WLSA Convergence Summit Assembles Wireless Life Science Leaders to Shape the Future of Disruptive Health Technologies

LA JOLLA, Calif., April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wireless-Life Sciences Alliance (WLSA) is now accepting registrations for its fifth Annual WLSA Convergence Summit, a three-day conference sponsored by the premier non-profit trade organization dedicated solely to creating value and improving health through wireless communications technologies. The conference is scheduled for May 11-13 at Estancia Hotel & Spa, La Jolla, California.

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100420/LA89300LOGO)

This unique conference between the leadership of wireless companies, global product companies, consumers, payors, providers and service organizations, offers attendees the distinct opportunity to discuss the most significant emerging market trends, address and propose solutions to industry issues, create new partnerships and demonstrate new solutions – all in one exclusive venue.

Among the organizations presenting are senior management from WLSA members, including Ascension Health, AT&T, CareFusion, Johnson & Johnson, OptumHealth, QUALCOMM and St. Jude Medical, who will provide insights into their interest in the field and best practices for incorporating innovative, new wireless technologies into new products, applications and services, as well as how to bring these to providers and patients.  

"WLSA created the Convergence Summit to bring key elements of the wireless health community together to meet, share ideas and demonstrate new products and solutions," said Robert B. McCray, WLSA President & CEO. "Our goal is to provide a forum that directly addresses emerging wireless technology in healthcare and enables participants to gain a thorough understanding of how to succeed in this dynamic market."

The event begins with the Investor's Meeting and Triple Tree I Award Program for Wireless-Life Sciences Alliance® on Day 1, followed by the WLSA Convergence Summit on Day 2, and ends with Commercialization Day on Day 3.

The Summit's first day (May 11) features the Investors' Meeting, an invitational event for qualified investors, WLSA partners, and I Award finalists. A limited number of seats are open to the public.  Keynote speakers on Day 1 will include Terrance H. Gregg, President & CEO, DexCom, Inc., and Dr. Mohit Kaushal, Director of Connected Health, FCC Omnibus Broadband Initiative.  Additionally, winners of the prestigious I Award, which recognizes companies for Best Operational Effectiveness Solution, Best Clinical Solution, and Best Consumer Experience Solution, will be announced.  Award finalists include technologies such as remote monitoring technologies, home healthcare solutions, advanced imaging software, cloud computing and personal health improvement opportunities.  Twelve finalists were chosen through a competitive process from approximately 50 applicants.

The second day (May 12) is reserved for the Convergence Summit, an invitation-only program for C-level executives from WLSA members and featuring presentations by attendees and moderated conversations between executive leadership and thought leaders within the wireless, healthcare and convergence spaces. Among the themes and questions to be addressed are:

• How can we convince physicians to adopt wireless and connected health innovation in the delivery of their services?
• How can the U.S. healthcare innovation community learn from the "frugal innovation" of India and China?
• Where can we find significant adoption of wireless health innovation?
• How can we apply the lessons of online commerce, like Amazon.com, to wireless health?
• Is Moore's Law coming to healthcare? Can we leverage the cost curve to reduce the cost of delivering more healthcare to more consumers?
• Does clinical innovation and business monetization need to begin in the United States or will U.S. companies increasingly look to international markets?

The third day of the Summit, Commercialization Day, is open for general registration, and features workshops facilitated by IDEO and Insight Product Development aimed at identifying solutions to numerous industry challenges, including the clinical validation of new technologies and tech-enabled services; modification of healthcare business and payment models to support opportunities; and seamless integration of products into consumers' and patients' daily lives.

Showcased during the day will be:

• IDEO- and Insight-hosted interactive workshops focusing on issues associated with innovative approaches to product definition, business monetization and go-to-market strategies.  
• These workshops will utilize actual case studies from pressing social challenges, such as teen obesity and sleep disorders, for context. Participants will leave with a toolkit of techniques that can be applied to any complex problem, system or workflow.
• WLSA partners and others will share their products and services during an end-of-the-day demo and reception.

Throughout all three days of the Summit, global leaders in wireless healthcare and life sciences industries will staff demo booths that provide product demonstrations and informative presentations.

"The entire conference will leverage the experiences and processes from other industries to mitigate risk in our industry," McCray said. "The sessions are designed to lead attendees toward true innovation and to provide real value to their organizations.  It is our insight that the initial shape of an important new market is driven by a relatively small number of committed organizations and thought leaders.  Our meetings are designed to identify and bring the best wireless health leaders together in a quality setting to enhance their discovery of business partners."

For information or to register for WLSA's 5th Annual Summit, visit www.wirelesslifesciences.org or contact Andrea Jackson.

About WLSA

The Wireless-Life Sciences Alliance (WLSA) is a special purpose trade organization for innovators, globally relevant companies, scientists, physicians, and policy makers. The WLSA is dedicated to creating value and improving health, globally, through the convergence of communications technologies, consumers, caregivers and all sectors of the life sciences and technology environment. WLSA partners and companies all over the world are using wireless health innovations to better manage chronic conditions, pre-empt disease and improve the lives of the elderly and under-served populations around the world.

SOURCE Wireless-Life Sciences Alliance