How it works

Each competitor will receive study guides detailing the diseases, signs, and symptoms that will be tested. Competitors will then complete an online test on a website called Kaizen. This will test critical thinking and diagnostic skills. After reading case studies, which are medical narratives, a series of questions will prompt the competitor to diagnose each case.

High scoring competitors then move on to the Final Round, which involves participants interacting with standardized patients provided by the UAB Office of Standardized Patients. These are actors are trained to give their medical history and simulate doctor-patient interactions. Competitors are assessed on bedside manner, medical knowledge, investigative ability, and final diagnosis. This is the most unique facet of our competition, as we are able to provide undergraduates an experience used by medical and nursing students.