MedifyAI wins Rep. Joe Neguse’s 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Colorado’s Second District
Rep. Neguse has named Shibani Senthilkumar, a ninth grader at Peak to Peak Charter, as the winner of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Colorado’s Second District.
When asked what inspired the creation of MedifyAI, the student said, “The inspiration for creating this app came from the realization that people in rural areas often face challenges accessing hospitals and medical assistance quickly. 27.6 million Americans of all ages and 400 million people across the world do not have access to healthcare, as of 2022. I believe that everyone deserves accessible healthcare, which is what motivated me to create this app. Additionally, I noticed that AI has so many possibilities and could be used to change lives. Having a specialized AI companion, even for individuals who do have access to healthcare, is so valuable and can make healthcare more efficient. The concept behind MedifyAI was motivated by the recognition of AI’s potential in addressing these issues and improving healthcare accessibility. AI technology could provide immediate assistance, guidance, and support, particularly in critical situations where time is a crucial factor. I was intrigued by the idea of using AI to offer reliable and reassuring resources, driven by the goal of making healthcare information and assistance easily accessible to those who might not have rapid access to hospitals, providing a tool for anyone in need of medical guidance and support.”
This year’s Challenge saw an unprecedented level of participation, with 374 Members of the House of Representatives hosting competitions, surpassing the previous record of 340. A remarkable 11,334 students from across the United States competed in this year’s Challenge, marking an impressive increase of nearly 1,000 participants compared to the previous record set in 2019. The enthusiasm and creativity these students display is a testament to the growing interest in technology and signal a bright future for American innovation. The surge of ingenuity continued with a whopping 3,645 original applications flooding in, nearly a thousand more than the previous year’s high. This remarkable growth showcases the exceptional talent and innovation within our nation’s youth.
The Congressional App Challenge is an official initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives, where Members of Congress host contests in their districts for middle school and high school students, encouraging them to learn to code and inspiring them to pursue careers in computer science. This resounding show of bipartisan support emphasizes the critical importance of STEM education in today’s rapidly evolving world. Each participating Member of Congress selects a winning app from their district, and each winning team is invited to showcase their winning app to Congress during our annual #HouseOfCode festival. The program is a public-private partnership made possible through funding from Omidyar Network, AWS, Rise, theCoderSchool, Apple, and others.
The 2024 Congressional App Challenge will launch in May of 2024, and eligible students can pre-register for the competition now.