Christian De Allie

Columbia Business School

“Advocate for improving the overall well-being of others.”

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Fun Fact About Yourself: I was in an NBA pre-season commercial directed by Spike Lee when I was 9 years old

Undergraduate School and Major:

Cornell University (undergraduate) with a major in Human Biology, Health, and Society

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians for medical school

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Medical Writing Intern for Praava Health

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Getting into medical school was a huge accomplishment for me considering there were no other physicians in my family at the time.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Passionate. The individuals that I know currently in the MBA program are determined to utilize this experience as a factor for change no matter the scale (locally vs internationally).

What is the best part of coming to New York City to earn your MBA? The opportunities are endless. Networking is highly valued in NYC and the culture of productivity serves as a constant impetus for innovation.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The interdisciplinary approach to learning was a key factor for me.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? CBS Innovation & Design Club

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? If you were no longer able to continue on the intended career path after business school, what else would you do?

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? It was my desire to develop a greater understanding of the process in which biomedical devices transition from ideation to creation and placement into hospitals and other healthcare settings. The integration of technology within medicine breaks through the figurative glass ceiling of quality health care; new standards of care are continuously established through prosthetics, orthotics, and other biomedical devices.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I only applied to Columbia’s dual-degree MD/MBA program as I was already accepted into the MD program.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I tried my best to evaluate the campus’s approach to interdisciplinary learning. I knew that Columbia Business School would fit my career goals when I learned of the huge variety of courses offered, career opportunities, and events involving professors of other schools.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I spent the summer of 2014 participating in the Summer Health Professions Education Program, formerly known as the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program, at Columbia University. It was during this program that I gained substantial exposure to the field of medicine while taking courses. I was able to work alongside other men and women of color who all had a similar goal of reaching equity through quality health care. I learned of the devastatingly low rate of practicing black physicians in the US in stark contrast to the overwhelmingly high demand for more physicians. This experience convinced me that my presence in health care makes a difference and serves as a constant reminder of my value.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? I see myself working closely with biomedical device development and improving patient function as a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) physician with a focus on Traumatic Brain Injury.