By Rachana Senthil
Photography by Evan Custer
Two School of Medicine students were among the winners at the Wells Student HealthTech Challenge held Nov. 11, 2025.
The event, sponsored by the Michael G. Wells Entrepreneurial Scholars Fund, is for University of Pittsburgh students—undergraduate to postdoc—working on a health care-related Pitt technology that could change the way health care is practiced.
Hosted by Pitt’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, this University-wide event selects seven finalists to pitch their innovative technologies. The three medical students who were finalists, Samuel Adida, Mare Kaulakis and Christopher Fedor, distinguished themselves with compelling innovations, with Adida and Fedor taking home first and second place awards respectively.
The competition involved submitting a detailed application, preparing a professional marketing brief and meeting with advisors to refine their commercial strategies. For medical students used to clinical rounds and exams, shifting to a business mindset was a significant hurdle.
"The biggest obstacle is finding a way to get out of your bubble and communicate your idea to people that don't have a background in that," Adida said. Kaulakis agreed, noting the steep learning curve involved in the competition. "Developing a device is completely different from anything I've ever done," she said. "It's kind of reframing the way I think."
During the finale, each student had to deliver a seven-minute pitch followed by three minutes of questions. All three finalists performed exceptionally well, pitching their innovative ideas.
Adida presented a promising technology using a bone morphogenic protein coating to improve spinal procedures using metal implants. Fedor showcased a diagnostic camera that employs short-wave infrared technology to analyze wounds and burns, allowing for immediate and accurate triage by seeing beyond the capabilities of the naked eye. Kaulakis presented a portable frostbite treatment that offers a novel solution for immediate care in extreme conditions.
These innovative ideas, pairing scientific ingenuity with significant market potential, highlight the strength of physician-entrepreneurs at Pitt.
As Fedor advised other students looking to innovate, "The problem is your most important thing... you need to validate it." These students demonstrate that the next generation of doctors is ready to lead not just in patient care, but in the development of life-saving innovations.
The Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship has more coverage of the event.