Healthcare Lab

The class

Students in the healthcare field not only learn about the challenges they face in the industry; they can also make a direct impact through their learning. H – Lab allows students to make a meaningful difference in the healthcare world through innovative research and educational activities. This interdisciplinary, project-based course is designed to:

• Provide insight to the issues facing healthcare organizations
• Immerse students in an intensive experience working collaboratively with senior leadership in healthcare organizations
• Create a forum where students and healthcare leaders can work together to take action

In the field

A large part of this course involves students working with host companies. Once the H-Lab teaching team assigns students to a host, these groups of four will work with their host organizations on a four-month project designed to tackle a real-world business problem. The teams work with their hosts online and via video and conference calls to determine the project scope, schedule, and deliverables. Throughout the semester, teams conduct extensive research, interviews, and analyses that will help them find potential solutions to their hosts' business challenges. The student teams spend significant time interacting with their host company to collaborate and implement their findings. At the end of January, students present their projects to hosts and each other in an Action Learning Poster Session. 

Reflections and deliverables 

Though one of the main focuses of H-Lab is creating deliverables for host organizations, reflection is a crucial aspect of Action Learning. Through mentor coaching sessions, updates, and the creation of posters for public presentation, students link theory and practice in order to deepen their learning experiences.   

MIT Healthcare Certificate

While H-Lab is open to all students who have completed 15.060 and 15.761, or receive faculty permission, it is required for the MIT Healthcare Certificate.