The MBA in Medical Education: Current MD/MBA Student Aspirations, Perceptions, and Motivations

Abstract

BackgroundAs combined Doctor of Medicine and Master of Business Administration (MD/MBA) programs gain popularity, it is critical to understand the motives, perceptions, and interests of MD/MBA students. The purpose of this study was to investigate career aspirations of MD/MBA students, skills they perceive to gain from the dual degree, and reasons why students enroll in MD/MBA programs. Materials and methodsAll 73 MD/MBA programs in the United States were invited to participate in a twelve-question, online survey. Responses were collected between August 2019 and February 2020 from students enrolled during the 2019-2020 academic year. The questions were designed to examine career aspirations, program perceptions, and personal motivations. Data were aggregated into descriptive summary statistics and rank orders. ResultsA total of 18 MD/MBA programs agreed to participate in this study, of which 14 met criteria for final analysis. From these programs, 67 of 175 students responded (38%). Among respondents, 100% planned to pursue residency. The most common career interests included the following: clinical practice at an academic hospital (85%), executive leadership in a hospital network (76%), and clinical practice in a community hospital (65%). Students ranked “making a broader impact on health care” and “pursuing leadership in clinical practice” highest among reasons to pursue an MD/MBA. Students reported high rates of acquiring MBA-oriented skills. ConclusionsMD/MBA students in this study focused on pursuing clinical careers. Students appear satisfied with their education, reporting high rates of skill acquisition. Residency programs interested in MD/MBA students can incorporate leadership and entrepreneurial opportunities to foster students’ broad interests.