The Public Health Case Competition is open to all DSPH undergraduate, MS, and MPH students who want to engage in a unique learning experience, address a Philadelphia public health problem in a team environment, and have a chance to win prize money!

Held annually each February, the competition brings together up to ten interdisciplinary teams to create innovative solutions to address a real-life public health issue impacting Philly. Over just two weeks, teams collaborate effectively and quickly before presenting their intervention to a panel of judges on competition day. This year's topic is preventative health access.

2026 Case Competition

The 2026 case competition kicks off in February. The presentations and awards ceremony will take place virtually on Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Registration is open now

Teams and individuals registration is open now through January 30.

Did you miss January's virtual information session? You can view the presentation here.

Prizes

• Winning Team: $1000 per team
• Honorable Mention: $500 per team
• People’s Choice Award: $500 per team

Frequently Asked Questions about the Case Competition

Registration

How do I register to participate in the case competition?

Registration is open! Register now for the case competition. The deadline to register is Jan. 30 

Can online students participate?

Yes! The competition is virtual, and it is open to on-campus and online students.

What should I do if I have one or two people for my team but not a full team of 4 or 5?

You can register as a partial team.

If you register as an individual, will you be in a team of 4 or 5?

Yes. Teams are created using a lottery system if you register as an individual or partial team.

Will teams that have 5 people have priority over teams with 4 or partial teams?

No, it is a lottery system due to the complex nature of matching teams.

If I get selected to participate, do I have to confirm that I want to take part in the competition?

Yes, each team member must confirm their participation or their spot will be given to someone on the wait list.

Deliverables and Competition Period

What is this year's topic?

This year's topic is preventative health access.

What are the deliverables?

There are two deliverables: One graphic deliverable and one written deliverable. Each team has 5-7 minutes to present followed by a short Q&A from the judges.

How many times are you able to meet with your team's mentor?

Teams meet with their mentor two times for an hour each. Mentors are matched with teams randomly. We have mentors from all departments. Students should go to mentors with specific questions, not for help with ideas.

Competition Day

What if I can’t come to Competition Day?

At least two participants from each team must be able to attend the presentations judging session and awards ceremony on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. We encourage as many to participate as possible, but we understand that there may be conflicts with class, work, etc.

How much time will be given to present on Competition Day?

Each team will have 5 - 7 minutes to present on February 25th, followed by a short Q&A from the judges. 

How many judges will there be?

There are 3 judges. The judges will be Dornsife professors.

Will we be able to watch other teams?

Judging is private. There is a virtual awards ceremony on Competition Day, and everyone is invited to attend.

If you have additional questions please view the information session or contact lead event organizer Tariem Burroughs.

Dornsife's Public Health Case Competition is coordinated by the Office of Education.

Read about our first annual Public Health Student Case Competition in 2020. Teams were asked to find solutions to mitigate the potential negative public health impacts of the 2019 Hahnemann Hospital closure in Philadelphia.

In the second annual Public Health Student Case Competition in 2021, teams addressed COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and created an outreach plan for a targeted community in Philadelphia.

The third annual Public Health Student Case Competition in 2022 addressed the topic of protecting vulnerable populations from extreme heat events.

The fourth annual Public Health Student Case Competition in 2023 addressed the topic of food insecurity and food injustice in Philadelphia.

The fifth annual Public Health Student Case Competition in 2024 addressed the intersection between public health and housing.

The sixth annual Public Health Student Case Competition in 2025 focused on the theme of micro mobility. Teams were tasked with creating a flyer to educate Philadelphians about laws and regulations for bike and scooter use, as well as resources for reporting issues.