Students of Questrom: MBA+MPH Edition

Name: Sam Read, Master of Public Health (MPH), MBA '17

Background? 

I was born in Washington, DC, grew up in Los Angeles, and went to high school in Bethesda, Maryland. I graduated with a BA in psychology from Bowdoin College in Maine, and then taught science to ESL students in Taiwan, before returning to the US to pursue a career in healthcare. I was a research coordinator at the UC San Francisco Cancer Center, and then a research associate at ICON (a contract research organization), monitoring operations at West Coast study sites for Phase III therapeutic oncology trials.

Why did you choose BU?

I was originally interested in just the MPH degree, but a professional mentor told me to consider dual MBA/MPH programs where I could build a solid business foundation, but also engage interests in health policy and epidemiology. BU immediately stood out, with top-10 nationally ranked Health Sector Management MBA and MPH programs. Going to school in Boston - a global biomedical hub - was also a big factor in my decision, and after I visited BU’s campus, I knew it was a place where I could challenge myself and succeed.

Questrom iTrek

The Questrom iTrek is a student-led trek to Israel over spring break, focused on entrepreneurship and innovation. The group visited Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and a Bedouin encampment in the desert. During the trip, students learned about the history and political situation in the region through visits to the religious sites of Jerusalem, the Holocaust Museum, and the Peres Center for Peace. The trip also included visits to multi-national and Israeli companies to discuss what gives Israel its innovative edge.

Health Sector Management Networking Night

On Monday April 4, 2015 the Health Sector Management Club (HSM) hosted a spring networking event for 1st and 2nd year MBA students, as well as MSMS students.  The event hosted 14 alumni and guests representing companies throughout the health sector.  Highlights included Shire Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi Genzyme, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston Medical Center, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The students and professionals had a great time getting to know each other, and the event provided the students with an opportunity to learn about different careers in the health sector.