Seton Hall University’s Pre-Professional Advising Center (P-PAC) hosted its first Policy Pulse: Public Health Policy Challenge on March 9, bringing together more than 40 students from pre-health and pre-law tracks to examine the intersection of medicine, law, and public policy.
The event aimed to give students hands-on experience in addressing complex public health issues. Participants were tasked with developing evidence-based policy proposals on how governments should regulate childhood vaccination exemptions while balancing public health needs and individual rights. Rather than debating right versus wrong, students focused on research, assigned readings, and ethical considerations to inform their proposals.
Throughout the competition, student teams analyzed research and policy frameworks while building arguments supported by evidence. The format encouraged participants to apply a range of professional competencies such as evaluating evidence, understanding health systems, ethics awareness, communication skills, collaboration, leadership, and advocacy.
Madelyn Ferrans, J.D., Pre-Law Advisor at P-PAC said, “Healthcare policy is a powerful example of how law shapes everyday life. Through Policy Pulse, students had the opportunity to analyze real policy questions, build evidence-based arguments and see how legal reasoning and advocacy influence public health decisions.” Joan Brennan, Pre-Health Advisor at P-PAC added, “Future healthcare professionals will practice in a system that is deeply influenced by policy and legislation. Experiences like Policy Pulse help students understand the broader context of healthcare while developing the communication, collaboration and critical thinking skills essential for patient-centered care.”
The competition took place in Jubilee Auditorium where student teams presented their proposals before a panel of faculty and professional judges from law, medicine, science and health policy fields. Megan Lloren served as host and student coordinator for the event. Student volunteers Ayla Homsy, Chloee Lynch and Dennis Yang acted as session facilitators.
After initial presentations, two finalist teams competed for first place. Judges selected Harika Kalimisetty, Madeline S. Kruszczynski and Megan Thomas as winners based on their strong use of evidence and persuasive advocacy. As grand prize winners they will have an opportunity to speak at a congressional hearing for the 2026–2027 State Budget and meet Assemblywoman Cleopatra G. Tucker.
P-PAC plans to continue expanding interdisciplinary programming like Policy Pulse to prepare students interested in healthcare or law for both professional school applications and future leadership roles.
