The Details

What will happen at HACK THIS. HELP KIDS.?

Participants will spend 24 hours working in teams to solve – or hack – problems identified by the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh community. We present the problems, and our hackers find the solutions. There will be plenty of food, coffee, and swag available for our hackers, and mentors will be available to guide each team toward the best solutions.

Do I need a team?

It will not be necessary for you to arrive with a team or plan your team in advance, as most participants will form their teams during the event.

If you have intended teammates in mind now, you should still all register individually.

What should I bring?

Bring whatever makes you the happiest hacker, whether it’s your laptop, tablet, smartphone, or any hardware that you like to use to make your hacking happen!

Resources and hardware will also be provided by our partner Major League Hacking (MLH).

How does the presentation and judging work? What will the winner receive?

Details about prizes and judging will be posted soon, but there will be cash prizes and cool giveaways!

Do I have to be a coding expert to participate? Who can register?

Nope! All participants will bring their own unique skills to the hackathon, and we will have plenty of resources – and mentors – available to help even novice hackers bring their best ideas to life.

Anyone currently enrolled at the graduate or undergraduate level are encouraged to register, and we also welcome clinical staff from UPMC Children’s Hospital to participate and bring their unique health care perspective to the table.

Who is a mentor and what will they do?

Mentors are a critical part of HACK THIS. HELP KIDS. and will offer valuable feedback for hackers as they solve pediatric pain points. Hackers will be mentored onsite by individuals with experience and backgrounds in medicine, engineering, design, software development, and business.

How do I get there? Where will I stay?

You are responsible for making your own lodging and transportation arrangements, though a limited amount of travel stipends will be available for those traveling more than 50 miles to attend the hackathon. Please indicate during registration or contact us at hackathon@chp.edu to learn more about stipend opportunities.

The Tepper Quad is on Forbes Avenue on Carnegie Mellon University’s campus in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood, a convenient location for those who plan to use public transportation. Please check out the Port Authority website’s TripPlanner to plan your route.

Will there be food?

Of course! We will provide dinner, a late snack, breakfast, and lunch as well as snacks and beverages throughout the 24-hour hacking period. We will try to be sensitive to all dietary needs, but please indicate any dietary restrictions during your registration or reach out to hackathon@chp.edu and we will work to accommodate them.

Who is in charge of HACK THIS. HELP KIDS.?

This hackathon is hosted by Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation, with essential guidance from the HACK THIS. HELP KIDS. steering committee.

What are UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation?

UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is a regionally, nationally, and globally recognized leader in the treatment of childhood conditions and diseases, a pioneer in the development of new and improved therapies, and a top educator of the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists. As a first-rate pediatric hospital, UPMC Children’s Hospital is in a unique position to gather individuals from various areas of business and technology in the tech focal point of Pittsburgh while leveraging the city’s historic position as a leader in both health care and innovation.

Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation is the fundraising arm of UPMC Children’s. The foundation exists to provide financial support for the hospital’s mission of excellence in patient care, teaching, research, and advocacy.

What are pain points?

Pain points are those problems outlined to be solved by our participants to benefit pediatric medicine. These pain points are being captured by physicians, nurses, administrators, child life specialists, social workers, patients, families, and any other front-line observers in pediatric medicine.

I don’t want to be a hacker, but I want to be part of HACK THIS. HELP KIDS.

Great! If you’re interested in judging, mentoring, or volunteering, get in touch with us at hackathon@chp.edu.

If your company or organization is interested in a sponsorship, learn more about sponsorship opportunities here.

You didn’t answer my question!

Email us at hackathon@chp.edu and we will tell you anything you need to know! You can also check out what’s happening on social media by searching #hackthishelpkids.