Well, if they're among the 25 experienced health care professionals in the first class of an innovative program at the John M. Olin School of Business, count yourself very lucky.
Half are M.D.s, and nearly all others have other advanced degrees.
But they've decided it's important to add the management education inherent in an MBA degree to their credentials because of the increasingly competitive and volatile health care field. What they learn can mean better patient or customer service, including improved personnel management, on-time service and cost efficiencies that can help curb rising health care costs. What they learn also can help them and their businesses survive and thrive amid financial challenges in health care. You don't have to sacrifice one to have the other. Students in the program are committed to this idea, too.