Two global health case competitions to be hosted by UAB Sparkman Center for Global Health

UAB Sparkman Center for Global Health hosts global health case competitions for UAB students and students from across the state. Multidisciplinary teams propose innovative recommendations to a global health issue.

sparkman center 2017Students compete in multidisciplinary teams to solve global health issues. In 2016, this team presented and won the case competition focusing on Child and Adolescent Sex Trafficking in Thailand.The University of Alabama at Birmingham Sparkman Center for Global Health will host the eighth annual UAB Student Global Health Case Competition on Saturday, Feb. 11. In addition to the UAB case competition, a statewide competition will take place Feb. 25 that is open to college students across Alabama.

Both global health case competitions bring together multidisciplinary teams who are tasked with providing strategic and innovative recommendations to a real-world global health problem.

“We are happy to sponsor this event once more from the Sparkman Center,” said Craig Wilson, M.D., director of the UAB Sparkman Center for Global Health. “Students are given a practical problem challenge that supplements and expands their global education and exposure.”

UAB Student Global Health Case Competition

The 2017 UAB Global Health Case Competition will comprise 12 multidisciplinary teams representing eight UAB schools and 66 individuals (39 undergraduate and 27 graduate students).

The case will be released via email to the team captains Monday, Feb. 6, at 5 p.m. Teams will work with a faculty mentor to get feedback on their ideas. On Saturday, Feb. 11, teams will have 15 minutes to present their proposals to a panel of judges followed by a five-minute question-and-answer session. Winning teams will be awarded cash prizes of $1,500 for first place, $1,000 for second place and $500 for third place.

Following the UAB competition, teams will be selected to represent UAB at the 2017 Statewide Global Health Case Competition and the 2017 International Emory Global Health Case Competition.

UAB Statewide Global Health Case Competition

Students from Alabama universities will compete in the first Statewide Global Health Case Competition Saturday, Feb. 25. It offers a platform for multidisciplinary competition for undergraduate students from UAB, University of Alabama, Auburn University, Birmingham Southern College, Samford University, University of Montevallo and other state universities.

Undergraduate students will collaborate in teams of at least four to develop and propose an innovative solution to a current global public health issue. Students are selected by participating institutions. Teams will receive the case via email Monday, Feb. 20.

On Saturday, Feb. 25, teams will have 15 minutes to present their proposals to a panel of judges followed by a five-minute question-and-answer session. The top three teams will be awarded cash prizes of $1,500 for first place, $1,000 for second place and $500 for third place.