I have a fear of needles. It’s irrational, sure—but it’s real. What scares me even more, though, is the thought that the people who desperately need them—like fragile newborns, the elderly, or those in low-resource hospitals—might not get the care they need because the system around them simply doesn’t work. 

Imagine a baby small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Veins so delicate they vanish with the slightest shift. Now imagine inserting an IV.  IV failures can lead to swelling, disfigurement, even death. In well-resourced hospitals, nurses catch these issues quickly. But in overcrowded hospitals, where one nurse might care for many, IV failures can go unnoticed until it’s too late.  

Up to 50% of the 300 million IVs placed in the U.S. each year fail prematurely. Each failure can cost hospitals over $18,000 in complications—adding up to billions in avoidable expenses. That’s where our team at Equicare Solutions comes in. I’m a materials engineer, and I believe simple materials can solve complex healthcare challenges—especially where resources are scarce stakes are high. I joined this project after meeting Dr. Greg Valentine, who shared stories of newborns in sub-Saharan Africa dying from preventable IV complications. I began this journey just helping a student team in the lab. Now, I lead the engineering and strategy behind IV-Safe™, a color-changing adhesive patch that shows when an IV is failing to catch problems as soon as they occur. It’s non-electronic, affordable, and built to work anywhere. 

But this is just the beginning. At Equicare, we’re building tools that expand access to care. For instance, we plan to follow IV-Safe with a neonatal hydration device that safely delivers fluids in settings where infusion pumps are too costly or unreliable—built on the same principles of simplicity and reliability. 

I still don’t like needles. But I don’t fear the future, because I know we’re building products that work when and where they’re needed most. 

If you believe simple, smart design can change the world, let’s connect. We’re looking for partners—clinicians, manufacturers, NGOs, funders—who share our mission.  Equicare –  safe, simple, for everyone.