It’s highly unlikely that a university student would be given the reins to a government-run health agency along with a $1.5 million budget. But in the Global Health Case Competition, this kind of scenario is commonplace.
Of course, the students don’t actually take leadership positions at public health institutions — and they’re not given millions of dollars to do so. But during the competition, they do use their interprofessional skills to solve consequential global health problems.
Each case requires them to think like health professionals and work out the details necessary to untangle complex issues like pandemic preparedness, climate change or maternal mortality.
The Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility’s Global Health Case Competition is open to University of Minnesota graduate and professional students in addition to upper-level undergraduate students. Winning teams win a $3,000 cash prize while second-place teams receive $1,000.
