Donya S
- Research Program Mentor
MBA candidate at Northwestern University
Expertise
Everything healthcare-related (e.g., medicine, biotech, science), business (go-to market, marketing, operations), dance/arts
Bio
I am a second-year MBA candidate at the Kellogg School of Management, concentrating in Healthcare and Finance, with a background at the intersection of life sciences, strategy, and commercialization. Prior to Kellogg, I worked in medical, regulatory, and commercialization roles supporting global pharmaceutical clients, and most recently interned at ClearView Healthcare Partners, where I advised biopharma and healthcare services companies on growth strategy, oncology asset evaluation, and go-to-market decisions. I am particularly interested in how scientific innovation translates into sustainable business strategy within biopharma and health technology. Outside of academics and work, I am deeply passionate about biohacking, business psychology, dance and creative expression—I currently serve as Co-President of Kellogg’s Groupwerk dance team and previously co-founded a contemporary dance company. I also enjoy cooking, hiking, and creating natural skincare products. I’m always curious about the balance between discipline, creativity, and well-being in both life and leadership.Project ideas
Evaluating the Market Viability of a Digital Health Solution in Oncology Care
Project Idea: Evaluating the Market Viability of a Digital Health Solution in Oncology Care Field of expertise: Healthcare strategy, biopharma and health technology, oncology market dynamics, and go-to-market analysis. Project overview: In this project, a student will evaluate the commercial and strategic viability of a hypothetical digital health solution designed to support oncology patients (e.g., remote symptom monitoring, adherence support, or care coordination). The student will explore how unmet clinical needs, stakeholder incentives, reimbursement pathways, and competitive landscapes shape whether and how such a product could succeed in the healthcare ecosystem. Skills and knowledge gained: Students will learn how to frame a real-world healthcare problem, analyze primary and secondary market data, assess stakeholders (patients, providers, payers, and pharma), and translate qualitative insights into structured strategic recommendations. The project builds skills in critical thinking, healthcare market research, and strategic communication. Information-gathering process: The student will synthesize publicly available sources such as academic literature, industry reports, company websites, regulatory guidance, and expert commentary. They may also conduct informal interviews or surveys (if appropriate) to understand user needs and market constraints. The focus is on learning how to evaluate evidence, not on producing novel scientific findings. Student outcomes: The final deliverable may take the form of a written strategy brief, market assessment report, or slide deck outlining the problem, market opportunity, key risks, and recommendations. Optionally, students may also create a high-level product concept mock-up or value proposition framework to illustrate their analysis.