Getting into healthcare consulting
I'm based in Toronto, Canada, and I would prefer to remain here, so if anybody has knowledge about Toronto specifically, even better! I am open to moving, however.
I have a chemical engineering degree from the University of Waterloo. Worked a few years at an engineering consulting firm doing technical work (heavy industry). I have a lot of international site experience, dealing with managers, engineers, operators, and contractors. I am currently studying for a master's degree in public health from, unfortunately, not Havard or Hopkins (LSHTM in case anyone knows what school this is). I speak Mandarin, Cantonese, and elementary Spanish.
I'm interested in breaking into healthcare consulting, particularly pharma (related to my undergrad degree) and hospitals. At this point, I'm not really picky, as I don't think I can be. On paper, my experience reads like it's all over the place and it's a bit disheartening. A friend of mine worked at PwC and told me there are a lot of jobs in healthcare consulting, but I'll dig more info from him later.
Anyway, I'm wondering if consulting firms will actually be interested in me, what transferable skills they are looking for, and what else I can do to make myself more attractive to firms. I'd prefer not to switch to the management consulting arm of my company as I really really want to get out of the industry.
First, don't knock LSHTM. and this coming from a Gillings (UNC) alum.
http://www.shanghairanking.com/shanghairanking-subject-rankings/public-…
Second: my wife is partner track at a healthcare-only shop. She broke in via an administrative fellowship. Nearly all of colleagues broke in via one of three pathways: 1) Summer internship at the firm 2) Administrative Fellowship 3) 5+ years of industry experience
Most of the better HC-focused shops recruit out of Fellowships as opposed to directly via OCR. It's really only the bigger, more general-purpose consulting firms with a healthcare arm that go the OCR route. True, they are bigger names. But generally speaking healthcare tends to focus on firms with direct healthcare experience as opposed to the bigger names.
Thanks for your response.
I wasn't trying to knock LSHTM but I had doubts that consulting firms know what it is.
Anyway, what is an administrative fellowship?
You'll find those on the Hospital side (since you mentions Hospitals).
They're the administrative version of residencies -- 1-2 years partnered with a senior executive where you handle all of their projects, attend meetings with them etc.
One President of a Hospital i worked at said "You can learn to do things by getting a job or you can learn to meet people by doing a Fellowship"
You can find them at most major hospitals (Cleveland Clinic, Hopkins, Mass General etc.)
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