DUKE HEALTH SECTOR ADVISORY COUNCIL

 

ABOUT THE COUNCIL

Duke University’s Health Sector Advisory Council (HSAC) was founded in 2002 to promote interaction among executives, policy makers, faculty, and students. The council convenes twice per year. The council aims to achieve the following objectives:

• Foster interaction with leading thinkers and influencers, including executives, professors, and policy makers.
• Encourage dialogue among leaders from various areas of health care, encompassing diverse perspectives from providers, payers, producers, and policy makers.
• Explore cutting-edge research in health sector management and policy.
• Discuss how to translate new knowledge into innovative practices.
• Share insights and experiences with students who represent the future of health sector leadership.

CONTRIBUTION

Members from large companies contribute $20,000 annually to the Fuqua School of Business. The gift can be treated as a tax-deductible philanthropic contribution. The funds support the Council, as well as student programs and faculty research, particularly in the field of health care.

MEMBER BENEFITS

Membership in the council offers the following benefits:

• Peer engagement to understand how other companies approach various healthcare challenges.
• Exposure to different perspectives from a wide range of healthcare firms in candid conversations.
• Access to the latest ideas and emerging companies in the health sector.
• Real-time updates on health policy. Past speakers included Senator Richard Burr, Congressman David Price, former Congressman Bill Gradison, FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, and former heads of CMS and FDA Mark McClellan.
• Opportunities to learn from Duke University faculty specializing in business, law, policy, and medicine.

MEMBER PARTICIPATION

The council is convened twice a year by the Faculty Director, typically in April and November. Meetings are usually held on the Duke campus, but occasionally take place in locations that facilitate access to specific thought leaders and topics. For instance, in 2022, the council met at the Duke office in Washington to discuss health policy and interact with Congress.

Member companies can send multiple representatives to each meeting. These representatives should possess insights relevant to the discussions and be able to leverage the learnings from the meetings for impact within their organizations. However, attending representatives are not required to be experts on the specific topics discussed. The meetings are learning opportunities.

PARTICIPANT LEVELING AND ALIGNMENT

Company representatives attending the council range in seniority from Director to the C-suite. The crucial aspect is that members are thoughtful and curious executives who are willing to engage in candid discussions. The exchanges are characterized by sharp, incisive dialogue that provides members with deeper insights and a heightened appreciation for the complexities of the health sector. Participants personally benefit from these discussions, while Fuqua gains greater relevance and expanded perspectives for its courses and research.

FACULTY AND STUDENT PARTICIPATION

Duke faculty members from various academic disciplines are invited to join meetings based on the alignment between the planned discussion scope and their teaching and research interests. Additionally, current MBA students selected as HSM Fellows attend meetings as observers and have the opportunity to engage with council members during breaks and the mid-day luncheon.