Dear Joyce – Future Healthcare MBA

I am about to start working on my MBA in January. I am very interested in specializing in healthcare in the MBA program. However, I am working in the wireless sales industry in a business to business sales position. I am scared that I will not be able to enter into the healthcare field because of my current position. I need to keep my current position for the time being. It has a great tuition reimbursement plan that pays for 95% of the education with no strings attached.

I need an action plan. I'd like to work in hospital administration or for a healthcare company in a business or consultant role. Can you help me?

Sincerely,

Future MBA

I would suspect that (all other things being equal), healthcare companies, when hiring for senior management or consultant roles, would give preference to someone with a previous healthcare background as well as an MBA.

There are several business schools (e.g., Wharton, in Philadelphia) that offer MBAs with a specialty in healthcare. Why don't you contact the guidance counselor at two or three of the schools that offer healthcare-specialty MBAs, and ask what types of backgrounds their students have, what types of jobs are available, and what types of employers recruit these students.

Best of luck!