From Health Science Students to Edtech Entrepreneurs
Shabnam and Shaghayegh Safarzadeh
Every year, thousands of students begin pursuing a career in healthcare. They have aspirations to assist patients and improve medical outcomes, but traditional education and training models may be too expensive or time-consuming for them to enter the field. Additionally, students struggle with a lack of relevant training and education needed to secure entry-level positions. These compounding issues deters future employees from entering the workforce and equally prevents the industry from receiving the professionals it needs. The founders of Advanced eClinical, both former health science students, recognized this issue and developed an accelerated online training program that is a more accessible and affordable alternative for students.
As health science students and professionals themselves, Shabnam and Shaghayegh Safarzadeh witnessed firsthand the challenges and limitations of traditional healthcare education and training models. They leveraged this insight when developing an innovative platform to help students achieve their goals and succeed in their careers.
The sisters were also very precise when creating their overall business model because they were committed to offering the highest quality of services to students. The pair spent many months learning and reflecting about what innovations had to be incorporated for Advanced eClinical to satisfy their target audience. Much of this time was also spent navigating the obstacles they encountered as first time entrepreneurs. The sisters didn’t have any external funding and had to repeatedly correct their courses to satisfy legal requirements for edtech companies. Despite these hiccups, Shaghayegh and Shabnam considered these valuable lessons for their personal and professional development. The adversity they overcame empowered the sisters to recognize their talents for business and entrepreneurship while also bringing smarter solutions to students.
Since many students struggle to find employment after completing their training and certification, job search assistance and career support were one feature the founders prioritized. They felt that education and training should not end with certification but extend to practical support for career success. Adaptable learning was another concept utilized to deliver personalized training tailored to each student’s needs and learning styles. Because of this revolutionary methodology, Shaghayegh and Shabnam were seen as pioneers within a very traditional industry. They were breaking the limitations of a “one-size-fits-all” approach by enabling students to complete coursework at their own pace and on their own schedule. The twin sisters’ innovative thinking also showcased how integrating emerging technologies could transform healthcare education and change the way students learn and prepare for their careers.
Only a few years after launching, Advanced eClinical was at the forefront of this trend of innovation. Their programs, which span many medical disciplines, became certified by state and federal entities, and the sisters were receiving a consistent number of students enrolling in their program. They believe they’ve had such success with attracting students because of the technology and automation they use to enhance the traditional learning process. Their entrepreneurial spirit and openness to embracing a mindset of continuous learning also played a major role in how the twins adapted to challenges, acquired new skills, and stayed updated with industry trends. The sisters have further utilized this skill by seeking out and accepting incoming partnerships from experts who supplement their own knowledge and can extend their mission of transforming healthcare education.
In addition to the unique features it boasts, Advanced eClinical has also secured several national and global certifications for their diverse course offerings and simulation-based curricula. By thoughtfully integrating immersive skill activities, 3D animation demonstrations, interactive flashcards, and more, their company is setting the standard for modern healthcare education that can accommodate every student. Advanced eClinical’s business model also contributes to better patient outcomes and an increase of diversely skilled workers. This foundational change in industry procedures would also accelerate the company’s goal of promoting an inclusive healthcare system.
Shaghayegh and Shabnam are using their company as a vehicle for change in both edtech and healthcare organizations. Collaboration between both sectors can stimulate innovative solutions and benefit each individual receiving care or knowledge from the respective organizations. Advanced eClinical is working to bring this to life by partnering with universities who will offer students college credits for participating in the certification programs. This would empower healthcare students to finish their education, reach their personal goals, and also fight the skilled labor shortage in the medical industry.
The sisters are grateful for the opportunity to drive change, innovation, and equality in an industry they are very passionate about. They hope other sectors adopt similar solutions that challenge business norms and modernize historical methods of educating future professionals.
To this date, Advanced eClinical has helped over 4,000 students receive medical certifications, access relevant externships, and pass complex exams with less difficulty. Many alumni report on the affordability, attentive staff, and engaging design of the courses. Overall, Advanced eClinical is revolutionizing the healthcare education experience through edtech solutions for students across the nation. The founders plan to uplift many more students on the path to their educational dreams and improve patient outcomes in many specialities.
“When founding Advanced eClinical, we were motivated to fill the gap education and training was leaving behind for health science students. The lack of training, education, and certification options is a pressing issue these students face and we recognized that struggle because we experienced it during our studies as well. That personal experience is what fueled our passion give this demographic of students more options that could empower them to really reach their goals,” says Shabnam and Shaghayegh Safarzadeh.
