Health Care: Resources to Get Involved
Health care is rapidly changing and has increasingly become an important part of the global economy. As people live longer and need more preventative and long-term care, the demand for talent and resources will continue to grow. Darden's general management curriculum equips students with the leadership skills needed to be successful managers in medical device, biotech, and pharmaceutical companies, as well as hospital and private practice management.
Clubs & Activities
- Health Care Club - The Darden Health Care Club is committed to providing career search support and networking opportunities in the health care field, as well as providing members with various opportunities to learn more about the important issues unique to this dynamic industry.
- Health Care Conference - This annual conference hosted by the Darden Health Care Club includes a keynote speaker from a leading health care company, a debate about health care reform and how to best create a sustainable health care system in the U.S., and a networking reception for attendees.
Health Care Curriculum
Health Care Courses
For-Credit Projects in Health Care
During the Second Year of the MBA program students can design a project (known as a Darden Business Project or DBP) and earn course credit. Here are two examples of projects completed by students with an interest in health care:
- Quality Management and Process Improvement in a Healthcare Setting: Emergency Department and Overcrowding
This project focused on the activities of a process improvement team, the core set of process improvement tools used by the team, and how the team functions as part of a holistic quality management philosophy.
- Helping the Elderly: Establishing a Private Medical Practice
This project researched the various business factors involved in establishing a private medical practice.
Health Care Dual Degrees
The University of Virginia has one of the top medical schools and health care systems in the country, and Darden has developed dual degrees with the UVA School of Medicine (MBA/MD), School of Nursing (MBA/MSN), and Department of Public Health Sciences (MBA/MPH).
Faculty Resources
The following faculty teach, conduct research, or have worked in health care:
Current Student & Alumni Contacts
Still have questions? Feel free to contact the following current students and alumni to ask specific questions about health care at Darden or in their careers. For additional contacts, please visit the Darden Student and Alumni Ambassadors list.
Hometown: Staten Island, NY
Previous education: Villanova and Drexel University College of Medicine
Undergraduate major: Biology and Economics
Previous occupation: Internal Medicine/Psychiatry resident
Future plans: Hospital administration
Darden activities: President of the Health Care Club; Consulting Club; General Management and Operations Club
"Darden has brought me a wealth of knowledge regarding the business world. Medicine needs good leaders who understand both the corporate and the clinical. With Darden's help, I aspire to provide such leadership."
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Undergraduate education: University of Virginia
Undergraduate major: Economics, Foreign Affairs
Previous occupation: IMS Health, Inc.
Future plans: Venture capital (life sciences)
Darden activities: Entrepreneurship & Venture Capital Club, Private Equity Club, Finance Club, Darden Capital Management
"Darden offers unparalleled support for entrepreneurship-minded MBA candidates and access to a wide range of healthcare and IT venture capital firms across the country. The curriculum offers a wealth of specialized courses in entrepreneurship and small business management, and the case method (relatively unique to UVA) is the ideal way to leverage the accumulated experience of your peers."
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Undergraduate education: Brigham Young University
Undergraduate major: Business Management-Finance
Previous occupation: Financial Analyst
Future plans: Leverage what I’ve learned at Darden to continue building a successful career
Darden activities: VP, Health Care Club; VP, General Management and Operations Club; House Captain, Building Goodness in April; First Lego League Volunteer Judge
"After studying several health care and pharmaceutical cases at Darden, I was able to hit the ground running for my summer internship at a biotech software company. I also gained valuable exposure to health care industry leaders through various conferences, forums, and speakers during the First Year at Darden."
Undergraduate education: University of Virginia
Undergraduate major: Biology
Company: Campbell Alliance
Role: Senior Consultant, Pharmaceutical and Biotech Industries
Current location: New York, NY
"My Darden experience was a highly effective training ground for my current role as a management consultant in the health care industry. The case method developed my critical thinking skills and taught me a systematic approach to problem solving which is especially important in my project work when developing solutions to complex problems with imperfect information. I also took advantage of every health care specific class offered at Darden which applied the case method to today’s most pressing challenges."
Undergraduate education: William and Mary
Undergraduate major: Biology and Government
Company: Vanderbilt Medical Center
Role: Resident
Current location: Nashville, TN