MDM2 Launches First CME-Based Clinical Innovation Sandbox with Hemasense at HonorHealth
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Arizona has no shortage of MedTech ambition. We have smart founders, credible research, and a growing pipeline of startups working on meaningful problems. But even the best ideas can hit a wall early for one simple reason: it is hard to get in front of clinicians in a structured way, early enough, and often enough to shape product development while it still matters.
On January 29, 2026, MDM2 took a major step toward solving that challenge by launching its first CME-accredited Clinical Feedback Session at HonorHealth. These sessions are one component of MDM2’s Clinical Innovation Sandbox. The goal is straightforward: bring frontline clinicians and emerging MedTech companies together in an educational, feedback-driven forum where both sides benefit. Clinicians earn CME credits by participating. MedTech startups receive valuable clinical insights.
This work is part of MDM2’s 2025–2026 Action Plan, a focused push to position Arizona as a leader in next-generation MedTech by strengthening the pathways between innovators and health systems.
A different approach: make it educational, structured, and repeatable
MDM2’s Innovation Sandbox pillar is designed to build a practical bridge between early-stage MedTech companies and frontline clinicians by creating a formal, repeatable pathway for real-world clinical feedback.
At its core, it is a regularly scheduled, CME-accredited educational forum where clinicians and startups connect through a standardized format. Each session is designed to run about two hours and feature one to three startups.
Presentations follow the same structure:
the clinical problem with clinician feedback
the proposed solution with clinician feedback
a demonstration and interactive feedback
After each phase, clinician participants complete structured feedback. The session also includes a moderated discussion and Q&A, so participants can dig into practical questions: What happens in a real workflow? Where would this break down? What would adoption look like? What barriers would show up first?
Feedback is then aggregated into reports that can be shared with participating startups and, when appropriate, the broader ecosystem. It is direct, grounded, and actionable.
The first Sandbox: Hemasense meets interventional cardiology fellows
For the inaugural session, MDM2 partnered with HonorHealth to bring Hemasense into the room with a highly engaged group of interventional cardiology fellows from structural heart and electrophysiology.
Hemasense was represented by:
Nathan Friedman, CEO
Ben Trapp, CTO
Abigail Le, Engineering Manager
They presented through the structured format and walked through a live demonstration. What followed was the kind of interaction that many early-stage MedTech teams wish they could have more often.
The cardiology fellows approached the discussion from a practical standpoint. They focused on workflow, integration into existing cath lab processes, and what it would take to support adoption. Their questions centered on how the technology would function in real patient care settings, providing Hemasense with grounded, actionable feedback.
Nathan Friedman, CEO of Hemasense, summed up the value of that exchange:
“Engaging directly with frontline cardiologists in structured settings like this sharpens our thinking and accelerates how we approach real-world clinical adoption.”
Ben Trapp, CTO, shared a similar perspective:
“If we can consistently bring engineers and clinicians together this early, the impact on product development could be significant.”
For Hemasense, the session provided meaningful validation and specific direction for refinement. For the fellows, it offered something clinicians rarely get: a real opportunity to shape innovation early, before products become fixed and difficult to change.
How the partnership works
This program exists because of a real partnership between MDM2 and HonorHealth, with clear roles that keep the Sandbox credible and well-run.
MDM2, as the host organization, designs and facilitates the program. That includes program structure, startup recruitment and preparation, logistics coordination, and the collection and anonymization of clinician feedback. MDM2’s role also includes maintaining neutrality and transparency, which is critical for building trust in a forum like this.
HonorHealth serves as the accredited CME provider and ensures compliance with CME expectations. That includes reviewing and approving the content of each session to confirm educational requirements are met and providing orientation materials to participating startups so everyone understands the rules and standards from the start.
HonorHealth leaders have been strong champions of the Sandbox model.
Asia Powell, HonorHealth, said:
“This is exactly the kind of clinician-led innovation engagement that strengthens both education and patient care.
Catherine Wagner, HonorHealth, added:
“Creating a forum where clinicians can influence innovation early is a powerful step toward smarter, safer healthcare solutions.”
MDM2 also recognizes the extended network that makes this possible, including the MDM2 Consortium (program design and startup recruitment), the HonorHealth CME office, Arizona startups (including those from PEI’s WearTech Center), clinician participants, and ecosystem partners such as the Flinn Foundation, GPEC, and local accelerators and incubators.
The Sandbox is underway
January 29 marked the launch of a new model for Arizona: intentional, structured collaboration between innovators and frontline clinicians, built on education and designed for real-world validation. It is easy to talk about collaboration. It is harder to build the infrastructure that makes collaboration repeatable.
The Clinical Innovation Sandbox is a step toward that infrastructure. And if this first session is any indication, it is the kind of step Arizona’s MedTech ecosystem has been ready for.
Special thanks to Catherine Wagner and Asia Powell at HonorHealth for their partnership and leadership in making this inaugural CME-based session possible.
