UCL GBSH Student of the Week: Tamar Houri

I’m a 24-year-old Lebanese student pursuing my Master’s in Digital Health and Entrepreneurship at UCL Global Business School for Health (GBSH). I recently graduated with a degree in Pharmacy from the Beirut Arab University. I’ve interned in both a community pharmacy as well as a hospital pharmacy in a more clinical context. I’ve been an active member of my community through volunteering work predominantly as a member of the Red Cross Youth Sector in which I was President of my club for the last 2 years engaging in projects about community growth and development.

What inspired you to choose your Master’s course at UCL GBSH? 
I’ve always had an interest in technology, and what we consider now as AI. I initially planned on studying computer science and pharmacy together to achieve the best of both worlds which is why I feel like Digital Health & Entrepreneurship fits my goals perfectly. Another point is that as a pharmacist, I was always aware of the ethical dilemma when considering the business aspect of this field, so I love how GBSH grounds this perfectly and proves how in reality they come together. Nevertheless, UCL’s exceptional ranking and positioning in the world also made it a natural choice. The connections and industry exposure we are given are unmatched as well as the physical resources and services. 

Which skills have you gained here that you believe will make the biggest difference in your career?
I believe I have adopted both practical and theoretical skills. Working in such a diverse environment expanded my thinking beyond this region, and on a more technical level for my field, it gave me this insight into how each health system struggles, how different regulatory bodies function, and more importantly how everyday people are impacted. Within 5 minutes I can get a perspective of people from at least 10 different countries, backgrounds, and experiences. 

This network is the strongest part I’m leaving with, and I’m privileged to become an alumnus within this community.

How has the course’s structure supported your lifestyle and learning? 
The course relies heavily on personal responsibility which I believe is crucial at such a stage. I personally admire how it’s focused on practical work and truly deepening the knowledge, which is done through pre-recorded lectures and hands-on seminars, especially in courses where industry leaders are invited to bridge the gap between any theoretical concept we learned and its real-life application. And the projects we are asked to present are thoroughly assessed so basically each course has a solid product to consolidate what we learned.

What professional opportunities have been most valuable to you? 
Personally, I think highly of both guest lecturers and visits. I feel like they align directly with our course content yet also serve as grounds for further development and reinforcement. In a time where information is widely accessible, I believe that the true value lies in being able to turn this knowledge into action and delve into industry and the real world. One moment that stood out is when we had Mark Garibaldi, an engineer in human factors, come and explain the process in developing the Da Vinci surgical systems, only to find out that we are navigating through these same steps for our course project. It was fascinating to see that even what we’re doing in a small-scale setting reflects processes used in the most advanced systems. It’s worth noting that we never complained about this project again after that. 

How has your time at UCL GBSH shaped or accelerated your career goals? 
Pharmacy is an enormous field with so many paths, and I’ve always been ambitious across multiple areas, so the most significant thing I got from GBSH is a sense of direction. A very specific insight comes from several interactions with experienced people who can easily support. Nevertheless, the practical skills I’ve learned play a huge role in accelerating my process. I believe that my course maps all the steps in the journey of innovation from finding the need to developing a viable MVP through several courses and ultimately with the business project.

GBSH provided the basis of innovation, the infrastructure to turn the idea into action, and the network to scale and improve.

What support has made a meaningful difference during your studies? 
A few weeks back I would have said that the support of my personal tutor and course leader was the most significant in terms of their constant follow-ups, career advice, and job opportunities. But with the ongoing war now in my country, I believe that the support of the faculty is the most important. The proactive approach of checking up on affected students as well as the support on how to navigate from here has been immense. My last year as an undergraduate was also during a war, and it’s been very difficult to go back to that, especially while being away from my family as the situation escalates. So, I am extremely grateful for this support and hold it highly.

What has it been like studying within such a global and diverse cohort? 
To be completely honest, it has been both interesting and challenging. It’s fascinating to see how despite our differences we all share this common ground. The type of added value this diversity gives is unexplainable. Both personally and professionally, I consider myself to be very privileged to be part of this although I also recognize the difficulties that arise which is what pushed me to apply for academic rep. I believe that GBSH is like a hub of innovation for the entire world in the sense that there’s a lot of potential to create something through this cross-cultural environment and then have this represented in different parts of the world accordingly. Each one of us is an ambassador of their country and holds a plethora of knowledge and real-world experience.

What advice would you give someone considering applying to UCL GBSH? 
3 words: go for it! GBSH positions itself at a very valuable point between healthcare and business. I believe that the curriculum here is unlike anything I’d encountered before. Years ago, I thought that I’d have to get multiple degrees to tackle both healthcare and business so it’s very important to me to see that this school was able to combine both in such a coherent way. The diversity and ability to interact with people from around the world is an incredible privilege as well as the extensive expertise of the teaching team and their tremendous support. One more practical piece of advice is to seize every opportunity even when you’re unsure or worried, these are steppingstones towards your success. GBSH is the ground for growth and innovation, make the most out of it.