What is the MD/MBA
The MD/MBA dual degree is a combination of a Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master of Business Administration (MBA). On their own, these degrees allow physicians and businesspeople to succeed professionally. Together, the MD/MBA opens doors for practicing and non-practicing physicians to impact healthcare and beyond. No wonder more and more (pre) medical students want to get an MD/MBA!
Nowadays, THE most common question I get is “Why did you decide to do the MD and MBA?” Whether I’m at the hospital, on my internship, or in the classroom, my friends, mentees, colleagues, and coworkers all want to know what attracted me to the MD/MBA dual degree.
Well, gather round! It’s story time 😊
My entrepreneurial background
Some of my earliest childhood memories are of my parents managing the stores that they owned in Barbados. One was a lingerie store and the other was a toy/convenience item store. I remember accompanying them on trips to the store to restock items and to talk to employees about management policies. Though I usually played with bubble wrap in the corner with my siblings, I also collected mental notes. My parents knew how to communicate effectively and how to market their goods to consumers. They gave their employees autonomy and managed them appropriately. These visits to the stores always stuck with me. Whether I was selling desk organizers made of index cards in 4th grade for tickets to the class store, running Atasha’s Hair Care, my college side hustle, or decorating homes through THI Interior Designs, entrepreneurship has always been a part of who I am.
Why I chose to get an MD/MBA
I wanted to formally learn about business
Prior to business school, I had experience in entrepreneurship, health administration, and strategy consulting. I gained practical on-the-job skills through these opportunities. As an academic, however, I longed for formal training in topics such as accounting, marketing, and corporate finance. I knew that the MBA would serve as a boot camp to quickly learn the basics of the business world.
I could shorten my training timeline
At the University of Pennsylvania, MD/MBA candidates can complete the program in five years, rather than the typical six-year course. In the grand scheme of things, one year might not seem like a lot, but given that I'm about to enter my 22nd year of school...I'm *quite* ready to put my student days behind me.
The MD/MBA would Inform my clinical practice
If I practice medicine after medical school, I know that healthcare management and entrepreneurship would continue to play a large role in my career. So it made a lot of sense for me to get an MBA before residency so that I could enter clinical medicine with a more critical business lens.
I could Prepare for future roles in healthcare and business
I think of my career goals in terms of the impact I want to have. I ultimately want to impact the delivery of healthcare in my home countries in the Caribbean. To get there, I hope to gain experience as a clinician and/or businesswoman in the healthcare space. The MD/MBA provides me with the academic training needed to achieve my goals. Additionally, it opens doors for me to access the right professional training (either through residency or a job like consulting) so that I can help to improve health delivery systems.
My closing thoughts on the MD/MBA
Now that I’ve completed four years of my five-year MD/MBA program, I can say with absolute certainty that this was the best decision for me. As is the case for many medical school students, my first three years of medical school were ROUGH. I had several moments when I wanted to quit, but thanks to the support of friends and family, I stuck with it. Now, having completed a year of business school. Everything feels like it’s coming together. In business school, I had the chance to relax. Yes, business school is still an academic environment, but for anyone who has made it through the ringers of medical school, business school pales in comparison.
In addition to providing a much-needed break from the hospital, business school helped me to realize how much I actually LOVE medicine. My first month back to the clinics solidified this fact. Medicine, either through clinical practice or healthcare management - must be a part of my future. Thankfully, the MD/MBA is a tool to help ensure that either of these paths will be possible.
Feel free to reach out if you're considering the MD/MBA. I'm happy to answer questions! Subscribe to the blog if you'd like up-to-date information on White Coats | Black Blazers, a new online community I'm starting for business-minded medical professionals!
Peace and blessings,
Atasha Jordan, MD/MBA (to be)
