DGSOM Discovery
What is it?
The Biodesign and Innovation Discovery Experience gives DGSOM medical students an opportunity to explore healthcare innovation, entrepreneurship, and medical technology development during their Discovery Year. This experience is part of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Petal and is led by Jennifer McCaney, PhD, faculty lead for the concentration.
Through this 10–12-week experience, students will learn how to identify unmet clinical needs, evaluate opportunities for innovation, and understand the pathway for moving a healthcare idea from concept toward implementation.
About the Experience
The UCLA Biodesign Innovation and Entrepreneurship Concentration is designed for medical students interested in learning how healthcare solutions are developed, validated, and brought into practice. Students will gain exposure to the medical technology landscape, entrepreneurship frameworks, business fundamentals, and leadership pathways in health innovation.
Students may also engage with UCLA Biodesign fellows and observe how interdisciplinary teams work to develop and commercialize new technologies.
What Students will Learn
During the experience, students will build foundational skills in:
- Identifying unmet needs in healthcare
- Understanding market validation
- Exploring healthcare innovation and entrepreneurship career paths
- Learning how medical technology ideas move from concept to reality
Designing meaningful solutions for pressing healthcare challenges
Learning Format
The experience may include:
- Curated 10–12 week coursework
- Immersion experiences
- Didactics and interactive curriculum
- Exposure to Biodesign Hub events
- Opportunities to engage with UCLA Biodesign fellows and innovation teams
Who should consider this experience?
This opportunity is ideal for DGSOM students who are curious about:
- Medical innovation
- Health technology
- Entrepreneurship
- Product development
- Translating clinical insights into practical solutions
- Working across medicine, business, engineering, and design
No prior startup or business experience is required, just curiosity, creativity, and an interest in improving healthcare.
If interested, please reach out via the apply button below