A growing cadre of health entrepreneurs are launching new products and services that aim to improve the lives of people in resource-constrained regions of the globe. But many of these innovators have discovered that a bright idea is rarely enough to guarantee a bright future. In “Meeting the Challenges of Global Health,” published in the Spring 2014 issue of SSIR, Lyn Denend and Amy Lockwood outline seven lessons that entrepreneurs should learn if they want to surmount the obstacles that often hinder health innovation. “Experienced members of the global health community must commit to sharing their hard-won wisdom—wisdom that arises not just from success, but also from failure,” they write.
In their article, Denend and Lockwood draw on research conducted for a project based at Stanford University. For the project, Denend, Lockwood, and various colleagues also developed a resource called the “Global Health Innovation Guidebook.” It’s an attractively designed 62-page booklet, and it offers—in the words of its subtitle—“Insights and Lessons to Help Innovators Succeed on Their Journey from an Idea to the Implementation of a Global Health Solution.” Here, we invite readers to download and use that document.
Global Health Innovation Guidebook
Most people who commit themselves to a path in global health find the work inspiring and rewarding, especially when they help bring about real, lasting impact. However, they also report that their quest can be frustrating and all-consuming, with no guarantee of a successful passage.—from the guidebook.
Download the complete guidebook here.
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