Gokul Krishnan

Gokul Krishnan, PhD, is a learning scientist, mechanical engineer and healthcare innovator with more than 7 years of nationally recognized experience in social entrepreneurship and developing innovative solutions for young patients in pediatric settings. He is the founder of Project M@CH (Makerspace at Children's Hospital) and the creator of the "Maker Therapy" approach.

Krishnan was a PhD student in Learning Sciences at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education when he first began volunteering at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. He quickly realized that there were very few activities to engage hospitalized teens. Krishnan designed and constructed the world's first mobile Makerspaces, which help to address the needs of chronically ill patients at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Krishnan’s inspirational “think-outside-the-box” attitude towards learning in an unconventional setting like a children’s hospital has contributed to frequent media exposure (e.g., interviews with CBS Evening News,NPR’s “All Things Considered”, Fast Company, Popular Mechanics), numerous awards (e.g., the White House’s “Honorary Maker” Award), and several prominent speaking engagements (e.g., Cannes Lion Health, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Cognizant Women Empowered Executive Forums). With the help of the Maker Therapy model, Krishnan is on a mission to create a more hopeful world for children living with chronic illnesses.