Leja’s ‘Care Van’ Pitch Wins Big Idea Competition

Liana Leja, an Allegheny College senior majoring in biology, won first prize and $5,000 in Allegheny’s 11th Annual Big Idea Competition, a contest sponsored by the college’s Center for Business and Economics and modeled after ABC’s popular “Shark Tank” show.

Leja’s big idea: a mobile health care van, called the “Care Van,” that would operate in conjunction with Meadville Medical Center to provide basic health care to a mostly rural, underserved population.

Leja with Entrepreneur in Residence Chris Allison, co-director of Allegheny’s Center for Business and Economics. Photo by Sarah Holt.

Greg Bras, a senior economics major from Saegertown also earned an honorable mention in the competition for his work on additive manufacturing.

See full coverage in The Meadville Tribune here.