This February, Northwestern University is hosting its first annual Global Health Case Competition. Eight teams made up of undergraduate and graduate students from various schools and disciplines will be presented with a global health case study during this two-day competition, February 14-15th 2014. They will compete to develop global health recommendations that are sustainable and feasible as a solution to the case. On Friday, teams will be given the case and access to a room on campus to meet with a mentor and prepare for the competition. The competitors will then present before a panel of judges on Saturday and share their multidisciplinary solution to the global health challenges. A keynote speaker and reception will follow in Harris Hall, and all members of the Northwestern University are encouraged to attend!
The competition is modeled after Emory’s International Global Health Case Competition, which according to its website has a “focus on a global health-related cases that require an interdisciplinary approach to formulate recommendations.” The Emory Case Competition consists of 24 teams from around the world competing for cash prizes as well as networking with one another. Kate Klein, a member of the Faculty and Staff Advisory Committee planning the case competition, participated in the Emory competition last year. Reflecting on the 2013 competition, Kate remarked “We were happy with what we had done; we were proud as a team. No, we did not win, but later that day at the farewell reception, surrounded by other students, everyone was still riding high from the thrill of the past few days. In the end the best part was that despite our diverse backgrounds and educations, we worked together as a team.”
The winning Northwestern team will be sent to the Emory’s International Global Health Case Competition held in March 2014 with all expenses paid. The top two teams will also receive cash prizes! The competition is being co-sponsored by the Program of African Studies, the Office of International Program Development, the Buffet Center for Comparative and International Studies, the Center for Global Engagement, and the Center for Global Health.
