Xiaobao Li, Daytime MBA, 2024
Prior to Duke, I obtained my PhD in microbiology at Northwestern University and worked as a principal scientist at Diversey Inc. developing products for health care infection prevention. I have more than 20 peer-reviewed publications and three patents.
At Duke, I am an HSM fellow, a Fuqua Impact Scholar, a New Venture Fellow, and serve as treasurer of the FuquaPride Club.
I still vividly remember the moment I started my journey in Fuqua at the HSM Bootcamp, hosted by Fuqua’s Center for Health Sector Management. I was excited about a two-year experience that I knew was going to be transformative. In the very first class, the professor asked us to raise our hands if we had prior experience in health care as providers or with payers, pharmaceuticals, or medical devices. I found myself in a somewhat awkward position because I was involved in health care but in none of these major industries. Before Fuqua, I worked in the chemical industry as a research and development scientist developing products for infection prevention. So, I told the professor that I was “borderline” health care in my previous career.
Inspired by how the biotech industry and its business leaders were making a profound impact on lives during the pandemic, I came to business school intending to make a career switch in both industry and job function. Now, a few months away from graduation, I feel more prepared than ever to start my work at Labcorp, a global leader of diagnostic laboratory services, as director of corporate strategy.
When I reflect on my journey, I realize that the HSM program at Fuqua has been instrumental in preparing me for my career transition by exposing me to these four important resources.
To read the full article on the Fuqua website , click here