The health care industry is ripe for disruption. But what aspects of health care need to change most urgently? The HBS Health Care Initiative asked seven alumni from Harvard Business School (HBS) to weigh in. [...]

More than 8,000 Harvard Business School (HBS) alumni are working in the health care sector around the world—in biotech, digital health, financial services, and other industries. We asked seven alumni to explain why they chose their careers in health care. [...]

There’s no question that Harvard Business School (HBS) alumni are making their mark in the health care sector. The question is, what is the best way to tap into the insights of these 8,000+ alumni? How can we facilitate meaningful connections between alumni and students? And how can we use those connections to advance innovation in health care? As it turns out, gathering people around the dinner table is a great place to start. In cities across the globe, HBS alumni and students are periodically meeting for small-group dinners organized by the HBS Health Care Initiative (HCI) and HBS Healthcare Alumni Association (HBSHAA). [...]

Robert S. Huckman, Professor of Technology and Operations Management, serves as the Faculty Chair of the HBS Health Care Initiative and the Chair of the MBA Required Curriculum. He describes the Health Care Initiative as “an ideal opportunity for students, faculty, and alumni to build a vibrant and diverse community knit together by a shared interest in improving the health care system.” [...]

One of the best aspects of Harvard Business School is its proximity to the country’s best hospitals, academic centers, and culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. The Health Care Initiative regularly connects with local organizations through our Harvard partner relationships and our robust alumni network to create rich learning experiences for our students. Recently, we sponsored a tour of the Boston Medical Center which is the largest safety-net hospital in New England with the busiest trauma and emergency services center. With many of our students interested in improving care delivery, this was a great opportunity for them to catch a glimpse of the front lines of health care in action as well witness some of the behind-the-scenes flow of hospital operations. [...]