I am a urological oncologist in Bremen, Germany. I look after patients with all types of urological cancer and have expertise in removing prostate cancer using a surgical robot. I have passed through many hierarchical stages in healthcare over the last 12 years. I went from a medical student to a junior specialist to my current position as a consultant with the most responsibility for patient care. This has made me aware of the numerous challenges faced by many healthcare professionals worldwide at different levels. It has always been my belief that there must be a better way of doing things.
Unfortunately, during my medical training, I wasn’t exposed enough to the managerial, financial or leadership education I needed to face certain situations. Not being satisfied with the current status quo in healthcare, and lacking the skills to lead and change, led me to search for an MBA programme focused on healthcare. I was lucky to find and be admitted to the MBA International Healthcare Management at Frankfurt School.
While my initial intention was to gain some management and leadership skills, the MBA has been a door opener for me and has broadened my horizons in so many ways. I am very proud of the knowledge and skills I gained throughout my studies and the connections and network I became part of. And although there have been many challenging assignments during my studies, I was able to leave my comfort zone and explore my full real potential. Financial Management, Change Management and Leadership training were among the top impactful subjects during my studies. My business plan assignment, for example, has given me the blueprint for a project to build an application that I believe will address one of the many bottlenecks in the healthcare industry.
Even though I am about to graduate, this project will stay and grow with me for some time to come. I have always been interested in blockchain technology since the introduction of bitcoin. For example, I was surprised to learn that blockchain technology is being used for a variety of applications, including those in the healthcare industry. In the coming years, I believe that the healthcare industry will undergo a significant transformation. The use of all kinds of technologies, including robotics, artificial intelligence and blockchain technology, in the healthcare system will be the hallmark of this transformation.
Among other applications, blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionise the healthcare industry by facilitating secure and efficient clinical trial data management and improving supply chain management, in addition to providing secure and transparent storage and sharing of electronic medical records. The absence of interoperability between various electronic medical record systems is one of the most significant obstacles in the healthcare industry. As a result, a fragmented view of a patient’s medical history is created, which could lead to incorrect diagnoses and treatment choices. By creating a decentralised and secure platform for storing and sharing medical records, blockchain technology can address this issue and ensure that all relevant parties have access to the most recent patient data.
Supply chain management is another area where blockchain could have a significant impact. The supply chain can be monitored to confirm the authenticity of medical supplies and drugs. Supply chain stability and, above all, patient safety can be greatly enhanced by this technology. Blockchain has the potential to significantly improve clinical trials as well. It does so by helping to reduce the risk of data tampering by providing secure and transparent data storage. Additionally, the decentralised nature of blockchain may make it possible for researchers and regulators to share trial data more quickly and effectively, thereby expediting the approval process and bringing new treatments to patients faster.
Blockchain technology in the healthcare industry is a promising area for further development and investment. As a strong believer in this technology, I will adopt it whenever possible in any position I hold in the future!
Even though my MBA journey is coming to an end, it is also the beginning of a new and exciting journey in many ways. The achievements have been beyond my imagination. I am very grateful to all the faculty and staff for the time and effort that they have invested in educating all my wonderful classmates and me.
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