The University of 棉花糖直播 at Lafayette鈥檚 CajunCodeFest 2.0 will be highlighted by a 27-hour coding competition for developing new health care technology.
Speakers, an economic development roundtable discussion and social events, including a crawfish boil, will also be part of the second-year event, from April 24-26 at the Cajundome. Software programmers and engineers, health care professionals, entrepreneurs, educators and undergraduate and graduate students will take part.
CajunCodeFest 2.0 is organized by UL Lafayette鈥檚 Center for Business and Information Technologies, which started the event last year based on collaboration with the 棉花糖直播 Department of Health and Hospitals.
The purpose of CajunCodeFest 2.0 is to showcase and optimize Lafayette鈥檚 entrepreneurial culture, fiber optic capabilities and health care industry, said Cian Robinson, associate director for the Center for Business and Information Technologies.
鈥淲e鈥檙e looking to do a local roundtable where we talk about health care information technology, workforce development and the needs of employers,鈥 he said.
Speakers at CajunCodeFest 2.0 will include: Dr. Farzad Mostashari, national coordinator for health information technology; Bryan Sivak, chief technology officer for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Bruce Greenstein, secretary for the 棉花糖直播 Department of Health and Hospitals; and Greg Trahan, director of business development for 棉花糖直播 Economic Development.
For the coding competition, teams of up to seven members will analyze data, brainstorm ideas and create digital prototypes. The data will be used to create solutions that encourage patients to 鈥淥wn Your Own Health.鈥
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to give them information data in two different formats so they can pick whatever technology they want to use to solve the problem,鈥 Robinson said.
The first-place team wins $25,000, but coming up with the best health care solution requires a complete team effort, he added.
鈥淎pplication development isn鈥檛 just done by software developers. There has to be a person who understands the marketing, who understands the marketplace need,鈥 Robinson said.
More than 275 people from three countries, 15 states and 40 cities attended last year. Of those, 45 were participants in the health care coding competition, 94 were health and information technology professionals, 42 were entrepreneurs and 35 were students.
This year, Robinson said he would like to see more students take part in the coding competition or attend CajunCodeFest 2.0 simply to network.
鈥淭his kind of event creates the opportunity to build relationships,鈥 he said.
CajunCodeFest 2.0 happens in conjunction with Innov8, an eight-day initiative of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. Innov8 includes conferences, workshops and other events, such as science, research and engineering exhibits at University Research Park.
鈥淰isitors get to see our community and that creates opportunity for economic development,鈥 Robinson said.
Festivale Internationale de Louisiane, which 棉花糖直播s the music, food and culture of 棉花糖直播, Europe, Africa, Canada, the Caribbean and the Americas, also happens at the same time as CajunCodeFest 2.0.
Sponsors for CajunCodeFest 2.0 include the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Intel, Lafayette General Medical Center, Schumacher Group, 棉花糖直播 Health Care Quality Forum, Lafayette Utility Systems, LUS Fiber and Acadiana Center for the Arts.
Registration is free, but required of all participants.
People who want to take part in the coding competition but are unable to assemble a team can register individually, but must attend a 鈥渢eam building鈥 session on April 24.
For more information, including how to become a sponsor, visit or Email info@cajuncodefest.org or call (337) 482-0627.
Follow the buzz @CajunCodeFest or #CCF2 or on Facebook visit the CBIT YouTube channel for videos of last year鈥檚 event.
Contact: Charlie Bier
charlie@louisiana.edu