America is once again contemplating the prospect of national health reform. This will be the seventh attempt at national reform legislation since the Wilson Administration in 1919. Will seven be the lucky number? In the last few months faculty, students, and industry leaders have begun to engage in a series of discussions to inform and contribute. Ten students in the MBA Healthcare Marketplace courses submitted health reform proposal ideas to the national Kaiser Foundation competition with one University of Minnesota public health administration student declared the winner. Senior undergraduate students staged a mock Senate Finance Committee debate on health reform proposals this past winter. Former Congressional Budget Office Director Doug Holtz-Eakin spoke before business leaders as well as students and faculty from four colleges at the University to outline a pragmatic bipartisan approach to health reform should tenacity and willingness to compromise become the order of this iteration. This level of engagement by faculty and students, as well as by policy makers, betrays an unrelenting hope and desire to improve the medical industry for the long haul. I am an honored to work with such a community that seeks to not only study the features of reform, but lead and engage stakeholders in order to develop economically sustainable innovation to not only advance the industry, but to enhance and grow a healthy and prosperous society. Pellere.
On May 28, Douglas Holtz-Eakin spoke on the prospects for health care reform in 2009. Holtz-Eakin is the president of DHE Consulting, LLC and most recently served as director of domestic and economic policy for the John McCain presidential campaign. He was also a recent senior fellow at the Peter G. Peterson Institute for International Economics, the director of the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies and the Paul A. Volcker Chair in International Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations. Prior to that, Holtz-Eakin served as the sixth director of the Congressional Budget office where he was appointed for a four-year term in 2003.
Holtz-Eakin discussed the prospects for comprehensive, bi-partisan health care reform. He outlined a potential proposal, a political strategy for implementation, and the likely impact of its adoption. The plan that Holtz-Eakin discussed addresses dysfunctions in the existing health care delivery system; expands access to affordable private health insurance in an incremental and fiscally responsible manner; and improves market-based options for consumer access to information on health care quality. He detailed his plan with four principles and their matching reforms. The Manhattan Institute has published his plan in a paper, “Forging a new plan for health care: principles and priorities for sustainable reform.”
8th Annual Health Information Technology Institute held at Carlson »
The 8th Annual Health Information Technology Institute, “Stimulating Change in Healthcare IT,” was held at the Carlson School on May 20. This year’s conference explored how the economic stimulus for healthcare IT will influence the industry.
The 8th Annual Health Information Technology Institute, “Stimulating Change in Healthcare IT,” was held at the Carlson School on May 20. This year’s conference explored how the economic stimulus for healthcare IT will impact the industry. Attendees learned about changes and innovations that are already happening. The first keynote speaker was Brian Osberg, assistant commissioner of healthcare at the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Osberg discussed the Minnesota’s HIT strategy, the role of HIT in the State’s healthcare reform agenda, and the structure and process going forward to implement HIT strategies.
The second keynote was Howard Burde, Esquire of Howard Burde Health Law, LLC. Burde spoke on “Opportunities, Obligations, and Risks under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.” He gave specifics on how the stimulus package money can be accessed, the new rules for “covered entities and business associates,” and the risks for all health care industry participants.
Conference participants included IT professionals, hospital and health plan executives, nurses, physicians, and members of academia. They left the program with a better understanding of the measures used to determine incentive payments, the ability to identify possible technical solutions for patient education using IT resources, and deeper knowledge used in determining incentives for IT.
For more information on the Minnesota Chapter of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, go to: http://www.himss-mn.org
Research on Economic Preferences and Genetics »
Learn more about economics Professor Aldo Rustichini’s research for his 2008 Institute Interdisciplinary grant for his study, “A Twins Study of Genetic Influence on Economic Preferences.”
Economics Professor Aldo Rustichini was awarded an Institute Interdisciplinary grant in 2008 for his study, “A Twins Study of Genetic Influence on Economic Preferences.” Rustichini has been conducting research for this grant over the past year with Carlson School Professor of Accounting John Dickhaut and industry partner Merck & Co. Their project utilizes economic theory to explain economic choices with the individual’s preferences (i.e., acquiring or not acquiring medical insurance; saving versus consumption) and the consequences of those choices. Rustichini’s team recently completed two studies that suggest preferences are correlated with IQ personality traits and biological features. They found that higher IQ is associated with more prudent behavior in inter-temporal choices (higher saving) but also higher willingness to take risks in choices under uncertainty. These findings suggest that choice is essentially an information process, affected in a significant way by cognitive skill. Using this theory, the research team is studying twins, comparing the similarity between identical and non-identical twins. If the trait similarity is found to be significantly higher among identical twins, then the trait will be more likely influenced by genetic factors.
Professor Rustichini received his PhD. from the University of Minnesota in 1987. He teaches and does research in the areas of microeconomic theory, game theory, mathematics for economists, decision theory, and political economy.
Course spotlight: Medical Device Industry » The Medical Device Industry: Business and Public Policy course (MILI 6726) offered spring semester, is a course with a rich history and ongoing mission of engaging industry leaders and students in key aspects that make the medical device sector different from other sectors.
The Medical Device Industry: Business and Public Policy course (MILI 6726) offered spring semester, is a course with a rich history and ongoing mission of engaging industry leaders and students in key aspects that make the medical device sector different from other sectors. The course covers the unique business, market, public policy, regulatory, and technology management issues of the medical device industry, including:
* the historical development, importance, and future direction of the medical device industry;
* FDA issues, policies and strategies, public and private sector insurance coverage and reimbursement;
* interaction between public policies and private sector actions; intellectual property (IP) and liability issues concerning medical technology;
* key issues relating to the start-up and management of new medical technology firms.
With the help of industry executives, especially Dale Olseth, Professors Robert Connor and Susan Foote created the medical device industry course in 2000. Ten years later, it continues to actively engage students - the future generation of industry leaders, with executives - the current generation of industry leaders.
MBA student Andrea Seven said, "If you currently work in the med device industry or are interested in transitioning to it, I would recommend this course. Professor Connor provides students with a very unique overview of the industry, including the topics of regulatory, venture capital, reimbursement, patents ... and all other topics that touch the life of a device. Students are given direct access to over 20 guest faculty lecturers (almost every class) including the Twin Cities' leading experts. It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn from and ask questions of the best!"
Industry leaders from the following organizations have been engaged in the course: Acorn Cardiovascular, Atritech, Berman Medical, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Boston Scientific, Celleration, CHF Solutions, CVRx, Devicix, EnteroMedics, Epitek, Lifecore Biomedical, Lundberg & Woessner, Medica Health Plans, Medtronic, UM Office of Technology Commercialization, Piper Jaffray, Princeton Reimbursement Group, QRS Diagnostic, Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, SightLine Partners, Silicon Valley Bank, St. Jude Medical, SurModics, Thomas McNerney & Partners, United Health Group, Urologix, Venturi Group, and Vital Images.
Student spotlight: Anil Asrani »
Anil Asrani joined the MILI student association (MILIsa) at a time when the founders were still creating the group. He ultimately was elected the group’s first vice president.
Anil Asrani began the Carlson Part Time MBA program in the fall of 2006 after having received his bachelor of science in biology from the College of William and Mary in 1995. Employed for 10 years in clinical research at the Universities of Virginia and Minnesota, Anil published on extracellular matrix proteins and molecular virology relating to HIV, respectively.
While at Carlson he successfully completed his MBA as a Carlson Scholar (graduating in the top 10% of his class of 382 people), led two student groups, was selected to study abroad on the 3M Vienna Seminar via a Carlson Family Foundation scholarship, earned a Medical Industry Specialization, gained critical experience as a consultant for Fortune 500 companies, published three journal articles in his field, and ran his own investment property business. Upon graduation from Carlson in May of 2009, Anil’s involvement in these activities was recognized: he was selected as the Part Time MBA Student of the Year. This honor is bestowed upon one or two individuals from each year’s graduating class for outstanding overall achievement. While attending Carlson, Anil’s interest in MILI’s Medical Industry Specialization grew and he became heavily involved in its coursework as well as its student association (MILIsa). Anil’s best experiences during the specialization were participating in the Medical Technology Evaluation course with Dr. Stephen Parente, where he was able to work for three clients - The Mayo Clinic, UnitedHealth Group, and Medtronic -- to develop medical technologies while learning how to critically evaluate the medical industry’s major stakeholders’ perspectives regarding innovative products and services. During the course, six projects were selected for development, one of which was Anil’s idea. Anil also participated in Carlson’s yearlong New Product Design and Business Development course, where he was the team leader of a cross-functional group that was tasked with developing a new medical device for Medtronic’s cardiovascular division. He worked with another MBA, an MHA, two biomedical engineers, and a mechanical engineer to develop a device that will be launched in 2010. When asked about these courses, Anil said, “There is absolutely no substitute for this kind of hands-on learning and real-world experience; more classes at Carlson could benefit greatly by being taught in this way.”
Anil also joined MILIsa at a time when the founders were still creating the group. He ultimately was elected the group’s first vice president. Together the leaders were able to grow membership from five officers to 220+ members and growing. They also set up a website that offered online chatting capabilities and podcasts of their programming. The programming this year included a town hall-style meeting with medical device entrepreneur Michael Berman, a bi-weekly lunch series featuring a variety of entrepreneurs/leaders in the medical industry, and an open-to-the-public, non-partisan, pre-election Healthcare Policy Panel to inform voters of the candidates’ positions and their effects on key stakeholders in the medical industry. MILIsa currently reaches out to students within and beyond Carlson’s walls for their membership, i.e. students of the Academic Health Center and engineering schools. MILIsa’s mission is best exemplified by the Medtronic Interdisciplinary Healthcare Case Competition that debuted on April 16, 2009 at Carlson, which Anil personally pitched to a senior executive at Medtronic. MILIsa envisions that this competition will not only unite students from disparate programs at the University of Minnesota to learn together, as it did this year, but will quickly grow to include students from other U.S. schools as early as next year. The competition will allow the nation to witness what MILI participants already know: that Carlson is the premier place to get an MBA with a Medical Industry Specialization.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Anil was married in December of 2007 to his best friend, Laura, and is now the proud father of Arabella Grace Asrani, who was born on May 27, 2009. This summer, Anil will also begin his career at Devicix, a medical device design firm located in Eden Prairie, MN, as the Director of Strategic Marketing. Regarding his new career, Anil said, “I just wouldn’t feel confident entering an entirely new field, like the medical device industry, without the comprehensive training and analysis that I was exposed to during my Medical Industry Specialization.”
The Medical Industry Leadership Institute Student Association (MILISA) recently completed its second academic year and continues to pursue its mission of fostering a strong interdisciplinary network of students, faculty, alumni, and industry representatives who share a common passion for the healthcare industry.
Throughout the 2008-09 academic year, MILISA provided a robust array of programming for students interested in the industry. Programming included a variety of executive speaking engagements, the Healthcare Policy Discussion Panel preceding the presidential election, networking events and the extremely successful, first annual Medtronic Interdisciplinary Healthcare Case Competition (MEDIHCC). In addition, the organization provides programming for students by collaborating with other organizations including Life Science Alley, Carlson’s’ Ventures Plus, SPH – Division of Health Policy and Management, the University of St. Thomas, and the Design of Medical Devices Conference.
MILISA recently held its second officer election during which five new officers were elected for the 2009-10 academic year.
* President: Nathan Rajalingam. Nathan is a 2010 MBA candidate currently spending his summer internship at the Target Corporation.
* Vice President of External Relations: Robert John Ed. Robert is a 2010 MBA candidate and is currently employed as an intern in marketing with Boston Scientific.
* Vice President of Internal Relations: Juli Tidwell. Juli is a 2009 MBA candidate and works for the University of Minnesota’s Division of Pediatric Oncology as a regulatory specialist.
* Vice President of Programming: Jason Rusinak. Jason is a 2010 MBA candidate and is working on a project with the Minnesota Nurses Association this summer.
* Vice President of Finance: Andrea Seven. Andrea is a 2010 MBA candidate currently serving as an Education Pioneers Fellow with Chicago Public Schools’ Office of School Turnaround.
The MILISA officers look forward to further engagement with the University and the business community through a variety of medical industry related events that will help to prepare its members for leadership roles in the medical industry.
Through these events and activities, MILISA is committed to establishing its student membership as among the most prepared to enter into new leadership roles in the medical industry. For more information about the group, email milisa@umn.edu.
Student teams in the first Medtronic Interdisciplinary Healthcare Case Competition used collaboration and classroom learning to solve a real-life strategy problem currently faced by the medical device industry. The competition, sponsored by Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT), was held April 17-23 and hosted by the Medical Industry Leadership Institute's student association (www.milisa.org) at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.
Designed to support innovation and leadership in the healthcare and medical device industries, the competition involved graduate students from the University’s Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA), Master of Science in Management of Technology (MOT), and Master of Public Policy (MPP) programs as well as the Law School, Institute of Technology, and Medical School.
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The Medical Industry Leadership Institute puts executives, physicians, students, and academic leaders in touch with the latest trends in the medical industry through MBA education, executive education, research, and market development. The Institute’s student association developed the idea of an interdisciplinary healthcare case competition and gained the financial support of Medtronic as a corporate sponsor of the event.
During this debut competition, eight graduate student teams competed. Composed of three to six members, each team was required to have at least one MBA, one MHA and one MPH student on its roster. Every team had 36 hours to analyze a current business case provided by Medtronic and prepare a presentation. During the first round of presentations, student teams presented their findings to faculty judges from the University of Minnesota. Next, the three top teams moved on to the final round of competition and presented to a panel of Medtronic executives at Medtronic World Headquarters. This year’s winners and their graduate degree programs were:
* First-place team: Eric Henningsen, MBA; Sarah Klawitter, MPH; Kaustubh Patil, MS; Scott Tran, MHA/MBA; Ylan Kazi, MHA; and Niketa Walawalkar, MPH.
* Second-place team: Ryan Chaquette, MHA/MBA; Joseph Pham, MPH; Michelle Sotak, MBA; John Reed, MBA; and Christina Small, MBA.
* Third-place team: Eric Barrette, PhD Health Services Research, Policy & Admin; Kate Bautch, MBA; Katie Tastad, MPH; Varun Garg, MHA; Peter Graven, PhD HPM; and German Mendivil, MBA.
Focus on faculty
Faculty spotlight: Avner Ben-Ner »
Find out about Center for Human Resources and Labor Studies Professor Avner Ben-Ner‘s research on for-profit, nonprofit, or government organizations.
Center for Human Resources and Labor Studies Professor Avner Ben-Ner wonders – would it make a difference whether children go to a for-profit, nonprofit, or government childcare center, elementary school, or college? Would you prefer to place an elderly relative – or end up yourself – in a for-profit, nonprofit, or local government nursing home? Are there significant differences among for-profit, nonprofit, and government organizations in the way in which they are structured, what they produce, and how they produce it? Does organization ownership matter? Ben-Ner has researched this field specifically comparing organizational performance in nonprofit, for-profit, and local government nursing homes in Minnesota. In 2008, Ben-Ner, along with co-principal investigator Pinar Karaca-Mandic from the School of Public Health, was awarded an Institute interdisciplinary grant to study, “Does Ownership Matter in the Selection of Nursing homes? Evidence from Consumer Surveys.”
Ben-Ner’s research interests focus on:
* structure and performance in for-profit, nonprofit, and government organizations,
* human resource management and firm performance,
* the role of identity, personality, cognitive ability, ethics and values, and of social, religious, and cultural influences on trust and cooperation, behavior and organizational design,
* the place of for-profit, nonprofit, and government sectors in the new economy.
Ben-Ner is also currently working with Darla Flint on a project evaluating the effects of working on a treadmill while working on job performance. This is a project initiated by James Levine, professor and doctor at the Mayo Clinic. Levine is a leading researcher of NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis) the calories people burn doing everyday activities such as standing, walking, or even fidgeting. Levine and his team developed an alternative to the traditional cubicle – workstations that combine computer, desk, and treadmill into one unit. They have also implemented other ways to keep people moving while at work.
Professor Avner Ben-Ner has been a professor in the Carlson School’s department of human resources and industrial relations since 1988. He received his PhD and MA in economics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
* Stephen Parente testified before the Congressional Subcommittee on Health's hearing on comprehensive health reform, Tuesday, June 23, 2009. He was a member of the panel on health reform coalition views.
* On April 10, 2009, Murray Frank was interviewed for the Minnesota Public Radio Story, "Some stimulus funds might land in unexpected places."
* Stephen Parente was quoted in the June 19, 2009 Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel article, "President pressing health care overhaul."
* Dahl D, Sengupta J, and Vohs KD. 2009. “Sex in Advertising: Gender Differences and the Role of Relationship Commitment.” Journal of Consumer Research 36: electronically published January 9, 2009.
* Stephen Parente's research was mentioned in the April 23rd Business Week article, "The Dubious Promise of Digital Medicine: GE, Google, and others, in a stimulus-fueled frenzy, are piling into the business. But electronic health records have a dubious history."
* O'Connor PJ, Sperl-Hillen JM, Johnson P, Rush WA, Asche S, Dutta P, and Blitz G. 2009. “Simulated physician learning intervention to improve safety and quality of diabetes care: a randomized trial.” Diabetes Care 32 (4): 585-590.
* Stephen Parente's interstate health insurance market research was mentioned in the April 9, 2009 New York Times article, "Op-Ed Contributor: The Misguided Quest for Universal Coverage."
* Stephen Parente was quoted in the Minneapolis Star Tribune article, "Hospitals forced to become bill collectors" on April 1, 2009.
* The March 11, 2009, Science Centric article, "U of Minnesota Researchers Examine the Value of Health Information Technology" quoted research done by Stephen Parente.
* Zhang Y, Sweet RM, Metzger GJ, Burke D, Erdman AG, and Timm GW. 2009. “Advanced finite element mesh model of female SUI research during physical and daily activities.” Stud. Health Technol. Inform. 142: 447-452.
* Stephen Parente was quoted on March 10, 2009 on the FOX-TV story, "Study: Health IT Doesn't Help Patient Safety"
* Stephen Parente was part of a national panel of experts debating the creation of a Federal Health Board to improve the country’s healthcare system. The panel, which was organized by the Medical Banking Project and the Mayo Clinic Health Policy Center, met at the Seventh National Medical Banking Institute March 12 in Nashville, Tenn. The debate can be viewed at: www.mbproject.org/stream.php
* Schmeichel BJ, and Vohs KD. 2009. “Self-Affirmation and Self-Control: Affirming Core Values Counteracts Ego Depletion.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 96 (4): 770-782.
* Stephen Parente was interviewed on MPR for the story, "Obama sets his sights on health care." on March 3, 2009. He also participated in an MPR broadcast on October 27, 2008, "Health care reform lost to wider economic concerns?"
* Stephen Parente was quoted in the February 25, 2009 Minneapolis Star Tribune article, "HSAs catching on."
* O'Connor PJ, Sperl-Hillen JM, Johnson P, Rush WA, and Crain A. 2009. “Customized feedback to patients and providers failed to improve safety or quality of diabetes care: A randomized trial.” Diabetes Care ahead of print online publishing date 4/14/09.
* Parente ST, and McCullough JS. 2009. “Health information technology and patient safety: evidence from panel data.” Health Aff. (Millwood.) 28 (2): 357-360.
* Parente ST. 2009. “Health Information Technology and Financing's Next Frontier: The Potential of Medical Banking.” Business Economics 44 (1): 41-50.
* Zhang Y, Kim S, Erdman AG, Roberts KP, and Timm GW. 2009. “Feasibility of Using a Computer Modeling Approach to Study SUI Induced by Landing a Jump” Ann. Biomed. Eng.
Alumni & Friends
Alumni spotlight: Major Matthew Tarjick »
Matthew Tarjick, 2008 MBA is a major in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps. Currently, he serves as the chief financial officer and business division chief for the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity at Fort Meade, Maryland. Matt served on active duty for eight years prior to entering the Carlson School of Management’s MBA program.
Matthew Tarjick, 2008 MBA is a major in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps. Currently, he serves as the chief financial officer and business division chief for the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity at Fort Meade, Maryland. Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Clinic is the parent medical facility to three subordinate Army clinics and over 10 outlying support clinics, providing primary care to over 40,000 active duty service members and their families, military retirees, and 200 Warriors in Transition. In this role, Matt oversees all resourcing decisions, including budget and accounting responsibilities, pursuing venture capital funding, conducting business case analysis to determine the feasibility of new initiatives, third party collections, and supporting the strategic direction of the medical activity.
Matt served on active duty for eight years prior to entering the Carlson School of Management’s MBA program. Prior to Carlson, Matt was a company commander on two separate occasions, a platoon leader in the 82nd Airborne Division to include a combat tour in Afghanistan, and Assistant Chief of Operations on the 82nd Airborne Division G-3 staff. While at the Carlson School, Matt pursued a broad spectrum of courses in entrepreneurship, medical industry leadership, finance, and marketing. “My aim was to take the courses that I was most interested in, rather than the courses that fulfilled a specific area of concentration. The Army values well-rounded leaders.”
Following graduation from the full time program in May 2008, Matt began a one-year Health Services Comptroller Internship program at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. At the conclusion of the internship program, Matt successfully passed his oral boards to become a board certified Health Services Comptroller.
Ultimately, Matt intends to serve on active duty for at least 20 years, progressing to CFO of an inpatient facility, followed by an Army Medical Center, and then as a Deputy Commander for Administration (Chief of Staff) and, ultimately, as Hospital Commander (CEO).
Beyond his Army career, Matt and his wife, Dr. Angela Tarjick, DC also opened a chiropractic and natural care center in Edgewater, Maryland. There, he serves as the director of business operations. “My Carlson education prepared me well to function as a leader in both organizations. On the one hand, I am the CFO of a $100M+ organization and on the other hand, I handle the finance, accounting, marketing, external relationships, HR functions, and anywhere else I am needed for a start-up business. It’s been challenging, yet extremely rewarding. It’s amazing to see our vision and elements of our business plan become a reality.”
In addition to being a MILI affiliate, Matt is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the American Society of Military Comptrollers. Because Matt lives in Maryland, it is difficult to remain active in MILI. However, whenever possible, Matt continues to work with students by discussing career options and professional development opportunities. If you would like to contact Matt, feel free to email him at mtarjick@gmail.com.
Give to the Institute »
Alumni and friends of the Carlson School of Management support the mission of both the school and the Institute in many ways—by mentoring students, volunteering time with faculty and staff, and by contributing financially.
Alumni and friends of the Carlson School of Management support the mission of both the school and the Institute in many ways—by mentoring students, volunteering time with faculty and staff, and by contributing financially. The Carlson School relies on more than 3,000 benefactors annually.
You can also support the mission of the Institute by assisting financially with your contribution. There are three main areas of need and your financial support would make a positive impact in the success and growth of the Institute. Below are areas where gifts are needed most:
* Program Support Fund (# 5295): General operating costs: contributions provide the necessary flexible funds to support daily operations needed to maintain key initiatives.
* Research Support Fund (#3609): General research expenses: contributions provide funds for the Institute’s interdisciplinary grant awards program as well as further its research portfolio.
* MILI Discovery Fund (#6087): Experiential learning support of the course - Medical Industry Valuation
Laboratory: contributions provide funds for initiatives and educational experiences that facilitate market valuations of new innovations for the medical industry, and enhance the potential to bring new technologies to market.
There are many areas of need and many ways for friends and alumni to make a positive impact on the school today and into the future.