Case Competitions in the Limelight
Student teams set their sights on solving healthcare challenges
Through their involvement in external case competitions, Robbins Healthcare MBA students at Baylor University demonstrate their problem-solving abilities and hone their business acumen. These competitions provide opportunities to apply theoretical concepts, enhance presentation skills and network with industry professionals.
Trinity University Healthcare PRISm Pitch Competition
During the 2023-2024 academic year, the Robbins Healthcare MBA Program achieved a significant milestone by forming a joint team with Columbia University’s Business School. This interdisciplinary team, composed of Steven Davis (Robbins Healthcare MBA), Meade Monger (Baylor PhD in Health Services Research) and Kerri Natkiel (Columbia Business School – Healthcare Management), competed at the Trinity University Healthcare PRISm Pitch Competition. Although they did not place, the team successfully brought their proposed solution to market. This revenue cycle/IT solution helps private practices track key performance indicators, such as denials, accounts receivable, contractual adjustments and store contract rates.
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Health Administration Case Competition
The 2024 Baylor University team of Bri Bates, McGwire Bustamante and Hailey Gulbransen competed in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Health Administration Case Competition, held from Feb. 28 to March 1, 2024. They were tasked with developing solutions for the pediatric behavioral mental health crisis in St. Louis, Missouri. The team focused on preventative measures to address before escalation as well as interventive measures to manage crises after they occur.
Business School Alliance for Health Management Case Competition
Baylor students Samuel Barron, Juliet Barrera and Andrew Thomas competed in the Business School Alliance for Health Management Case Competition at the University of Colorado – Denver on Feb. 9, 2024. The team proposed a comprehensive solution to address the nursing shortage, combining nurse retention strategies with long-term investments in nurse training pipelines for a local healthcare system.
The Ohio State University First-Year Healthcare Case Competition
Zach Bush, Maheen Kara and Hunter Walker, representing the Robbins Healthcare MBA Program, achieved first place in the Ohio State University First-Year Healthcare Case Competition in 2024. Their outstanding performance showcased their ability to develop effective strategies for expanding Peak Health’s Medicare Advantage Plan in West Virginia.
Zach Bush, Maheen Kara and Hunter Walker, shown here with Cherise Bridgwater, Accreditation and Operations Director, were first-place winners at the 2024 Ohio State University First-Year Healthcare Case Competition.
StellusRX ‘live case’ featured in seventh Robbins Case Competition in Healthcare Management
The Robbins Institute Case Competition held Oct. 20, 2023, featured a live case written by Robbins faculty members Forest Kim and Neil Fleming, as well as Ashley Dao, Robbins Healthcare MBA Class of 2024. The case centered on StellusRX, a pharmacy services company that focuses on improving medication adherence and patient outcomes.
Specifically, the case challenged teams to develop Stellus Engage as a DTC model. StellusRX executives Dr. Jeff Bullard, chief strategy and product officer and chief medical officer, and Amy Christen, senior vice president of People/HR, served as judges and provided valuable feedback to the teams.
A student team from the University of Colorado Denver took home first place and $12,000. The second-place award of $8,000 went to the University of Toronto team, while the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s team earned third place, collecting $4,000. Overall, Baylor awarded a total of $27,000 in the competition to individual students and student teams.
The best responses to the question-and-answer session from the three morning venues were Ben Kill from the University of Minnesota, Hailey Strudthoff from the University of Iowa, and Dallas Ward from Ohio State University. Each of these students received $500.
The best presenters from the three morning venues were Lauren Mulholland from Virginia Commonwealth University, David Guo from the University of Toronto, and Christopher Lin from the University of Southern California. They each won $500.
“The competition was designed to provide a forum for master’s-level students to participate in a national case competition in healthcare management with a distinct financial emphasis,” said Scott Garner, co-director of the Robbins Healthcare MBA Program. “This is an increasingly critical area of expertise within the healthcare industry.”
The case competition also affords opportunities for students and faculty to network and interact with healthcare industry professionals, build academic-industry partnerships, and facilitate opportunities for internships, residencies and future employment.
Competing universities are chosen from among full-time Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education-accredited or Business School Alliance for Health Management member programs. Participation in the event is by invitation only.
Participating schools
- George Washington University
- Saint Louis University
- The Ohio State University
- Trinity University
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- University of Colorado Denver
- University of Iowa
- University of Minnesota
- University of Pittsburgh
- University of Southern California
- Virginia Commonwealth University
Robbins Case Competition Winners
First Place
Top honors and a $12,000 prize went to the student team of Allyson Wedley, Jordan Gay and Heather Lam from the University of Colorado – Denver, shown here with Mary Jo Robbins, The Robbins Foundation.
Second Place
The University of Toronto team of David Guo, Yifan Cao and Jason DaGama took second place, winning an $8,000 prize.
Third Place
Mahee Patel, Greg Jenkins and Jonathan Owsley of the University of Alabama at Birmingham earned $4,000 for their third-place win.
