Experiential learning opportunities within health care allow students to practice the skills and concepts they are learning in the classroom on a substantive project of consequence. There are a variety of opportunities across the sector at both Fuqua and Duke.
Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum
The Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum assists students in developing business consulting skills by allowing students to apply the content they have covered in their courses to real-world challenges and opportunities with client organizations on team-based experiential learning projects. FCCP can also help students to build their industry or function-specific business knowledge. While FCCP projects come from all sectors, there are always a number of health care-specific options representing multiple sub-sectors within the industry. FCCP is 6 credits, only offered in the spring semester, and spans two terms. Learn more
DUHELP
The Duke University Hospital Experiential Learning Practicum (DUHELP) is a unique partnership between Duke University Hospital and the Center for Health Sector Management at Fuqua. Students work closely with a preceptor in the Duke University Health System to develop solutions to pressing issues. Students work individually or in pairs, and will work with DUH personnel to develop a project plan, give a final presentation of deliverables, and gain a better understanding of the decision-making processes of large health systems. DUHELP is 6 credits, offered in both fall and spring, and spans two terms. Learn more
Mentored Study
Mentored Study gives students the opportunity to work with a mentor on a project for the mentor’s organization, gaining real-world experience and learning more about the industry. Fuqua connects with many great organizations to source projects for students, and additionally, students are also able to find their own mentor and propose a project for mentored study credit. Mentored study projects are individual, 3 credits, and span two terms in either the fall or spring. Prospective students and companies considering Mentored Study can learn more here. Current Fuqua students can learn more here.
New Venture Fellows
The New Venture Fellows Program allows students to work directly with Duke start-ups on a variety of activities, from pitch decks to competitive landscape analysis, to business plan development, and corporate strategy. The Fellows will receive guidance from a Mentor-in-Residence, attend New Ventures staff meetings, and gain real-world experience working on a start-up. The New Venture Fellows Program is offered by the Duke Office of Translation and Commercialization. This program may be extra-curricular, or students may earn credit through the Mentored Study Program. Learn more
New Venture Clinic: Healthcare
This course teaches students the basic elements of taking technology from the bench to development and commercialization. Students will work on interdisciplinary teams of graduate and professional students with a biopharma or med device technology from Duke. The students will evaluate the assigned tech, develop a preliminary business case, and then make a pitch to investors. This course is only offered in the fall, earns 3 credits, and spans two terms. Current students can find the course description in DukeHub under HLTHMGMT 898 – New Venture Clinic: Healthcare.
Duke Design Health
The Duke Design Health Program provides an immersive learning experience where students discover pressing needs in health care with teams from across engineering, business, medicine, and other disciplines. Students actively identify, validate, and prioritize problems that impact human health. The program is split into three courses: Design Health 1 – Discover (Fall); Design Health 2 – Design (Spring); and Design Health 3 – Deploy (Fall). Each course is 3 credits and spans a full semester. Learn more
Bass Connections
Bass Connections bridges the classroom and real world, allowing students to work on applied interdisciplinary research teams to tackle complex problems with faculty and students from across Duke. Students can find health care-relevant projects under the themes of Health Policy & Innovation; Brain & Society; Global Health; and Race & Society. These projects provide MBA students the opportunity to gain experience working on complex projects in teams. Projects typically span a full year, so interested students will want to apply in their FY for a project in their SY. MBA students can earn course credit for participating, or pay for taking on advanced project management roles. Learn more
Quality & Innovation Scholars Program
The Quality & Innovation Scholars Program is a six-month, interdisciplinary, team-based practicum opportunity in healthcare quality improvement. Scholars are paired with DUHS faculty for their projects, and also complete formalized curriculum through the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, as well as discussion sessions led by faculty members. This program is extra-curricular, but students may earn credit by applying in advance for Mentored Study. Learn more