This year brought outstanding participation from Health Administration students in case competitions around the country.

Students are given the opportunity to apply their classroom learning to real-world issues as part of a simulation, developing comprehensive strategic business plans to present to a judging panel of healthcare executives.

Due to an outpouring of interest, the department has sent teams of first- and second-year students to a record number of competitions over the last year, including: National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Cleveland Clinic, and Cornell Sloan, where the VCU team placed third overall.

At the National CLARION Case Competition, MHA student Lance Mendoza participated with an interdisciplinary group of students from VCU, taking first place in the prestigious competition, in addition to winning the DEI Award.

First year MHA students Jared Dawson, Emma Creech, and Mendoza won third place in the Cornell Sloan case competition, sponsored by Centra Health in Denver, Colo.

“The growing interest of VCU students in case competitions stems from the recent success of our students who participated in the NAHSE 2020 case competition, where they placed fifth overall,” said department chair Paula H. Song. “Our students are eager to have applied experiential learning opportunities. It also provides a wonderful opportunity to hone their strategic thinking and presentation skills.”

Thanks to the support of alumni who aid in case competition preparation, students are also making valuable connections to bring with them as they prepare for their third-year residencies and future careers.

“I think we will see students’ participation in case competitions continue to grow during the next several years,” added Song. “Their work this year has been outstanding, and an inspiration to future cohorts.” 

In Denver, first-year MHA students Lance Mendoza, Emma Creech, and Jared Dawson placed third in the Cornell Sloan Case Competition sponsored by Centura Health. 

Josephine Gresko, Lance Mendoza, Gruhi Patel, and Kush Savsani teamed to win a national title. (Tom Kojcsich, University Marketing)

The VCU Team at NAHSE. Left to right: Manneja Cordray, Quetel Sellers, Malea Riley.

Health Administration students at the UAB Case Competition. Left to right: Tanner Young, Delaney Mayette, Kyle Santillan.

MHA students Victor Melo, Alex Ritchie, William Keyt compete at the Ohio State Case competition.