HSM Student Profile: Garrett Abrams (GEMBA Class of 2023)
Prior Education: SUNY Oneonta
Hometown: Jericho, NY
Nationality: USA
Why I chose Fuqua:
I chose Fuqua for many reasons including HSM, academics, and the travel the GEMBA program provides. With the Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) program, I have been able to travel to Hawaii, Peru, and Germany with my classmates. With the HSM coursework and resources, I can build upon and expand my healthcare knowledge. Before Fuqua, I worked in clinical trials for seven years, specifically for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for the past four years. Fuqua has provided me the opportunity to learn alongside classmates from all over the world and in different sectors of business and health care.
Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum (FCCP)
The Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum (FCCP) is a project-based course where you get teamed up with students from both the Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) and Weekend Executive (WEMBA) programs along with a company client looking to solve a business challenge. Coming into business school, consulting was a path I wanted to explore post-graduation. I felt the FCCP would be a perfect opportunity to experience a consulting project while also applying the concepts I was learning in the classroom. After applying, I was chosen to be part of a health care project. I was teamed up with three of my fellow GEMBA classmates and two WEMBA students. It was a good opportunity to network with students from the other program as we take electives together.
My project was to work with a radiology group on international market entry. My team was tasked with finding the primary country for expansion along with a secondary market entry. In the initial call with our client, we discussed the different criteria that would be required for a successful entry. I was able to learn about all aspects of radiology including reimbursement, regulations, and the market landscape. We all had a lot to balance with classes, jobs, and personal obligations, but we managed the project requirements and got the work done.
At the end of the project, we were able to present our research to the client and recommend a primary and secondary international market entry point. The experience was satisfying and provided a good learning opportunity. I was able to learn how a consulting project operated and further my interest in pursuing healthcare consulting post-graduation. It also provided a chance to learn about a new area of health care I had not been exposed to. My knowledge of radiology has grown tremendously. Overall my experience was positive and, despite the additional workload and time commitment, I wouldn’t have given up the chance to work on a consulting project, especially in health care.