FAQ

Who is eligible to participate?

The 2024 Southeastern Regional Health Improvement Case Competition is open to all undergraduate and graduate students from universities across Georgia (Emory, Georgia Tech, Morehouse, UGA, GSU, etc.) and Duke, Johns Hopkins, and Vanderbilt.

Do I need to be in healthcare to participate? 

No prior healthcare background is required. However, each team must consist of members from at least two different degree granting programs (e.g. BSN and MPH) in order to provide each team with an equal opportunity to approach the case from both a healthcare and non-healthcare perspective.

Please note that teams may be shuffled if necessary to account for the interdisciplinary requirement for each team.

If I don’t have a team, can I still participate? 

Absolutely! All interested students are welcome to apply as individuals.

We will place individuals without teams onto teams of 3-5 and will provide all contact information prior to the start of the competition.

How much time is required for participation?

From the time registration closes, students are given four weeks to research, develop, and present their proposals. Registration is open until March 1, 2024 and the prompt will be released on March 4, 2024. The first-round deadline is March 11, 2024 and final presentations are due on March 24, 2024.

While some of those dates are required for participation (please see “Important Dates” on the Homepage for more information) we strongly recommend that each team meets regularly to understand the case, identify key deliverables as it pertains to their team solution, and rehearse their presentation.

When will participants receive the case and additional resources?

Teams will receive the case prompt (as well as rosters and contact information for those registering as individuals) on March 4, 2024. At this time, teams will also receive additional resources necessary for the creation of proposals.

What resources will be provided to each team?

The case packet itself will have several pieces of background information and resources for students to use.

In addition, each team will receive supporting, de-identified data. Teams can choose to use this data to support proposal ideation and development, but detailed analysis of any data is not necessary.

Students may also use additional resources external to the packet so long as their use of these resources is properly noted and cited. 

Can student teams reach out to judges or subject matter experts?

No — student teams are not allowed to reach out to judges and or subject matter experts throughout the case competition. Contact will lead to immediate disqualification.

We understand that this case may be new information that requires research and additional education, but we strongly encourage you to rely on your team members to gain an in-depth understanding. Your case packet includes a detailed rubric with proposal requirements and evaluation criteria.

To assist proposal development, each first-round team will be paired with a student mentor who is familiar with the case prompt and competition rubric. 

Final-round teams will be matched with a faculty subject matter expert for a short (~30-minute) session to receive feedback prior to final presentations. 

Will I be reimbursed if I’m traveling from out of town?

Yes — all students traveling from outside of Georgia will be reimbursed for the cost of transportation (airplanes, gas, Ubers/Lyfts, etc.) and a one-night stay at a local hotel on Sunday, March 24, 2024 the evening before the Final Presentations. Please be sure to keep all receipts to ensure that you are properly reimbursed.