Obesity Epidemic

#Obesity-Epidemic: Not only is the frequency increasing, but the degree of obesity is increasing, too. (Not only more number of people being affected, but more severe cases of obesity too - in increasing numbers). What this means is that there is a great future for the Pharma industry and Healthcare industry catering to the diseases (DM, HTN, HLP, CAD, CVA, Spinal disorders etc) caused secondary to obesity. 

Without saying, Healthcare Managers (with MBA) shall have plenty of job openings in the future.

Obesity trends in United States of America

After MBA, what next??? PhD? Teaching? Research? Consulting? Own business? Employment?

After MBA graduation, what next???

I would love to do my PhD after MBA. I am game for it. But I hear that I shall have to be involved in it so much so that I shall not be able to hold a job while pursuing PhD. One does not make much while doing the PhD itself. A doctoral certificate gives Master Degree holders a stamp of respectability and acceptance in the scholarly circles. People can go into consulting positions and be considered Gurus in their fields. People with PhDs may be welcomed on the Board Of Director positions. But getting a PhD involves making some sacrifices - and that includes giving up on high earnings while pursuing it. I hear that getting it can take anywhere from 2 years to 6 years. So one has to have a LOT of patience!

Regarding teaching - I LOVE teaching and I think I shall make a good teacher. However, my immediate priorities are to get into the job market and make some money to fulfill some immediate needs plus find a life partner & settle down, etc. In Canada, one must have a PhD (preferably) in order to be able to teach Masters students. It shall take a few years to get a PhD if I decide to go for one. I could teach MBA students in India, Middle East and some other regions even with my MBA, if I pick some subject like Strategy and develop expertise in it.

What I can do is take up courses offered by other schools and keep updating my knowledge constantly. I shall consider a DAM (Post-MBA Diploma in Advanced Management) from Schulich School of Business, York University after my MBA. Shall also consider courses in six sigma, Kaizen, TPS and so on from other schools.

One thing that most famous people do and I shall want to do this in the future too are all these together (and I would like to do the same, someday):

• Consulting
• Research
• Public Speaking
• Teaching &
• Practice

My experience with class mates ---> I wish I had classmates with Medical Background too...

I have had some very good class mates and have been impressed by the abilities of many. There are some very active and very brilliant classmates. But we are a small batch. I wish we had a bigger batch. A larger batch would have granted an opportunity to have more chances of meeting some one who thinks like you.

My regret is that I have not met anybody in my own exact field so far - either in the class, or an alumni. I have not met a Medical Doctor doing the MBA or a Registered Nurse doing the MBA in the program. It is a small batch of less than 80 students including the MBA, MBA - MTI and the MMSc students.

The alumni pool is smaller compared to other business schools like U of T, McMaster University, UWO, York or Queens. There are schools like Harvard Business School which have almost 1000 MBA students per batch. And there are business schools in Canada who have more than 200 students intake per batch.

However, I am glad that we are the trail blazers, the pioneers and shall chart the course for the future batches of TRSM. Even though I am not from a Commerce background, I do not consider myself different or inferior to my class mates. I give it my 100% and so far, I think I have done a good job and have delivered decent results. In fact, for the Fall 2011 term, I am expecting good grades over all.

If I could make a wish, it would be that - I wish there were other Medical Doctors or Nurses or Paramedics doing MBA in the program, so that I could discuss career options with them and relate to their experiences. I also wish there was a Healthcare Management Specialization available at TRSM. At the same time, I am happy with the existing facilities and the possibilities ahead. I still think that a General MBA is better than a specialized MBA - as I do not want to be put into a box or have a specific label. I like to be a Generalist first, before becoming a Specialist.

Focus on in-depth study in school or Focus on securing a job?

Sometimes I wonder if I should focus on learning alone and absorb the campus environment to the fullest. Make use of all the seminars and meetings available. Study in the library and understand topics in great depth. Take the maximum number of courses possible, even over and above the required number of courses to pass.

Of course, there is the pressure to get into job, but I am thinking that if it is possible, I should consider staying in the school a little longer and taking more courses. The problem with the job is that once I get started on a job, I shall be completely involved in the job and I shall not have time to pursue learning as aggressively as when I am in School full time. Will see how things go. Of course a job is important, but my priority is learning in depth, right now. I want to become a Business Guru, a genius - to put it modestly. In other words, I want to become an expert in my field and excellent in my field.

1 AM Dinner... Indian food cooked by yours truly :)

Cooking up a firestorm in a pan! What is Indian Curry if it does not make your nose water, your tongue burn and your eyes teary. I used cabbage, potato, chilli, onion, garlic, tomato, oil, salt and curry powder. 

Indian food - Vegetable Curry, Chappati and Plain Rice. I guess I have finally learnt how cook a decent Indian meal now. Ok, the flat bread could have been made better :) I prepare Indian food at home when I have free time.