2025 MPDC Showcase Event Recap
Pediatric medical device innovation is ramping up in the Buckeye State. – Design Central attended the 2025 Midwest Pediatric Device (MPDC) Consortium Showcase this July, hosted at Jumpstart in the MidTown Collaboration Center in Cleveland, OH. The second annual showcase ignited conversations around demonstrating value in healthcare, data-driven post-market surveillance, and beyond. In addition to last year’s conversations surrounding commercialization, investment, and health equity, the 30 thousand feet overview is that organizations, hospitals, startups, and consultants across the Midwest are rooting for the advancement of pediatric medical device development.
This year’s showcase not only provided the audience with firsthand insights from panelists but also the opportunity to listen in on pitches from passionate startups on their way to creating a positive impact in the pediatric medical device space. Between the panels and pitches, here are a few takeaways from our team:
Clinical Impact Demonstrates Value: Beyond assessing the financial potential of a device, healthcare systems use similar criteria to evaluate value. Nick Archer, Vice President Innovation Ventures at Cincinnati Children’s noted that "scalability is key." If there is potential to positively impact a larger patient population, he is enthusiastic about supporting the innovation. Other panelists emphasized the importance of widespread adoptability as a top priority; if end users, such as nursing staff, perceive value in the device, system-wide change becomes far more achievable.
The Benefits of Collaborative Data Collection: With the surge of data generated by AI and connected medical devices, the challenge isn’t access—it’s utilization. Keeping up as individual institutions can be lengthy and burdensome, but collaboratively, we can get better results. Rather than sitting in silos, shared data informs smarter, safer, and faster development. Collaboration also ensures organizations hold each other accountable for the responsible advancement of data acquisition.
Designing for Safety and Security: The pediatric space is increasingly exploring proactive health management, rather than reactive, through real-time monitoring, wearables, and data-driven tools. With this advancement comes a growing responsibility to ensure that these devices are both safe and secure. Design must be thoughtful from the outset, not only to protect young patients but also to earn the trust of caregivers and clinicians alike.
- The Ongoing Need for Pediatric-Specific Devices: Perhaps the most resounding message from the showcase: children deserve more dedicated innovation. Historically, pediatric care has often adapted adult solutions for smaller, more vulnerable patients. That narrative is shifting. The MPDC shared their exciting goal to double the number of supported startups in the coming years, and attendees echoed the call for more pediatric-specific clinical trials and device development.
At Design Central, we’re inspired by the progress and passion displayed at this event. Being based in Columbus, we see firsthand the growing spirit of innovation in pediatric healthcare and the powerful collaboration emerging between Ohio’s cities. We are honored to assist our clients in their product development journeys, helping to create more opportunities for positively impacting the health of children. Thank you to the MPDC, Project Medtech, and Jumpstart for an inspiring and well-thought-out event.
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