Q&A with Kanish: Healthcare Consulting at KPMG + Medical Student at the University of Toronto
Learn about Kanish's experience working as a Digital Health Consulting Intern at KPMG in Downtown Toronto!
Welcome to the Invite Health newsletter. These newsletters highlight students pursuing careers in healthcare, and the experiential learning opportunities they've had. From public health to health innovation to book writing, my goal with this newsletter is to introduce you to the various pathways that students can pursue in healthcare.
Whether you’re reading this on a commute, during your study break, or from the comfort of your own home, I hope you enjoy reading today’s newsletter.
- Sachi
This week, I invited Kanish to share his experiences as a Digital Health Consulting Intern at KPMG this past summer. He also shares insight on the application process to become a KPMG intern, and his story on his journey to pursuing medicine as a career. Read on to learn more about his experience!
Q&A with Kanish, Digital Health Consulting Intern at KPMG 💼
First off, tell us about your journey so far. Where do you study, what inspired you to pursue this, and what’s next? What else do you like to do outside of studying?
Hello Invite Health readers! My name is Kanish (he/him) and I'm an incoming medical student at the University of Toronto. I am a recent graduate from the Bachelor of Health Sciences program at McMaster University and spent my summer working as a healthcare consultant at KPMG.
My interest in medicine is deeply personal and started from an interest in public health and advancing healthcare. My family and I immigrated to Canada when I was 12 and settled in a community primarily of low-income first-generation immigrants. This really shaped my relationship with healthcare. On one hand, I was amazed by the ability to receive care so efficiently in this country, but on the other, the disparities in access really struck me. I remember the emotional guilt my parents felt at not being able to afford certain prescription drugs and not being able to take time off work for appointments. I knew I wanted to ensure others didn't face such barriers, which fostered my interest in public health. Through subsequent non-profit experiences, I've realized that gaining tangible medical skills would provide me with the unique skill set and scope of practice to support the health of such communities at an individual level and foster change at a population level as well. This solidified my decision to pursue a medical career.
Outside of school, I co-founded Health for Homeless in 2020, which is a non-profit working to address barriers to accessible healthcare in low-income and homeless communities in the GTA. This is a cause that is near and dear to my heart, and I'm very proud of the meaningful strides we've taken despite being a youth-run organization (e.g. establishing an innovative sock pantry model at 2 downtown community health centers). In the short-term, I hope to continue supporting the growth of Health for Homeless while pursuing my medical education.
In my free time, I enjoy experimenting with coffee drinks and cuisines from around the world, which helps keep me connect with various cultures. You can also find me lifting weights, playing tennis or basketball to burn off some extra steam. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my story with you!
Tell us about your experience as a Digital Health Consulting Intern at KPMG.
I started working at KPMG this past May 2023 as a paid full-time intern on their Digital Health team. I had the opportunity to work hybrid at home and out of the Bay-Adelaide Centre in Downtown Toronto, which was a nice change of pace from the University lifestyle. 6 other interns were a part of my intern class and many are staying on as full-time consultants! In terms of my role, a running joke in consulting is that no one can give you a clear answer on what a consultant does. My internship experience proved that this is indeed true. The role changes so much depending on the project you're working on and the client's specific needs. My particular project was with the Manitoba government, where I supported reduction of their surgical and diagnostic backlog. Beyond this, I also helped design journey maps for patients with Breast Cancer, and supported business development goals (e.g. winning new projects). The biggest highlight of my experience has definitely been the people I've met and developed relationships with. Throughout my time, I worked with former chemical engineers, ministers, financial risk managers and nurses all striving to advance healthcare in Canada. These interactions were not only fulfilling, but also educational, providing multiple different perspectives into the healthcare system in Canada.
How did you come across this opportunity? What did the application process entail?
I was introduced to this opportunity through a professor in my health policy class, and gained deeper insights through a close friend working at KPMG at the time. The role really aligned with my interests in public health and I resonated with the opportunity to actually contribute to health systems change at an early stage in my career. Although I had no formal business experience, I was surprised to find that many of my skills from undergrad translated to this application, including critical thinking and concise presentation skills. The process consisted of an initial resume/cover letter review, followed by a 4-stage interview process including a real-time case interview and a 24-hour case presentation all within a 2-3 week period in January. This is definitely daunting coming from a science background, but I would recommend doing as many practice cases as possible beforehand, and gaining clarity on your reasons for pursuing consulting.
Did this experience lead you to pursue any other related opportunities?
I just finished my internship so if you want to find out, reach out to me in a few months! Truthfully though, this experience has really strengthened my perspective on my future career and exposed me to a wide variety of intersectional paths I can take. In today's world, a physician can also be an entrepreneur, scientist or consultant. Further, this multidisciplinary exposure can reciprocally strengthen clinical practice. This is definitely a space I hope to explore in the future.
Where can students go if they want to learn more about this experience?
Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn. I know how confusing and frustrating navigating a non-traditional career path in healthcare can be, so I am always happy to set up a call or in-person to share insights and frustrations!
Is there anything else that you would like to add for Invite Health readers?
Don’t be afraid to go against the grain and explore non-traditional interests outside of your area of study! These can often lead to the most fulfilling experiences and help us discover where our true passions lie. Deviate from the script and write your own :)
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About Invite Health 💌
Invite Health newsletters highlight students pursuing careers in healthcare, and the experiential learning opportunities they've had. Invite Health can also be the start of building a network, learning a new skill, or finding your next opportunity.
How can you get the most out of Invite Health? 🫶
Send cold messages. Reach out to the people who were interviewed when you’re interested in learning more about their journey. At the end of each newsletter, all interviewees leave their contact information for readers to contact them!
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Apply to the opportunities that are shared in the newsletters! You have nothing to lose, and so much to gain. And circling back to point #1 - always reach out to the interviewees if you want advice from them!
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