MBA Health Student Spotlight: Cong Sui

Tell me more about your background – it would be great to find out more about your education and career so far.

I completed my dual PhD in Biomaterials from Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale University of Science and Technology of China in 2017, and also in Chemical Engineering from the University of Birmingham in 2018. I then joined the Institute of Translational Medicine based in the world's first specialist wound research centre in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. Here, I furthered my knowledge in the translation of scientific breakthroughs into the treatment of heterotopic ossification.

I then decided to shift my career, and began a new role as a technology consultant in DEMAND Hub (Data-Enabled Medical technologies and Devices Hub) in 2020, aiming to provide expert advice and strategic direction for healthcare businesses. In this role, I gained more experience in the business side of healthcare. Meanwhile, I was also conducting my own original research, developing novel techniques to solve clinical problems.

I have an extensive research background in biomaterial, calcification, tissue regeneration, multifunctional micro/nanomaterial, terahertz imaging, MRI contrast agent, encapsulation and controlled release. I've had the pleasure of collaborating with some amazing global companies, including Unilever, Firmenich and Philips.

Why did you choose to apply for the UCL MBA Health?

I applied for the UCL MBA health course for a number of reasons. Firstly, the UCL Global Business School for Health (GBSH) is the first business school in the world dedicated to healthcare. Moreover, UCL is a world top 10 university and is particularly strong in medicine, public health and business management. Finally, the excellent UCL global alumni community will help me expand my professional networks. I look forward to gaining a deeper insight and broader perspective on global healthcare systems after graduation.

What aspect of the UCL MBA Health programme are you most excited by?

The UCL MBA health programme provides a traditional MBA course specialising in global health, blending world-class academia with practical business skills. Also, the programme contains a lot of real-world business cases and offers strong links to various global healthcare sectors. For example, the health consultant project provides the chance to work with the "Big Four".

Is healthcare management an area more business schools should be exploring? If so, why?

As an old Chinese proverb goes, “When the wind of change blows, some build walls, while others build windmills.” The world needs more scientists, engineers and physicians with good business insight and background to effectively promote and ensure innovations in global health systems. I also believe that we need more leaders with a multi-disciplinary background and multi-cultural background, who think systematically to create desire among the team to act rather than simply just giving the commands to their team. So, in my opinion, it is really important that business schools begin to run more healthcare management programmes.

Is there a particular area of global healthcare management that you are interested in? If so, why?

I am keen on accelerating technological innovations and the application of entrepreneurial skills to deliver quality healthcare services and respond to global health challenges.

What value do you feel a UCL MBA Health will add to your career moving forward?

The UCL MBA Health programme will help me gain a global health business perspective for innovation in healthcare. Also, it will enable me to expand my professional network and hopefully move onto a senior leadership position after graduation.

What advice would you give to prospective students thinking about applying for the UCL MBA Health?

Global healthcare leadership is an ever-growing sector that, in my opinion, requires leaders from diverse backgrounds, who are ready to collate their knowledge and experience to create innovative solutions to the many complex issues in global health. Being a growing sector, I advise anyone who is interested in global healthcare management to just go for it and apply for the UCL MBA Health. You won't regret it!

Learn more about the UCL MBA Health