Alternative Elective
My elective was a far cry from the sandy beaches and tropical rainforests of most medical students. I spent 7 weeks with the London Healthcare team at McKinsey, a management consultancy firm. You might be wondering why I chose to spend one of my final, ‘long’ summers as a student sat in an office making Excel models instead of riding elephants in wavy garms. But here’s 2 reasons why you should consider an elective at McKinsey:
1. Is the grass greener?
Some FY1/2s (and medical students) I have met are surprisingly jaded by the job and cynical of its prospects. For them, the ‘problem-solving’ aspect of diagnosis had become pattern recognition, and patient management was too protocol driven. They also compared their junior years with being a glorified secretary with all the administrative paperwork and were looking for an exit. But to what? The medical elective program at McKinsey gave me a unique insight into an alternative career, where I could transfer my knowledge/ skills, work within healthcare and still have impact on patients (at a population level instead of an individual basis). It also allowed me to evaluate the work-life balance of the private sector and whether the day-to-day work itself was something I could see myself doing in the future, instead of treating patients. Many students have enjoyed the elective but decided consulting is not for them; others find their new calling. Just like wondering if a fart will follow-through – you never know until you try.
2. National Health…System?
We go through medical school learning the intricacies of the MAPK cascade and the route of the cephalic vein, but we learn very little about the ‘company’ we are signing up to work for, for the next 40 years. During my summer, I worked with NHS Trusts, CCGs, STPs and LAs, attending meetings with management teams and even presenting to them. If these letters mean nothing to you, the McKinsey elective is a great way to learn the complexities of how our NHS is structured, how payors and providers work, network with senior NHS officials and, if you have aims of combining clinical medicine with management roles, develop your leadership and communication skills.
Having McKinsey on your CV will get you a long, long way. So, if you fancy an alternative experience during your summer, consider an application to the McKinsey elective program. Feel free to contact me on Instagram (@baehan.m) or LinkedIn for further info and advice!
