Meet the Michigan Ross MBA Class of 2019

Daniel Semaan  

University of Michigan, Stephen M. Ross School of Business  

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: A passionate MD/MBA dual degree student excited to enhance healthcare delivery through operations and entrepreneurship.

Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI

Fun Fact About Yourself: Evacuated by US navy aircraft carrier flanked by two Destroyers during the 2006 Lebanon War

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Michigan- B.S. Biochemistry

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Owner of Daniel’s Scholarly Tutoring

Current Medical Student at the University of Michigan

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I am proud to have helped create the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Path of Excellence “Minor” at the University of Michigan Medical School with 56 medical students currently enrolled. In recent decades, much of medical innovation and problem solving has occurred through providers facing daily problems until industry partners create a solution. These solutions can take several years to enter the market or are not pursued due to weak expected return on investment, often leading to increased provider frustration and slow progress in medicine. This 4-year longitudinal experience arms future physicians with the training and tools to become invaluable physician innovators who will undoubtedly change what it means to deliver exceptional care.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? 

1. Writing essays is an iterative process. I know many applicants, including myself, found it especially difficult to start writing the essays, but it is helpful to remember a draft is just that. Get your ideas down on a document and leave the re-working to later steps. Down the road, make sure to have friends who are gifted writers provide feedback on your essays.
2. Preparation is key for the interview. Make sure to mock interview a couple of times with friends who will be critical of your responses and body language. Additionally, recording yourself delivering interview responses can also help you learn about and solve any nervous habits or distracting body language.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? Although I explored a few other top business schools, I ultimately realized Ross provides a wide variety of unique, hands-on experiences. The 7-week Multidisciplinary Action Projects (MAP) course is essentially a pre-summer internship with other Rossers at companies and organizations all over the world. The projects are designed to help you develop skills and improve on weaknesses through real world experiences, subsequently better preparing you for future positions. In addition, it can be the perfect, low-risk opportunity to explore a different industry.

For those who are interested in evaluating and funding startups, the Wolverine Venture Fund, Social Venture Fund, and Commercialization Fund each provide different insight into a venture capitalist career. Lastly, one of the most exciting offerings by Ross is the Crisis Challenge. Participating in this 24-hr crisis simulation gives students firsthand experience into handling stressful, time-sensitive situations that company executives must often navigate. After learning more about these curricular and extracurricular offerings on interview day, l knew that I would leave Ross with a well-rounded education that prepared me to successfully navigate my future.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? I am hoping to accomplish multiple goals by the end of my first year.  1. I plan to recruit for healthcare consulting and would like to secure an internship that deepens my understanding of how the 4 pillars of healthcare intersect. 2. Learning and applying the due diligence process for evaluating new and established companies through one of the venture funds. 3. Better understanding of the entrepreneurship cycle and being able to use that knowledge toward improving the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Path of Excellence being offered at the medical school 4. Developing my network at Ross, across campus at other graduate schools, and being involved in inter-professional projects. 5. Helping to move hospital operation projects forward in the UM Emergency Department regarding consults and admissions workflow.