Advancing healthcare through engineering innovation.
The National Medical Device Make-A-Thon brings together undergraduate students, healthcare professionals, researchers, and industry partners to develop innovative solutions to real clinical challenges.
Hosted by the University of Oklahoma, the 2027 competition will take place March 5–7 in Norman, Oklahoma, welcoming students from universities across the country.
Engineering solutions for meaningful clinical needs.
Connecting students with healthcare challenges while encouraging creativity, collaboration, and practical innovation.
The National Medical Device Make-A-Thon challenges undergraduate students to apply engineering principles to the development of medical devices addressing real healthcare problems.
Throughout the competition, participants work collaboratively to identify unmet clinical needs, evaluate potential solutions, and develop prototypes that demonstrate their design concepts.
Students receive opportunities to engage with medical professionals, researchers, engineers, and industry representatives who provide valuable perspectives on clinical relevance, technical feasibility, and the design process.
Beyond the competition, the Make-A-Thon encourages interdisciplinary teamwork, professional development, and collaboration among institutions across the country.
Our Core Objectives
- Clinical Innovation Encourage creative solutions to meaningful healthcare challenges.
- Experiential Learning Provide hands-on opportunities for engineering design, prototyping, and evaluation.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration Bring together different technical, academic, and clinical perspectives.
- Professional Development Support networking, mentorship, and professional skill development.
More than a design competition.
A weekend dedicated to innovation, mentorship, teamwork, and professional connections.
Real Clinical Challenges
Teams develop innovative approaches to healthcare problems that require thoughtful, practical, and patient-centered engineering.
- Clinical problem identification
- Concept generation and evaluation
- Hands-on prototyping
- Final design presentations
Professional Mentorship
Participants interact with clinicians, engineers, researchers, and industry representatives throughout the event.
- Technical feedback
- Clinical perspectives
- Design guidance
- Professional development
Industry Networking
Students connect with organizations and professionals working in healthcare, engineering, research, and medical technology.
- Career Fair
- Industry representatives
- Professional judges and mentors
- University collaboration
Three days of innovation.
From the opening kickoff to the final awards ceremony, teams move through an intensive engineering design process.
Friday, March 5
| Stage | Activity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival |
Participant Check-In
Teams arrive and prepare for the competition. |
Registration and orientation |
| Welcome |
Opening Activities
Participants meet organizers, fellow students, and event partners. |
Introductions and event information |
| Kickoff |
Competition Launch
The challenge and competition expectations are introduced. |
Official start of the competition |
| Design |
Initial Team Development
Teams begin research, brainstorming, and concept development. |
Problem definition and planning |
Saturday, March 6
| Stage | Activity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Development |
Design and Prototyping
Teams refine concepts and develop physical or functional prototypes. |
Engineering development |
| Mentorship |
Expert Feedback
Professionals provide guidance on feasibility, clinical needs, and design considerations. |
Design review and iteration |
| Networking |
Career Fair
Participants engage with organizations, industry professionals, and potential employers. |
Career and networking opportunities |
| Iteration |
Continued Development
Teams incorporate feedback, test prototypes, and prepare their solutions. |
Design improvement |
Sunday, March 7
| Stage | Activity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Finalization |
Prototype Completion
Teams finish their designs and prepare presentations. |
Final development and preparation |
| Presentations |
Project Evaluation
Teams present their solutions and explain the engineering decisions behind their designs. |
Judging and feedback |
| Finals |
Final Judging
Finalist teams present their solutions for evaluation. |
Final competition rankings |
| Awards |
Awards Ceremony
Winning teams are recognized for their accomplishments. |
Competition recognition |
Hosted by the University of Oklahoma.
Bringing together the next generation of engineers and healthcare innovators in Norman, Oklahoma.
The 2027 National Medical Device Make-A-Thon will be hosted at the University of Oklahoma, bringing together students from universities across the country for an immersive weekend of innovation and collaboration.
Meet the organizing team.
Student-led planning supported by faculty and university partners.
Hudson Harris
Leads external engagement, including sponsorships, partnerships, industry outreach, and professional participation.
Ainsley Overheul
Leads internal event coordination, university collaboration, and operational planning.
Leo Carter
Oversees competition programming, event activities, and the coordination of workshops and event experiences.
Arame Kobar
Coordinates student engagement, participant communication, and student-focused activities to support a positive competition experience.
Mecca Fisher
Oversees event finances, budget tracking, and financial coordination to support competition planning and operations.
Dr. Alex Frickenstein
Provides faculty guidance and support for event planning, coordination, and implementation.
Get involved with MDM 2027.
Students, industry professionals, healthcare experts, and organizations all play an important role in the Make-A-Thon.
Compete
Join undergraduate students from across the country to develop innovative medical device solutions, gain hands-on experience, and compete for awards.
Registration DetailsMentor or Judge
Share your professional expertise, provide meaningful feedback, and help guide the next generation of engineers and innovators.
Become a Mentor or JudgeSponsor the Event
Support experiential learning and innovation while connecting with talented engineering students from institutions across the country.
Become a SponsorMDM 2027 will feature a Career Fair, giving participants opportunities to connect with representatives from healthcare, engineering, research, and medical technology organizations.
Frequently asked questions.
Answers to common questions about the competition and opportunities to participate.
When is MDM 2027?
The competition takes place March 5–7, 2027, at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma.
Who can participate?
The competition is designed for undergraduate students interested in engineering, healthcare, and medical device innovation.
Are there prizes?
Yes. MDM 2027 includes $3,000 in prize money awarded to the top three teams.
Can professionals get involved?
Yes. Healthcare professionals, engineers, researchers, and industry representatives can serve as mentors, judges, and partners.
Join us for MDM 2027.
March 5–7, 2027 | University of Oklahoma | Norman, Oklahoma