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I think ER may be better, however IBD positions you for a HF as well. Given having your MD I don’t think you will have issues at either. HF’s love PHDs and MDs especially if they are healthcare focused.

My thoughts:

Pick where you will be happy and actually enjoy doing the work. Is it doing deals, or a research role like ER?

Have you considered trying to go right to a HF after med school? Given you don’t have financial services background this may be tough, but also doable with your credentials.

 

ER for sure. It’s much more relevant. Plus, depending on how well known ur Analyst is, you’ll actually chat with healthcare buyside guys vs IB u won’t. Also pay isn’t much different when you factor the hours worked. 1st year bio ER ~200k ish all in. It’s not that bad 

 

Hey, would love to chat about your recruiting experience— I’m a medical student interested in IB / ER Too, and wanted to learn more about your experiences

 

Not the most knowledgeable person since I’ve only been in biotech ER for a few months. Based on linkedin and looking at the bios of biotech HF seats looks like most people come from ER rather than IB.

Also, agree that in ER you will have more opportunity to network with the buyside. Not sure what to make of VC/PE, but investing without having clinical data looks like throwing spaghetti against the wall.

 

Biotech ER is absolutely the better path between the two. You won't get any exposure to buysiders in IBD and won't be diving deep into science fundamentals, the latter of which is basically your entire value add as an MD at most HFs.

Source: I'm at a biotech fund and have seen maybe one IB to HF example in my three years since leaving medicine. Most are ER to HF or straight into buy side.

 

What would you say is better between IB and ER if you didn’t go to med school/phd? If the goal is late stage vc/crossover/ hf (aisling/ecor1/bain/casdin types) — I feel like I see more comps of people w IB sliding in as associate after a few years

 

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