First Health Care Policy Career Fair Draws Flood of Students, Employers

The growing importance of health care policy in the U.S. was highlighted last night by Harvard's first-ever career fair geared towards those interested in careers in health policy.

Eight consulting firms, ranging from industry giant BT Alex. Brown to Boston-based Charles River Associates, Inc., along with Harvard's Ph.D. Program in Health Policy attended the fair, sponsored by the new undergraduate group Exploring Policy in Health Care (EPIHC).

Before the event, EPIHC President Nicole E. Rogers '98 had said she would happy if just 100 people attended the three-hour event.

But less than 30 minutes into the fair, more than 40 interested students from several Harvard schools were already working the room, listening to job pitches and presenting resumes.

EPIHC's corporate chair, Aerlyn G. Dawn '98, said the group was pleased with the number of consulting groups that decided to attend the fair.

"We got most of the names that we wanted," he said.

Students with concentrations in both the humanities and the sciences participated in the fair.

Linda W. Chan '98, who is pre-med, said she eventually plans to go to medical school, but said she first wants to consult in the health industry for a few years.

"I think I want to get some real-world experience instead of being cloistered up here in the ivory towers for a few more years," she said.

Other students, like Owen P. Leary '98, an environmental science and public policy concentrator, plans to use consulting experience to pursue a career in the health care industry.

"This event really helps because you get to talk to people face-to-face," he said.

Students with want to pursue a graduate degree in health care had the opportunity to learn about Harvard's Interfaculty Initiative in Health Care Policy.

The Ph.D. program in health policy, one of the fastest growing programs in the field, had six students six years ago, and more than 50 today, according to its director, Joan P. Curhan.

Curhan said the program will continue to grow "slowly and carefully," and there are plans to offer additional concentrations and joint programs with other Harvard schools.

More than 75 applicants apply for 10 or so spots in the program each year, she said.

Representatives of firms in health care consulting used the fair to inform students of the opportunities available in the industry.

Companies consult with physicians in group practice as well as with health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and pharmaceutical companies.

Over the past few years more and more Americans have chosen managed care companies to insure them and the growth of these companies has led to a host of new concerns.

As a result, many companies are seeking to drastically increase the size of their work force.

Towers Perrin, a company which employs 7,000 people worldwide, has nearly 50 openings nationwide this year for undergraduates, said Erin P. McNamara, a company associate.

The company is looking for "students we can really grow a career with and hope will stay with us for a while," McNamara said.

Representatives of smaller firms like Charles River Associates said they were looking for students who are dynamic and could consult for a wide range of industries.

"The point is that you can pick things up quickly," said Christie C. Wong, an industry associate.