SPH students to compete in NAHSE Annual Case Competition this week

“We want to continue the legacy of great North Carolina teams,” said Weston, referring to Carolina’s first-place win last year. “We have the time, the energy and desire to do the competition.”

Badriyyah Al-Islam and Laura Espy, who graduated in May with master’s degrees from Carolina’s department of health policy and administration, represented the School during the competition last year and brought home Carolina’s big win.

The competition, sponsored by NAHSE, is a graduate student scholarship program that uses case study methodology to provide an educational experience to enhance problem analysis and presentation skills. NAHSE is a non-profit organization of African-American healthcare executives founded in 1968 to promote the advancement and development of African-American healthcare leaders and elevate the quality of health services in minority and underserved communities.

With NAHSE’s purpose to ensure greater participation of minority groups in the health field, it provides a vehicle for student teams to apply their creativity, knowledge and experience to analyze real situations that healthcare organizations face while also providing a venue of discussion, networking and enrichment.

“It’s a wonderful learning and networking experience,” said Weston. “NAHSE gives networking opportunities in an attempt to change the face of healthcare organizations, which have been predominately led by white males.”

After receiving the case on Sept. 13, Weston and Rogers had about a week to review it before submitting questions to the competition’s teleconference. They will participate in a mock competition today in a meeting with UNC faculty to fine-tune their preparations for the real event.

“UNC has one of the top health admin programs because it has the top faculty,” said Weston. “They will be able to look at our proposals and ask us tough questions so we will be prepared.”

The winners of the competition will be announced during the NAHSE conference’s Scholarship Dinner and Gala. Scholarships of $3000, $2000 and $1000 will be awarded to each member of the first, second and third place teams respectively. Since its inception, the Case Competition has provided almost $145,000 in scholarship awards to graduate students nationwide.

“Our chances of winning are great,” said Weston. “But it’s not about winning; it’s about the learning experience. This competition provides us the opportunity to take what we’ve learned in school and apply it to the case. If we do our best and apply what we’ve learned, we will have a great chance. We are coming from UNC. We have been taught everything that we need to know.”

For further information please contact Ramona DuBose by e-mail at ramona_dubose@unc.edu.