This is a guest post from Francis Kong, founder of MedSimple:

I like to invite all students, teachers, researchers, and entrepreneurs within the ‘earshot’ of this announcement to ‘listen’ carefully. If you have an idea (conceptual or a working model) of a way to help educate, treat, and/or diagnosis diabetes in rural areas with an annual budget of $200,000.00, then I need to talk with you right away. If you can get this idea to me in writing by December 31st, 2009, then you will be among an elite set of people who will be interviewed and judged on your creative and amazing idea. If you happen to come up with the best of the best idea, then I will hand over a cool $20,000.00 with your name on it for you to spend anyway you like! On top of that, your idea will be put into action by Christus, a major international health care provider and your name will, of course, be immortalized!

If you are wondering who I am, my name is Francis Kong. I am an entrepreneur, former pediatrician, and airplane crash survivor. However, my reasons for working with on this project stems from another aspect of my life. There has always been a strong history of diabetes on my Mom’s side of the family. I always knew in the back of my mind, as early as I could understand what diabetes was, that I too could get it someday. This was made clear to me when my cousin got gestational diabetes six years ago, and when one of my uncles got diagnosis with diabetes three years, and painfully clear when my closest uncle had his entire right foot amputated because of his diabetes, three days ago. Even from a professional sense of seeing as many diabetic cases as I have, it was still numbing to see my uncle go into the operating room, knowing that a physical part of him would be gone when he came back through those doors. I don’t know if it would have made any difference if my uncle was diagnosed earlier, had different treatments, or better education on the subject, but I do know that my uncle is a powerful reminder of just what diabetes can do to someone.

This is why I feel privileged to be part of this project. I hope my small contribution will help the journey towards an end to diabetes. I feel even more honored to connect with people, such as your selves, who represent incredible insight to come up with amazing possible solutions. If you believe you have the best of the best idea, then contact me directly or go to www.mission2enddiabetes.org. Good luck and God Speed!

Francis Kong

@medsimple

CEO/Founder: MedSimple

CoFounder: EdgeOnCollege

Managing Partner: Nerdcore Learning