Harbert’s Oprandy named to national medical advisory committee

The American Medical Association (AMA) tapped an Auburn University expert as one of only four non-physicians to serve on a specially convened advisory committee exploring ways for medical professionals to better navigate the business of practicing medicine.

Frank Oprandy, executive director of Graduate Executive Programs at Auburn’s Harbert College of Business, leads the school’s highly ranked Physicians Executive MBA (PEMBA), Executive MBA (EMBA) and Master of Real Estate Development programs.

Harbert's PEMBA program is tailored to practicing physicians, preparing them to manage the business of healthcare and move into positions of leadership. It offers the flexibility of online courses blended with short on-campus residencies; a learning model preferred by many busy physicians.

Serving on the AMA Business of Medicine Advisory Committee, Oprandy joins an impressive group of only 11 doctors and distinguished faculty leaders from across the nation, charged with a new mission to solve an old problem.

“I first became aware of this need when I worked in healthcare,” Oprandy said. “My work in healthcare operations, supply chain, finance and process optimization opened my eyes to the fact that there was a difference between physicians who knew the business side of things and those who were not as well versed in it.”

His selection to the committee is a noteworthy reflection on the PEMBA program, Oprandy said. “I think it says a lot about the positive reputation Auburn and the Harbert College of Business have for educating physicians that we were asked to interview for a seat on this committee. I think it gives us an opportunity to hear the insights of other thought leaders, both in the physician ranks as well as the higher education ranks, given the makeup of this advisory board.”

The AMA conducted an analysis of the business education landscape for physicians and “found a growing demand for curriculum that helps physicians better manage the financial aspects of practicing medicine, take on leadership roles in their practice settings, and address root causes of burnout,” it reported. 

The challenges affect physicians across all career stages, practice settings and specialties, according to the AMA, which is calling for flexible learning formats that translate business concepts into the health care setting and are directly relevant to physicians' daily practice. 

Oprandy sees Auburn’s program moving in the right direction to help with these issues.

“I would like to see Auburn's Physician Executive MBA program be the go-to program for physicians and other healthcare providers who are eager to transform what is widely considered to be a struggling healthcare system,” he said. “With the help of our alumni, we will continue to advance the message that Auburn's program equips members of the healthcare team with the knowledge, resources and network that is helping them to make a difference in the organizations and in the communities they serve.”

A New Jersey native, Oprandy joined Auburn’s faculty in 2010. Earlier in his Harbert career, he established and led Graduate Career Services, which provides career search and professional development support for the college’s full-time and online MBA programs, specialty master’s degrees and graduate executive programs.

He is a Fulbright recipient and holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the United States Military Academy and an MBA (EMBA) and PhD in industrial and systems engineering from the Ginn College of Engineering at Auburn.

Oprandy also served for more than five years as a commissioned officer and helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army, deploying with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

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Learn more about the Harbert College of Business Physicians Executive MBA program.