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Why MD/MBA Programs Are Becoming Increasingly Popular Among Medical Students
Articles
October 1, 2025
What are MD/MBA programs, and what are some reasons medical students choose them? This article explains.
Key Takeaways
- MBA programs combine medicine with business training, preparing students to become doctors who can navigate healthcare’s financial, administrative, and policy challenges.
- Students pursue them for leadership, entrepreneurship, and career flexibility, opening paths in hospital administration, biotech, consulting, or innovation.
- An MBA can also help prevent burnout, giving doctors more autonomy and control over their careers and work environments.
For decades, the traditional path for medical students has been straightforward: complete an undergraduate degree, take the MCAT, get into medical school, and eventually become a practicing physician after a residency or fellowship.
However, over the past few years, a growing number of medical students have been choosing to diverge from this pathway by enrolling in dual-degree programs. A story about dual-degree enrollments from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) found that about 9% of MD students were earning two degrees during medical school, with anecdotal reports of very rapid growth in MD/MBA programs.
Why are more MD students opting to earn an MBA degree, and should you, as a pre-med student, consider one? This article looks at four reasons behind this trend, and how pursuing an MD/MBA program could impact your future in medicine.
First: What Is an MD/MBA Program?
An MD/MBA is a dual-degree program that allows students to earn both a Doctor of Medicine (MD) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA), usually within five years. These programs are designed to integrate clinical education with business training, producing physicians who are also fluent in the language of management, finance, operations, and leadership.
MD/MBA programs are relatively rare. The AAMC’s Medical School Admission Requirements database showed that just 89 institutions offered the MD/MBA option. When considering this in the context of all 200 accredited MD and DO schools, this means less than half of schools have an MD/MBA program.
Reason #1: MD/MBAs Want to Understand an Increasingly Complex Healthcare System
Healthcare is no longer just about clinical decisions—it’s also about systems, policy, cost, and administration. Physicians today work within complex healthcare systems that involve insurance companies, hospital administrators, government regulators, and private industry. Understanding how these entities function—and how to work effectively within them—is a skillset increasingly valued in medicine.
An MBA equips medical students with the tools to navigate and lead within these systems, making them more effective clinicians, policymakers, and innovators. This can extend beyond combined coursework, too — some schools, such as the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, offer healthcare business-oriented extracurriculars, student groups, and fellowship opportunities for MD/MBA students.
Reason #2: MD/MBAs Are Interested in Leadership and Administration
Many medical students are thinking beyond traditional clinical roles. For example, 58% of medical students in one survey by Elsevier Health said they saw their medical studies as the first step toward a career that doesn’t involve direct patient care. An MD/MBA fits with this trend, because it opens doors to many different careers.
MD/MBA graduates have gone on to become hospital administrators, health policy advisors, biotech executives, management consultants, and venture capitalists. This flexibility is appealing to students who want options beyond clinical practice or who foresee their interests evolving over time.
Reason #3: MD/MBAs Want to Start a Business or Innovate
From telemedicine to AI-powered diagnostics, healthcare is undergoing rapid technological change. Some companies driving these innovations may be led by physician-entrepreneurs who understand both medicine and business.
MD/MBA programs position students to participate in (or even lead) this kind of innovation by giving them the business acumen to raise funding, build teams, and scale ideas effectively. Plus, an MBA provides formal training in leadership, strategic thinking, and organizational behavior—skills that are essential for high-level decision-making in business or clinical settings.
Reason #4: MD/MBAs Want to Prevent Burnout
Ironically, some students pursue the MD/MBA route not to escape medicine but to find a way to practice it on their own terms. Burnout is a growing concern in healthcare, with 45.5% of physicians reporting at least one symptom of burnout in a recent American Medical Association survey.
With an MBA, physicians may have more control over their work environments – they may even start their own practices or health companies. This autonomy can contribute to a better work-life balance and reduced burnout, a growing concern in the medical community.
Is an MD/MBA Program Right for You?
Pursuing an MD/MBA isn’t for everyone. It adds time, tuition, and a different set of academic challenges to an already rigorous medical education. However, if you’re passionate about systems-level change, entrepreneurship, healthcare leadership, or innovation, a dual degree can provide the training and credibility to make a meaningful impact.
Ask yourself:
- Do I see myself in a leadership role in healthcare?
- Am I interested in how business principles apply to medicine?
- Do I want to be involved in healthcare innovation or policy?
If the answer to any of these is yes, then exploring an MD/MBA program might be a smart move.
Most programs allow students to apply after they’ve been accepted into medical school or during their first few years. Requirements often include a statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and sometimes GMAT or GRE scores (though many programs waive these for medical students). Some institutions have partnerships with business schools that streamline the process and curriculum.
MD/MBA Programs: A Dual Degree for a Changing Role
The modern physician is not just a caregiver—they are a leader, innovator, and change-maker. As the business of healthcare grows more complex, medical students are recognizing the value of dual-degree programs like the MD/MBA. For pre-med students, understanding this trend can open your eyes to new possibilities for your future career in medicine—ones where you don’t have to choose between the stethoscope and the boardroom.
The Road to an MD/MBA Begins with Preparation
Want to strengthen your qualifications for an MD/MBA program? Take a look at our post-bacc program rankings today!
Links for Additional Reading on MD/MBA Programs
- “The Next Specialty: The Physician CEO” – McKinsey and Company
- “The MBA in Medical Education: Current MD/MBA Student Aspirations, Perceptions, and Motivations” – Journal of Surgical Research
- “What to Know About MD-MBA Dual Degrees” – U.S. News & World Report
- AAMC Report on Dual-Degree Medical Programs
Read More from Post-Bacc Program Guide
What are MD/MBA programs, and what are some reasons medical students choose them? This article explains.
Key Takeaways
- MBA programs combine medicine with business training, preparing students to become doctors who can navigate healthcare’s financial, administrative, and policy challenges.
- Students pursue them for leadership, entrepreneurship, and career flexibility, opening paths in hospital administration, biotech, consulting, or innovation.
- An MBA can also help prevent burnout, giving doctors more autonomy and control over their careers and work environments.
For decades, the traditional path for medical students has been straightforward: complete an undergraduate degree, take the MCAT, get into medical school, and eventually become a practicing physician after a residency or fellowship.
However, over the past few years, a growing number of medical students have been choosing to diverge from this pathway by enrolling in dual-degree programs. A story about dual-degree enrollments from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) found that about 9% of MD students were earning two degrees during medical school, with anecdotal reports of very rapid growth in MD/MBA programs.
Why are more MD students opting to earn an MBA degree, and should you, as a pre-med student, consider one? This article looks at four reasons behind this trend, and how pursuing an MD/MBA program could impact your future in medicine.
First: What Is an MD/MBA Program?
An MD/MBA is a dual-degree program that allows students to earn both a Doctor of Medicine (MD) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA), usually within five years. These programs are designed to integrate clinical education with business training, producing physicians who are also fluent in the language of management, finance, operations, and leadership.
MD/MBA programs are relatively rare. The AAMC’s Medical School Admission Requirements database showed that just 89 institutions offered the MD/MBA option. When considering this in the context of all 200 accredited MD and DO schools, this means less than half of schools have an MD/MBA program.
Reason #1: MD/MBAs Want to Understand an Increasingly Complex Healthcare System
Healthcare is no longer just about clinical decisions—it’s also about systems, policy, cost, and administration. Physicians today work within complex healthcare systems that involve insurance companies, hospital administrators, government regulators, and private industry. Understanding how these entities function—and how to work effectively within them—is a skillset increasingly valued in medicine.
An MBA equips medical students with the tools to navigate and lead within these systems, making them more effective clinicians, policymakers, and innovators. This can extend beyond combined coursework, too — some schools, such as the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, offer healthcare business-oriented extracurriculars, student groups, and fellowship opportunities for MD/MBA students.
Reason #2: MD/MBAs Are Interested in Leadership and Administration
Many medical students are thinking beyond traditional clinical roles. For example, 58% of medical students in one survey by Elsevier Health said they saw their medical studies as the first step toward a career that doesn’t involve direct patient care. An MD/MBA fits with this trend, because it opens doors to many different careers.
MD/MBA graduates have gone on to become hospital administrators, health policy advisors, biotech executives, management consultants, and venture capitalists. This flexibility is appealing to students who want options beyond clinical practice or who foresee their interests evolving over time.
Reason #3: MD/MBAs Want to Start a Business or Innovate
From telemedicine to AI-powered diagnostics, healthcare is undergoing rapid technological change. Some companies driving these innovations may be led by physician-entrepreneurs who understand both medicine and business.
MD/MBA programs position students to participate in (or even lead) this kind of innovation by giving them the business acumen to raise funding, build teams, and scale ideas effectively. Plus, an MBA provides formal training in leadership, strategic thinking, and organizational behavior—skills that are essential for high-level decision-making in business or clinical settings.
Reason #4: MD/MBAs Want to Prevent Burnout
Ironically, some students pursue the MD/MBA route not to escape medicine but to find a way to practice it on their own terms. Burnout is a growing concern in healthcare, with 45.5% of physicians reporting at least one symptom of burnout in a recent American Medical Association survey.
With an MBA, physicians may have more control over their work environments – they may even start their own practices or health companies. This autonomy can contribute to a better work-life balance and reduced burnout, a growing concern in the medical community.
Is an MD/MBA Program Right for You?
Pursuing an MD/MBA isn’t for everyone. It adds time, tuition, and a different set of academic challenges to an already rigorous medical education. However, if you’re passionate about systems-level change, entrepreneurship, healthcare leadership, or innovation, a dual degree can provide the training and credibility to make a meaningful impact.
Ask yourself:
- Do I see myself in a leadership role in healthcare?
- Am I interested in how business principles apply to medicine?
- Do I want to be involved in healthcare innovation or policy?
If the answer to any of these is yes, then exploring an MD/MBA program might be a smart move.
Most programs allow students to apply after they’ve been accepted into medical school or during their first few years. Requirements often include a statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and sometimes GMAT or GRE scores (though many programs waive these for medical students). Some institutions have partnerships with business schools that streamline the process and curriculum.
MD/MBA Programs: A Dual Degree for a Changing Role
The modern physician is not just a caregiver—they are a leader, innovator, and change-maker. As the business of healthcare grows more complex, medical students are recognizing the value of dual-degree programs like the MD/MBA. For pre-med students, understanding this trend can open your eyes to new possibilities for your future career in medicine—ones where you don’t have to choose between the stethoscope and the boardroom.
The Road to an MD/MBA Begins with Preparation
Want to strengthen your qualifications for an MD/MBA program? Take a look at our post-bacc program rankings today!
Links for Additional Reading on MD/MBA Programs
- “The Next Specialty: The Physician CEO” – McKinsey and Company
- “The MBA in Medical Education: Current MD/MBA Student Aspirations, Perceptions, and Motivations” – Journal of Surgical Research
- “What to Know About MD-MBA Dual Degrees” – U.S. News & World Report
- AAMC Report on Dual-Degree Medical Programs