Medicine has always come first for Dr. Gobivenkata Balaji, an internal medicine specialist in Melbourne, Fla, who started his own practice ten years ago. But, as his practice grew, Dr. Balaji realized he needed to sharpen his business skills to ensure he and his associates could operate efficiently and provide the highest possible level of care to patients.
That realization led Dr. Balaji to Florida Tech, where he enrolled in a 100% online MBA program with a concentration in healthcare management. Like other MBA students, Dr. Balaji could learn about important business topics such as finance, accounting, economics, marketing, and management. However, the healthcare management concentration meant Dr. Balaji would also learn about industry-specific issues, such as business laws affecting providers and the unique challenges of marketing medical services.
After earning his MBA, Dr. Balaji was proud to hang his new Florida Tech diploma on the wall next to his medical degrees. “It was really, really exciting.”
We spoke to Dr. Balaji about his Florida Tech experience. Here’s what he said:
How confident were you in your business skills before deciding to earn an MBA?
When I started my own practice, I realized I needed more business knowledge. I voraciously learned business tips from multiple organizations, but I didn’t have an organized learning process. I really wanted to get a structured knowledge base, and I had heard a lot of good things about Florida Tech; hence I chose Florida Tech’s MBA program.
What were your first impressions of the program?
Initially, it was bewildering as the medium of instruction — online — was new to me. And the subject — business as opposed to health sciences — was totally alien to me. To make matters more complicated, I have a busy practice and many hospital committee responsibilities, and my commitments to the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. Over time, I utilized the flexibility of online courses to integrate into my life.
Did you get used to online education?
Yes. The online platform was a perfect experience and very easy for me to access. The salient feature of the Florida Tech online program is that the teaching modules are available across all formats. I could even listen to my courses while traveling; I could access the online courses across the iOS and Windows platforms. It was easy for me. I am sure that other students will find this feature very useful.
Why did you choose an online experience instead of attending classes on campus?
Because of the flexibility of the timing! I worked on evenings and weekends. I wouldn’t have the time to go to classes during normal business hours. With the flexibility of time, online was a great option. I could tailor it to my work needs.
Did you get to interact with your classmates?
The other students were great, and we had a beautiful, friendly competition. It was really fun, and I got to know a lot of nice people. Doing the group projects were fun, with everyone working together in tandem. This encourages group thinking.
What were some of the most important things you learned?
The most important thing I learned is about communication. The way you communicate is very important, right? I also learned about cash flow, so it’s easier for me to make decisions about that.
The healthcare focus was very, very important. I want to use this knowledge so I can run my practice better. We take care of patients one at a time, but with an MBA, I learned how to look at things as a whole.
Were there any rough patches in your education journey?
I had to take multiple breaks from the MBA because of my heavy workload. I also had to take a break for my board exam recertification and other clinical commitments.
Who supported you?
I completed my MBA with great support from my home and work families. My wife and children were very gracious to accommodate my education schedule. Often times, we had to reschedule my calls to accommodate my MBA course commitments.
All this would not have been possible without my Student Success Coach, Mr. Jason Carey. Mr. Carey guided me in choosing my courses, getting the course materials. He was there with me from the initial days of the program until after I completed the course. Such support from the staff makes Florida Tech’s online programs successful. This feature should encourage any busy professional who is thinking about online courses to move forward.
What would you say to other people considering going back to school?
You can learn at any age. Acquiring and utilizing the knowledge learned is very important. If you stop learning, you stop growing. When we have a flexible online learning experience with a good team, including all the professors, a collegial environment, and most of all, the student success coach concept, learning becomes fun, and anyone can grow further.
