Forty-four HBS and HSPH students gathered on campus to learn about the intricacies of the health care industry, brush up their medical knowledge, and hear from top medical and health care leaders.
I discovered in January that you don’t have to go to Mexico, Israel, or China to get the benefits of an immersion.the Health Care: Science, Delivery, and Regulation IXP brought the experience right to the HBS campus. While my section mates shared pictures of themselves in front of the Great Wall of China, I showed off photographs of myself with my hands wrist-deep in a plastic cadaver that squirted red dye if you nicked an artificial artery.
The week-long health care IXP was not only a great opportunity to hear from some amazing speakers, read relevant health care cases, and tour local sites, but it was also a great way for HSPH and HBS students to get to know each other. This class facilitated great conversations among the participants, all of whom had a common interest or experience in the health care industry. Led by the exuberant Professor Hamermesh, the IXP explored topics around the science of oncology, endocrinology, and surgery (dumbed down for the simple-minded business folks like myself), as well as an overview of health care delivery and macro trends impacting the industry.
During the program, we toured the Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research and tried our hands at simulated medical procedures at the Brigham and Women’s STRATUS Center for Medical Simulation (Note: Emily Minkow can now draw blood from a patient with her eyes closed.well, a mannequin patient, at least). We also had engaging discussions with Professors Porter and Teisberg, as well as a few sessions with Mark McClellan, the former head of the FDA.
Overall, the IXP was a perfect opportunity for us to further explore health care opportunities. Between the scientific lectures on cancer, discussion of the future of venture capital in the field, and strong education on the regulation of the industry, I was glad to conclude that an extra week in Allston in January was worthwhile.
AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHY
Dan Levy has spent the past five years working at GE Health care. His continued interest in the field prompted his participation in the IXP.
