Global Health Institute
Global Health Institute

DC Public Health Case Challenge

The DC Public Health Case Challenge is an annual competition that aims to promote interdisciplinary, problem-based learning around a public health issue that faces the local Washington, DC, community.

Application Now Open

The application period for the 2026 Georgetown University team closes on Friday, September 18, 2026 at 11:59pm (ET). Please use your @georgetown.edu email to access the application form.

Apply Now

Since the inaugural case challenge, Georgetown University teams have won all four awards: the Grand Prize, Harrison C. Spencer Memorial Interprofessional Prize, Practicality Prize and Wildcard Prize.

Group of students

Interdisciplinary Teams

Students from across Georgetown’s schools and disciplines come together to form teams of three to six. Undergraduate and graduate students from any Georgetown school can apply.

A panel of judges

A Real-World Challenge

Each year, teams are given a case focused on a local health problem with broader domestic and global relevance. Working within a limited timeframe, they develop an intervention and present their response to a panel of judges.

A bag with words

Competition and Awards

Teams are evaluated on the interdisciplinary nature of their response, feasibility, and creativity. Winning teams receive a monetary prize based on the award category they win.

Georgetown’s Winning Proposals

Team: Omar Anwar (C’26), Talia Korobkin (M’28), Harnoor Sachar (SFS’26), and Shivali Vora (SFS’26)

Project: Breathe Easy: Improving Air Quality, Respiratory Health, and Environmental Justice in Washington, DC

Team: Ayomide Aduloju (G’24), Erica Kim (SFS’24), Shereika Mills (L’24), Salvatore (Sal) Sulimay (G’24), Nicole Vernot-Jonas (H’24), and Allison Willett (M’26)

Project: DC Health

Team: Bailey Smith (L’23), Guillermina Pappier (L’23), Harrison Tandy (G’23), Carrigan Rice (H’24), Alyaa Chase (L’23)), and Uttara Jhaveri (L’23)

Project: ICAN: IPV Counseling for Adolescents Now

Team: Carolina Andrada (G’23), Cat Gardiner (L’21), Chloé Jammes (H’19, M’23), Miller Richmond (M’24), Agrata Sharma (L’22), and Elaine Chen (L’18)

Project: SHAPE DC

Team: Caroline King (G’18, G’23, M’22), Noah Martin (H’17, G’19), Prakesha Mathur (G’19), Emily Shaffer (M’21), Katelyn Shahbazian (SFS’18), and Matthew Simmons (H’18)

Project: Project Resilience

Team: Caroline Kim (SFS’16), Claire Hong (C’16), DongHyun [Andrew] Hong (C’16), Ryan Jeffery (SFS’16), and Michelle White (M’16)

Project: VET UNITY

Team: Chandani Desai (C’15), Claire Lang (C’14), Megan Prior (M’15), Suzanne Huszagh (NHS’14) and Darshana Prakasam (B’14)

Project: Violence Affecting LGBT Youth