Graduates of Business of Medicine Physician MBA Program make lasting difference for patients, healthcare systems
INDIANAPOLIS --- For the fifth consecutive year, a 2018 Gallup poll shows that Americans worry more about healthcare than any other issue. That’s why the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University has been training physicians nationwide to assume leadership roles, so they can address healthcare availability and affordability.
The Kelley School launched the Business of Medicine Physician MBA Program in 2013, and its graduates are making a difference in healthcare systems across the country as they reduce patient wait times and the cost of care—all while improving access to care, quality of care and patient outcomes.
“Healthcare in the United States needs to be more efficient, but not at the expense of patient quality,” said Idalene “Idie” Kesner, dean of the Kelley School of Business and the Frank P. Popoff Chair of Strategic Management. “That means physicians need to be the voice of improvement, and the best way to leverage that voice is for MBA-trained physicians to assume leadership roles.
“Kelley Physician MBA graduates leave our program better doctors because they think differently about the industry. They are visionary leaders who are optimistic about the future of healthcare because they have the tools to make change happen.”
The Kelley Physician MBA Program is unlike any other traditional or executive MBA program; it is designed exclusively for physicians. To build this unique curriculum, Kelley faculty specializing in the business of medicine consulted with industry experts and thought leaders to identify critical principles physicians need to direct the future of healthcare. The curriculum delivers carefully sequenced content—combining core integrated business knowledge with specialized, contemporary healthcare courses.
Among the courses is Lean Six Sigma, a process improvement methodology aimed at reducing defects and waste. Additionally, physicians learn ways to advocate for hundreds of patients at once during an immersion course studying healthcare policy and regulation in Washington, D.C.
Physicians say they pursued an MBA so they could learn to speak the “business of medicine,” explaining that while they possess profound medical knowledge, many don’t have the business acumen needed to be an influential voice in the C-suite.
“You can make unbelievable differences with fairly small changes,” said Tom Gardner, MD, MBA’17, urologist at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, about the immediate impact of using his MBA skill set. Gardner discovered that a routine procedure was taking up to 100 minutes of a patient’s day, from the moment he walked in the door to the moment he left. Using Lean Six Sigma techniques learned in the Kelley Physician MBA Program, Gardner reduced patient wait times to an average of 29 minutes—increasing healthcare accessibility while maintaining quality of care.
“I knew it was possible; I just needed the tools and knowledge to do it,” said Gardner. “The Business of Medicine Physician MBA Program helped me to better understand processes, finance and leadership, which is all imperative to providing better service for our patients.”
Designed to meet the demands of a physician’s schedule, the 21-month program is delivered through monthly weekend residency sessions in Indianapolis as well as on-demand, asynchronous online learning. This approach allows students to network with physicians across specialties and from a variety of locations and health systems.
In its first five years, the program has graduated 146 physician MBAs representing 76 specialties from 26 states. While the average age of graduates is 50, the oldest is 72 and the youngest 32.
“The Business of Medicine Physician MBA Program changed the way I think about healthcare and the way I approach my work on a daily basis,” said Cameual Wright, MD, MBA’16, who transitioned from an OB-GYN practice to leading clinical strategy at a managed care company. “From day one, I learned things at Kelley that I was able to bring back to my practice. I find myself to be more confident, more assertive and better able to lead. I feel like I now have the tools to truly make a difference, and I have.”
“The Kelley Physician MBA gave me a skill set beyond simply functioning as a physician. I now understand how to optimize the business of medicine,” said Rocky Singh, MD, MBA’15. “When you present yourself as a leader in healthcare, people expect you to possess management skills. If you’re a good leader, you motivate people while also holding them accountable. I’ve learned these skills and more through the Kelley School of Business.”
The program gives physicians the advanced business knowledge, management tools, and leadership skills to be healthcare change agents, while driving innovation and transforming their careers. In fact, one-third of Kelley Physician MBA students are promoted within the first year of the program.
Cheryl Wolfe, MD, MBA’17, is an obstetrician-gynecologist in Chicago. During the Physician MBA Program, she was approached by Rush University Medical Center to merge her private practice into the Rush system, where she is now the Vice Chair and Director of Ambulatory Services for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
When Ryan Nagy, MD, MBA’15, began the Kelley Physician MBA Program, he was a practicing anesthesiologist. Within months, he was appointed chief of anesthesiology at IU Health – University Hospital and subsequently chief medical officer. Today, Nagy is president of IU Health Medical Center, where he is responsible for determining the strategic vision and priorities for IU Health Methodist and University hospitals.
Saurin Patel, MD, MBA’17, started a company that provides a turnkey solution to help with chronic care management. The company has grown to 18 employees.
Praveen Rajanahalli, MD, MBA’16, started his own concierge practice to enhance patient treatment options and experience while simultaneously alleviating physician burnout.
For more information on the Business of Medicine Physician MBA Program, click here.
MEDIA CONTACT: Teresa Mackin, tmackin@iu.edu, 317-274-2233
