Announcing the HMPA Mini MBA 2020 Fellowship awardees
Dr Chukwuemeka Okoro
Dr Jiska van der Reest
Dr Saumya Gupta
We look forward to sharing your experiences after the program!
Interview in September 2020 following completion of the program:
With "Emeka" Chukwuemeka Okoro
Where did you do your PhD? University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
In few words, what was your thesis about? My PhD thesis focused on the development of novel imaging tools, combining the polarization property of light with the nonlinear effect of light-sample interaction, for assessment of collagen-rich tissues. This approach is important because it opened huge possibilities for label-free, non-invasive quantitative assessment of cancers of collagen-based tissues (such as breast), leading to more accurate diagnosis and prognosis. Quite importantly, my eyes were opened to the world of using technology to solve challenges; which helped inform my long-term goals.
Could you explain in few words your postdoctoral project? I am leading the technical development of multimodal endoscopic imaging system combining the longitudinal imaging capability of OCT (optical coherence tomography) with the conventional cross-sectional visualization of white-light in a miniaturized tethered pill-sized capsule, for analysis of the gastro-intestinal tract. This project, anchored in Dr. Tearney's Lab at MGH, has the aims of reducing cost of such endoscopic procedures, while generating more useful imaging datasets to tackle conditions such as Barrett's Esophagus, celiac disease and peptic ulcers. The exciting part of the project is seeing the whole translational pipeline: from inception and ideation, to design and development, all the way to implementation and clinical trials; and of course, adding to scientific knowledge through the process.
Work outside the lab
1. What was your experience during the 2020 mini MBA? I'm almost certain this mini-MBA was designed specifically for me. It afforded me the opportunity to listen to top-notch MBA professors and learn from them in a compressed timeline. We discussed many interesting business cases, involving companies such as Uber and Amazon, and spanning from as far back as 1972 to as recently as 2018. I was able to get a crash course in topics like marketing, operations and entrepreneurial management: useful tools for some of my plans involving translation and commercialization of innovative digital health tools. It was unique doing this over Zoom this year, but it turned out quite well, especially with having smaller discussion groups in breakout rooms.
2. How did program impact your journey at HMS? The mini-MBA program not only enlightened my eyes to some of the features of business administration, it equipped me with valuable tools for tackling future subjects; whether ethics in business/science, organizational behavior, or even thinking about macro-economics. This has added to the variety of skills I am gaining in my journey through Harvard Medical School, and I am grateful for the opportunity the program provided. While not a full MBA program, it fit nicely with my need to blitz through business management fundamentals in tandem with my current projects.
3. What are your aspirations? My long-term goals involve providing solutions to medical/healthcare challenges, particularly if it reduces cost to improve access in developing communities. This may be through scientific advancements and/or entrepreneurship. To this end, I am delighted by my postdoctoral work and partly exploring future roles/partnerships that would foster this kind of technological progress (whether in academia or industry). Additionally, I have been working on a novel health-delivery project over the last six months, using an approach that will hopefully transform current standards, especially in emerging markets. The unique model is currently being optimized (helped in no small part by the mini-MBA course), and I recently got a physician collaborator as we attempt a push into startup phase.
4. Final thoughts? I highly recommend the mini-MBA program as an experience worth having, no matter one’s plans.