How I gained mentorship and real-world startup experience through Cozad

Katherine Park is a chemical engineering student who is the Technology and Innovation Lead for Radiant Looms, which aims to reduce x-ray radiation to infants. She is passionate about making a difference in people’s lives through innovation and is involved in Illinois Medical Screening Society (IMSS) and Alpha Chi Sigma. 

 

How and why did you get involved in Cozad?

I first learned about the Cozad competition through Axis Med, a student organization that brings together the University of Illinois and Carle Illinois College of Medicine. Through this collaboration, undergraduate students have the chance to work alongside medical students to create solutions to current healthcare problems.

I got involved in Cozad because of the amount of mentoring and direction it gives to students interested in creating start-ups. The experience I gained pitching to real investors was invaluable. There are also opportunities for funding and patents.

 

What was the process like to participate?

Participating in Cozad was very enjoyable and incredibly informative. Every other week, we attended workshops focused on the steps of launching a startup, from generating innovative ideas to learning about trademarks and cost analysis. We also had access to office hours with mentors who offered guidance on taking our concept to market more efficiently. The whole community was enthusiastic and supportive, and it was inspiring to see the variety of projects everyone was working on.

 

What was your project? Why did you choose to join it?

The project I worked on is Radiant Looms, which focuses on developing X-ray protection specifically designed for NICU patients. The team consists of myself and four medical students, Annie Tigranyan, Deborah Nya, Maddie Minneci, and Antara Sira. My passion for oncology began during my volunteer work at a radiation oncology clinic last year, where I was inspired to improve the process to make it more efficient, comfortable, and safe. I love that I am able to combine my background in chemical engineering with my interest in pediatrics and oncology to create meaningful change for vulnerable patients.

 

How did working on this project influence you/change your perspective?

I used to believe that making a meaningful difference in the world would be extremely difficult, especially as a full-time student. However, learning from the mentors and other passionate student teams at Cozad has shown me that, with the right resources and drive, it's very possible to create real change. There are numerous successful companies that first got launched by the Cozad competition, and it’s inspiring to see how far an idea can go with this kind of support. 

 

How did working on this project influence your goals for the future?

Working on Radiant Looms only increased my interest in healthcare innovation. I love having the creative freedom to design prototypes and the resources to go out into the community and get feedback from physicians, radiation professors, and industry professionals. I want to keep seeking out opportunities to innovate and make change.