MBA

Academics

David Lee

When David Lee considers the residency ahead of him, he actually looks forward to the night hours and intense pressures of the ER. But, based on his experiences on rotation, he has real questions about the way physicians manage—or, more precisely, fail to manage. "Academic hospitals are built around residency teams, but they're not trained to lead," observes David. "We often have difficulty communicating to nurses, staff, the support teams—there's just no training in management. I've seen a lot of errors committed because we've been unable to manage resources, including the people around us."

Forming more effective teams

David was attracted to the MD/MBA degree because "the joint program is on a mission to change the way we deliver health care." For him, it's an opportunity to examine ways to improve the system itself. "Everything from computer networks to the ways doctors write charts and collaborate with their colleagues and staff—all of these can be improved with better management," says David.

"One of the things I hope to get from the program is an assessment of where the health care system is from a business perspective," he notes. "We all hear about the health care coverage issues; I want to work with professors and students to elucidate the problems we want to address and discuss possible solutions to each of them."

Eager to move into administration

In his summer internship with the World Health Organization in Geneva, David got a bird's-eye view of the complexities of managing multiple units within an organization. He shadowed the director general in charge of the Ethics Review Committee that oversaw the scope of research projects and the ways in which they were implemented. The experience enriched his understanding of "how to approach teams, how to use different ways of motivating people."

After David completes his residency, he intends to move rapidly into administration. "I know I'll be highly motivated," he says. "What's inspiring about my MD/MBA colleagues is their leadership—they're pioneers in changing health care. I want to be among those who take the lead in improving the entire system."