iGIANT® Challenge Competition for Innovators Winner Announced

The iGIANT® is delighted to announce the winner of the 4th iGIANT Challenge Competition for Innovators. This year’s challenge was hosted by HeroX, allowing innovators from around the world to submit concepts for a design element which takes into account how men and women adapt differently to technologies used in everyday life. We are proud to announce that this year’s winner is Team TOBA and their innovative idea concept for a database that lists transgender-friendly providers, their training, and certifications. The winning team members, Christian Baca and Karissa Tocquigny, are employees of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and work in customer design experience and analysis.

Christian trained as a mechanical engineer and earned her Masters of Integrated Innovation for Products and Services from Carnegie Mellon University. Karissa, passionate about social determinants of health, began in non-profit fundraising where she learned about health programming and advocacy. She graduated from Washington University with a Master of Public Health.

They designed a two-part solution for the identified gap between transgender individuals seeking supportive, knowledgeable care and actually finding this care. The first part of the solution will create a database through pooling and screening provider credentials and education by mining currently existing documentation such as Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits. The second part of the solution will bring awareness to the transgender population that a trusted resource is available.

Team TOBA will receive a $1000 prize as well as introductions to key opinion leaders and organizations to help facilitate further development of this important initiative that will ultimately advance competent care for transgender individuals. iGIANT® supports challenge competitions to further accelerate gendered innovation which will improve the safety and quality of life, including work performance, for everyone.