Histórias reais de inovação em saúde criadas por pacientes, cuidadores e comunidades.
Many impactful healthcare solutions don’t originate just in research labs – but also from people living with the challenges themselves.
This book brings together powerful, real-world stories of patients, caregivers, and collaborators who transformed personal challenges into solutions that improved lives. From low-cost medical devices and accessible technologies to community-driven health projects, each story reveals the creativity, resilience, and ingenuity of individuals who refused to accept limitations.
With the special contributions of Sir Richard Roberts and Eric von Hippel, Patient Innovation explores the growing global movement of user innovation in healthcare – a shift that is reshaping how we understand, create, and share medical solutions.
Patient Innovation is a celebration of people who, in facing health challenges, chose to act – not just for themselves, but for others.
Ana Duarte:
Technical writer and constant learner with a background in Communications. With degrees from Universidade da Beira Interior and Universidade do Porto, she began her career in journalism before transitioning into Technical Writing. Now a Technical Documentation Manager, she combines her expertise in writing and communications with a broad interest in technology, sports, cinema, and literature.
Gemma Tria:
Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology from Universitat de Barcelona and the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences at Nova de Lisboa. She has completed training in Social Assistance and received specialized instruction in personal assistance for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities, which deepened her connection to the Independent Living Movement. Her interests lie in public policies and medical anthropology, focusing on how social factors influence health outcomes and disease experiences. Since early 2023, Gemma has been involved with Patient Innovation, where her work aligns with these interests by valuing the subjective experiences of patients and studying how living with a disease can drive innovation, thereby enriching practical solutions at the intersection of health, community support, and policy development. Gemma is currently the Co-Executive Director at Patient Innovation.
Joana Afonso:
Holds a degree in General Care Nursing from Escola Superior de Saúde Egas Moniz, where she graduated in 2019. In 2024, she completed her Master’s degree and became a Specialist in Rehabilitation Nursing. Joana works as a nurse at the Unidade Local de Saúde de São José and is the CEO and Founder of Careceiver, a platform launched in 2018 that focuses on care management, training, and providing information to informal caregivers. Her personal experience as a caregiver for her grandmother with Alzheimer’s inspired her dedication to supporting caregivers and improving healthcare. In 2021, Joana was selected for the Patient Innovation Bootcamp as a caregiver entrepreneur and later joined the organization as a Research Fellow, leveraging her caregiving experience, healthcare entrepreneurship, and nursing expertise to drive innovation and provide support within the patient and caregiving community. She is a trainer for Careceiver and Bwizer, and collaborates with Bwizer and the Journal of Nursing: Projetar Enfermagem as an author and scientific reviewer.
Leid Zejnilovic:
Assistant Professor at Nova SBE with a double Ph.D. in Technological Change and Entrepreneurship from Carnegie Mellon University and Católica-Lisbon School of Business and Economics. He is also an Engineer of Telecommunications with a Master´s Degree in Information Technology and a Master´s Degree in Engineering and Public Policy. He co-founded several high-tech firms and online platforms and has over 20 years of international consulting and technology management experience. As an academic entrepreneur, he co-founded two knowledge centers at Nova SBE, the Data Science Knowledge Center and the Open and User Innovation Knowledge Center, where he serves as the Academic Director and Scientific Deputy Director, respectively. He also helped launch Patient Innovation, the platform for patients and caregivers to share self-made innovative solutions to cope with their health disorders. Leid is a co-founding Chairman of Data Science for Social Good Foundation and an associate editor for Data & Policy Journal. In the past years, Leid taught or led academic programs at NovaSBE, Imperial College Business School, and Ludwig Boltzmann Institute, among other places. He has given over 100 talks in industry and academia.