Heart set on health care
Iman Ezzeddine, a student at Wharton School at Penn, discusses the courses she is pursuing for a career in the health care sector
Asophomore at the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania, Iman Ezzedine is pursuing a B.S. in Economics concentrating in OID (operations, information, and decisions) and Healthcare Management. ‘‘The classes I am taking allow me to explore all aspects of business from legal studies to marketing, management and more,'' says Iman, who attended a French high school in Lebanon specializing in Life Sciences, before applying to Penn as a Biology major and transferring to Wharton this spring. She is also involved in several extra-curricular activities.
The career development chair for Wharton Undergraduate Healthcare Club, she, alongside committee members, also organises career panels and resume workshops encouraging students to explore different careers in the healthcare field and learn from professionals. As engagement and marketing co-chair for Penn Undergraduate Biotech Society, she is responsible for sending out weekly emails on upcoming events and career opportunities.
Excerpts from an interview: What made you choose Healthcare Management in college?
I first applied as a Biology major in the School of Arts and Sciences. I always wanted to work in life sciences and liked biology in high school. I didn't really know much about economics or business since I hadn't taken many such classes in high school. I also didn't know about HCMG majors. At Penn, I learned more about Wharton and the Health Care Management (HCMG) concentration and really liked it. This was exactly what I wanted to do- learn how hospitals were managed, how insurance worked and how it evolved over time. I transferred to Wharton to pursue this concentration. I took OID classes and also really liked it so I decided to pursue both OID and HCMG. At Wharton, undergraduates get a B.S. in Economics. However, they can pick one or two concentrations to get a deeper understanding of these specific fields. There are more than 10 concentrations to choose from and they are all really interesting. B.S. economic students have to take business fundamentals classes which allows us to explore the different fields in business and helps us pick a concentration.
Have you always been interested in the area of healthcare?
Yes. Seeing the Lebanese healthcare system collapse sparked my interest in the field. I really wanted to know what could be done to fix it.
Why did you choose Wharton School of Business?
First, the classes. Wharton pushes you to take classes in various business fields. I have discovered interest in fields I didn't know I would like such as Legal Studies. Moreover, Wharton's leadership journey, which consists of four different classes, allows you to gain soft skills that you can use in the workplace. Another thing is the nature of the classes. Most classes I took have real-world case studies which allowed me to apply the knowledge I learned in classroom. Wharton also has a great community. Professors are always there to help and make themselves available outside class time. Group projects really made me realize how cooperative people are here and that they do their part of the work.
What are the 3 best pieces of advice you received at Penn?
Most classes I took at Wharton have real-world case studies which allowed me to apply the knowledge I learned in classroom. Wharton also has a great community. Professors are always there to help
1 Be open to exploring different fields, and take classes that interest you.
2 Try new things- whether it is joining a new club, going to a museum, studying abroad.
3 Don't be afraid to seek help. Asking for help does not make you weak. Don't know what classes to take? Ask an upperclassman. Don't know how to do this math problem? Email your TA. Feeling homesick? Talk to your friends or your RA.