Exploring challenges and opportunities
Columbia Business School’s Health Care and Pharmaceutical Management Program, an area of study within the School’s full-time MBA program, provides students with a real-world understanding of the increasingly complex health care environment through innovative course electives and learning/networking opportunities with industry leaders.
Building on the School’s core MBA curriculum and academic excellence, this multidisciplinary industry focus offers students a dynamic and practical learning experience focused on the strategic, economic, competitive, technological, and sociopolitical challenges facing this important sector. The program will prepare students with the knowledge to become effective leaders and builders of health care enterprises, as well as the insight and expertise to invest in, and provide new products and services to, this large and growing sector.
Columbia’s New York City location plays an important role in facilitating valuable interaction among faculty, students, and eminent practitioners in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical products/devices, hospitals/health services, banking, venture capital/ private equity, insurance, and nonprofit organizations.
Some important features of the program include:
- • course electives in health care economics and marketing, strategy and competition in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, health care entrepreneurship and dealmaking and the role of venture capital and private equity in the health care sector;
- • instruction and advising from experienced faculty researchers and adjunct professors who are seasoned practitioners, supported by prominent guest speakers from the industry;
- • organized activities through the MBA student health care club Health Care Industry Association (HCIA) to enhance the educational experience beyond the classroom;
- • networking with Columbia alumni and other industry experts from all facets of the health care industry (health care executives, investors, advisors) through on-campus speaker series, panel discussions, and other outreach opportunities;
- • career assistance from both academic and industry-experienced mentors, as well as career services professionals; and,
- • access to other Columbia professional schools, including Mailman School of Public Health, School of Law, and College of Physicians and Surgeons.
The program is being directed by Cliff Cramer, who spent more than 25 years in the financial services and health care/pharmaceutical sectors, including as managing director at Merrill Lynch and J. P. Morgan in their health care investment banking groups; VP corporate planning and development at Merck & Co., Inc.; and cofounder of American Health Capital/VHA Enterprises. A faculty advisory group, led by Linda Green, Armand G. Erpf Professor at Columbia Business School, contributes to curriculum development and other learning opportunities.
