Abstract
Sociotechnical Synthesis
This portfolio presents two research projects. The first is a thesis examining how
universities compare and allocate resources across varsity and club sport programs. The second
is a systems engineering capstone analyzing patient flow inefficiencies in post-surgical
observation care at a Mid- Atlantic teaching hospital. Though these are two distinct projects, both
investigate how institutions make decisions under resource constraints and the consequences
when those decisions are not grounded in complete or accurate information.
Collegiate Sport Programs: Comparing the Value of Varsity and Club Sports
Collegiate athletics in the United States operates across two tiers. The first is varsity
athletics, which is governed by the NCAA with substantial institutional investment. The second
is club sports, which are student-run and operate on a fraction of the resources that varsity
athletics are given. Even though there are two million club sport participants compared to the
430,000 varsity athletics, club sports remain on the sidelines of institutional budget
conversations. This paper examines how the student outcomes and institutional value of varsity
and club sports compare, and what those differences reveal about how universities are currently
allocating their resources. Through a literature review of secondary sources spanning
institutional value, student outcomes, and resource allocation, this paper finds that varsity
athletics outperforms club sports in intellectual and fitness development due to significant
institutional investment. However, club sports produce comparable social outcomes, demonstrate
retention and recruitment value, and help develop leadership skills through the self-run
organizations, all at a lower cost. Further evidence shows a dissatisfaction with the current
budgeting system that is shared across all stakeholder groups, including students, faculty, and
coaches. This paper argues that the resource gap between varsity and club sports does not reflect
a difference in value, but rather a difference in what institutions have chosen to measure.
Optimizing Patient Flow and Utilization: A Data-Driven Analysis of Hospital Overcrowding
The goal in healthcare is to deliver the right care, to the right patient, at the right time, in
the right place, and by the right people to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Inefficiencies or
delays in patient flow can undermine this goal, leading to increased lengths of stay, reduced
patient satisfaction, and unnecessary strain on the hospital. Post-surgical observation represents a
critical phase in which patients are monitored closely for complications while needing to be
efficiently transitioned towards discharge. Post-surgical observation was identified as an area of
interest, with opportunities for improvement to speed up the discharge transition without
compromising care quality. This work is aimed at analyzing patient flow and operational
processes associated with post-surgical observation care, with an emphasis on intake, bed
placement, and discharge workflows. The objective is to identify systemic factors that hold back
efficient use of post-surgical observation areas and address them using a mixed-method
approach. Quantitative analysis of historical and current operational data following the summer
2025 reorganization provides insight into patient volumes, lengths of stay, and resource
utilization. This analysis focuses on procedures and departments associated with longer-than
expected stays, as well as outliers with unusually long stays or potential data entry issues.
Additionally, qualitative interviews and direct observations of staff involved in perioperative
care, bed placement, and unit management were conducted to capture contextual factors, identify
pain points and develop potential solutions. A short survey was also used to leverage hospital
staff experience to refine and evaluate solutions. Results include identifying key potential
operational bottlenecks, decision constraints, and communication breakdowns, as well as
developing targeted recommendations to improve patient classification and placement, data
quality and availability, and communication of placement options. A secondary outcome of the
study was the development of tailored data collection strategies to support future monitoring and
improvement efforts.
