The Department of Health Management and Policy (HMP) hosted the inaugural Blue Cottage Case Competition at the U-M School of Public Health on February 8. Fifty-two students competed in 11 teams at the competition that was jointly sponsored by Blue Cottage Consulting, HMP, and the HMP Griffith Leadership Center.
Three HMP alumnae who provided generous support to the competition were Blue Cottage Consulting President and CEO Juliet Rogers (MPH, PhD), and Blue Cottage staff Imen Alem (MHSA) and Christine Stead (MHSA). Additional HMP alumni and faculty provided invaluable support as judges with several faculty also serving as advisors to the student teams.
All teams were provided with a challenge to develop a children's healthcare strategy in San Antonio, Texas. Students were given several types of data to analyze and had to consider demographics, population risk factors, geography, and public policy when drafting their proposed solutions. Each team gave a polished presentation to a panel of 3-4 judges and then finalists presented to an auditorium of approximately 100 observers. It was a great day for learning, teamwork and fun. We are already planning the event for next year!
U-M School of Public Health Dean Martin Philbert announced the day’s winners:
First-Place Team: Andy Mychkovsky, Jason Buxbaum, and Lili Ferguson (faculty advisor: Kyle Grazier)
Second-Place Team: Swathi Varahabhatla, Rachel Kleinman, Sanjeev Kumar, Stephen Krutko, Tiffany Huang (faculty advisor Zoë McLaren)
Third-Place Team: Cameron Glenn, Daniel Bae, Joshua Bogus, Bradley Hoath, Vivian Yu (faculty advisor Christy Lemak)
Awards were also given for best analytics, best presentation style, best policy incorporated, most innovative solution, and team spirit.
Photo caption:
Winning team members are congratulated by HMP alumna and Blue Cottage President and CEO Juliet Rogers and U-M SPH Dean Martin Philbert. Shown (l. to r.): Lili Ferguson, Jason Buxbaum, Juliet Rogers, Dean Martin Philbert, and Andy Mychkovsky.
