Skip to main content

Alumni

From Patient Care to Global Impact: How Scholarship Support is Empowering the Next Generation of Healthcare Leaders

Story - David Ong

From Patient Care to Global Impact: How Scholarship Support is Empowering the Next Generation of Healthcare Leaders

From Patient Care to Global Impact: How Scholarship Support is Empowering the Next Generation of Healthcare Leaders

Dr David Ong MBA’24D’s journey to INSEAD is deeply personal and speaks to the life-changing impact of scholarships. His story begins with his parents, who left Indonesia for a better life in Australia over 40 years ago. Despite having only a few years of formal schooling, they instilled in David and his sisters the value of education and hard work. Thanks to their sacrifices, David became one of the first in his family to attend university, an achievement that felt unimaginable for their family just a generation ago.

After working as a medical specialist, David felt a pull to do more—to reach beyond individual patient care and find ways to address bigger challenges in healthcare. INSEAD is providing him with the opportunity to gain the business knowledge he needs to tackle these issues on a larger scale, but taking that leap wasn’t easy. Facing financial challenges to pursue a new path felt risky. However, the INSEAD Diversity Scholarship he received made all the difference. It didn’t just help with finances; it gave him the confidence to take this bold step.

At INSEAD, David is learning to blend his medical expertise with new business skills, with the hope of one day leading large-scale healthcare practices or even starting his own. He also dreams of giving back to his community by volunteering on non-profit boards, where he can help shape policies and practices that benefit underserved populations.

This wouldn't have been possible without the generosity of donors. Their support allowed David to pursue his passion without fear and showed him that others believe in his potential. As he reflects on his parents' journey and the opportunities ahead, David is deeply grateful for the chance to be part of this global community of learners and future leaders.

Donations don’t just provide financial help—they can give someone the courage to take a leap and work toward a future where their expertise can create real change in the world