Sai Sravanthi Palakodety

University of Arizona, Eller College of Management

“Accomplished physician leader managing complex clinical problems while providing outstanding patient care focusing on patient safety and quality improvement.”

Age: 40

Hometown: Phoenix, AZ

Fun fact about yourself: I am a trained dancer and love to choreograph a “flash mob.”

Undergraduate School and Degree: Gandhi Medical College, University of Alabama School of Medicine at Huntsville, Alabama.

Where are you currently working? Hospitalist at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, Glendale, Arizona

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Being a physician, every opportunity to make my patients feel better is an achievement. My most recent achievement is an MVP award at Banner on behalf of the entire senior operations team: “For providing outstanding care to patients and unwavering support to fellow hospitalists while modeling professionalism, dedication, teamwork, and compassion necessary to collaborate as a true team player with a singular focus on high quality and safe patient care.” This award is exceptionally dear to me as it encompasses every effort, I put into the Banner health system to provide safe patient care.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? My most important reason for selecting the Eller Online MBA program is that it is one of the highest-ranking programs in the United States. I was impressed by its rigorous curriculum and Health Care and Entrepreneurship concentrations catering to my field.

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? My favorite part of the online MBA program is the flexibility it offers. Being a mom of two active boys, ages 7 and 4, and a full-time hospitalist, I have a hectic schedule. However, I could pace myself with the courses and did not have to compromise my family time. Also, this online MBA program served as a platform for meeting people from various backgrounds and professions with different insights. This experience helped me learn and grow as a person.

What was the most surprising thing about an online learning environment? Initially, I was unsure how an online learning environment would work. But I was surprised at how well I could connect with professors and students and work in teams despite being in different time zones. I was able to meet wonderful and supportive friends in the process.

How did your online experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? The online experience was almost on par with the in-classroom experience. However, at times, I had to wait for clarification for a few hours, which was not too inconvenient.

What is your best advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? I loved the “Ask the Instructor” forum, which would be able to reach the instructor for any questions or clarifications directly. My best advice to thrive in an online program is to connect with the professor through Ask the Instructor and seek one-on-one time to understand complex concepts. Also, working in small groups helped me understand concepts better.

What would you change about an online MBA Program? During the pandemic, online programs worked out well. However, I recommend having student get-togethers every quarter to incorporate the human touch. These get-togethers would help local students have a face-to-face and improve the camaraderie between university students.

How has your online education helped you in your current job? The Online MBA program helped my communication skills and gave me a broader understanding of business principles. Healthcare concentration classes such as healthcare quality, Health economics, and healthcare management were instrumental for me to comprehend the current healthcare market trends. 

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? I did not earn a promotion while in the program. However, this program laid the foundation for my future goal of having my own healthcare business and opened avenues for healthcare administrator jobs.

Why did you pursue an online MBA program instead of a full-time residential program? The online MBA program has flexible hours and recorded lectures. It can be paced based on my schedule. I could still spend time with my family on the weekends and evenings.

Number of Hours Per Week Spent on an Online MBA: 10-25 hours depending on the course

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? As mentioned earlier, my ultimate long-term professional goal is to start a healthcare business and be a physician healthcare entrepreneur. 

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