Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Healthcare Initiative?
The purpose of the Healthcare Initiative is to help create a community of faculty, students, and alumni who are interested in healthcare. It is one of Dean Light's top priorities. You can see the article on the dean's priorities in the HBS Alumni Bulletin.
- Are there other initiatives at HBS?
Yes, there are four other initiatives at HBS: Entrepreneurship, Global, Healthcare, Leadership, and Social Enterprise. Initiative is the word used at HBS to discuss areas of cross-functional study.
- How is the Healthcare Initiative different from the student club?
The Healthcare Initiative serves the entire HBS community including faculty, alumni, and students as well as business and healthcare leaders in general. The Healthcare Club is organized by students and focuses its efforts on those students who elect to join the club.
- Are there any required courses as part of the Healthcare Initiative?
The HBS MBA program offers flexibility, allowing students to choose the elective courses that meet their needs and to create their own focus. While there are no "majors" at HBS, students who are interested in healthcare have a variety of ways to learn more about the industry. In the first year, there is a required curriculum for all students. As part of it, all students will analyze healthcare cases. Approximately 10% of our total first year cases focus on healthcare. In the second year, students can choose from 5 elective courses that focus solely on healthcare. Second-year students can also cross register to take courses at other schools including the School of Public Health and Kennedy School of Government. Students are also encouraged to participate in field studies for credit to gain hands on experience.
- How can I get involved?
There are many different ways to become involved in the Healthcare Initiative:
- Join the Healthcare Club and attend events at HBS and around the University such as speaker series, conferences, networking events, and social activities;
- Attend some of the over 170 healthcare-focused events held at HBS and around the University each year including conferences, forums, and lectures;
- Be matched with a healthcare-specific alumni mentor;
- Connect with a healthcare career coach to help guide and refine career goals;
- Take on a leadership role within the Healthcare Club as a Section Rep or a Conference Organizer;
- Sharpen a particular area of healthcare interest through field-based learning by completing an independent study project or field study with faculty sponsorship;
- Find summer internships with leading biotechnology, pharmaceutical, health services, venture capital, and consulting organizations;
- Explore the healthcare industry in depth through a number of elective courses in the second year;
- Participate in one of the Healthcare Immersion Programs - a one week, non-credit course in January. Past topics have included competition within healthcare and the intersection of health science and business. The Health Science and Business Immersion Program, held in 2007, was intended to help students learn more about the intersection of medicine and business from well-known scientists and physicians in the Harvard community. The Value Based Health Care Delivery Immersion Program, led by Professor Michael Porter, focused on competition within the healthcare industry.
- Do I need to apply or interview separately for this program?
There is no separate application or interview process to be involved in the Healthcare Initiative. If you'd like, however, you can indicate your interest in healthcare on your HBS application.
- Do many healthcare focused companies recruit at HBS?
You can find a partial list of healthcare recruiters that come to campus here. Our list is very competitive with other healthcare MBA programs. Because Boston is a leader in care delivery and technology innovation, you will find that HBS has very strong relationships with local healthcare organizations.
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