Why do people choose to come to Fuqua? Everyone has a different answer. In my case, I wanted to deepen my understanding of the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries while also honing my management and leadership skills. But I believe there is one thing many of us have in common: We come to Fuqua to think seriously about our careers.

Recently, I had the privilege of welcoming Professor David Ridley, faculty director of Fuqua’s Center for Health Sector Management (HSM), to Tokyo and co-hosting an admissions event with him. During the session, David and I talked about Fuqua from many angles, including academics, student life, healthcare, and careers. My biggest takeaway from the conversation was that Fuqua opens doors for people without healthcare backgrounds.

Why People, Community, and Place Matter

I said that people come to Fuqua to think about their careers. In a way, that even applies to David. He is not a Fuqua alum, but he began his academic career at Fuqua about 20 years ago. In the years since then, he has written papers in pharmacoeconomics, taught healthcare courses, and learned from people around the world as a Fuqua faculty member. He also shared why he decided to stay at Fuqua for so many years. For David, the deciding factors were the people around him, the Fuqua community, and the weather in Durham.

I agree with him. Looking back on my own decision to commit to Fuqua, and even on my decision to join my current employer, I realize that those three factors — people, community, and place — have a huge impact on satisfaction. As David described in his talk, Fuqua is a great place for people who want to be surrounded by smart, warm-hearted people, collaborate closely with them, and live in a comfortable place that is neither too hot nor too cold. One correction: David said summers in Durham are not nice, but compared with my hometown, Tokyo, I would say they are very nice!

How Business Can Shape Healthcare

We then turned to one of David’s most significant contributions: the legislation establishing the priority review voucher. For those who may not be familiar with it, the priority review voucher is a policy tool that rewards companies for developing drugs for underserved diseases, such as rare pediatric diseases or tropical diseases, by granting a voucher that can expedite FDA review of another drug application. Because the voucher can be used by the company that receives it or sold to another firm, it creates a market-based incentive to invest in treatments that might otherwise be commercially unattractive.

From a career perspective, this discussion offered several interesting insights. First, for those seeking opportunities in healthcare, Fuqua is one of the best places to understand the full landscape of the industry, from the business side of pharmaceuticals and medical devices to healthcare policy. Students can learn not only from brilliant faculty like David but also from classmates who are passionate about changing the healthcare business.

Second, for those interested in consulting or investment banking, the priority review voucher shows how a well-designed financial incentive can change the game. It is a powerful example of how business thinking can help realize economic value that has not yet been captured. Finally, for former lawyers, public-sector professionals, or people from heavily regulated industries, it illustrates the importance of looking at the world from a different perspective. Even when something seems impossible, there may be another route to achieve the same goal if you apply a business mindset.

A Broader View of Healthcare and Careers

HSM is certainly one of Fuqua’s signature programs, but healthcare is not all that Fuqua has to offer. As mentioned above, many of the ideas that matter in healthcare business, such as heavy regulation and massive upfront investment, also apply to other industries, including energy resource development and space exploration. About a quarter of each Daytime MBA class pursues the HSM certificate and, of that group, only about half have work experience in the healthcare industry.

What I want to emphasize is that pursuing HSM, even without a healthcare background, can broaden your career possibilities. Thinking through healthcare challenges and solutions through HSM can also be valuable even if your future career is in another field, such as consulting or investment banking. Healthcare gives you a lens to understand complex problems, incentives, regulations, and innovation in a way that can be useful far beyond the industry itself.

What Faculty Support Looks Like at Fuqua

This conversation reminded me how powerful Fuqua’s classroom and community can be as resources for students. I was fortunate to be part of a rare opportunity in which a current Fuqua professor visited Japan and made time for an admissions event. Although David came to Japan for another professional commitment, he immediately agreed to participate when asked. That generosity says a lot about the kind of community Fuqua is.

Just as David showed through this visit, Fuqua professors are very supportive of students. They are open to frank conversations both inside and outside the classroom, and they generously share their knowledge and perspectives. Of course, students also need to bring a basic level of respect to that relationship. For example, David is, unfortunately for some students, a professor who cold-calls in every class. But he does so because he expects students to prepare well, offer meaningful insights when called upon, and value the opinions of people with deep experience and knowledge.

That expectation captures something important about Fuqua. The classroom is not only a place where professors teach and students listen. It is a place where students prepare, contribute, learn from experienced classmates and faculty, and challenge one another with respect. That is one reason Fuqua’s community can be such a valuable resource throughout the MBA experience.

To repeat the point, no matter what career you pursue, the people around you, the community you belong to, and the place where you spend your time all matter. Exposure to different industries and business cases will also expand the ideas, perspectives, and possibilities you can draw on in your career. If this article sparked your interest, I encourage you to speak with Fuqua alumni, learn more about the school, and consider applying to Fuqua.