Graduate Student Interdisciplinary Essay Contest
The crucial step to transforming the patient experience is prioritizing the synergy between digital health solutions and interprofessional collaboration. To foster this vital collaboration, MEDI+SIGN, in partnership with the HIMSS Global Health Conference and CAHIIM, invites you to participate in this prestigious essay contest. This competition challenges graduate students across CAHIIM-accredited informatics programs and their peers in clinical healthcare disciplines to explore and articulate how digital health innovation, powered by robust interprofessional collaboration, can fundamentally and positively transform the patient experience.
Rules and Regulations
The following details the requirements of the contest. Any entry that does not meet these requirements will be disqualified.
Participant Eligibility Requirement
In order to participate in this contest, all participants must:
- be at least 21 years of age;
- be a legal resident of the United States;
- be a current student of a CAHIIM-accredited Master-level program or a member of the HIMSS Academic Organization Affiliate or the HIMSS Approved Education Partner programs.
- acknowledge and accept all the terms and conditions of the Contest outlined on this webpage.
- be willing to travel and present at the HIMSS26 Workforce ConneXtions, on March 11, 2026, if selected as the winning team.
Team Entry
Participants or program faculty may submit an essay as a team entry. The teams must consist of the following:
- Team consisting of a maximum of two (2) students from the same university: One (1) student from a CAHIIM-accredited health informatics Master-level program and one (1) healthcare informatics Master’s student or one from a similar discipline such as nursing, medicine, allied health, or others; or
- Team consisting of a maximum of two (2) individuals: One (1) student from a CAHIIM-accredited Master-level program and one (1) from a HIMSS Approved Education Partner (AEP) or HIMSS Academic Organizational Affiliate (AOA).
Essay Submission
Four of the top five priorities in the Rural Healthy People 2030 report are mental health, addiction, obesity, and drug & alcohol abuse. In every healthcare setting, providers face growing challenges in meeting patient mental health needs while working together across disciplines and supporting staff well-being. Interprofessional collaboration—bringing together clinical, administrative, and informatics professionals — is essential to improving communication, care coordination, and patient outcomes.
Considering the Rural Healthy People 2030 report’s findings of the impact of mental health conditions, what interprofessional strategies would you recommend for improving communication, care coordination, and patient outcomes, while promoting staff well-being and resilience?
Entrants would be judged on how well they approach strategies in managing patients presenting for care at a provider site, typically for more than just mental health, but for other health issues as well. This is not just about the implementation of technology, and participants are encouraged to think outside of Telehealth. As health systems innovate to enhance teamwork and patient engagement, leaders must create approaches to address patient well-being and also support the people who provide that care.
Evaluation Criteria
Essays will be judged based on the following criteria:
- Clarity of Proposal (30%)
- Evidence of Commercial Bias / Influence (20%)
- Innovation / Creativity of Proposal (20%)
- Practical Implications of the Proposal (10%)
- Timeliness / Appropriateness of Topic (10%)
- Value to the HIMSS Global Conference Audience (10%)
Format and Length
Originality: The essay must be the original and unpublished work of the author, specifically written for this Essay Contest.
- Language: English
- Cover Page: Includes a title, identifying individuals and their school, and the name of the competition.
- Formatting:
- 12-point, Times New Roman or similar professional font.
- Double-spaced.
- 1-inch margin on all sides.
- 1,000 words and two-page maximum (excluding the Title Page, Abstract, and Reference List).
- File Type: Word doc (.docx or .doc)
- All Submissions are to be uploaded onto the HIMSS GHC Informa Session board portal (link to be provided).
Timeline
- The deadline for submission is 11:59 PM ET on Monday, November 17, 2025.
- Judges will review and score proposals received. Up to three (3) finalists from the entries will be selected.
- Teams will be notified on Thursday, November 20, 2025.
- Each Team selected as a Finalist will present a PPT slide deck of their entry via a Teams call tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, December 3, 2025, beginning at 1:00 PM ET. Team A: 1:00 – 1:45 PM ET; Team B: 2:00 – 2:45 PM ET; Team C: 3:00 – 3:45 PM ET.
- Judges’ deliberations of the finalists’ presentations will take place on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 3:00 PM ET via Teams.
- When will winners be notified?
Recognition & Awards
- First place winning team presentation will occur at the HIMSS26 Workforce ConneXtions event, held on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at Venetian, Level 5, Palazzo G.
- The winning team will receive:
- $4,000 cash per student.
- $1,000 travel allowance per student.
- 3 nights lodging per student at HIMSS26 Global Health Conference and Exhibition.
- Recognition at HIMSS26.
- Essay publication in HIMSS/CAHIIM/MEDI+SIGN outlets.
- The Top 3 Finalists will present at the CAHIIM Summit on Higher Education in Fall 2026. They will receive a Certificate of Recognition and will be recognized in CAHIIM, HIMSS, and MEDI+SIGN communications.
Conditions of Participation:
Non-Transferability and Substitution of Prize: Prizes are non-transferable and may not be substituted for cash. The Sponsors reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value. The Sponsors make no warranties regarding the prizes.
Rights Granted by Participants: By participating in the contest, entrants grant MEDI+SIGN, CAHIIM, and HIMSS/Informa a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, distribute, display, and publish the essays, submission materials, photos, videos, and related contest content for communications, promotional, educational, and marketing purposes. By accepting a prize, winners agree that the Sponsors may use their name, likeness, photograph, voice, and biographical information for all communications, promotional, educational, and marketing purposes without further compensation, unless prohibited by law.
Release of Liability: By entering this Contest, each participant agrees to these Official Rules and the final decisions of the Sponsor. By participating, each entrant releases and discharges the Sponsors and all their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from any and all liability or claims related to this Contest. This release includes, without limitation, all legal claims, costs, injuries, losses, damages, or actions of any kind (including personal injury, death, property damage, and claims regarding publicity or privacy). Except where prohibited by law, acceptance of a prize by a winner constitutes their complete and unconditional agreement to release and hold harmless the Released Parties from any and all claims, demands, or liabilities related to the administration of the Contest and the use or misuse of the prize.
Entry Ownership & Costs: All physical or digital entries submitted become the property of the Sponsors and will not be returned. Non-winning entrants are, however, free to submit their entries for publication elsewhere. The entrant is solely responsible for all costs and expenses involved in preparing and submitting their entry.
Right to Cancel or Modify: The Sponsor is not responsible for errors, lost, late, or misdirected submissions, or for technical failures (such as bugs, viruses, or hardware/software failures). The Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, modify, or terminate the Contest if it cannot be completed as planned. This could happen due to technical difficulties, unauthorized intervention, tampering, computer virus infection, or any force majeure event.
Artificial Intelligence: The use of all generative artificial intelligence (AI) is strictly prohibited to create any portion of a participant’s written submission. This ban applies to all phases of the work, including research, writing, and editing. Upon submission, the participant affirms that they did not utilize generative AI in preparing their written work product. The Sponsors reserve the right to screen all submissions using an AI detection tool. Any participant found to have used generative AI to create their work, in whole or in part, will be immediately disqualified. If AI use is discovered after a winner has been announced and a prize awarded, the participant will forfeit the winning designation and must immediately return the prize or its cash value to the Sponsors upon request. A new winner will then be selected.
Laws and Regulations: This Contest is governed exclusively by U.S. law, including all relevant federal, state, and local laws and regulations. By entering, all participants agree that the Contest is specifically governed by the laws of the State of Illinois. Participants further agree that Cook County, Illinois, shall be the exclusive venue for any dispute or litigation arising from or relating to this Contest, and that Illinois courts shall have sole jurisdiction. The Contest is void where prohibited by law.
Questions
Applicants may submit any questions or concerns to <ENTER CONTACT & EMAIL>.