Our Interview With Mark Unruh, Associate Professor of Population Health Sciences at Weill Cornell Medicine

Mark Unruh is an Associate Professor of Population Health Sciences at Weill Cornell Medicine.

M.S. in Health Policy & Economics (HPE) 

What makes the Health Policy and Economics program valuable for aspiring pre-medical students?

Our MS in Health Policy and Economics provides pre-medical students with a systematic understanding of health care by bridging the gap between clinical medicine and the financial and policy environment shaping it. Students gain an understanding of how insurance, payment models, policy regulations, and delivery systems influence patient access, care quality, and health care expenditures.

How does the program benefit students preparing for medical school and improve their competitiveness as applicants?

Medical school admissions committees seek well-rounded candidates with a broader perspective of how health outcomes are shaped by factors beyond biology and medicine. By engaging in health policy analysis, examining the social factors that affect health, and working in interdisciplinary teams, the MS in Health Policy and Economics provides complementary skills and knowledge that distinguish a candidate from other medical school applicants.

How does this program prepare students for the realities of medical school and the medical field?

Physician practice is deeply intertwined with policy, financial, and administrative structures. Physicians navigate issues such as prior authorizations, insurance coverage limits, alternative payment models, and hospital quality metrics on a daily basis. Our program provides insights into these real-world challenges and equips graduates with the skills to improve health care within these complex structures.

What advice would you give to students currently applying to medical school given the technological changes and competitiveness they face today?

Frame your application around your goals as a future physician emphasizing your unique viewpoint, skills, and expertise that will help you achieve them. Articulate how you hope to make meaningful change, whether that is addressing inequities, improving payment and delivery systems, implementing rapidly evolving technologies, or other areas where you can make a difference. Make it clear why you need a medical degree to accomplish your goals.

Professor Mark Unruh was interviewed by Arush Chandna, the co-founder of Inspira Advantage, a medical school admissions consulting company.