2009 Global Health Case Competition

Brian Goebel, Goizueta Business School student and chair of the case competition coordinating committee

In April 2009, the Emory Global Health Institute, the Candler School of Theology, and the Graduate Senate co-sponsored a unique event that brought together students from across the campus to address a global health challenge from a multidisciplinary perspective. Initiated and coordinated by the Institute's Student Advisory Committee, the 2009 Global Health Case Competition was a huge success, attracting more students than spots available to compete.

Eight teams of students from all schools at the University evaluated the best strategy for alleviating severe malnutrition in Ethiopia. Students presented numerous strategies that included the use of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), microfinancing for local farmers, mobile nutrition education and prevention interventions, faith-based interventions, and the use of the versatile Moringa Tree as traditional food and RUTF crops. The case was presented to teams a few days before the presentation session, which allowed them to quickly conduct their research, formulate their plans, and prepare their case presentations.

Judges included Dr. Michael ME Johns, Chancellor of the University; Dr. Noel Erskine, Associate Professor at the Candler School of Theology; Dr. Christopher Howard, an Epidemiologic Intelligence Service Officer at the CDC; and Tarun Gulrajani, a senior associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP.

The winning team presented a case consisting of a mobile intervention that provided education on sanitation and safe water and the establishment of partnerships with a local manufacturer of RUTF and other in-country organizations.

Click here to learn more about the 2010 Global Health Case Competition.

The 2009 Global Health Case Competition winning team (left to right, Tracy Fossas, Emily Cumbie-Drake, Marie Desir, Emily Frant, Joshua Case) with Dr. Jeff Koplan