Serving as a panelist during “Spotlight on Innovation: Health Care” – a discussion organized by the law firm Gray Robinson, about technological innovations in health care in Jacksonville, University of Florida doctoral student Ed Buckley (set to complete his doctorate in health behavior) was looking for venture capital to support peerFit, his second health technology company. In addition to peerFit, he also founded Wellness2Go in 2007, a company that rewards people who engage in healthy activities.

While not much money was raised during One Spark 2013, Buckley made a contact that ultimately led to him receiving financial backing from Florida Blue’s Healthbox initiative, along with funding from Florida Blue and from the Florida Institute for Commercialization of Public Research. From that funding, Buckley, along with a group of UF graduates and students, launched peerFit – which gives members access to more than 100 boutique fitness studios in Florida, including about 25 studios in Jacksonville. As a matter of fact, insurance companies such as Florida Blue, have begun to recognize that finding innovative approaches to disease prevention may, in fact, be worth funding.

One of the main messages presented throughout the entire discussion and movement, is that technology will be necessary in order to advance health care and the way that doctors obtain information. Buckley wears a FitBit on his wrist that is able to track his activity; such as: steps taken each day, food intake, weight gains and sleep patterns. For iphone users, Apple has started an app that does essentially the same thing – tracks the number of steps taken along with various health indicators.