Health Care Administration Students Turn Innovation Into Action

Students in Trinity University’s Master of Science in Health Care Administration (HCAD) program completed a dynamic spring semester filled with experiential learning, professional development, innovation, and connection. Throughout the semester, students applied classroom concepts to real health care challenges through national case competitions, design thinking projects, site visits, guest speaker sessions, networking events, and the administrative residency placement process. 

Together, these experiences challenged students to think critically about health care delivery, strengthen their communication and leadership skills, and explore the many ways health care administrators can create meaningful impact across hospitals, clinics, health systems, and communities. 

Learning Beyond the Classroom 

A defining feature of the spring semester was the opportunity for students to learn by doing. Through hands-on projects and professional experiences, students moved beyond theory and engaged directly with the kinds of operational, strategic, and patient-centered challenges facing health care organizations today. 

This semester especially emphasized innovation from within health care systems. Students explored how health care leaders can identify problems, understand user needs, test solutions, and build practical ideas that improve care delivery and organizational performance. These experiences helped students develop the intrapreneurial mindset needed to lead change from within complex health care environments. 

Cleveland Clinic Case Competition 

This spring, first-year residential students participated in the 2026 Cleveland Clinic Case Competition, a fast-paced, immersive experience that challenged teams to develop innovative solutions to real operational and patient-care challenges. Students worked under tight timelines to analyze the case, develop recommendations, and present their strategies in a professional competition format.

Three first-year HCAD teams advanced to the quarterfinal round and traveled to Cleveland to compete against top programs from across the country. This year’s competition focused on digital health solutions designed to improve patient experience, support caregivers, and strengthen health system performance. 

We are incredibly proud of all three teams for their creativity, collaboration, and professionalism throughout the competition. A special congratulations to The IV League Team for taking first place. 

Congratulations to Natalie Lane M’27, Joy Areola ’25, M’27, Luke Phillips M’27, Mackenzie Logan ’24, M’27, Karishma Bhakta ’25, M’27, Karishma Patel M’27, Michael Slimming M’27, Kelsey Marroquin M’27, Elys Enriquez M’27, Rumya Padakandla ’24, M’27, Alfred Parker III M’27, and Kyle Ludlow M’27 for representing the HCAD program so well. Their work reflected the problem-solving, teamwork, and dedication that define Trinity HCAD students. 

Tiger Tank 

Students also participated in Tiger Tank, a hands-on design thinking and entrepreneurship experience focused on identifying and solving real health care problems. Over the course of two months, students researched health care challenges, examined root causes, gathered feedback, and developed innovative solutions grounded in user needs. 

The experience culminated in a Shark Tank-style pitch event, where students presented their solutions to industry judges. Through this process, students practiced thinking like health care intrapreneurs: listening carefully, testing ideas, refining solutions, and considering how meaningful change can be created from within health care organizations. 

Congratulations to this year’s winning teams: 

Most Impactful: Luke Phillips M’27, Michael Slimming M’27, Alfred Parker III M’27, and Dhiraj Veerappan ’24, M’27 

Most Investable: Karishma Bhakta ’25, M’27, Abigail Jordan M’27, Michael Sanchez ’25, M’27, and Viviana Ramos M’27 

Champions: Natalie Lane M’27, Mackenzie Logan ’24, M’27, and Elys Enriquez M’27

We are proud of all of our students for their creativity, hard work, and commitment to addressing meaningful health care challenges. Tiger Tank served as a powerful reminder that health care innovation is not limited to external disruption. It also comes from leaders within organizations who are willing to ask thoughtful questions, collaborate across disciplines, and build practical solutions that improve care.

ACHE Congress Alumni Social 

This spring, the HCAD community gathered in Houston for the HCAD Alumni Social during ACHE Congress. More than 140 alumni, students, faculty, and friends attended, making it one of the program’s strongest turnouts yet. Events like this reflect the strength of the Trinity HCAD network and the relationships that continue long after graduation. We are grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening such a meaningful opportunity for connection, mentorship, and community. 

Friday Site Visits and Guest Speakers 

Students continued to connect classroom learning with real-world practice through Friday site visits and guest speaker sessions. These experiences gave students the opportunity to engage with health care executives, learn about different organizational models, and explore leadership pathways across the health care industry. 

This semester, students visited and heard from leaders across several major Texas markets, including: 

Dallas: Texas Health Resources, Parkland Health, Medical City Dallas, and Cook Children’s 

Austin: St. David’s HealthCare and the Texas Hospital Association 

Houston: Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, Memorial Hermann, and HCA Houston Healthcare 

Through these experiences, students gained exposure to hospital operations, ambulatory care, system strategy, community health, payer dynamics, and executive leadership. These visits also allowed students to ask thoughtful questions, reflect on their career interests, and better understand the many ways health care leaders shape organizations and communities. 

Preceptors Conference 

This semester, students participated in preceptor interviews as part of the HCAD administrative residency placement process. Throughout the week, students met with health care leaders from hospitals, health systems, clinics, and corporate teams as they worked toward securing their residency placements for the coming year. These interviews gave students the opportunity to share their experiences, discuss their career goals, and learn more about the organizations, projects, and leadership opportunities available through the administrative residency. We are excited for what lies ahead as students take this important next step in their HCAD journey.

Closing the Semester, Looking Ahead 

As the spring semester comes to a close, HCAD students reflect on a semester filled with growth, innovation, and connection. From the Cleveland Clinic Case Competition and Tiger Tank to site visits, guest speakers, ACHE Congress, and preceptor interviews, students gained meaningful opportunities to apply their learning and continue developing as health care leaders. Looking ahead, students will begin the next chapter of their HCAD experience through administrative residencies, summer professional development, and continued engagement with the HCAD alumni network. These experiences will further prepare students to lead with curiosity, confidence, and purpose in a rapidly evolving health care landscape.