AMA Interaction Studio at MATTER opens to enhance collaboration, expand connections with entrepreneurs and physicians nationwide

The American Medical Association (AMA) (@AmerMedicalAssn) partnership with MATTER (@MATTERChicago) reached a new phase to enhance support for startup companies seeking to have a transformational impact on health and medicine. This milestone was marked as the newly installed AMA Interaction Studio at MATTER opened to facilitate connections between entrepreneurs and physicians.

Since the AMA-MATTER partnership was launched in February, hundreds of physicians have either visited MATTER or offered insight and feedback to entrepreneurs working on early stage technologies and solutions that promise to improve the health of the nation. In addition, the partnership has brought physicians and entrepreneurs together for a variety of educational workshops, interactive simulations and collaboration events focused on optimizing health care.

The AMA Interaction Studio helps entrepreneurs to collaboratively interact with a growing AMA network of physicians from all corners of the country, both in person and remotely. As shown in this video, the facility provides a unique technological test bed for optimizing new products in multiple, simulated medical settings.

“Physicians and entrepreneurs are both passionate about transforming health care, and by working in tandem they can advance innovations that make the health system work better for everyone,” said AMA CEO and Executive Vice President James L. Madara, M.D. “The capabilities of the AMA Interaction Studio allow entrepreneurs to connect, in person and virtually, with a broad range of physicians to get a deeper understanding of the key challenges in patient care that can be resolved with advances in new technology.”

“It is incredibly valuable for healthcare entrepreneurs to have access to physicians as they build their products, technologies and businesses,” said MATTER CEO Steven Collens. “The AMA Interaction Studio enables entrepreneurs and clinicians to collaborate with each other in a real-world, technology enabled environment to accelerate the development of meaningful new solutions to improve health and healthcare.”

“The AMA Interaction Studio is going to be tremendously helpful in connecting entrepreneurs and AMA physicians from around the country,” said Scott Vold, founder and CEO of Fibroblast, a MATTER member company. “Being able to interact with physicians, show them our solution and get their feedback is going to streamline our entire testing and production processes.”

The AMA Interaction Studio creates unique learning experiences and simulations using cutting-edge technology, including advanced video and audio technologies, next generation exam room equipment, immersive 3D projections and virtual holographic displays. The architecture firm HDR led the design of the approximately 450-square-foot space, while Turner Construction served as the general contractor.

Furniture for the space was contributed by Herman Miller and cutting-edge exam room equipment was provided by Midmark. The significant technology needs for the facility were conceived by Johnson Controls and Rex Electric & Technologies and were fulfilled with the help of contributions from ContextMedia and HP.