Meet The Class Of 2022: Patrick Nessenthaler, Cornell Executive MBA/MS In Healthcare Leadership

Student Name: Patrick Nessenthaler

Describe Yourself In 15 Words: Diligent, hard-working, precise, charismatic, a life-long learner with a passion to inspire and pay it forward.

Hometown: Dallas, TX.

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am an adjunct professor at two universities – Rutgers University and the University of Louisville. I teach Real Estate Finance & Investments and Real Estate & Alternative Investments to both undergraduate and graduate MBA students.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of North Texas,  Real Estate Finance.

Current Employer and Job Title: Vice President of Finance & Head of Real Estate Capital Markets at the Keystone Group and Managing Director of the To-Be-Formed Keystone Capital Group.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:  I have been fortunate enough to have several accomplishments in my career. Most recently, I completed two additional professional designations – Counselor of Real Estate and Member of the Appraisal Institute. In combination with my Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Alternative Investment Advisor charters, I am one of few individuals that I’m aware of with four professional distinctions. Nonetheless, I consider this humorous as my wife told me that once my professional letters (13) exceed the letters in my last name (12), I must stop hitting the books!

My biggest accomplishment is becoming an adjunct professor. It has defined me as an expert in my field and given me the ability to inspire future professionals on a continuous basis. I got a bit choked up after receiving such positive and earnest feedback from my students.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as a graduate student:  Great question. The last few years in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic have been extremely challenging. If you add on the demands of a dual-degree EMBA/MS it feels almost impossible. However, I think being able to establish life-long friends – in almost a completely remote work environment – is my biggest accomplishment as a graduate student.

What led you to pursue an EMBA at this point in your career? Having already completed a graduate degree from Cornell in 2012, I thought I already had a lot of  insights and answers. Coupled with having a robust track record of developing new business, structuring deals, and closing $3.7BN of transactions with a primary focus in healthcare real estate, I felt that I was on a strong path to a productive career. Nevertheless, after watching my mother and father both battle various illnesses – with very little positive outcomes from the healthcare system – I saw first-hand how challenging and flawed our U.S. system is. So, I needed to learn more and pivot my career where I could generate more positive changes for our society over the long-term.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Cornell University changed my life in 2010-2012. Fast forward to 2020, I needed more positive changes in my life and in my career, so it was an easy choice to head back to Ithaca. Plus, it’s one of the top business schools in the country.

What is the top item on your career bucket list? Start a private-equity fund focused on healthcare communities in areas with poor social determinants of health.

How did your classmates enhance the value of your business school experience? My classmates are my heroes, especially the clinicians. Watching them fight this pandemic everyday while maintaining focus on their studies is truly remarkable and an inspiration to me. Furthermore, the way cohorts are structured as a mix of clinicians and non-clinicians, was a huge value-add to my business school experience. I never thought I could learn so much outside the books!

Who was your favorite faculty member and how did this person enrich your learning? Dr. Geraldine McGinty. Always be prepared!

What is your best advice to an applicant hoping to get into your school’s EMBA program?  Be honest, be truthful, and be transparent…I think the stats, rankings, and GPA’s that you’ve accomplished throughout your professional and educational career will be amplified by the emotion and desire of the two-year commitment you want to bring to this EMBA program.

What was your best memory from your EMBA program? When I ripped my pants at the PhD night-club at one of our class “get-togethers.” Despite the huge gash in my pants, I stayed and kept dancing the night away because we were having such a blast! Of course, I had to stop and eat some hot wings on my way home. Allowing myself to enjoy the lighter moments turned out to be one of my best memories!

Questions about this article? Email us or leave a comment below.