What is
Healthcare Hacks?
Established in 2024, Healthcare Hacks is a student-led healthcare innovation initiative at McMaster University that unites students from diverse fields to solve real-world health challenges. Through workshops, mentorship, and team projects, participants design impactful solutions. Last year, the hackathon has hosted over 50 participants, and presented outcomes to Hamilton’s Board of Health.
What to Expect!
Immerse yourself in innovation, collaboration, and creativity as you tackle real-world healthcare challenges alongside passionate students and professionals.
Competitions
Join teams of innovators to design and present technological, policy, or community-based solutions to pressing healthcare problems. This year’s challenge asks: How can we make healthcare more accessible, equitable, and patient-centered? Pitch your ideas to judges from academia, medicine, and industry.
Connect with Professionals
​Gain valuable mentorship from clinicians, researchers, entrepreneurs, and public health leaders. Our event offers direct access to experts through panels and Q&A sessions — helping you build meaningful connections and expand your professional network.
Hundreds of dollars worth of prizes await teams with the most impactful ideas! Winning projects are recognized for innovation, feasibility, clarity, and social impact — with opportunities for further mentorship and implementation support beyond the event.
FAQs
Any undergraduate student from any faculty with a passion for healthcare innovation is welcome to participate.​
Who can participate?
When and where will events happen?
The event is annual and will be held on the McMaster University campus in March 2026
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Each group can have a maximum of 5 participants.
How many participants per group?
The upcoming event will take place in person, but we are looking to expand to online platforms soon.​
Can I join virtually?
How do I sign up my team?
Team applications will open later this year. Sign up for our mailing list to stay updated!
I still have a question…
Feel free to reach out via email or send us a message on Instagram @healthcarehacks2024! We're happy to help.
Sign Up!
Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Learning and Discovery, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1