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Digital Health Revolution Creates MBA Careers With A Dose Of Social Impact

As tech transforms healthcare, MBA jobs abound

Sun Jan 24 2016

BusinessBecause
The digital health revolution is in full swing, powered by whizzy new technologies that promise to transform patient care by spurring more efficient means of monitoring and managing people’s medical conditions.

Such innovations come at a time of growing cost pressures on global healthcare systems. They promise to help address stretched healthcare providers, who feel the effects of a rapidly ageing population and squeezed public health budgets.

Examples range from wearable tech to measure vital signs and fitness to more futuristic devices such as the digital contact lenses being crafted by Novartis and Google that could help diabetes sufferers by measuring glucose levels in their tear fluid.

Such outlandish ideas are catching the eye of the world’s elite business school students, who may once have sought out careers at McKinsey or Goldman Sachs, but are increasingly lured by the prospect of innovation and having a positive impact on society.

“There has never been a more exciting time to be in the healthcare industry,” says Blake Long, chief clinical officer at Mosaic Health Solutions, which invests in companies pioneering innovation in healthcare. “The digital revolution is having a monumental impact,” says Blake, who studied at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, pointing to data analytics, which impacts precision medicine.

The gentle switch to healthcare among MBA students mirrors some of the brightest business minds. David Ebersman for example, former chief financial officer at Facebook, launched Lyra Health, a start-up using big data to aid treatment of depression and anxiety. Phil Mui, head of analytics at Google, swapped search engine for 3D modelling at HeartFlow, a start-up working on diagnosing heart disease.

“We call these people e-health managers,” says Federico Lega, director of the masters in international healthcare management at SDA Bocconi School of Management.

Career opportunities are sprouting at global health giants such as Anthem, Johnson & Johnson and GSK, but also at nimble life sciences start-ups bringing biotechnology to market, and also tech companies like Google, Apple and Samsung, which are exploring digital health.

“There are a number of new fields emerging in the digital revolution,” says Eivor Oborn, professor of healthcare management at Warwick Business School.

Eivor points to three sources of career expansion: analyzing data to inform patient health, health organization efficiency, and medical research. “These are all growth areas,” she says.

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Tuyen Huynh, pictured right, will join the leadership development program at McKesson, the largest US pharmaceutical distributor. He is attracted by the innovation which has the potential to improve patient health. 

“Digital health helps people live more productive lives and in the end, improves society,” says Tuyen, who is on the MBA at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business.

The advent of digital means healthcare leaders will increasingly need to keep up with innovations such as wearables, sensors and advanced analytics.

Executives will not need become data scientists or clinicians, but health providers’ strategies are being fashioned by technology. This is reshaping healthcare management programs. “We cover issues such as data and the impact of IT,” says Fred Hagigi, director of health initiatives at UCLA Anderson School of Management.

AstraZeneca for example, is among the drug companies using big data to hunt for clues to potentially cure diseases. Google’s nanodiagnostics technology is trying to harness magnetic particles to give early warning of cancer. And Qualcomm, the tech company, is developing remote patient-monitoring systems with Roche.

Wireless tech and data analytics in particular can provide real-time insights into the conditions of patients. Digital technology is allowing for a shift towards early detection of health problems, and even prevention.

“Preventive care and avoiding acute events are huge areas of innovation,” says Dr Rainer Sibbel, chair for international health management at Frankfurt School of Finance & Management.

This data gathering can also aid the process of clinical trials, something being tested by GSK and McLaren, the automotive group best known for Formula One racing.

“Getting this data early in the process can help shape better trials with key endpoints that payers, providers and patients will see value in,” says Kimberly MacPherson, co-director of the Center for Health Technology at California’s Haas School of Business.

But future healthcare leaders will have to contend with organizations that are known to be slow-moving.

“There is this buzzword of disruptive innovation but the problem is, a lot of managers fear the disruptive part,” says Frankfurt School’s Rainer. “It could change your traditional business model tremendously.”

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Another problem is the fragmented nature of healthcare data, and concerns over privacy and security. “The handoff of information between healthcare providers is abysmally inefficient,” says Jonathon Feit, pictured left, MBA and chief executive of Beyond Lucid Technologies, which makes software for capturing and transmitting electronic patient records.

While the full force of tech in healthcare is yet to be felt, changes in the way organizations and their managers operate are already underway. This has led to an increase in job offers and acceptances for MBA students.

“Many see significant changes evolving in the industry as a result of the Affordable Care Act, leveraging technology, and managing pricing pressures. They want to help drive this change,” says Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham, executive director for careers at Cornell’s Johnson School of Management.

But ultimately, the benefit to society is why the world’s future business leaders flock to healthcare, says Dean Vera, director of career management at Rutgers Business School.

“Choosing an industry that helps improve and save the lives of people around the world is the most cited reason.”

 

Student Reviews

Carnegie Mellon: Tepper

Abby

Verified

30/11/2022

On Campus

Honest Opinion on CMU

Finding yourself in CMU is such a great blessing. The amazing and great professors and lots of networking opportunities. I was in the faculty of engineering and here the course work was very interesting. The lecturers were very strict and couldn't accept late submission of assignments and work given. This made us very focused. The students are generally good and friendly

Joel

Verified

8/11/2022

On Campus

Excellence and Academic Integrity

CMU is one of the top class universities in Pittsburgh. It is a multi-diverse university with high regard for academic integrity, excellence, and innovation. It consists of different programs and departments that work together to achieve a common goal. I enjoy the convenience of moving from one building to the other. The faculty and staff are super friendly. It is relatively easy to make connections with other students, especially where collaboratory research is necessary. I would definitely recommend CMU to anyone looking for a muti-diverse academic experience.

Student

Verified

15/08/2023

On Campus

Stressful yet worthwhile

I've been genuinely impressed with the fusion of creativity and innovation at CMU. The professors are a mixed bag-- some are great and life-changing, but I had a couple (mostly gen eds in freshman year) that were really frustrating. The workload can be intense, and it's no joke. Campus was very lively; clubs, events, etc. – there's something for everyone. Pittsburgh in general has some areas that are great, and others that disappoint-- Oakland is a very nice university town area. Overall, CMU is a hotbed of innovation and learning, but the pace and location do come into play.

Tom

Verified

1/03/2023

On Campus

Quite demanding here

Carnegie Mellon is a demanding academic institution where students are expected to put in a lot of effort. Despite the challenging coursework and constant workload, this environment teaches you how to speak for yourself and stand up for what you believe in. The institution also has a strong graduate network, which helps you succeed in the job hunt both while you are enrolled there and after

Student

Verified

3/09/2024

On Campus

Transformative Learning

My time at Carnegie Mellon university has been truly transformative, opening up a wide array of opportunities that move beyond the traditional classroom experience. Participation in webinars and seminars has allowed me to explore various topics that are not typically included in the standard curriculum. This exposure has helped equip students like myself with essential tools to effectively navigate our complex world.

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