Innovation in Action: 15th Annual Fleming Center Case Competition
On April 5, 2025, the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health buzzed with energy as graduate students from healthcare management programs across Texas gathered for the annual Fleming Center Case Competition. Hosted by The Board, a student-led organization within the Master of Public Health in Healthcare Management program, the event invited teams to solve a timely and complex healthcare leadership challenge.
Seven university teams arrived prepared to tackle real-world problems with strategic insight and collaborative thinking. Their presentations emphasized operational excellence and forward-looking solutions for healthcare delivery.
Winning Teams:
- Texas A&M University earned first place with a standout proposal demonstrating strong analytics and clear feasibility.
- University of Houston – Clear Lake secured second place with a creative and data-driven strategy.
- UTHealth Houston School of Public Health – El Paso Campus claimed third for their community-focused approach.
A distinguished panel of healthcare leaders served as judges, offering insightful feedback while recognizing the exceptional quality of each team’s work. Judges included:
- Luis Garcia, Director of Operations, Methodist Hospital Sugar Land
- David Lopez, Former Chief Executive Officer, Harris Health System; Former Chief Operating Officer, Parkland Health System (retired)
- Dan Newman, Regional Vice President, United Surgical Partners International (USPI)
- Marc Biscone, President, ACHE–SouthEastTexas Chapter (ACHE-SETC)
- Anna Stevens, Senior Partner, Healthcare Division, Weaver and Tidwell
- Christopher Hernandez, Executive Director, Patient Services, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Magdalena Benavides, Regional Director of Operations, RestorixHealth
We extend thanks to Simon West and The Board President, Reeya Singh for coordinating the event, and to everyone who contributed behind the scenes to ensure its success. We look forward to showcasing even more student-driven innovation at next year’s competition.