HPM future career paths

[xb2011]

Hi,

I'm accepted into the HPM stream and was wondering what kind of career opportunities would there be in the current job market for a HPM graduate since its not as concentrated as biostats/epi/environmental health...etc. And also, management positions usually require years of experience so what do HPM fresh graduates usually start working as?

Thanks~~🙂

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[MsMPH12]

I'm interested in knowing more about post MPH jobs in Health Policy as well. Can anyone expand on their post graduate careers as a policy analyst, consultant, etc? Thanks!

 

[RAMPA]

Many find positions as project managers, consultants, business managers, etc in hospital systems, health plans, medical groups, biotech/pharm, and consulting firms. Administrative fellowships are also another route.

 

[MsMPH12]

Many find positions as project managers, consultants, business managers, etc in hospital systems, health plans, medical groups, biotech/pharm, and consulting firms. Administrative fellowships are also another route.

@RAMPA, do you know what career path you're planning on going into after you graduate?

 

[RAMPA]

I am targeting several healthcare consulting firms or large firms with dedicated healthcare practices as well as internal consulting positions within large hospital systems. I will be applying to administrative fellowships in the fall as well. (I'm the kind of person with a plan a, b,c,d,e, etc)

I'm on the management track, but policy students in my cohort are looking at Capitol Hill and working with think tanks, NGOs, policy consulting firms, etc.

 

[xb2011]

I am targeting several healthcare consulting firms or large firms with dedicated healthcare practices as well as internal consulting positions within large hospital systems. I will be applying to administrative fellowships in the fall as well. (I'm the kind of person with a plan a, b,c,d,e, etc)

I'm on the management track, but policy students in my cohort are looking at Capitol Hill and working with think tanks, NGOs, policy consulting firms, etc.

I applied to the management track🙂
I really liked those courses when I was browsing thru the management stream but my dad thinks that management is vague and abstract and questioned what could be learnt and I couldn't really answer him confidently because I've never really entered the workforce..
Do you feel that the MPH prepares you for management roles?

 

[MsMPH12]

I've found a large majority of people tend to be on the management track for Health Management & Policy and not so much for the policy track, dang lol

 

[doctoroxygen]

I'm in the dedicated Health Policy track at GW and almost everybody here seems to want something to do with federal agencies (mostly HHS) or NGOs in DC.

 

[MsMPH12]

I'm in the dedicated Health Policy track at GW and almost everybody here seems to want something to do with federal agencies (mostly HHS) or NGOs in DC.

That's wonderful! I've been accepted to GW, U of M, Emory & some other schools for Health Policy & Management. How do you like GW's program and what made you pick that school over others? I'm having a tough time deciding and GW is one of my top choices. Pleasee help lol 🙂

 

[doctoroxygen]

That's wonderful! I've been accepted to GW, U of M, Emory & some other schools for Health Policy & Management. How do you like GW's program and what made you pick that school over others? I'm having a tough time deciding and GW is one of my top choices. Pleasee help lol 🙂

Congrats on your acceptances! GW seems to be different from every other school's Health Policy department in a couple of ways. First, it is just a policy degree - you will get minimal (if any) training in management. I assume this is by virtue of being in DC, as the school really takes advantage of that. Our faculty are frequently testifying before Congress, advising members, and interacting with HHS. If you're primarily interested in policy, I sincerely believe there is no better program than this one. If you want a broader experience, you might find the hyperfocus on policy to be somewhat frustrating. In terms of access to career-building opportunities, I can't imagine being in a better place than DC at GW. In fact, I don't really know how any other school could compete with us on these policy opportunities. You have to be pretty self-directed, and they don't really hold your hand, but the cornucopia of possibilities for research, internships, and regular jobs afforded by the school's location makes it a no-brainer if you want to work in policy. Overall, I'm very pleased with my experience here so far. Let me know if you have any other questions and I'll try to answer them!

As far as what made me pick this school, I only applied here 🙂

EDIT: I should add that the program's singular focus on policy doesn't seem to affect the jobs graduates get after school. I know of several students who have gone the consulting route or become managers in private organizations after their MPHs.

 

[MsMPH12]

Wow doctoroxygen, this is something to really think about. I will pm you with more questions, Thanks!

 

[mphplease]

I am torn between Health Management at Yale and Columbia. I want to go into healthcare consulting (hopefully, at a global level) after I graduate. Can anyone compare both programs, please?

 

[enox0485]

I am targeting several healthcare consulting firms or large firms with dedicated healthcare practices as well as internal consulting positions within large hospital systems. I will be applying to administrative fellowships in the fall as well. (I'm the kind of person with a plan a, b,c,d,e, etc)

I'm on the management track, but policy students in my cohort are looking at Capitol Hill and working with think tanks, NGOs, policy consulting firms, etc.

I'm planning on going a similar route when I finish my HPM, management concentration. I would like to go the fellowship route and possibly get some internal consulting experience before venturing out to working with Big 4 consulting firms and the like. While I am only conjecturing and know there are plenty who go to working for outside consulting firms right out of their MPH, I think it's a more secure move to work for a hospital directly and then venture out to an external consulting firm than the other way around. By laying your foundations in a hospital setting first, I feel you have something to fall back on in case the external consulting lifestyle isn't for you. In my late 20s jumping on a plane and traveling all over the place consulting organizations sounds awesome. However I presume eventually I would like to settle into a town, have a family, and spend time with my wife and kids (hopefully someday). I feel working in a hospital would enable me to do that, so ultimately I would like the best of both worlds 😉

 

[jonsnow88]

I am torn between Health Management at Yale and Columbia. I want to go into healthcare consulting (hopefully, at a global level) after I graduate. Can anyone compare both programs, please?

I can't attest to Yale, but I decided on Columbia's program. It's basically a business school approach to healthcare management, with finance, econ, marketing, etc. At the admit day, they spoke about how they revamped the program after a 3-year project talking to alumni, employers, faculty, etc., to come up with the new format. It seems very well put together. concerning consulting, this is a very good base to apply for those types of jobs. also, at the admit day i went to the career fair they were hosting for current students. i spoke to reps from Deloitte and Boston Consulting Group, among the firms present, who assured me that they are hiring MPH HPM students, and will continue to do so. healthcare is one of the few areas that is expanding, due to the changing climate. hope this helps

 

[RAMPA]

I am torn between Health Management at Yale and Columbia. I want to go into healthcare consulting (hopefully, at a global level) after I graduate. Can anyone compare both programs, please?

both have the prestige/brand name that consulting firms are looking for. Most MPH/MHA grads tend to work for firms right under the big 3 (MBB), so you are likely looking at Deloitte, PwC, or boutiques like ECG, Navigant, Huron, etc.

At this point choose the program you feel most comfortable with. A MPH grad from Columbia will be paid the same as a MPH grad from Yale (unless one has significant prior experience to come in at the senior consultant level) at consulting firms. Both programs will prepare you well for consulting positions and for admin fellowships.

 

[RAMPA]

I'm planning on going a similar route when I finish my HPM, management concentration. I would like to go the fellowship route and possibly get some internal consulting experience before venturing out to working with Big 4 consulting firms and the like. While I am only conjecturing and know there are plenty who go to working for outside consulting firms right out of their MPH, I think it's a more secure move to work for a hospital directly and then venture out to an external consulting firm than the other way around. By laying your foundations in a hospital setting first, I feel you have something to fall back on in case the external consulting lifestyle isn't for you. In my late 20s jumping on a plane and traveling all over the place consulting organizations sounds awesome. However I presume eventually I would like to settle into a town, have a family, and spend time with my wife and kids (hopefully someday). I feel working in a hospital would enable me to do that, so ultimately I would like the best of both worlds 😉

Actually doing consulting first, then going into industry is more typical. If the external consulting lifestyle isn't for you (and it isn't a long term position for many people), working at a firm will allow you to work with C-suite and senior leaders, so you will be well positioned to work in operations, strategy, planning, marketing, revenue cycle, etc within a health system setting.

From the programs you've listed Emory would give the on-campus recruiting for consulting firms and the best shot at landing a position versus having to network at the other schools just to get an interview.

 

[enox0485]

Hi Rampa I appreciate the feedback! If you end up doing a fellowship would you still be looking to do external consulting afterwards or would you plan on taking more of an internal consulting role since you're already integrated into the hospital? I know eventually I would like to get some admin experience in a hospital so a fellowship looks like a good option right out of school but consulting has a very attractive (and lucrative) lifestyle as well. It seems like you're going through that process right now so it would be interesting to get your viewpoint. Let's say hypothetically you were offered a 2 year fellowship at Hopkins vs a Senior consulting position at Deloitte or PWC, which option would you choose and for what reason(s) if you don't mind me asking? I am trying to structure my education and internship experience around my job, and you're correct, Emory offers the best consulting opportunities out of all the programs to which I have applied. The issue I have is that I'm not sure if I should work at Emory Healthcare and do a summer internship within a hospital with the aspiration of getting a good fellowship or do a summer internship with Deloitte with the aspiration of working for them. It's not so much a crisis of "what I want to be when I grow up" as much as if I pass on a good fellowship opportunity will I have the same opportunities in a hospital post consulting and if I pass on a good consulting position right out of school will I have the same opportunities in that sector after doing a fellowship?