Tackling Medicine’s Biggest Challenges: The Miller School M.D./M.B.A. Orientation
Article Summary
- The Miller School welcomed 25 dual-degree, M.D./M.B.A. students to the program.
- The four-year program provides students with knowledge of the business side of health care.
- The business aspect of the program blends seamlessly with the Miller School’s NextGenMD curriculum.
As health care becomes increasingly complex, a growing number of future physicians are augmenting their educational path to meet industry challenges head-on. This year, 25 students in the incoming University of Miami Miller School of Medicine class have chosen to pursue a dual M.D./M.B.A. degree. The program’s blend of medical and business education will prepare them to excel clinically and shape the systems in which care is delivered.
“The challenges facing the medical profession and our health care system call for bright leaders like these M.D./M.B.A. students, who will be able to apply what they’ve learned to improve patient care,” said Sabrina Taldone, M.D. ’15, M.B.A. ’15, director of the dual-degree program and chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine at the Miller School.
Fast Track to Two Degrees
The program is a collaboration between the Miller School and the University of Miami Patti and Allan Herbert Business School. The program is a four-year track, allowing students to complete both degrees within the traditional medical school timeline.
For incoming student Jacob Szlechter, a recent graduate of Cornell University, that structure was key.
“To complete these two degrees in four years is amazing,” he said. “When I was interviewing, I reached out and spoke to current students about the school. They were always so happy, and the atmosphere is great. I’m ready to get started.”
An integration of medical and business training prepares future physicians for the real-world challenges of health care leadership. Coursework spans medical operations, policy, practice innovation, leadership, strategy, accounting and more.
“We will equip you with the skills and mental acuity to address any business decision and achieve clarity in your decision-making process,” said Harihara Prasad Natarajan, Ph.D., professor of management and vice dean of business programs at Miami Herbert Business School. “You have an incredible support team, and we are here to make sure you are successful.”
Merging the Clinical and Business Worlds
For Nandita Balaji, who earned undergraduate degrees in neuroscience and computer science from Johns Hopkins University and founded a startup while in college, the program was a natural fit.
“It will help me seamlessly merge my interests in both the clinical space and the business world,” Balaji said. “I am incredibly excited to be here and to build lasting connections with my classmates.”
The new cohort includes graduates from 19 undergraduate institutions, including Dartmouth College, Harvard University and Vanderbilt University.
“We’ve seen remarkable success with this program,” said Steven Ullmann, Ph.D., professor, academic director of the M.D./M.B.A. program and director of the Center for Health Management and Policy at Miami Herbert Business School. “Our graduates go on to secure top clinical residencies and leadership roles in major companies. The skills they gain here are truly transformative.”