Designing for Life-or-Death Impact: A Pro Bono Mobile Health Solution
As co-founder of Generation Impact, led cross-functional volunteer team to develop Q2Q Health's mobile app pro bono. Addressed crisis where adverse drug events cause 150,000 annual US deaths by creating patient-facing platform preventing dangerous medication interactions among elderly populations managing multiple prescriptions.
Providence, Rhode Island, USA
2017
Medical Technology
Startup
1-10
Challenge
Create a life-saving mobile app with zero budget using volunteer-only resources. Faced market competition from CVS Health, elderly users needing simple interfaces, technical requirements for detecting fatal drug interactions, and regulatory health information handling while relying entirely on volunteer expertise and time.
Results
The redesigned app features a clean, clutter-free interface, making it easier for users to navigate and access essential features.
The improved onboarding process resulted in a 35% increase in new user adoption rates.
The addition of personalization and customization options enhanced user engagement, leading to a 25% increase in user retention rates.
$18,000
professional services donated through expert labor
150,000
Annual deaths from adverse drug events
20+
Prioritized user stories across V1/V2 releases in product roadmap
Process
Strategy & Problem Definition: I assembled a cross-functional team and partnered with Q2Q Health to align on their mission to reduce preventable deaths. Leveraging existing expertise and a competitive analysis, we identified a strategic gap in the medication management space for underserved users. Key insights from the CEO confirmed that simple interfaces, trust, and real-time drug interaction checking were core to the product's value.
Design & Prioritization: Using a Lean Product Framework, I translated the product vision into actionable requirements and created a prioritized feature backlog for the V1 core product. I then designed a simple, accessible experience in Figma, focusing on usability for elderly users.
Prototyping & Handoff: I delivered a functional React Native prototype with six core screens, complete with a clear navigation architecture and an integration-ready backend structure. This ensured a smooth and comprehensive handoff to the development team, accelerating the implementation of the core features.
"Eighty percent of the information we get from our doctor is forgotten by the time we get home, and half of the remaining 20% is remembered incorrectly."
Roberta Powell
CEO, Founder Q2Q Health | TedTalk 2019
Conclusion
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams, navigate resource constraints, and deliver social impact through strategic design leadership. Key learnings included resource-constrained innovation requiring exceptional project management, domain expertise amplification through design, and technical translation for non-technical stakeholders in life-critical applications.