Dr. Mohan V. Belthur

University of Arizona, Eller College of Management

“Compassionate pediatric orthopedic leader blending holistic care, lifelong learning, scholarship, humility and curiosity to transform children’s lives.”

Age: 59 years

Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am a 1st‑degree black belt in the South Korean martial art, Tang Soo Do and teach this martial art at the Center for Humane Living, Phoenix, AZ.

Undergraduate School and Degree:

• MBBS, Bangalore Medical College & Affiliated Hospitals, India
• MS (Orthopedic Surgery), Seth GS Medical College/KEM Hospital, Mumbai
• DNB (Orthopedic Surgery), National Board of Examinations, India
• FRCS (Trauma & Orthopedic Surgery), Royal College of Surgeons, Glasgow, UK
• FRCSC (Trauma & orthopedic Surgery), Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada, Ottawa, Canada
• FABOS, Fellow American Board of Orthopedic Surgery
• FAAOS, Fellow American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
• MS in Clinical Translational Science, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ
• MBA, Eller College of Management, University of Arizona, AZ

Where are you currently working?

Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, USA
Director, Pediatric Limb Reconstruction Program
Medical Director, Bubba Watson & Ping Human Motion Analysis Laboratory
Clinical Professor of Orthopedics, Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ

Associate Professor, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am a proud husband and father who has built a career defined by global pediatric orthopedic leadership, including more than 100 peer‑reviewed publications, 20 book chapters, and 2 textbooks, while advancing care for children with musculoskeletal problems. I also serve on the boards of two nonprofit organizations and volunteer with AO Alliance to bring orthopedic knowledge to LMIC countries, demonstrating my commitment to global health equity.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? I value the Eller OMBA program because it offers the flexibility and asynchronous structure I need to balance a demanding clinical, academic, and leadership career. The program’s case‑based, applied learning approach aligns closely with the principles of adult learning and modern pedagogy, allowing me to integrate concepts immediately into my work as a surgeon, educator, and leader. This combination of autonomy, relevance, and real‑world application makes the learning deeply meaningful and professionally transformative.

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? The ability to integrate coursework immediately into my leadership roles—faculty development, clinical program direction, medical education, and global health initiatives—while maintaining flexibility for clinical, academic, and family commitments.

How did your online MBA experience compare with your classroom undergraduate experience? My undergraduate and medical training were traditional, classroom‑based programs in India and the UK. In contrast, the online MBA offers greater autonomy, flexibility, and self‑directed learning, aligning with my values of perseverance, resilience, and lifelong learning.

How has your online MBA education helped you in your current job? It has strengthened my leadership, strategy, and organizational management skills while providing me with the frameworks, and the executive, people‑centered, and boundary‑spanning capabilities, necessary to grow into a truly transformative leader. This directly supports my roles as Surgical Director, Researcher, Medical Educator, and Co‑Chair of Faculty Development.

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? I already hold senior leadership roles (Medical Director, Professor, Course Director & Chair of Faculty Development). The MBA enhances my trajectory toward broader institutional and global leadership.

Why did you pursue an online MBA instead of a Full‑Time Residential or Executive MBA program? My demanding clinical, academic, and global health responsibilities require a program with true flexibility and an asynchronous structure that does not compromise rigor—making the online format the ideal fit.

What is one way your business school has integrated ai into your programming? What insights did you gain? Eller has meaningfully integrated AI into the OMBA learning experience, and I have used AI tools to enhance case analysis, improve writing clarity, and accelerate data synthesis—mirroring my broader commitment to integrating technology into clinical care, research, and education. Through this experience, I gained valuable insights into how AI provides faster access to high‑quality information, supports more efficient decision‑making, and allows me to check my work against grading rubrics to ensure alignment with course expectations. These tools have strengthened my ability to learn deliberately, refine my thinking, and elevate the quality of my academic and leadership work.

Number of hours per week spent on an Online MBA: Typically, it is about 20 hours per week, balancing coursework with surgery, teaching, research, and leadership duties.

What Is your ultimate long‑term professional goal? To be a visionary, trustworthy, and transformative leader who advances global pediatric musculoskeletal health and ensures that all children, regardless of background, receive compassionate, holistic, family‑centered care.

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