Iowa Teams Travel to The Ohio State University Case Competition

From Left (Back Row): Hannah Fink (Observer, MHA'19), Marisa Polonsky (Team 20, MHA '19), Nora Kopping (Team Coach, MHA '18), Mackenzie Schutz (Team 9, MHA '19), Kim Ogden (Team Coach, MHA '18)
From Left (Front Row): Dan Carpintero (Team 20, MHA'19), Benjamin Mohr (Team 20, MHA '19), Jonathan Ortega (Team 9, MHA '19), Bobby Skogsbergh (Team 9, MHA '19) 

Each year the University of Iowa MHA program sends a team to Ohio State University (OSU) to compete in a first-year case competition. This year the program had the pleasure of sending two Iowa teams, each equipped with a second-year coach, and a shared observer. The case involved the creation of  strategic goals centered around diabetes care that aligned well with the ambitions already in place at OSU Wexner Medical Center. Required deliverables of the case called for critical thinking skills from the students. Without hesitation, both teams dedicated four weeks of their time to develop exceptional presentations for the judges. 

Both teams had outstanding performances and team #9 advanced from the beginning 24 teams into the final six. In true Iowa fashion, team #20, the observer, and coaches supported the final presentation of team #9, which was stronger than ever. While the team did not end up placing, all Iowa students were quick to engage with the winning teams to congratulate them on their performances and recognition. Overall, the experience was great for students to network with several professionals, meet other talented graduate students obtaining their education from CAHME accredited programs across the country, and individually grow as healthcare leaders themselves. After the competition, the group attended dinner with local Iowa alumni in Columbus to round out a very rewarding experience. Reflections from team members are shared below:

Team 20. From left: Benjamin Mohr (Team member); Marisa Polonsky (Team lead); Daniel Carpintero (Team member); and Hannah Fink (Observer) 

Hannah Fink (MHA '19) 

“The case competition provided me with the opportunity to apply practical skills introduced in the classroom to a real-life scenario. Watching not only the Iowa teams, but also all teams in the finals made me realize how important every team’s final product is to the OSU Wexner Medical Center. All judges in the final round were from this institution and showed genuine interest in what each presentation had to offer. Individually, I am honored to have watched the evolution from initial team meetings, to critiquing near final products, and lastly to feeling incredibly proud of my classmates in their presentation deliveries. I learned a lot by discussing potential strategies with each of them and helping prompt potential questions a judge might ask. Alternating between teams gave me the ability to notice the unique approach each team utilized and granted me with a memorable experience, a wealth of knowledge, and insight on competing in a case competition myself in the years to come.”

Benjamin Mohr (MHA ’19)

“Preparing and delivering our case analysis was one of the best combinations of competition and collaboration I have experienced in the program to date. The case competition gave us an opportunity to reflect upon and show the skills we have developed in our first year of study. After our team was eliminated, it was fun to watch the finalists deliver their presentations. After going over our own presentation so many times, it was interesting to see how other teams thought through the case and what recommendations they decided to propose. Beyond the competition itself, the entire trip offered opportunities to meet and network with other students, as well as current working professionals. I would recommend participating in these competitions to all students.” 

Team 9. From left: Bobby Skogsbergh (Team lead); Hannah Fink (Observer); Mackenzie Schutz (Team member); and Jonathan Ortega (Team member)

Bobby Skogsbergh (MHA ’19)

“Having the opportunity to participate in the 7th Annual Ohio State University first-year case competition was one of the most valuable experiences I have had throughout my academic career. As first-year students, we have been acquiring a vast amount of healthcare knowledge via our fantastic MHA curriculum, and this case competition afforded us with an opportunity to put these classroom skills to the test in a real-life situation. Not only were we able to further strengthen our critical thinking skills, but we were also able to improve our communication and presentation skills. 

Thank you to the countless students and faculty members who took time out of their busy schedules to offer support and encouragement to Jonathan, Mackenzie, and myself as we built our case. I want to especially recognize Kim Ogden (2nd-year coach) and Hannah Fink (observer) and thank them for the roles they played throughout these last four weeks. Your time and effort contributed significantly to our strong performance in Columbus, and we couldn’t have done it without you!”

Mackenzie Schutz (MHA ’19)

“I am honored to have represented the University of Iowa at The Ohio State University’s Annual Healthcare Case Competition alongside my teammates Bobby Skogsbergh and Jonathan Ortega. The case competition served as one of the most valuable learning experiences of my collegiate career so far in terms of advancing my professionalism, presentation skills, and work ethic. Despite the long nights of preparation, the heightened caffeine consumption, and the competition day nerves, I enjoyed every step of the process. Most memorable are the relationships built with my classmates, faculty, and our second-year coach, Kim Ogden. I am thankful for the knowledge, passion, support, and encouragement these classmates and mentors possess and so freely share to enhance my educational experience and professional development.”