Cross-cultural learning
[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/horgan.jpg” caption=”DeGroote MBA co-op student Meaghan Horgan in Dubai’s commercial centre.”]When we think of going back to school, images of backpacks, books and blackboards immediately come to mind. But Meaghan Horgan, an MBA co-op student at the DeGroote School of Business, hasn't gone back to a typical classroom.
Horgan, who specializes in health services management, is currently working as an administrative resident for InterHealth Canada Limited in the United Arab Emirates. InterHealth Canada is a global healthcare management firm that develops and manages healthcare facilities and projects. For the next four months, Horgan will assist the firm in serving its clients in Dubai.
“I'm looking forward to learning more about the healthcare system in the United Arab Emirates, and the impact of globalization on Dubai,” explained Horgan. “I'm also excited to see how lessons from the Canadian healthcare system are being applied to benefit healthcare facilities in the area.”
As a co-op student, Horgan has the unique opportunity to learn outside of the classroom by working and gaining valuable experience. This past year she completed her first work term in the Department of Government and Economic Affairs at Eli Lilly Canada, one of the nation's leading research-based pharmaceutical companies.
“I learned a lot about the interaction between different levels of government, regulatory bodies and advocacy groups, and how this interaction affects the delivery of treatment to patients,” she said. “It was very motivating to see theories I had learned in class being applied in the workplace to make important decisions that affect the lives of Canadians.”
In addition to the skills and knowledge she has learned at DeGroote, Horgan will draw on past experiences managing a community healthcare project in Tanzania – where she learned to embrace challenges posed by cultural differences and to always expect the unexpected – during her tenure in Dubai.
“My experience at DeGroote has also taught me a lot about taking different approaches to problem solving and creating opportunities to further develop myself,” she said. “I hope to offer a fresh perspective to my new employer in Dubai and use my knowledge and skills to contribute to projects.”
