Healthcare Consulting, Management and Policy Careers

“A healthcare consultant acts as an analyst, learning about a healthcare-related organization’s operations in order to improve efficiencies. One of the big roles a consultant plays in any industry is to help an organization identify ways to reduce costs and increase revenue. These jobs are found in all varieties of healthcare organizations from hospitals and medical facilities to health insurance companies. Healthcare consultants can be hired directly by the healthcare company as an ongoing consultant or analyst, or they might work for an outside consulting company that sends people to consult at a variety of client organizations.” Read more at flexjobs.

“Health policy analysts (or health policy specialists) in the public sector assess existing healthcare programs and delivery policies and develop new legislation designed to improve access to healthcare, shorten wait times, or lower costs. Not all health policy analysts are employed by governments or government agencies. Health policy analysts also work for think tanks, nonprofit organizations, and community groups. Some develop new policies and lobby legislators to enact their innovations as law. Others spend their days developing internal policies for hospitals, insurance companies, and medical networks.” Read more about the responsibilities, skills needed, and earnings at Noodle.

“Health administrators, often referred to as health managers, are professionals in charge of the healthcare facility operations. Their jobs are multifaceted, and administrators generally have a number of different responsibilities, such as coordinating medical and health services, supervising staff, establishing workplace procedures and systems, ensuring adherence to health care policies and laws, managing overall financial effectiveness, and creating educational programs. While health administrators rarely work directly with patients, they are charged with developing and maintaining healthcare systems that address the health of the community they serve. They also regularly work closely with a number of other healthcare professionals, such as physicians, surgeons, nurses, technicians, and even insurance agents. Most medical and health services managers work in hospitals, physician offices, residential care services, outpatient care centers, or government facilities.” Read common job titles, work setting, and earnings at University HQ.

Information Gathering

Read trade magazines, newsletters, and popular websites in your industry area. Places to start include Alliance for Public Policy, Healthcare Dive, MedCity News (focuses on the business of innovation in healthcare), and Kaiser Health News. Subscribe to blogs and newsletters, follow industry insiders on social media and research the types of positions that are available in those fields. Company websites, O*NET, and the Occupational Outlook Handbook are equally helpful resources. You must show not only an interest, but also knowledge about the industry.

Select Resources

Making Connections

Attend employer information sessions, industry events — on and off-campus — and connect with popular professional organizations regionally and nationally. AcademyHealth, National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation, and Institute for Healthcare Improvement are nonprofits seeking to transform healthcare. For those interested in healthcare administration and/or healthcare consulting, network locally with the Maryland Association of Health Care Executives (MAHCE), which encourages student participation. And for those interested in healthcare policy, get acquainted with the Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management and the the D.C. chapter of Society of Health Policy Young Professionals. Professional associations host a variety of professional development, educational, and networking events.

Joining groups on LinkedIn related to your industry is a great way to meet new people, find mentors, contacts, and ask questions. Also, reach out to alumni through Hoya Gateway and Georgetown’s alumni page on LinkedIn. Our website provides helpful guidelines on networking and informational interviewing.

Making Connections at Georgetown

Georgetown offers a number of opportunities for Hoyas to get involved. Joining a school club is an excellent way to learn more about the industry, develop your skills, and get hands-on experience. Learn about clubs associated with the School of Health. For those of you interested in exploring a career in consulting, apply to clubs such as Innovo Consulting or Hilltop Consultants.

Georgetown’s Center for Research and Fellowships offers research opportunities during both the academic year and summer months. Participate in research and get published in the peer-reviewed Georgetown University Journal of Health Sciences or present at the Undergraduate Research Conference.

You may want to participate in a group based on a personal interest and develop your professional skills. For example, if you are interested in gaining skills in data analysis or general business skills, join a student group of interest and volunteer to work on related projects. For more student club information, visit Campus Groups. On and off-campus jobs are another excellent way to build skills valued by employers.

Preparing Materials

To better understand what skills you need to highlight on your resume, check out internships, fellowships, and entry level positions in these industries. See our resume and cover letter pages for more tips and advice.

Applying

For healthcare consulting positions, you may be required to conduct case interviews during the interview process. Check out the Vault Guide to Case Interviews as a starting point. In addition, review our case interviewing page and this page of health and life science-related cases (though, many firms will use general vs. health-related cases). For policy-related jobs, a writing sample may be required.

Select Employers

  • U.S. Health Policy Gateway provides a comprehensive list of organizations working in health policy, including key players in government, foundations, research and consulting organizations, trade associations, and more.