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One of the great benefits of studying in the International Healthcare Management MBA is travelling to multiple sites all over the world and gaining valuable insights into the health system in that country. One of the most memorable modules during my MBA studies was our time in Baltimore and Washington. The class is based at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, and we had the opportunity to visit the Johns Hopkins Hospital during the week as well.
The US module focuses on innovation and project management, and what a better place to observe the newest trends and projects in the healthcare industry than in the US. Lecturer Prof. Toby Gordon from Johns Hopkins Business School brought her first-hand experience from her many years of hospital management experience and invaluable insight into the US healthcare system. At the end of the module, each student received a Certificate from Johns Hopkins to mark our successful completion of the module
Perhaps the most memorable moment, was during our site visit at Johns Hopkins Hospital. We had a rare opportunity to go inside the Capacity Command Center designed by Johns Hopkins Hospital and GE Healthcare Partners, based on designs like an airport control tower. The Judy Reitz Capacity Command Center visualizes data and applies predictive analytics to improve patient safety and experience by managing bed capacity, waiting times, and coordinating services throughout the hospital to reduce risk.
We also had an opportunity to visit the Johns Hopkins Simulation Center, where each student had the chance to operate the da Vinci® surgical system, which is an innovative instrument to perform robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery.
Both are state of the art technologies and being able to see and experience how each work first hand was an opportunity of a lifetime. The team assignment was also very special in the US, because we had an opportunity to take part in a live case study, working with two hospitals (Johns Hopkins and Lifebridge Health) to take on a consulting role and present our work to their senior leadership. That was challenging, but also very memorable and rewarding.
Between lectures and working on group assignments, we were also able to find some time to explore Baltimore’s lively neighborhoods like Fell’s Point and the enjoy the local cuisine like a fresh crab in the Inner Harbor. The time spent outside of the classroom exploring the city are accompanied by sharing stories and personal experiences. Often, this also leads to friendly debates and discussions about the lectures and topics covered in class. It is in these moments that I learned so much about other cultures, both the cultures and values of my classmates as well as the country we were visiting. Although I am from the US, experiencing the city with such a diverse and international group gave me new insights and perspectives on my own country. Sharing these extracurricular experiences together forges deeper friendships and sense of camaraderie amongst the group. In return, this enhances the learning in the classroom by providing a safe and comfortable environment where we can have open discussions about personal experiences in our professional careers.
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