Spotlight on MSc student Krisjanis Gerhards: journey and career prospects

Student Name: Krisjanis Gerhards

Programme: MSc Biotech and Pharmaceutical Management
 
Nationality:  Latvian

Education:  

MSc Biotech and Pharmaceutical Management at UCL, September 2022 – September 2023

BSc Applied Medical Sciences at Swansea University, September 2019 – June 2022

Work Experience:

• Strategy and Projects Analyst at Cleveland Clinic London, September 2023 – Present
• Efficacy and Safety Expert at the Medicines Marketing Authorisation Department in the State Agency of Medicines of Latvia, June 2022 – September 2022
• Immunology Laboratory Assistant at Swansea University Immunobiology and Immunopathology Department, August 2021 – September 2021
• Nurse’s Assistant in Operating Rooms at Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital in Riga, Latvia, June 2020 – August 2020

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

I am originally from Latvia, where I finished high school, and came to the UK to study at university 4 years ago. I wanted to be a doctor and started a biomedical sciences degree at Swansea University. During my bachelor’s degree, I also worked at a couple of summer jobs as a nurse’s assistant in a hospital, in the university’s immunology lab, and at the medicines marketing regulatory agency. During these experiences, I decided that medicine wasn’t for me — I wanted to shift my focus to healthcare and health business management. Therefore, I started looking at the business side of healthcare and pharmaceuticals and became interested in a master's in management. I found UCL Global Business School for Health and decided it would be the right place to get my master's. I am finishing this degree and starting my position as a strategy and projects analyst at Cleveland Clinic London.

What was your main motivation for enrolling in this Programme at GBSH? 

GBSH is the first business school of its kind to be focused on the healthcare sector. I didn’t just want to learn about management generally. What interested me was management in the context of healthcare specifically. This interdisciplinary approach to management sold me to study at GBSH.

Could you share the types of career support you received while at GBSH and how specifically these resources or initiatives have contributed to your career progression?

There were several things that GBSH provided to help my career. They organised career fairs, talks, and lectures from industry leaders, which gave us a range of ideas on what we could do after graduation and the possibilities to apply to various roles. Additionally, my academic tutor helped me with applications and my CV. GBSH also supported their students’ participation in industry conferences, expos, and student competitions, where we were able to expand our professional network.

What value do you feel your programme will add to your career moving forward?

The programme has provided me with the business and management acumen I needed as a biomedical graduate to start my career in healthcare management. It has also improved my ability to communicate with colleagues effectively using business language.

How did your studies at GBSH contribute to your ability to secure your current position?

In GBSH, I learned about strategy, management, and supply chain concepts — all of this was useful in the interview process. Throughout the programme, I also improved my presentation, critical thinking, and communication skills, which helped the practical assessment.

How has your career trajectory been influenced by your time studying at GBSH?

My time at GBSH allowed me to see how many opportunities I have with my degree. I just had to choose the right direction. Finally, I decided to focus on positions more related to healthcare and hospital management, not pharmaceuticals and biotech, as my degree would suggest.

What advice do you have for current and prospective students looking to secure a rewarding job placement after graduation?

To get involved in student competitions and societies. It is a great way to expand your network and receive more information about potential job opportunities that are not widely advertised.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently during your time at GBSH to improve your career prospects further?

I guess I would have followed my suggestion in the previous question more :D. I would have gone to more guest lectures and networking events.

What are your long-term career goals? How does your MSc from GBSH, along with your current work, align with these goals?

My long-term goal is to return to Latvia and contribute to improving its healthcare system. There is much work to be done there, and GBSH has shown me the different aspects that influence the functioning of a national healthcare system. Furthermore, my current job will give me crucial insight into how a multinational private hospital can provide outstanding patient treatment.

What advice would you give to prospective students thinking about applying for your programme?

I would say focus most on the network and new ideas that the GBSH MSc can provide. It is an opportunity to make connections that could open new doors you didn’t even know existed before.