Ultimately Ambreen
- Ultimately Uni
- Mar 12
- 3 min read
From Stethoscope to Strategy: My Intercalated MBA Journey
By Ambreen C
About Me
Hi! 👋 I’m Ambreen, a 23-year-old student currently in between my 3rd and 4th year of Medicine. I’m currently taking a year out of Medicine to complete an MBA (Master of Business Administration), making me the only student in the UK to do both!
I’m passionate about healthcare and leadership, and I enjoy sharing my experiences and insights with others, especially when it comes to navigating the ups and downs of university life. I’m all about combining the worlds of healthcare and business, and I’m excited to see where this combination takes me – whether that’s in medicine, healthcare management, or even business consulting.
When I’m not studying, you’ll find me at the piano or violin (or singing!). I also love creating content that blends my passion for medicine and business, mainly on TikTok (@amber.chowdhury). In my free time, you’ll find me in the gym, exploring new restaurants and shopping, while finding new ways to grow, both personally and academically.
My Application Journey
From a young age, it was always my goal to become a doctor and despite some major set-backs during my A Levels (thanks COVID!), I didn’t let that stop me. After a gap year that involved taking the A Level Chemistry exams, and adding an extra A Level in Psychology, I managed to get A*AAB. In 2021, I joined Anglia Ruskin University and began my lifelong goal of studying medicine, and I was so excited. Looking back on those challenging Sixth Form days, I’m proud of the determination and resilience that got me through. It’s a reminder that you really can achieve anything when you put your mind to it.
An Unconventional Path
Medical school has been a tough but rewarding experience. Despite numerous exam seasons and placement blocks, I wouldn’t have done anything differently. I was lucky enough to have been heavily involved with the medical society during my preclinical years, and I found my friends for life very early on in 1st year, I truly couldn’t have survived without them!
Fast forward to now, I’m in the middle of an intercalated MBA. It’s something I never thought I’d do, but when the opportunity came up, I couldn’t let it pass me by. Funnily enough, when I was 12 or 13, I made a 10-year plan (very Type A, I know!) and found out about American universities offering MD/MBA programs that aren’t offered in the UK. Now, I’m starting to work on my MBA dissertation to graduate in November and then go back to Medical School to (hopefully!) graduate as a Doctor in 2027. It's surreal how things have come full circle!
It wasn’t an easy choice to take an extra year, especially knowing that I wouldn’t graduate with my friends. But I trusted my gut, and I’m so glad I did. The MBA has been a perfect break from medicine, allowing me to learn about leadership, finance, marketing, and business strategy. I’ve gained skills that will not only help me in medicine but will open up doors in healthcare leadership and innovation, which I’m super excited to explore. I know I’m going to miss it when it’s over!
Although I do love medicine, there is so much room for development in terms of our healthcare system and there is also so much potential for innovation and clinical leadership within the field. I’m so excited to see what I can do with these two unique degrees whether that may be in a clinical setting or a corporate one, the possibilities are endless.
My Ultimate Message
Writing this piece isn’t just about raising awareness about this novel pathway, but also about encouraging others to embrace the unconventional. Whether it’s taking up a new hobby, starting a side hustle, traveling for a year, or creating something entirely new – sometimes the most impactful journey isn’t the most obvious one. The possibilities are endless if you're willing to take that step off the beaten path.
To everyone considering an unconventional path: Sometimes the most impactful journey isn’t the most obvious one.
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