Business Minor Spotlight: Tarun Chatani

Although my passion has always been the sciences, specifically healthcare, coming from a family of businesspeople cultivated an appreciation for the principles of business within me. The community-centered culture and dynamic, rapidly growing business environment of my home country, Jamaica, reinforced this perspective while instilling the importance of creativity, collaboration and resilience as drivers of success. These aspects of my background shape my ambition to pursue a career in healthcare while allowing me to recognize the significance and applicability of business concepts to both personal and professional activities, regardless of one’s career choice.

                                                                                                              -Tarun Chatani

Accounting, finance, and resource management are rapidly advancing industries with the need for new ideas and fresh perspectives. Tarun Chatani plans to connect his background in healthcare to the ever-evolving business world.

Chatani strengthened his academic profile with the rigorous International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, achieving his diploma in 2021. He gained foundational principles taking courses in Biology, Chemistry, and History, which gave him the platform and analytical tools to further his education in undergraduate programs at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). He completed his HBSc degree in 2025, making the Dean’s Scholar List four years in a row.

 

Chatani's major in Biology for Health Sciences and minor in Chemistry has given him professional writing experience and advanced research skills. As Editor-in-Chief of The University of Toronto's Journal of Scientific Innovation, he was able to apply his science background in the pursuit of furthering the knowledge in his field. Chatani's editorial statement highlights the aspirations for Volume 3 Issue 1 of the JSI. “[...] This issue spotlights four papers that explore bold topics, each pushing the boundaries of current knowledge in this unique manner. These pieces amalgamate to actively advance the frontiers of science and scholarship.”

The business minor at IMI supplemented Chatani's biology and health sciences background “I chose this [business] minor to gain essential business skills that complement my science background and aspirations for a career in healthcare.” He highlighted three courses that offered him the most applicable knowledge for his future career in dentistry and healthcare. “As a science student, the Business Minor filled key gaps in financial literacy, administrative competence and strategic thinking. For instance, Accounting (IMI203H) gave me the ability to interpret financial statements and spot inefficiencies, which directly supports running a sustainable practice. The Human Resource course (IMI202H) taught me how to design performance review systems and foster team accountability, which is crucial since healthcare is always a team effort. Technology Strategy (IMI303H), allowed me to embrace an innovative, forward-thinking mindset, aligning investments with long-term goals which is essential for modernizing patient care and streamlining operations.”

The business minor at IMI teaches tangible, practical skills and helps students feel confident as they prepare for their career beyond campus. “The business minor definitely boosted my confidence in entering the workforce since it helped me create plans, strategies, and advance my team management capabilities that I wouldn’t have gained through science classes alone. It also gave me a broader perspective on how organizations function and how decisions are made, allowing me to think beyond technical expertise and approach challenges with more confidence,” Chatani explained.
 

Chatani's take on the UTM campus culture lent to his IMI education experience: “​​I really appreciated the close-knit campus environment, which made it easier to connect with professors and peers, and I've always been quite extroverted, so I really valued that. I also valued the clubs, events and resources, that allowed me to continue exploring my interests while growing from the rigorous academic experience.”

Chatani is eager to enter the workforce, determined to apply the knowledge and skills he has gained at UTM to make a difference through healthcare. "I'm interested in dentistry, currently drawn to general dentistry and potentially a specialization in oral and maxillofacial surgery.” He was quick to point out that he is keeping an open mind to various paths within dentistry as he continues his education and research.

For anyone interested in the business minor program at IMI, Chatani has some advice for you: “Actively explore how concepts from this minor intersect with your other courses. The linkages not only allow for a richer and more interesting academic experience but could also lend to transformative career insights through patterns and possibilities you might not have seen without an integrative mindset.”
 

To learn more about the Minor in Business, Science and Entrepreneurship at IMI, please visit the website or contact imi.businessminor@utoronto.ca. 

To read Volume 3 Issue 1 of The University of Toronto's Journal of Scientific Innovation, please visit https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/jsi.