By: Allison Currie
The Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub is a space where healthcare providers, researchers, innovators, patients and government can partner to quickly tackle some of the biggest challenges in the provincial healthcare system.
Fresh perspectives, innovative ideas and enthusiasm are essential for tackling these challenges, making it critical to involve the next generation in shaping the future of healthcare.
The Dalhousie University MBA program has an international reputation for developing private and public sector and civil society leaders who inspire and lead others to tackle complex challenges and achieve responsible results. As part of the program, MBA students do an eight-month corporate residency with an employer.
Positioned at the intersection of business, health, government, and academia, the Health Innovation Hub aligns perfectly with the goal of the MBA corporate residency program – which is to provide students with an opportunity to gain real world work experience. Recognizing the vast possibilities of a partnership such as this, the Health Innovation Hub first recruited students from the MBA program’s corporate residency in the fall of 2021. The collaboration was so successful that students continued to join the team in 2023 and 2024, with several transitioning to full-time roles.
“We’ve had tremendous success with students from the MBA program at Dalhousie University,” says Margaret Palmeter, Senior Director Innovation, Business Development, Partnerships & Commercialization at the Health Innovation Hub. "The nature of the program and the strong business skills that the students learn perfectly align with the Health Innovation Hub’s ambitious business development goals. These students bring a unique perspective and enthusiasm that is unmatched.”
But it’s not just the Health Innovation Hub that benefits from this dynamic partnership. Students gain valuable experience in things like building partnerships, project management and working collaboratively while also making connections locally, nationally and beyond. By applying their diverse skill sets, they help bring innovative ideas to life, turning them into solutions that positively impact healthcare for all Nova Scotians.
As the Dalhousie MBA students continue to learn with the Health Innovation Hub, they are not only shaping their own careers but also driving forward the future of healthcare, ensuring that innovative solutions continue to improve the health and well-being of Nova Scotians.
Meet this year’s cohort of MBA corporate residency students, who have helped to drive innovation forward at the Health Innovation Hub: Jessica Basta, Marshall Plandowski and Matthew Berghuis.
