INNOVATX Global Health Case Competition 2026 – Presented by McMaster and Toronto Metropolitan University Friends of Médecins Sans Frontières

Abstract

McMaster Friends of MSF (FoMSF) is a student-led club at McMaster University that supports Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Canada, a humanitarian medical organization providing emergency relief and healthcare support to countries across the world. In collaboration with Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), McMaster FoMSF organized the 2026 INNOVATX Global Health Case Competition to provide undergraduate students with the chance to problem-solve, enrich their skills, and above all, gain valuable exposure to current global health contexts. This year’s competition focused on maternal health among Rohingya women living in the Cox’s Bazar refugee camps in Bangladesh, with particular attention to the social, political, environmental, and cultural factors contributing to maternal mortality and barriers to care. Participants were challenged to identify a key issue related to maternal health in this context and develop a feasible, culturally sensitive intervention that aligned with MSF’s humanitarian principles and ongoing work in the region. After a round of written submissions and another round of live presentations, the briefing notes from the four winning teams have been published in this conference book. To learn more about McMaster FoMSF, TMU FoMSF, or the INNOVATX Global Health Case Competition, please visit our Instagram pages (@mac_fomsf) and (@tmufmsf).