$3 million Hawryluk Biopharmaceutical Scholars Endowed Fund will equip future leaders for impact within healthcare
Posted on Tuesday, February 16, 2021
Kent Hawryluk ’07
Thanks to a major gift from Kent Hawryluk ’07, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management will be able to better attract and educate future business leaders for the rapidly changing healthcare market.
The Hawryluk Biopharmaceutical Scholars Endowed Fund will build upon the existing Healthcare at Kellogg program, establishing a network of full-time MBA students with demonstrated interest in the biopharmaceutical sector. Scholars will receive scholarships and benefit from dedicated co-curricular programming intended to prepare them for long-term success in this evolving field.
“Supporting students who are passionate about healthcare is a priority at Kellogg, and I am so grateful for Kent Hawryluk’s philanthropy and Professor Craig Garthwaite’s leadership in this area,” said Dean Francesca Cornelli. “Kellogg students are collaborative leaders who can have a meaningful impact in addressing complex healthcare challenges by deeply understanding the intricacies of the industry.”
Hawryluk is co-founder, president and CEO of MBX Biosciences. He was a co-founder and chief business officer of Avidity Biosciences (RNA), a publicly traded genetic medicines company. Under his leadership, Avidity raised $130 million in equity financing and initiated a significant strategic partnership with Eli Lilly. Previously, he cofounded Marcadia Biotech and MB2, helping lead both companies to clinical proof-of-concept of potential first-in-class peptide drugs in metabolic disorders and to acquisitions by Roche and Novo Nordisk, respectively. Since January 2003, he has served as partner of Twilight Venture Partners, a private seed- and early-stage life science venture capital fund.
“Kellogg has a unique opportunity to be the number one business school in all facets of healthcare,” Hawryluk said. “With Kellogg’s ideal location in the Chicago area, there is potential to nurture a pipeline of talent in biopharmaceuticals and support related entrepreneurship. We’re really breaking ground in this space.”
The Hawryluk Biopharmaceutical Scholars will have the opportunity to learn from alumni and other experts in the healthcare management field, particularly in the cutting-edge specialty of biopharmaceuticals, through immersive educational opportunities like treks to industry hubs, presentations from field leaders and a dedicated mentor. In addition, successive cohorts of scholars will form a unique network that can support them throughout their careers.
“I think this scholarship and scholars’ program will not only help attract the best candidates interested in healthcare management to Kellogg, but it will also spur innovation,” Hawryluk said.
Craig Garthwaite
Craig Garthwaite, a professor of strategy and the Herman Smith research professor in hospital and health services management, leads Healthcare at Kellogg. He collaborated with Hawryluk to support a shared vision for offering new opportunities to the growing number of students interested in the business of healthcare.
“Within healthcare, the biopharmaceutical sector presents meaningful challenges and opportunities. Success requires understanding both scientific advances and commercial opportunities,” Garthwaite said. “Kent and I believe that Kellogg has the unique assets to prepare students for success in this exciting sector. I am grateful for Kent’s generosity, and I am excited to work with him as a partner in developing this program.”
Students in the Healthcare at Kellogg program currently participate in cross-disciplinary study of the complex problems facing the evolving healthcare sector, developing a deeper understanding of healthcare as it relates to intersecting industries such as finance, public policy and economics.