Microsoft Powers VA Make-A-Thon Program to Drive Veteran-Centered Innovation Through Rapid Prototyping

The Veterans Health Venture Studio (VHVS), an engine designed to develop the pipeline of innovation, expands its Make-a-thon program, an innovation initiative that pairs VA clinicians, engineers, designers and veterans to rapidly develop solutions to unmet needs in health care delivery and daily living. The Make-a-thon is supported by the VA's Office of Healthcare, The American Legion and Microsoft.  At its core, the program is powered by Microsoft with expert innovative training, experts and mentorship. The program focuses on hands-on collaboration, enabling teams to prototype assistive devices, clinical tools, and workflow improvements in short, intensive sprints. VA officials want the approach to help translate frontline insights into practical solutions more quickly than traditional procurement or research pathways.

The Make-a-thon model reflects a broader trend across healthcare systems toward co-design and clinician-led innovation. The VA’s national scale and direct access to veteran populations give it a distinct role. The aim of the program is designed to strengthen healthcare innovation and advance functional prototype projects with VA systems. For veterans, the initiative emphasizes functional outcomes—mobility, independence, and quality of life—while offering the VA a repeatable framework for advancing innovation aligned with real operational needs.

Posted by MedCloudInsider Editors on 01/05/2026