How a Ph.D. in Cell Biology Puts the Darden MBA to Work
By Jay Hodgkins
Chong Xu (MBA ’14)
Darden School of Business alumnus Chong Xu (MBA ’14) already had a Ph.D. in cell biology from the University of Virginia, but he returned to the University to pursue his MBA to make a bigger difference in a health care field he describes as “a fascinating industry that is going through a lot of changes and needs a lot of talent.”
He’s translated his expertise in cell biology and business acumen into a position with F-Prime Capital, an early stage health care venture capital company that is part of Fidelity Investment. He discussed his career doing work in both the U.S. and China and the global landscape for health care in a recent profile on The Network section of the Darden website.
What do you think are the biggest challenges (or opportunities) in global health care today, and how can business help?
The global health care industry is going through fascinating challenges and changes. Here in the U.S., the biotech industry is harnessing the latest research findings in gene editing and immune-oncology to develop potential cures for diseases such as cancer and diabetes, with topics such as drug pricing and rights to health care occupying headlines and political agendas. Health care IT companies are trying to use big data and smart digital solutions to streamline care delivery coordination and develop new business models. In many other parts of the world such as India and China, access to quality care is still the central problem, where entrepreneurs are developing innovative solutions to provide insurance coverage, develop and deliver quality drugs and medical devices, and use digital and mobile tools to optimize health care resource usage. As any other industries that are going through changes on a large scale, the health care industry needs entrepreneurs and business leaders to help make things happen.
The University of Virginia Darden School of Business prepares responsible global leaders through unparalleled transformational learning experiences. Darden’s graduate degree programs (MBA, MSBA and Ph.D.) and Executive Education & Lifelong Learning programs offered by the Darden School Foundation set the stage for a lifetime of career advancement and impact. Darden’s top-ranked faculty, renowned for teaching excellence, inspires and shapes modern business leadership worldwide through research, thought leadership and business publishing. Darden has Grounds in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the Washington, D.C., area and a global community that includes 18,000 alumni in 90 countries. Darden was established in 1955 at the University of Virginia, a top public university founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
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