On November 14, students from the Ivy College of Business placed first in the Undergraduate Health Administration Case Competition (UHACC) at the Medical University of South Carolina.
The team included Isabelle Langkamp, Madeline Nemmers, Emma Auten and Keagan White, all seniors in healthcare management.
Natallia Gray, the executive director of healthcare initiatives at the Ivy College of Business, said, “It is based on the data and healthcare strategy of the Medical University of South Carolina, thinking from the leadership, management and administrative perspective and how to solve a certain real-life issue or address a certain challenge.”
This was the second time Iowa State was represented at the competition, with this year’s challenge tackling the use of AI in healthcare.
“The task for the students was to create a three-year business plan for the Medical University of South Carolina to implement three different artificial intelligence programs,” Gray said.
The challenge of the competition was described in its ambiguity, regarding how limited the prompt is given the scope of the information available.
“Students were given nothing, so they had to look at a lot of data about the organization to figure out what were the points that need to be addressed,” Gray said. “Then they thought about how we can use AI products and learn a lot about the AI products to create a business plan.”
Speaking on the commitment needed to win in the competition, Gray also talked about the work ethic of the team.
“It takes a lot of discipline to be meeting with your team members on a consistent basis regularly and be thinking about it every single day. They have worked on it, dedicated a lot of time,” Gray said.
Gray expressed the support the Ivy College of Business offers to students who participate in competitions and highlighted the importance of participating in such competitions.
“It is an opportunity for an enriching experience. The college is very supportive of those initiatives and provides funding and travel support for the students to be able to do this,” Gray said.
Gray discussed the traits exhibited by the team that were important to the experience.
“It is all student-led work,” Gray said. “The students have become incredible experts in the topic of healthcare AI. They have put a lot of effort into it, and it paid off, and they have done incredibly well and are very resilient.”
White, a participant, talked about her experience.
“It was a very long five weeks,” White said. “We had ideas that we were going to go with, and then halfway in we decided to scrap that and start fresh. It is a lot of research that needs to be done. You have to back up every reasoning with evidence.”
Teamwork played a big part in their victory, as White said, highlighting the importance of working with others.
“We were together for every single day for five weeks, and you really get to know them and build friendships,” White said.
White also shared advice for students who would be looking to participate in such competitions regarding preparation and mindset.
“You learn a lot in the classroom, but it is hard to implement it when you are not in an environment. Actually implementing that into a healthcare field is a very tight rope to walk,” White said.
Gray also highlighted the importance of teamwork, defining it as the main aggregator for competitors in the competitions.
“I think that the biggest factor that separates the winning teams is teamwork,” Gray said. “Those types of teams with good communication and collaboration skills and work ethic are typically the ones who progress to the finals.”
