JULY 13 • 2023 | 35

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yeKnow is the winner 
of the Nursing Care 
Efficiencies Challenge 
and was awarded $75,000 
to work with Detroit-based 
Henry Ford Health to further 
develop its solution and enter 
the U.S. market. 
This challenge, led jointly 
by Start-Up Nation Central 
and Henry Ford Health 
Innovations, considered ear-
ly-stage Israeli startups focused 
on integrating with the U.S. 
healthcare system with solu-
tions for creating an environ-
ment assisting nurses in pro-
viding safe and efficient care. 
In addition to the prize, 
EyeKnow will benefit from 
consultation, mentorship and 
support in scaling its offerings. 
EyeKnow was selected by 
a steering committee led by 
health industry experts from 
among more than 40 Israeli 
innovation solutions and 
awarded $75,000 (in-kind) to 
create a pilot with Henry Ford 
Health (HFH)to further devel-
op its solution and enter the 
U.S. market. 
Finalists in the challenge 
were selected based on several 
requirements, including the 
ability to integrate with the 
American healthcare system 
and the potential benefit to 
nursing workflows, either clin-
ically or operationally.
Founded in 2020, EyeKnow 
automatically detects positive 
and negative caregiver-to-tod-
dler behavior in kindergartens 
by processing video feeds from 
off-the-shelf CCTV cameras 

using AI and computer-vision 
algorithms. Meaningful events 
are recorded and shared with 
kindergarten owners, law 
enforcement agencies and gov-
ernment stakeholders, which 
results in a dramatic decrease 
in abuse incidents and a signif-
icant increase in caring quality.
Emma Vardimon, director 
of Global Partnerships at 
Start-Up Nation Central, said: 
“Combining Israeli innovation 
with the business needs of 
a healthcare provider like 
Henry Ford Health creates 
opportunities for all parties. 
Start-Up Nation Central works 
with U.S. health organizations 
facilitating collaboration 
with the local ecosystem and 
generating POCs, pilots, joint 
ventures and investment. We 
are happy to partner with 
Henry Ford Health and foster 
a more robust innovation 

journey.” 
Donna Summers, HFH chief 
nursing information officer, 
said, “We feel privileged to 
be able to work with Start-
Up Nation Central and these 
amazing tech companies. It is 
clear they understood today’s 
nursing challenges and have 
been amazing collaborators to 
find innovative solutions. We 
are so excited to engage in a 
pilot with EyeKnow AI and to 
add more innovation to HFH’s 
ability to prevent workplace 
violence against healthcare 
workers.”
Lisa Prasad, vice president 
and chief innovation officer 
at HFH, added, “Start-Up 
Nation Central has been a vital 
partner to Henry Ford Health’s 
program in Israel. We are 
delighted to have completed 
another successful challenge 
with them. 

EyeKnow provides solutions fostering an environment 
that allows nurses to provide safe care efficiently.

Israeli Startup Wins 
Henry Ford Health Challenge

JN STAFF

Sharon Gur Arie, Start-Up Nation Central; Dr. Scott Dulchavsky, 
CEO Innovation Institute, chief of surgery, Henry Ford Health; 
Tomer Sagi, CEO, EyeKnow; and Lisa Prasad, vice president and 
chief innovation officer at Henry Ford Health.

The Nissan Foundation 
has named the Zekelman 
Holocaust Center (The HC) 
a 2023 grant recipient to help 
fund the planning, imple-
mentation, and delivery of 
its Holocaust Education 
Summer Academy, which 
provides teachers with content 
knowledge and pedagogical 
techniques to use in teaching 
about the Holocaust. The 
Summer Academy runs Aug. 
7-10, and registration is open.
“We are grateful for the 
$30,000 award for our 
Holocaust Education Summer 
Academy Professional 
Development Series for 
Educators,” Rabbi Eli 
Mayerfeld, CEO of The 
Zekelman Holocaust Center, 
said. “This gift funds the 
training of over 100 Michigan 
educators across all disciplines 
to incorporate best practic-
es in Holocaust education 
in every subject. The con-
tent furthers teachers’ own 
knowledge of the Holocaust 
and helps them master the 
instructional practices relat-
ed to teaching this sensitive 
material.
“The grant provides teach-
ers with the opportunity to 
immerse themselves in a 
weeklong professional devel-
opment experience with The 
HC staff,” Rabbi Mayerfeld 
added. “Their efforts in the 
classroom inspire and empow-
er the next generation to value 
cultural diversity, stand up to 
prejudice and antisemitism, 
and create a society free from 
hate.” 
For information on 
how to enroll in The HC’s 
Summer Academy, contact 
Rick Schaffner, manager of 
Education Outreach, at (248) 
556-3663 or rick.schaffner@
holocaustcenter.org. 

Zekelman Holocaust 
Center Receives Grant 

