March 31 2025 at 12:04 PM | NJ Pathways

NJ Pathways Happening: Spotlight on Innovation, NJ Community College Students Shine at Cooper Health Hackathon 

Essex County College 

Exciting things are happening at the intersection of healthcare and technology—starting right here in New Jersey. 

In late February, the Cooper Innovation Center, in partnership with the Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS), hosted the Cooper Health Hackathon 2025 at Cooper Hospital Medical School (Camden, NJ). This high-energy event welcomed community college students from across New Jersey to team up with seasoned professionals to tackle real-world healthcare challenges using AI, big data, and digital health tools. 

And the momentum didn’t stop there—finalists from the Hackathon went on to pitch their innovations on the global stage at the HIMSS Conference in Las Vegas earlier this month, including Essex County College student, Bright Ubani, MSc.IT, CAHIMS, ITIL. 

More Than Just a Hackathon
Hackathons are fast-paced, immersive experiences that bring together diverse minds to create solutions in a short timeframe. For students, it’s a hands-on opportunity to collaborate with mentors, sharpen their tech skills, and gain insight into the healthcare innovation space. 

“This hackathon is not just about technology; it’s about people. It’s about equipping our future and current workforce with the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to drive healthcare innovation forward,” said Catherine Starghill, Executive Director of the NJ Community College Consortium for Workforce & Economic Development and Vice President of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges. “With AI, big data, and digital health solutions transforming patient care, we must ensure our workforce is ready. NJ Pathways and New Jersey’s community colleges play a pivotal role in creating career pathways that prepare individuals for success in health IT and beyond” Starghill further stated. 

A Growing Movement in NJ
Now in its second year, the Cooper Health Hackathon continues to grow: 

  • Year 1: Students took center stage, with a standout team from Essex County College earning a trip to present in Washington, D.C. 
  • Year 2: The event expanded to include professionals, deepening the experience and opening doors for long-term mentorship. This year’s finalists competed at the international HIMSS Conference in Las Vegas. 
  • Year 3 (Coming Soon!): Plans are underway to integrate the hackathon model into community college and high school curricula statewide as part of NJ Pathways’ broader effort to align education with industry needs. 

“The opportunity for New Jersey is in democratizing access to this hackathon model and entrepreneurship overall across all community colleges,” said Dana Castro, Senior Director of the HIMSS Institute. “For two consecutive years, the Essex County College Team has been a finalist, earning the once in a lifetime opportunity to pitch their product concept to venture capitalists and healthcare providers on the EMERGE stage at the HIMSS Global Conference and Exhibition. Hackathons are short time commitments, allowing an organic space for students to work with professional mentors—everyone receives value from these connections, often creating immeasurable, lasting relationships” stated Castro. 

Powered by Partnership
This initiative is supported by the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities, a collaboration led by the NJ Community College Consortium and the NJ Business & Industry Association. With a focus on workforce development, the program connects education and industry to ensure students are prepared for today’s—and tomorrow’s—careers. 

As HIMSS and NJ’s community colleges continue to grow this program, the impact is clear: we’re not just preparing students for jobs—we’re building the future of healthcare, one innovation at a time.