Undergraduate Competitors
Students studying biomedical, mechanical, electrical, and other engineering fields are encouraged to participate, along with students from computing, healthcare, business, and related disciplines.
Schools and Teams
Bring your university to the Make-A-Thon.
Undergraduate students from universities across the country are invited to participate in the 9th Annual National Medical Device Make-A-Thon, March 5-7, 2027, at the University of Oklahoma.
Build a team, represent your institution, and collaborate on a real clinical challenge through engineering design, prototyping, mentorship, and competition.
Who Can Participate
Built for undergraduate students nationwide.
Medical device innovation benefits from different perspectives and technical skills. MDM welcomes undergraduate students interested in solving real healthcare challenges.
Collaborative Design Groups
Teams consist of four or five undergraduate students, including at least two first- or second-year students. Teams work together throughout the design competition.
Faculty and Student Organizations
University faculty, academic departments, advisors, and student organizations can recruit participants, coordinate teams, and support travel to Norman.
Team Requirements
Build a balanced team.
Team composition encourages collaboration between students at different academic levels, allowing newer students to gain hands-on design experience alongside more experienced teammates.
Students Per Team
Competition teams must include four or five undergraduate students.
First- or Second-Year Students
Each team must include at least two undergraduate students in their first or second year of study.
Undergraduate Eligibility
Participants must meet the official undergraduate competition eligibility requirements. The event welcomes students from universities nationwide.
Individual Registration
Every student must complete the required registration and payment process, even when competing as part of an existing team.
Review team composition before registering.
Teams are responsible for meeting the undergraduate eligibility, team size, and underclassman requirements. Questions about unusual team circumstances should be directed to the organizing committee before competition weekend.
Team Registration
Register with a team or join as an individual.
The official registration form is the starting point for all participants. Students should identify their intended team participation when completing registration.
Already Have a Team?
If your team already has four or five eligible undergraduate students, each participant should complete the official registration form and indicate that they intend to compete as part of a team.
Register NowNeed Additional Members?
Students who already have some teammates but do not yet meet the complete team requirements may register and indicate their current team situation. Additional team-matching support is planned.
Registration DetailsDon't Have a Team Yet?
Individual students can register and indicate that they are looking to join a team. A separate team-builder feature is planned to help connect eligible students and incomplete groups.
Register Individually
Team participation is indicated during registration.
Use the official OU registration form to register for MDM 2027 and indicate whether you intend to compete as part of a team. The separate online team-builder feature will be introduced at a later date.
Coming Soon
MDM 2027 Team Builder
Find the right teammates.
We are planning a team-builder feature to help individual participants and incomplete teams connect with other eligible students before the competition.
The goal is to make participation easier for students who want to compete but do not have a full team from their university. The team builder will support the competition's team size and academic-year requirements.
You do not need to wait for the team builder to register. Registration is already open through the official OU system.
Register for the Competition
Complete the official OU registration
and indicate your intended
team participation.
Team Builder Launch
Additional information about
the future team-building feature
will be shared when it becomes available.
Connect with Other Participants
The planned system will help
students and partial teams
identify potential teammates.
Finalize Your Team
Complete the team formation
process while meeting
competition eligibility
and composition requirements.
Team placement is not guaranteed. Availability will depend on registration, team composition, and the number of students seeking teammates.
Why Participate
Engineering experience beyond the classroom.
Students apply classroom knowledge in a national competition while gaining technical experience, professional feedback, and connections to industry.
Hands-On Engineering Design
Teams work from clinical problem definition through concept development, engineering analysis, CAD, prototyping, and final presentation.
Professional Mentorship
Students receive feedback from professionals in engineering, healthcare, research, product development, and related industries.
Career and Industry Connections
Meet recruiters, mentors, judges, sponsors, and industry professionals during the competition and Saturday's Career Fair and Dinner.
Leadership and Teamwork
Students develop communication, collaboration, technical decision-making, time management, and presentation skills under realistic constraints.
$3,000 in confirmed prizes.
The five highest-ranking competition teams will receive a combined $3,000 in prize money, with additional planned trophy recognition.
Important Dates
Plan your team's participation.
Review the registration timeline and coordinate team formation and travel before the competition.
Oct. 1
Registration Opens
Early registration begins at $45 per participant on October 1, 2026.
Jan. 1
Standard Rate
Registration changes to $60 per participant on January 1, 2027.
Feb. 14
Registration Closes
Complete participant registrations and payments by February 14, 2027.
Mar. 5
Competition Begins
Teams arrive at the University of Oklahoma for the 48-hour competition.
For Faculty and Advisors
Help your students get to the competition.
Faculty, departments, academic advisors, and student organizations can support participation by recruiting students, coordinating teams, and helping arrange travel.
Represent Your University
Universities may coordinate one or more undergraduate teams to participate in the National Medical Device Make-A-Thon. The event provides students with applied design experience and opportunities to engage with professionals and peers from other institutions.
Faculty and advisors can help students organize eligible teams, share registration instructions, and plan transportation and accommodations.
The organizing committee will provide competition information, event schedules, participant resources, and logistics updates through official channels.
Share Registration
Provide official registration
information to interested students.
View
Coordinate Teams
Help students meet eligibility
and team composition requirements.
View
Review the Schedule
Plan around Friday check-in,
Saturday judging,
and Sunday finals.
View
Arrange Travel
Review arrival information,
parking, and campus facilities.
View
Ask About Sending Teams
Contact the organizing committee
about institutional participation.
Email
Before Competition Weekend
Prepare for MDM 2027.
Once you have identified your intended team, review the official registration, competition, and travel information.
Complete Registration
Ensure each participant completes the official OU registration process and payment before February 14, 2027.
Registration DetailsReview Team Eligibility
Confirm that your team meets the undergraduate, team size, and academic-year requirements before attending.
Team RequirementsReview the Competition Schedule
Friday check-in begins at 12:00 PM in Gallogly Hall. Review workshop times, submission deadlines, judging rounds, and Sunday presentations.
Full Event ScheduleArrange Travel and Arrival
Plan transportation, accommodations, parking, and arrival at the University of Oklahoma ahead of competition weekend.
Travel and Parking
Questions About Teams?
Contact the organizing committee.
We can help answer questions about undergraduate eligibility, team requirements, institutional participation, registration options, and future team-builder updates.
Email the Team
Registration
Pricing, deadlines,
registration options,
and official registration link.
View
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about teams,
eligibility, logistics,
and competition rules.
View
Participant Resources
Event preparation,
competition guidance,
and additional materials.
View
General Contact
Contact details
for the 2027 organizing committee.
View
Join MDM 2027
Represent your university in Norman.
Bring together your classmates, build an engineering team, and take part in a national medical device design competition at the University of Oklahoma, March 5-7, 2027.