If you drew up your list of great challenges, what would be on it?

• Managing Chronic Diseases.
• The Impact of Poverty on Health.
• Eliminating Medical Errors.
• Unwed Teen Motherhood.
• Elevating Dental Health.
• Medical Information Overload.
• Something else?

The diverse gathering of TEDMED attendees – onsite and at simulcast locations such as UTHSC – will be participating in The Great Challenges Program. The idea is to provide America and the world with a comprehensive view of the great challenges.

A proposed list of 50 great challenges of health and medicine have been drawn up [download full brochure here]. During TEDMED, 50 knowledgeable individuals will serve as Advocates for those 50 challenges. The Advocates will circulate among the 1200 onsite attendees and be able to interact with simulcast participants via the TEDMED Connect application.

The 20 final Great Challenges will be decided by a vote – and your vote, as a TEDMED attendee, will count!

In the coming year, multiple strategies will be used continue the dialogue on the selected 20 Great Challenges.

• Interviewing the Advocates of the Challenge for their thoughts – leading to a series of TV program style segments called Perspectives
• TEDMED community members will be able to post their thoughts and feedback to each perspective
• TEDMED will host 40 webinars during the coming year (2 per Great Challenge) that consist of roundtable panel discussions featuring 4 to 6 qualified individuals engaging in multi-disciplinary dialogue.

Want to know if the issues on your list of Great Challenges is among the top 50? Visit TEDMED’s Great Challenges Program website!