Edgar Y. Chou

Drexel University Online MBA Program

“Empathetic, thoughtful, passionate, respectful, practical, patient, loyal, creative, principled, collaborative, self-motivated, open-minded, life-long learner, analytical, and data-driven.”

Age: 48

Hometown: Bryn Mawr, PA

Fun fact about yourself: Made my first sale to a gear-making company to place their paper order manual to an online website in 1995 (when the internet was still in the world of the dial-up-modem).

Undergraduate School and Degree: Cornell University, BA; Yale University, MS; New York Medical College, MD; Internship/Residency: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Where are you currently working? Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Director of Care Progression Analytics

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I was named Chief Value Officer, where I oversaw the quality and informatics activities of my prior health care organization and worked with teams in delivering value-based approaches to healthcare.  I was able to expand my impact not just to the individual patients I cared for, but also the caregivers delivering the care and the overall health of our patient population.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? Drexel offered a generous tuition-remission program. Having been able to participate in research and educational projects with LeBow College of Business faculty, I knew I would obtain a solid business education through the school’s curriculum.

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? The flexibility and ability to learn at your own pace. We are two full-time working parents needing to shuttle children to their activities. This made participating in a face-to-face weekly class and the ability to work long weekends for an executive MBA program not practical.

What was the most surprising thing about an online learning environment? Platforms such as Zoom, Blackboard, and Google Hangouts allow for that personal and social interaction that is still essential to any educational experience.

How did your online experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? In reality, the lack of social interaction was not that different from large introductory classes, where you would file into the auditorium, take your notes, and file out. At least with online learning, you determine the time that works best for you (instead of half falling asleep and then needing to review the recorded lecture later).

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? Be disciplined in scheduling your studies and apply your learnings to your workplace. By planning around your work schedule, you can still maximize your learning and contribute to performing well at work.

What would you change about an online MBA Program? Despite being online, Drexel still offered in-person residency programs in the curriculum. These were courses that were offered through extended weekends, providing that nice balance of social interaction and meeting fellow classmates with the experiential curriculum. I support continuing to make this available.

How has your online education helped you in your current job? I have a business analytics concentration that supports my informatics activities towards data analysis and has been able to apply my education on leadership, communication, and teams towards my work.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? Chief Medical Officer of either a large health care organization or a medical company focused on delivering solutions for high-value care.

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