James Dunlap, MD
Indiana University, Kelley School of Business
Age: 48
“Thoughtful, supportive leader who inspires trust and growth through integrity, empathy, and excellence.”
Hometown: Lexington, Oklahoma
Family Members: Alicia and I have been married for nearly 22 years this fall. We have three kids: Nicolas, Isabel, and Lucas. Nico is graduating from high school and attending The Ohio State University in the fall. Isabel is a sophomore in high school, and our youngest, Lucas, is a seventh grader.
Fun fact about yourself: I received the Air Force Achievement Medal for operatively repairing a civilian working dog’s elbow fracture during my first deployment to Iraq.
Undergraduate School and Degree:
- BS in in Biochemistry, USAF Academy
- Medical school, Georgetown University in Washington
- Orthopedic Residency, University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita
- Spine surgery Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh
- Physician MBA, Indiana University Kelley School of Business
Where are you currently working? I recently joined Premier Health in Dayton in a transitional role with multiple responsibilities. Clinically, I’m managing a nonoperative spine clinic. Additionally, I serve as a physician advisor in Revenue Cycle Management and act as a special projects and consultant for strategy and operations. Essentially, it’s a transitional role as I left the operating room and move into more administrative leadership positions.
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles: One of the most rewarding aspects of my life has been my involvement in my kids’ extracurricular activities, whether coaching or cheering them on in their various sports, helping with Boy Scouts, judging at speech and debate tournaments, and much more. I’ve really cherished this time with them, my oldest is getting ready to graduate from high school, so big moment for us as a family.
On a more personal level, about eight years ago, I learned to play tennis, and I compete on several teams at a local tennis club. I really enjoy it a lot. Really taps into my competitive nature.
My wife and I serve as marriage preparation counselors at our church and it has been a really rewarding experience. We are also active in several charitable organizations, including Shoes for the Shoeless; Because of God’s Grace (BOGG), which provides food to those in need; and Helping Hands of Dayton, which offers Care Kits to families of patients at Dayton Children’s Hospital.
Throughout my career, I’ve held several leadership roles, including leading a mobile surgical unit in Iraq, overseeing a department that included orthopedics, neurosurgery, and podiatry; and most recently serving as the Division Chief of Spine in a neurosurgical group.
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? My time in the Physician MBA Program at the Kelley School of Business taught me invaluable lessons that I could apply immediately in my professional life, such as presenting a strategic vision to executive leadership and improving the OR scheduling process and increasing revenue through enhanced data analytics and vendor contract negotiations. Each of these experiences strengthened my competence and confidence, helping me progress toward my goal of transitioning into a more senior leadership role. I am proud of completing a rigorous MBA program while balancing professional and family demands.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I’m proud of my more than 20-year career caring for patients in both military and civilian settings, from battlefield trauma to complex revision spine cases. The heartfelt gratitude from so many patients has been incredibly uplifting, especially on challenging days. Likewise, the recognition from colleagues for both my surgical expertise and leadership acumen has been truly humbling as my career path evolves into new, non-clinical roles.
Who was your favorite MBA professor? I really enjoyed the class with Professor Amrou Awaysheh. I connected with operations and how he presented the cases. I felt really comfortable working with him as I started taking on some new projects.
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? I chose the IU Kelley School of Business Physician MBA Program because it provided the tools I needed to bridge my knowledge gap and confidently engage in executive-level discussions. A close friend and colleague who completed this program highly recommended it. After careful research and consideration, I was confident that Kelley’s Physician MBA Program would accelerate my career growth. The program’s blend of in-person and online learning was ideal for a busy physician, and I was impressed by the thoughtfully-designed curriculum and the expertise of the faculty. Hearing how the program had positively impacted an alumni’s careers reinforced my belief that this was the right next step for me. Kelley’s program exceeded my expectations.
What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? Leadership can emerge in almost any role or situation, whether formal or informal. Effective leaders have the ability to inspire and motivate others toward a shared goal. As I transition from clinical practice to a more operational role, I’m focused on developing the skills needed to be an effective executive leader — which involves leading oneself, leading others, and leading organizations.
Leading others requires building strong relationships. My professional relationships with patients and their families have naturally been nuanced and intimate due to the nature of medical care. As I shift to organizational leadership, I am honing my active listening skills, improving my ability to negotiate and resolve conflicts professionally, and learning when to assert myself to drive positive outcomes.
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? When I started the MBA program, my mother was battling end-stage pancreatic cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. I frequently traveled between Ohio and California to be with her. During her final months, I was enrolled in a demanding Strategic Capabilities class that required a 30-minute group presentation with a 15-minute Q&A, a 20-page group paper, and an individual five-page paper. I reached out to my professor and colleagues, who were incredibly supportive and understanding, allowing me to spend those precious final moments with my mother. I’m deeply grateful to my colleagues for stepping up, helping me catch up quickly, and working together to complete our assignments successfully and on time.
What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? My advice for anyone considering an executive MBA is to start with clear goals and choose a program that aligns with your career aspirations and learning style. Be prepared for the time commitment and develop a plan to balance work, school, and your personal life. Build a strong support system with your family, employer, and classmates, and engage fully in the program. Make the most of your cohort and alumni relationships, as this network often provides the greatest long-term value. Stay receptive to feedback to accelerate your personal growth. Don’t neglect your self-care routines as these are essential in performing at your best in all aspects of your life.
What was your biggest regret in business school? My biggest regret is not getting to know all my cohort members better. I had the chance to work with many of them on small group projects and got to know several others during our international healthcare trips to Japan, South Korea, Spain, and Portugal. However, there are still some I wish I had connected with more. Family commitments kept me from joining some of the social events the night before our in-person residencies, when many classmates were traveling in from out of town.
Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I most admire Sasha Demos, MD, PhD, FASA, MBA. She is an incredibly bright and talented classmate who earned her PhD in bioengineering and has served as both the medical director of her anesthesia group and president of the medical staff. Over the past year, we’ve had several conversations about our aspirations to shift career paths. Despite her long-standing success in medicine and the uncertainty of starting something new, Sasha took a bold step into the biopharma industry with a start-up company before we finished our MBA program. I’m impressed and proud of her for believing in herself and embracing this opportunity — I have no doubt she’ll accomplish great things in the biopharma world.
What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? I chose an executive MBA program to gain the skills and experience needed to succeed in an executive role. I also genuinely enjoy learning and value the personal interactions that come with the residency components, both with my cohort and the faculty. In my opinion, you can’t replicate that depth of connection and richness of experience through an online or condensed-format MBA — the relationships and collaborative learning environment are key benefits of the executive program.
How did you finance your EMBA and what did you do to make tuition and associated costs more affordable? I was very fortunate that as a veteran, I was able to tap into the GI Bill to help pay for my MBA. Otherwise, I think it would’ve made it a bit more difficult from a family perspective because I had recently left the military and salaries for the military are not the same as the civilian world. But the fact that I had that benefit made it an easy decision for me.
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My long-term professional goal is to become a senior executive in a health system, driving strategic leadership to deliver high-quality, cost-effective care to the communities we serve while creating an exceptional work environment for our care teams.
There’s this inherent curtain between the clinical and administrative sides, and I want to pull that back to allow more transparency to build more trust. I think that’s the only way we can get to the point where we can truly be collaborative and provide high-quality care in a cost-effective way. I want our teams to love being here. Because if they love working here, the patients will feel that and want to come see us.
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