CREATING A HEALTHIER FUTURE
Innovation is essential to fulfilling Phoenix Children’s mission of providing hope, healing and the best health care for children and their families—and Innovation Circle funding is vital to advancing the groundbreaking ideas that drive progress and improve outcomes for children, ultimately shaping a healthier and more promising future for the next generation.
Since this select giving group was founded in 2004, Innovation Circle support has launched scores of game-changing initiatives and programs that have reached nearly every patient and family at Phoenix Children’s.
CHAMPIONS OF INNOVATION
Innovation Circle members all share a commitment to improving children’s health through innovation. By pooling resources to invest in the visionary ideas of Phoenix Children’s best and brightest minds, members increase their collective impact exponentially. The pioneering treatments, therapies and technologies developed with Innovation Circle support will touch the lives of children around the world for generations to come.
Each year, exciting opportunities arise to accelerate advancements in pediatric medicine by funding projects led by Phoenix Children’s top innovators. Innovation Circle members have the opportunity to witness firsthand their impact—from quarterly Power Pitch events to behind-thescenes experiences that offer an inside look at how Phoenix Children’s is shaping the future of children’s health.
FUELING INNOVATION
Physicians, researchers and clinical leaders at Phoenix Children’s identify challenges that require innovative answers and develop proposed solutions.
Project leads pitch their proposals to members of Innovation Circle and apply for funding from the pool of Innovation Circle funds.
Innovation Circle members vote on which projects to fund, accelerating advancements in pediatric medicine that improve the health of children everywhere.
“Innovation is at the core of our work at Phoenix Children’s. Our clinicians and staff are dedicated to fostering innovation to push the boundaries of what’s possible in health care.”
— ROBERT L. MEYER
President
and CEO, Phoenix Children’s
LIFE-CHANGING IMPACT
THE NEED
Suicide is the leading cause of death for youth ages 10 to 24 in Arizona, and the suicide rate among this age group is the 13th-highest in the country. Over seven children and teens per day go to Phoenix Children’s emergency department wanting to harm themselves or others.
THE SOLUTION
All patients complete a short screening questionnaire prior to every visit to Phoenix Children’s.
If their answers indicate a risk of suicide, a mental health therapist joins the visit via an Alexa device, ensuring that the patient can get immediate care
“Having this technology has made this program sustainable. It really allows us to connect with people at their time of need, and that is everything.”
— CARLA ALLAN, PHD
Hagenah
Family Endowed Chair, Division Chief of Psychology
THE FUNDING
A total of $70,000 was used for the design, implementation and evaluation of the program. Half came from Innovation Circle members, and Amazon provided a matching grant to put an Alexa device in every clinic room.
THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE PHILANTHROPY
Through Innovation Circle members’ unwavering commitment to investing in groundbreaking projects, they have collectively propelled advancements in the work of our top innovators, enabling them to push the boundaries of what is possible. From pioneering new treatments and therapies to enhancing patient care with the latest technological advancements, the initiatives funded by Innovation Circle are a beacon of hope and progress.
THE RESULTS
Between March 2023 and February 2024, Phoenix Children’s providers completed more than 20,000 screenings, identifying nearly 500 children at moderate risk of suicide and 10 at severe risk.