Updated 14 June 2016: HCA Holdings announced it has picked-up the title sponsorship for the EC's Project Healthcare accelerator, which has set July 7th as the deadline for startup applications.-Ed.

NASHVILLE Entrepreneur Center (EC) today announced its Project Healthcare initiative Advisory Board members.

They are, in addition to previously announced Chairman Michael Burcham (former EC CEO and now CEO, Narus Health):

• Michael Brody-­Waite (CoFounder, InQuicker)
• Hayley Hovious (President, Nashville Health Care Council)
• Edmund Jackson (VP, Chief Data Scientist, HCA)
• George Lazenby (CoFounder/CEO, OrderInsite)
• Stuart McWhorter (Chairman, Clayton Associates)
• Clay Phillips (VP Network Innovation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee)
• Chris Taylor (Entrepreneur and former HCA exec)
• Melissa Waddey (SVP of Strategy & Integration, Lifepoint Health)

"The guidance of these experienced healthcare professionals is key to developing the industry immersion and teachings for the year­round Project Healthcare initiative and the Accelerator," said EC President and Acting CEO Sam Lingo, in an EC press release. "Their knowledge will help us navigate the ecosystem and support startups that address the industry's opportunities through patient-­focused tech­-enabled services."

The applications window for the Project Healthcare 2016 Accelerator this fall is open through July 7 for patient-focused healthtech startups that address needs of the patient, payer, provider/practitioner and hospital system ecosystem, the EC said.

The EC also invites candidates for the "industry lead" Entrepreneur-in-Residence role in the Project Healthcare initiative, through June 24, according to the EC's release.

Michael Burcham

Further, on Wednesday, June 15, the EC will hold a CEO Session with Burcham and some other advisory board members. VP-Accelerator Programming Heather McBee will also participate.

Inductees into the 14-week Accelerator each receive up to $50,000 in funding in exchange for 7% equity with an additional 3% equity reserved for program advisors. Project Healthcare startups will participate in the Village Capital peer­-selected investment model to evaluate, rank and provide feedback on each other's companies to facilitate the peer selection of two startups that are to receive an additional $25,000 each in exchange for equity.

More information about all of this is to be found on the Nashville Entrepreneur Center website and/or on the Project Healthcare websites.

Project Healthcare is the EC's primary effort to help transform U.S. Healthcare industry through the creation, launch and growth of patient-­focused tech-­enabled services that support preventative care, self­maintenance and clinical services.

The Project Health initiative provides year-­round support to healthcare startups and entrepreneurs by connecting them to the critical community, curriculum, coaches and capital resources needed to turn ideas into realities.

The six-year-old EC is a not­-for-­profit 501(c)3 partnership. The EC says its community includes more than 325 alumni and more than 750 members, and that it affords access to more than 250 mentors, service providers and industry experts.

Core EC programming includes community events, entrepreneur education and tech focused industry­immersion accelerator programs in healthcare, music and content publishing. [###]

. last edited 9:03am 10 June 2016