“As a child I had a doctor’s kit and stethoscope,” said Jasiewicz. “I pursued the direction in which I had the passion to go.” No career interested Brad Bunten more than one in medicine. “Our next-door neighbor growing up was a radiologist,” said Bunten. “I remember him telling me that if I wanted to be a doctor, I would need to do well in school. My neighbor’s advice helped prepare me for the challenges of a medical career by teaching me that hard work and an interest in lifelong learning are necessary for success as a physician.” Today, Jasiewicz and Bunten are not just anesthesiologists; they are Medical Corps Officers of the U.S. Navy, and recent graduates of Harbert College’s Physicians Executive MBA program. They graduated with 31 other doctors on May 2 in an award-winning program that gives physicians an opportunity to earn a fully accredited MBA. Harbert’s PEMBA program was the top-ranked physicians-only MBA program for the past four years, according to Modern Healthcare. The 21-month program, which blends five on-campus residencies with contemporary use of software platform discussions and lectures, allows students to explore such topics as business ethics, organizational leadership and change, financial analysis, advanced business law and strategic analysis, amongst others while continuing their commitment to their careers. “The Auburn PEMBA program fit all of the criteria I was looking for in an MBA program,” said Bunten, a Philadelphia native who manages the Navy’s Surgical Services Product Line at the Defense Health Headquarters in Washington, D.C. “I had decided on an executive MBA in order to combine both an in residence experience with a remote educational curriculum. No other program offered the PEMBA cohort with the degree of quality offered at Auburn. The education offered through the PEMBA program has already impacted my career by opening the door to my present position.” Jasiewicz, a Navy veteran of 16 years, is on faculty at Stony Brook Medicine in New York.   Having been a member on congenital cardiac surgery teams in developing countries, training active duty resident physicians, and mentoring student physicians, the anesthesiologist believes the “focus towards health care, integrated strategy, and leadership” was an attribute of the program. But the praises didn’t end there. “It’s a manageable program that gives the dedicated individual the business education and skill set that’s needed to go forward,” he said. “Between the distance learning that helps facilitate the program and being able to continue a full-time career, in addition to having the health care focus amongst all of the other business courses, it has all of the elements and attributes of an competitive MBA program, which is appropriate for (physician) leadership.” Jasiewicz, who spent much of his Naval career in San Diego and received his medical degree from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, noted that the class’s camaraderie, networking and “comparing notes with other physicians from different states” was an added benefit.  “The program has given me the understanding of business analytics integration that not only pertains to healthcare, but also applies to being effective and competitive in the global market.” Studying alongside a fellow military officer had its benefits.  “We worked together in our Competitive Strategy course and then a team business plan that was a collaborative effort,” said Jasiewicz, who said he envisions leadership opportunities in the health care sector and potentially beyond. “Brad was the first team member I recruited for the business plan group project.  We have similar backgrounds and strong skill sets. It worked out well, for two classmates who did not know each other prior.” Bunten, whose career has been split between emergency medicine and anesthesiology, has served in hospitals in Afghanistan. He said the program helped “hone my analytical skills.” “Whether it be assessing one of my operating rooms for efficiency, looking through a prospectus for an investment, or developing process improvement projects, my ability to assess the salient points of an issue and to effectively articulate my position has greatly increased,” said Bunten, who earned his MD at George Washington. “My skills as a physician have been used in more ways than I could have ever imagined. Travelling to foreign lands to take part in humanitarian missions, deployments to warzones, and training health care professionals in operational medicine are just some of the alternative clinical experiences I have enjoyed.   I also derive a great deal of satisfaction from teaching and mentoring high school, college, and medical students.” Now he has a business degree to complement his medical experience.