Healthcare PE / buyside without a Bio/Pharma academic background

I've noticed a lot of HC Associates / IPs have a Bio/Chem/Pharma degree (and a PhD).

Say you start your career in HC team. Should you even bother trying for HC teams at large-cap PE funds? Ideally aiming for MF/UMM, but I don't think requirements would differ for solid MM funds.

Meaning, that even if I was a good candidate, they would still hire someone from a Bio(Science) background as it is safer and marketable to LPs. On certain public posts, I have seen SWFs and other funds specifically request the Associate to have a medical/life science academic background.

6 Comments
 

Pretty much only helpful for deep biotech (which is more of a VC / life sciences investment focus and not really a focus of buyout PE). Providers, pharma services, HCIT, etc. (the buyout sectors) are really like any other companies and a PhD will not really give you an edge

 
Most Helpful

In a HC team at a MF; we have one science background, rest are bankers/consultants.

It doesn't matter for an associate in buyout PE as there will be long-established proof of concept (high level).

As a general point and for further more detailed analysis, you will involve experts super early on, who are much more knowledgeable about the viability of certain propositions than your average bio PhD. 

As you become more important in sourcing it can be helpful in terms of initial filter, but this will be ~5 years in, at that point, you should have all the knowledge you need.


Final point to note. This is only relevant life science tools and some parts of pharma outsourcing; even Pharma is surprisingly simple once you break it down. Services, MedTech etc. aren't a factor.

 

Could you please PM me? I have a similar (pharma) background and it would be much appreciated to share your opinion on these processes :) 

 

Odio facere consequatur ipsum neque totam sapiente nostrum. Animi dicta aliquid doloremque corporis fuga vel. Quo culpa sapiente facilis quasi tenetur. Qui laudantium hic laboriosam ut rerum et accusantium. Placeat dolor animi sed.

Qui omnis nemo doloremque quo. Non neque animi nihil omnis exercitationem. Quia voluptatem quas quasi voluptatibus dolorem vitae. Dolor officiis tempora rerum ipsam dolorem ipsum aut earum.

Nemo vel et cum vel eaque. Quod eos dignissimos dolore et nostrum. Porro culpa cum temporibus. Distinctio omnis quia similique molestiae.

Earum nesciunt dolores non illo consequuntur et nobis sapiente. Blanditiis animi impedit ad aut beatae et. Atque modi perferendis ab. Adipisci modi sed minus fugiat.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.2%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (99) $363
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (106) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (235) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (414) $231
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (273) $126
  • Intern/Summer Associate (38) $81
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (355) $61
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”