The American Heart Association has recognized two innovative social entrepreneurial ventures for their groundbreaking contributions to digital health and community wellness at its third annual Impact with Heart awards ceremony.
Sober Sidekick and OxiWear were honored for developing technologies that address critical health challenges facing underserved populations. These organizations exemplify the Association's commitment to driving equitable health outcomes and supporting innovative solutions to complex medical issues.
Sober Sidekick, founded by Chris Thompson, has created a digital health engagement platform using an 'Empathy Algorithm' to provide peer support for individuals recovering from addiction. The platform has already supported over 341,000 people and received equity-based venture capital funding from the American Heart Association's Social Impact Funds.
OxiWear, developed by founder Shavini Fernando, offers an FDA-approved medical wearable device that provides continuous, real-time oxygen monitoring and emergency alerts for individuals with pulmonary conditions. The device emerged from Fernando's personal experience with severe pulmonary hypertension.
These innovations are particularly significant given the American Heart Association's recent statistical report, which highlights alarming increases in health risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. These conditions disproportionately affect underrepresented communities and contribute to cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death globally.
The Impact with Heart awards reflect the organization's strategic approach to addressing health disparities by investing in and promoting entrepreneurial solutions that can scale and create meaningful community impact. By supporting these innovative technologies, the American Heart Association aims to accelerate the translation of medical best practices into widely accessible healthcare solutions.
Nancy Brown, the organization's Chief Executive Officer, emphasized the importance of such initiatives in driving systemic change. "Through events like Impact with Heart, we can celebrate entrepreneurial excellence while also forging new collaborations that will further the fight against cardiovascular disease, particularly among people and communities most at risk," Brown stated.
The recognition of Sober Sidekick and OxiWear underscores the potential of social entrepreneurship to develop targeted, technology-driven approaches to complex health challenges. By providing platforms that offer personalized support and continuous health monitoring, these organizations are helping to bridge critical gaps in healthcare accessibility and support.
