Shaping the Future of Health Care
Michael Ero founded Machaon Diagnostics nearly 20 years ago, but his focus is on the future. His company, a clinical reference laboratory that supports health care providers, is committed to saving more lives with lab tests. Looking to learn how other industry leaders respond to and overcome their challenges, he attended the Strategy for Health Care Delivery program at Harvard Business School Executive Education. In this interview, he discusses a few highlights of his learning experience.
Did you have any specific goals when you chose this program?
Yes. I wanted to study the complexities of health care strategy with other executives from the largest and most successful health care operations in the world. I wanted to learn directly from strategy expert Michael Porter, who has pioneered techniques adopted by virtually every other executive and MBA program. I also wanted to hear other participants describe their challenges and share my own in the hope of identifying solutions that could be useful to my organization.
Did you experience any "a-ha!" moments?
My "a-ha!" moment came during a case study that revealed a dramatic—and lethal—blind spot at a premier hospital organization. The lesson from this study underscored the value of measuring outcomes carefully and consistently.
What are your thoughts about the living group experience?
The living group was like a five-star hotel experience focused around learning, where the smallest details were carefully planned to facilitate an enriching environment. In my living group, we built lasting friendships surprisingly quickly. Even today, after the program has ended, we continue to engage as a group to discuss ongoing operational challenges and solutions.
What advice would you offer to help future participants make the most of the experience?
Allow yourself the time to dive into the case studies. Read, highlight, and take notes on the case studies prior to the start to maximize the value of the program.