In a sensational display of innovation and resilience, Ramez Barsoom, MD ’23, emerged victorious, securing second place in the highly competitive Mayo Clinic’s Alligator Tank Innovation competition during his inaugural year of residency.
The Alligator Tank competition, hosted annually by the Mayo Clinic in Florida, serves as a platform for Mayo entrepreneurs to showcase ingenious solutions addressing medical challenges. During this event, nine teams present their proposals before an audience and a panel of expert judges, affectionately dubbed “alligators.” Each team is tasked with articulating the problem, their proposed solution, why their approach is timely, and the underlying business rationale.
Out of approximately 300 applicants for the Alligator Tank, only nine finalists were chosen to present their projects. Ramez secured second place, the only resident among the winners; the first and third place went to attending physicians. Additionally, Ramez received a $20,000 grant from the Mayo Clinic’s innovation fund to advance his project, collaborating with an external engineering firm on prototyping.
Ramez’s outstanding accomplishment is even more remarkable when considering the tough competition he faced. He was pitted against seasoned entrepreneurs within the well-known Mayo system. Mayo Clinic’s commitment to fostering innovation showcased through its leadership and ample resources, adds more prestige to Ramez’s achievement.
Reflecting on his journey, Ramez states, “I am fortunate to have a diverse background in engineering and business before my medical career. This multifaceted foundation, coupled with my formal training in the biodesign process through Texas A&M’s School of Engineering Medicine, enabled me to incorporate perspectives and insights from all three disciplines: (1) Medicine, where I assessed clinical need and impact; (2) Engineering, where I evaluated technical feasibility, scalability and implementation; and (3) Business, where I considered the user experience and commercial viability into my idea,”
Ramez continues, “I want to thank Dr. Pettigrew and the entire EnMed faculty for their remarkable vision in creating a curriculum that equips future physician innovators.”
Ramez attributes his success in the competition to the invaluable training he received from EnMed and Houston Methodist, emphasizing their role in laying the groundwork for future physicianeers. Expressing gratitude towards his program director, Dr. Mary Hedges, Ramez acknowledges her support and alignment with the visionary approach of Dr. Pettigrew, emphasizing the significant influence of mentors in shaping his course.
As we honor Ramez Barsoom’s achievement, we look forward to seeing more groundbreaking contributions to healthcare innovation in the future. His success highlights the importance of combining medical expertise with an entrepreneurial mindset. EnMed is known for fostering this unique blend of skills, providing a supportive environment where individuals like Ramez can thrive and inspire others.
