Nurse and ASU graduate student taps university resources to launch health care idea

Ramona Ramadas is on a roll. In the last year, the Arizona State University Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation graduate student has participated in several pitch competitions, winning more than $60,000 to help bring her health care startup to life. Her business idea focuses on serving individuals who struggle to get the personalized care they desperately need due to homelessness, incarceration, addiction or lack of insurance. To address this widespread problem, Ramadas created New Trails Navigators, which connects at-risk folks with peer health navigators who are uniquely qualified to guide them toward sustainable health and wellness. “Our peers understand these problems because they’ve overcome the same issues. They can establish rapport with struggling patients, identify a more whole-person set of needs, and provide support when and where the patient needs it most,” Ramadas said. With a background in nursing and software development, Ramadas said she has never been short on ideas for tackling some of the more frustrating aspects of health care. But she was lacking something else. See full article here.