Why I Ditched Medical School for Business School

Breaking news: Medical student abandons stethoscope for spreadsheets!

Yes, you read that correctly. I have indeed decided to take the plunge and leave medical school. But let’s not be dramatic; I’m only intercalating! However, instead of going down the traditional route of Global Health, Oncology or Clinical Science, I optedfor adegreein Management at Imperial College London, where I’m currently studying at their Business School.

I decided to switch to business school to gain a deeper understanding of healthcare management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. I realised early on in my medical training that if I really wanted to make a difference in patient care, I needed to understand more than just the micro-level stuff. I wanted to learn about the big picture - how healthcare systems operate, how policies are created and implemented, and how to manage healthcare costs. These topics were not covered in-depth in medical school but are essential for future doctors to be clued up on.

Lastly, I saw an opportunity to diversify my skillset and expand my career options beyond traditional medicalpractice. Forexample,with adegreeinManagement,Icouldpursueacareer in healthcare consulting or go for executive positions in the NHS and deepen my interest in MedTech. These fields were all areas where I could use my medical knowledge and combine it with business acumen to make a significant impact.

During my time in business school, I have so far covered modules such as Accounting, Global Business Strategy, Marketing (see the commercial we were tasked with making here), and Health Informatics (where we had to make a Python-coded chatbot from scratch!) These modules have given me a solid foundation in business principles and practices, which will be invaluable in my future career.

Honestly, if I ever get tired of diagnosing patients, I can always diagnose the financial health of a company instead.

I’m sure you’d be glad to know that I haven’t lost my medical touch. For example, I worked on a business case applied to a hospital in the Midlands, where we proposed the purchase of automatic ventilators in response to the high mortality in their neonatal intensive care unit. Through this project, I used my medical expertise to identify areas where the department could be improved and then applied my business skills to develop a plan to make those improvements.

Moreover, the intercalated degree program has allowed me to network with other medical students with diverse backgrounds and interests. Being at Imperial College Business School (ICBS) has also allowed me to meet MBA and MSc students in various disciplines, further enriching my experience. Much like medical students, business students do firmly live by the ‘work hard, play hard’ mindset, and I have been in receipt of many socials, ‘mingles’ and free food after each deadline! ICBS rents out the Natural History Museum each year to host a free alumni social! I will definitely return next year (don’t worry, I’m accepting plus-one applications).

Furthermore,theheavygroupworkweightingforsomemoduleshasalsotaughtmetherealities of group work. When the stakes are high, you really do learn the importance of team dynamics.

My decision to pursue an intercalated degree in Management at business school was right for me. While it was an “out of the comfort zone” decision at the time, I know that the skills and knowledge I have gained so far in business school will allow me to be a better doctor. I am excited to see where this path will take me and am eager to use my unique skillset to make a difference.

Ultimately, healthcare is changing rapidly. With technological advancements and new healthcare legislation, hospitals and healthcare providers face unprecedented challenges. Medical students who pursue interdisciplinary backgrounds, like Management, could be at the forefront of these changes. By positioning yourself in a world that is more than just Medicine, you will undoubtedly have the skills and knowledge to navigate the complex healthcare business landscape and make a real impact.

Maybe one day, we'll see doctors with spreadsheets in one hand and stethoscopes in the other.

A. Kukoyi Intercalating Medical Student