Teammates: Kriti Bhatt, Maria Salazar Ocampo, Julia Smolik, Yanuga Raveendran, & Sutapa Saha
Team Climate Guardians, representing Queen’s University, placed 3rd in the inaugural Student Case Competition, competing against nearly 50 teams from across Canada. The case focused on climate preparedness and vector-borne diseases, and the team developed a public health response to address the risks of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) in Ontario.
Key highlights of their proposal:
- Mobile Health Clinics: Bringing early detection and treatment to rural and remote communities.
- AI-enhanced Surveillance: Using geospatial data and climate trends to predict outbreaks via the eTick app, with offline accessibility for outdoor users.
- Health Equity: Ensuring culturally safe care and access through interpreter services and Indigenous healthcare providers.
- Policy Advocacy: Advocating for RMSF to become a reportable disease in Ontario to strengthen long-term surveillance and response.
The competition provided numerous challenges, including a curveball budget cut on the day of the event, which forced the team to re-evaluate one of their program components within a tight two-hour window. Additionally, the team was tasked with answering a range of logistical questions from a panel of public health directors and professionals, which tested their ability to think critically and adapt quickly.
The team was recognized by Public Health Ontario and placed 3rd out of nearly 50 teams. Congratulations to the team for their accomplishment!