MSDA students receive first place in data challenge

Three graduate students in the data analytics program, along with Alli Snyder, assistant professor of data analytics, received first place in a virtual data challenge conference. The students are Claudia Alocer, Angie Zhang, and Lawrence Bukenya, who will be graduating in May 2021.

The group focused on a county-level program to combat health disparities and presented the results to major stakeholders of Indiana last month. The students also received $1,000.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has set an ambitious goal to greatly reduce the state’s infant mortality rate and achieve the lowest rate among Midwestern states by 2024. To support these efforts, the HIMSS Indiana Chapter in coordination with Indiana FSSA, the Indiana Department of Health, Indiana Management Performance Hub, the Regenstrief Institute, KSM Consulting, Parkview Health, and BioCrossroads conducted a virtual data challenge. By convening students, researchers, policymakers, health care professionals, and entrepreneurs from across the state, the challenge will propel the exploration and analysis of Indiana’s data to deliver powerful insights and innovative solutions that result in better health outcomes for Hoosier moms and babies.