safer.”

The Fest featured keynote speakers including Jose Gomez-Marquez from the Little Devices Lab at MIT, John Costik, type 1 diabetes hacker, father, community collaborator, and innovator for the #wearenotwaiting movement, and Andrew Maynard, Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. But most importantly, the event was participatory, so the exhibitors and the rest of the speakers all came from the community.

Check out keynote presentations from the Fest!

Making Waves in the Healthcare World

There were 250 participants of all ages and backgrounds in attendance and there was also a great amount of virtual support! For the social media analytics of the We #MakeHealth Fest visit here.