Making the Case
What is Making the Case?
Making the Case is a highly interactive faculty development program that aims to provide faculty with the skills required to build a successful business case and transform their idea into a compelling proposal. This is a program launched by the Office of Faculty Affairs and Leadership Development in partnership with the Finance and Business Operations team and colleagues from the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and the Duke School of Medicine’s Office of Faculty Development.
This course is designed to provide an overview of the financial analysis and analytical tools for creating and presenting business plans to support academic projects and programs within UNC School of Medicine and UNC Health. Participants will develop a personalized, case-based project of interest to the learner, in which a financial plan and presentation are developed as part of a “pitch” for a new idea. Over the course of three consecutive, intensive sessions, participants develop and refine their ideas and practice pitching their idea in front of peers and a panel of judges. Each participant receives coaching throughout the process from institutional leaders.
Who should participate?
Ideal participants will be School of Medicine faculty with an idea they would like to implement at UNC. Examples might include starting a new academic program, implementing a clinical redesign effort, or launching a new division. No funding will be awarded as part of this program; entrepreneurial endeavors would not be an appropriate fit for this program.
“Leadership courses come in all shapes and sizes but at the heart of all of them is the critical role of strong communication skills. Making the Case goes beyond just emphasizing the importance of communication and better than any other course I have taken, actually teaches the skills to communicate effectively. It has changed the way that I approach all important conversations and should be a prerequisite for anyone with leadership aspirations.” -Dr. Edwin Kim, 2019 Program Participant
Program Overview
Offered in partnership with the Kenan-Flagler Business School and the School of Medicine’s Finance and Business Office, Making the Case is a brief course series designed to equip faculty with the tools and skills required to build a successful business case to support projects or programs within the School of Medicine or Health Care System. Participants learn how to build a compelling business case, understand the pitch process, gain feedback on their idea in a low-stakes environment, and build connections across the institution.
Instructors
Tim Flood, MA, PhD
Clinical Associate Professor of Management and Corporate Communication
Kenan-Flagler Business School
Michael Sledge
Chief Financial Officer
UNC School of Medicine and UNC Faculty Physicians
Lauren Westervelt, MPH
Director, Office of Faculty Affairs and Leadership Development
UNC School of Medicine
Cost
None
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Any member of the medical school faculty or staff may apply.
Applicants must have an idea that they would like to develop into a compelling business proposal. Ideas that would be pitched either to School of Medicine or Health Care System leaders would be appropriate (for example, starting a new academic program, implementing a clinical redesign effort, or launching a new unit).
Applicants must commit to attending all sessions in their entirety.
Application Details
Application Form – Making the Case
Important Dates
- December 15, 2023: Application Deadline
| February 1 | 8:30am – 11:00am | Session 1 – Building Your Case |
| February 8 | 8:30am – 11:00am | Session 2 – Refining Your Case |
| February 15 | 8:30am – 11:00am | Office Hours – Finalizing Your Case (Required-30 min) |
| February 22 | 8:30am – 11:00am | Session 3 – Making Your Case (Pitch Day!) |
Interested in the program? Email Lauren Westervelt.