Committing to a single field of study can often intimidate incoming undergraduates. For many, this has sparked the appeal of studying business because of its versatility and interdisciplinarity in the professional realm— both of which are characteristics prided by the Ivey Business School. Crucially, Ivey embraces students’ intersectional pursuits within its extracurricular community as much as in the formal classroom, and the Ivey Health Sector Club (IHSC) wonderfully exemplifies this commitment.
The student-led IHSC celebrates healthcare integration into business by connecting students with new opportunities within healthcare marketing, sales, insurance, innovation etc. I had the pleasure of interviewing Co-presidents Sarah Zhang and Aliaa Abdelmeguid who shared their journeys at the IHSC. In Zhang's words, the Ivey Health Sector Club makes its primal goal "to enrich learning opportunities for people interested in the health sector through diverse events, initiatives, and portfolios." In terms of recruitment diversity, the IHSC seeks individuals who have not just worked in healthcare before but also bring a diverse set of skills to the table through previous experiences. They also ensure that members’ voices and contributions are heard in what type of events they want to see. The two discussed the widely held misconception that business consulting and finance are the only viable career options at Ivey, assuring that the IHSC seeks to deconstruct this generality by exposing students to prospects beyond those specializations. According to Zhang, the IHSC advocates for often overlooked career opportunities in the business industry, in efforts to “deviate from the typical Ivey recruitment pipeline into consulting and finance and to try to bring perspective into other fields like pharmaceuticals, biotech, HealthTech, etc.” The club’s most recent conference, for instance, featured a panel of speakers that attested to emerging careers in digital health strategy and social science — careers that diverge from typical corporate avenues in business.
Zhang and Abdelmeguid, who came from the Medical Sciences program, aimed to bridge the gap between healthcare and business in a unique intersectional field. Their goal was to maintain a sense of continuity and familiarity during the transition to Ivey, especially coming from a non-business background. Zhang detailed the benefit of networking within a centralized club to encompass all things business-health related at Ivey. Since other Ivey clubs do not cater to the same type of audience, the IHSC has become the "go-to resource for students interested in the business and health sector." The IHSC’s strong relationship with career management has become an additional resource that informs the community about healthcare opportunities for summer internships (and even full-time offers) and has boosted club engagement over the years. Abdelmeguid elaborated on the development offerings she believes are underrated, such as the outreach lists and recruiting resources (i.e., Ivey Alumni) for those seeking job opportunities. "Not a lot of people are aware of these resources, but we try to make them as accessible as possible by publicizing them on our Teams site," Abdelmeguid explained. "Hopefully, in the coming years, we can see more people taking advantage of them because they really go a long way in recruiting."
Recently, the IHSC conducted its mentorship program, healthcare consulting event, and healthcare venture capital event. Its flagship conference event, with this year's theme of "Equalize," led a keynote presentation, industry panel, and case competition to address global health inequities that compromise the quality of care within our population. To wrap up the school year, the IHSC recently hosted an HBA and healthcare dual degree panel to relieve some of the apprehension students often face at the end of HBA1 about whether to complete the dual degree. In the long run, the IHSC hopes to expand its member base and see its initiatives taken to the next level.
Unlike many student-led clubs at Ivey, the IHSC incorporates opportunities for AEO students to get involved, such as by extending their conference invitations to all Western University students. An introduction to the case method through the IHSC's case competitions can be valuable for AEO students who would like to gain more exposure to how Ivey’s teaching style works. Attending conferences also facilitates AEOs to get in contact with the IHSC executives and build relationships with those who might be joining the club soon. Further inquiries can be addressed through the IHSC's active Instagram presence @iveyhsc or their website: www.iveyhealthsectorclub.com.
Credit to: Giselle Saldanha, HBA ’23 (@gisellevisuals on Instagram)