Data Doctors

UofL MSBA Students Win $50K and Place First in Humana-Mays Healthcare Analytics Competition

Three University of Louisville Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) students have propelled the College of Business into the national spotlight, proving that UofL students have the technical expertise, analytical prowess and business acumen to emerge as leaders among the most talented graduate students in the United States. Receiving a cash prize of $50,000 and earning first place in the prestigious Humana-Mays Healthcare Case Competition out of more than 280 teams from across the country, team members Sakthiraj Kandasamy, Susan Miracle and Hope Odubena —aptly named Cardinalytix— outperformed final round teams from Oklahoma State University, the University of Houston, Georgia Institute of Technology and Boston University, impressing judges in the annual online competition with their ability to tackle complex, real-world healthcare problems Humana faces using data analytics. MSBA Program Director Sandeep Goyal believes that “the team excelled due to a combination of hard work, mutual respect, and commitment to excellence.”

PREDICTIVE PREPARATION

Introduced to the competition during the summer 2024 semester by System Vice President for Strategy & Business Intelligence at UofL Health Abraham Gage, who taught a healthcare analytics elective course at the college, the members of Cardinalytix went on to complete a predictive analytics course taught by Brittany Green, which allowed them to participate in a smaller-scale case competition using real-world data as part of their course assignment. This project, which included building predictive models and presenting actionable insights, closely mirrored the structure of the Humana-Mays competition. After the class and about two months before the start of the competition, they began preparing with guidance from Brandon Hardy, who provided feedback on compelling storytelling and presentation.

With an emphasis on a curriculum including coding and predictive modeling, the ability to derive and communicate impactful insights gained from data analysis, hands-on experience with real-world data and a focus on engaging storytelling, members of Cardinalytix were well-equipped and able to face the competition’s challenges confidently. Goyal explained the significance of this competition for UofL students pursuing degrees in data analytics – particularly those with interests in the field of healthcare. “Humana-Mays is critical because Humana is the biggest employer in the Louisville area and is one of the only competitions run primarily by a healthcare provider. The cash prize makes it a great avenue for students to participate.”

FUTURE FRAMEWORK

Interim Dean Jeff Guan believes the MSBA program at UofL stands apart from similar university programs due to technical prowess combined with business acumen. “Companies value our graduates because they can solve business problems,” he explained. “Our student team set themselves apart by their ability to derive business insights from the model and analysis.” With an education geared toward teaching students how to translate real-world problems into practical solutions, UofL’s MSBA students are excelling on the national stage among the best graduate students in the country, proving they are well-equipped to tackle the business and technical challenges of tomorrow.

Are you looking to begin or advance your career with a graduate degree in data analytics? Find out if our MSBA is right for you. https://business.louisville.edu/academics-programs/graduate-programs/msba/

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