What happens when you combine cutting-edge healthcare expertise with an entrepreneurial mindset? At Northeastern University’s Bouvé College of Health Sciences, students aren’t just learning about healthcare innovation—they’re living it through the Health Sciences Entrepreneurship Minor, a transformative program that’s turning bold classroom ideas into real-world solutions that save lives and reshape communities.
Eugene Buff, the program’s director, has built his career at the dynamic intersection of healthcare, business, and innovation. His passion for this transformative work runs deep:
“In health sciences, every venture has the potential to directly improve patient outcomes and community health,” he explains. “That’s an incredibly powerful motivator.”
A Different Kind of Business Education: Where Healthcare Meets Innovation
Unlike traditional business programs, the Health Sciences Entrepreneurship Minor confronts the unique challenges of healthcare innovation head-on. Students don’t just memorize business models—they immerse themselves in the intricate world of healthcare regulations, insurance reimbursement systems, medical ethics, and patient-centered design thinking.
“Students gain an understanding of regulation, reimbursement, ethics, and patient-centered design,” Buff notes. “By the time they graduate, they’ve already practiced solving real-world problems in interdisciplinary teams.”
The program’s experiential learning approach sets it apart. Students compete in high-energy hackathons, collaborate with startup incubators, and tap into Northeastern’s powerful global network of innovators and industry leaders. This hands-on methodology ensures graduates hit the ground running in today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.
Staying Ahead of Disruption: Adapting to Healthcare’s Digital Transformation
Healthcare is experiencing unprecedented transformation. Digital health technologies, artificial intelligence, telemedicine platforms, and revolutionary care delivery models are fundamentally reshaping the industry. Meanwhile, escalating costs and persistent health inequities add layers of complexity that demand innovative thinking.
Buff and his team continuously evolve the curriculum to stay at the forefront of change. They’ve integrated cutting-edge cases and exercises on digital health innovation, social entrepreneurship, and industry disruption. Through strategic partnerships with healthcare startups, venture capital firms, and major health systems, students gain insider exposure to breakthrough developments.
Yet the program remains anchored in proven methodologies. “We remain deeply grounded in practice-tested tools and approaches—from design thinking to the ‘jobs to be done’ framework,” Buff emphasizes. This critical balance equips students with both the agility to pivot and the solid fundamentals to succeed.
Success in Action: Real Ventures, Real Impact
Meet Nita Akoh, a standout graduate and founder of MyAtlas Health. She identified a critical gap in patient navigation—the often-overwhelming challenge of maneuvering through complex healthcare systems. Through the program’s robust support network, she refined her vision, partnered with faculty mentors, rigorously tested solutions, and successfully launched her venture.
“Her journey highlights exactly what this program stands for: combining deep compassion for patients with the entrepreneurial mindset and tools to create scalable change,” Buff reflects. Today, MyAtlas Health is transforming healthcare experiences for patients across the country, turning confusion into clarity and obstacles into opportunities.
More Than Just Startups: Building Innovators for Every Healthcare Path
Buff is emphatic that the program’s value extends far beyond startup creation. “This isn’t only about starting companies—it’s about learning to see challenges differently, reframing problems through the lens of unmet needs, and building solutions that matter.”
Students develop an innovator mindset that serves them whether they join established healthcare organizations, launch groundbreaking ventures, pursue advanced medical or research degrees, or lead transformation initiatives in public health. The transferable skills they master—creative problem-solving, cross-functional collaboration, systems thinking, and outcome-driven innovation—prove invaluable throughout healthcare careers.
Building Northeastern’s Innovation Ecosystem: A Virtuous Cycle
The program’s impact ripples far beyond individual student success. By cultivating a thriving ecosystem where bold ideas can flourish, the Health Sciences Entrepreneurship Minor is establishing Northeastern’s reputation as a premier hub for healthcare innovation and biomedical entrepreneurship.
“By cultivating this ecosystem, we not only change lives today but also attract the next generation of exceptional students and faculty, creating a virtuous cycle of innovation, talent, and impact for years to come,” Buff explains.
Ready to Make a Difference? Your Journey Starts Here
For students considering the program, Buff offers empowering advice: “Be curious and fearless. Healthcare is complex, and innovation often means navigating ambiguity. Don’t be afraid to dive into a problem that seems ‘too big’ or outside your comfort zone—that’s where the greatest opportunities are.”
The program delivers comprehensive frameworks, experienced mentors, and immersive real-world experiences. But breakthrough success ultimately springs from students’ willingness to embrace collaboration, challenge assumptions, and persist through uncertainty.
“If you’re drawn to making a difference in people’s lives while also building something new, this program gives you the tools, the network, and the stage to do it,” Buff concludes.
Discover how the Health Sciences Entrepreneurship Minor can launch your journey as a healthcare innovator. Whether you envision launching a digital health startup, leading transformation at a major health system, or pioneering new models of care delivery, this program provides the entrepreneurial foundation to turn your vision into impact.
Learn more about the Health Sciences Entrepreneurship Minor.
Your future in healthcare innovation starts now.
