Dylan Michel

Indiana University, Kelley School of Business

“Proven healthcare leader driven to make my family, my community, and the world healthier.”

Hometown: Monrovia, Indiana

Fun Fact About Yourself: My spouse and I have one young son and are expecting our second child in early January. So, I will have two kids under two years old to start my second semester of the program!

Undergraduate School and Major:

Undergraduate: Indiana University, Exercise Science

Graduate: University of Indianapolis, Doctor of Physical Therapy

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Bull City Physical Therapy, Clinic Director and Physical Therapist

In the second half of the year, you will be completing an Academy devoted to areas like Marketing, Finance, Operations, Digital Enterprises and more. Which Academy interests you the most and why? Both the Consumer Marketing Academy (CMA) and Business Marketing Academy (BMA) interest me, but the BMA is my top choice. The appeal of B2B marketing lies in its fewer clients, larger transactions, and longer-duration relationships compared to consumer marketing. Additionally, the BMA has an excellent track record for placements in the Life Sciences for internships and employment.

Furthermore, I plan to complete the PLUS Life Sciences Academy in my second year. This academy provides an opportunity to learn from industry leaders in healthcare consulting, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and biotech. It also includes healthcare-specific consulting projects, which are perfect for developing further industry-specific experience.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Indiana Kelley’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I plan to major in marketing, and Kelley’s reputation for marketing excellence was a major selling point for me. Additionally, Kelley’s Pre-MBA “Me, Inc.” program provides an intense period of reflection and coaching aimed at building your brand and learning to tell your unique story effectively to employers. As I was considering an MBA, the recruiting process seemed ambiguous and intimidating, but after learning about Me, Inc., I was confident I would be set up for success at Kelley.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Indiana Kelley? Healthcare Club excites me the most because I am enthusiastic about building relationships with other classmates who are passionate about tackling the complex problems in healthcare. Dr. Asa Palley’s Intro to Spreadsheet Modeling is the course I am looking forward to the most based on high praise from students and the practical usefulness for solving business problems faced in my internship and career.

Looking at your recruitment, what was the moment when you realized Indiana Kelley was the right program for you? Why? During Experience Weekend in Bloomington, I spent the whole weekend talking with students, staff, and professors. It quickly became clear that everyone loved it at Kelley, and by the end of the weekend, I found myself loving it too. That’s when I realized I wanted to spend my next two years at Kelley. If you are considering Kelley, I highly recommend a campus visit to see all the program has to offer—you won’t regret it.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: As a first-generation student, earning my Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) was my greatest personal accomplishment. This degree has allowed me to help many patients live healthier, pain-free lives.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2026? Why? My unique quality is my ability to listen and understand. As a practicing physical therapist, I spent most of my day listening to patients, asking thoughtful questions to dive deeper into their experiences, and adjusting my care plans based on their feedback. Business requires similar skills: listening to classmates’ or co-workers’ insights, asking strategic questions to better understand customers’ needs, and implementing feedback effectively. Leveraging these skills, I intend to foster collaboration and cohesion within my teams, thereby elevating the collective potential of my classmates and teammates and achieving optimal outcomes for stakeholders.

DON’T MISS: MEET INDIANA KELLEY’S MBA CLASS OF 2026