Project Mentor: Khanjan Mehta, Creative Inquiry
Continuing Fellows:
Lillian Wu '27
Regina Ruiz Brictson '27
Marianna Angle '28
2026 Impact Fellows:
Nova Afber '28
Olivia Dubrow '28
Claire Schwartz '28
Maria Garcia Rodriguez '29
Madison Morita '28
Project Description:
Sierra Leone has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. Missed medical appointments have serious health consequences, especially for pregnant women who need regular check-ups to monitor their health and their baby’s development. Long travel distances, extended clinic wait times, limited resources, and difficulty remembering follow-up appointments create barriers to essential care. CareAlert is addressing these challenges by repurposing simple technology to make healthcare more accessible, efficient, and reliable.
CareAlert is an innovative healthcare communication system designed to improve patient flow in clinics and help patients stay connected to their healthcare providers. CareAlert has launched MyTurn, a short-range pager that allows patients to move around freely while waiting and notifies them when it is their turn to be seen, facilitating reliable care and encouraging patients to return. Extending CareAlert’s reach beyond the clinic, ReadyNow is a long-range notification device that reminds patients when to return to the clinic for medication, laboratory results, and follow-up appointments. Together, these technologies aim to reduce waiting times, prevent missed visits, and strengthen continuity of care.
With 100 MyTurn devices ready for deployment across Sierra Leone, CareAlert has demonstrated the feasibility of its approach and aims to expand to more than 50 clinics by December 2026. In 2027, the team will advance the development of ReadyNow through iterative prototyping, manufacturing coordination, and field deployment, with the ultimate goal of connecting more women to timely, lifesaving care. Alongside these efforts, the team will pursue several original research projects aimed at generating new knowledge and contributing to scholarly publications.
Join us at the intersection of technology, healthcare, and human ingenuity to tackle pressing real-world challenges. CareAlert welcomes curious, committed students from every major and academic background who want to turn bold ideas into practical solutions…and make a lasting impact in the lives of mothers, children, and communities.
Website: carealert.info
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carealert
Instagram: @carealertlehigh
