Jorge F. Urquiaga

Penn State Online MBA

“Neurosurgeon blending clinical excellence, leadership, and business strategy to transform healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.”

Age: 35

Hometown: Lima, Peru

Fun fact about yourself: I completed my MBA while simultaneously completing neurosurgery residency, considered the most grueling medical training. I graduated from both this year.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia – Doctor of Medicine (MD)

Where are you currently working? SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital – Neurosurgery Chief Resident

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career: I am most proud of matching into neurosurgery in the United States as an international medical graduate. Neurosurgery is among the most competitive medical specialties, and international applicants represent only a tiny fraction of matched candidates each year. Earning a position in this field was deeply meaningful to me, not only personally, but also as an opportunity to represent my country and medical school at the highest level of surgical training. At the same time, I completed an MBA while undergoing neurosurgical residency training, widely regarded as medicine’s most rigorous path. Balancing both experiences simultaneously challenged me to grow not only as a physician, but also as a leader and strategic thinker. Balancing both successfully has given me a profound sense of gratitude and fulfillment.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? I chose Penn State’s online MBA program because of its outstanding reputation, not only overall, but specifically for the strength and quality of its online platform. As a neurosurgery resident, I needed a program that offered true asynchronous flexibility, allowing me to balance coursework with the unpredictable demands of neurosurgical training, including overnight call, emergency surgeries, and prolonged operative cases. In addition, the ability to pursue a concentration in health care business made the program especially appealing. It allowed me to directly connect business principles with the operational and strategic challenges of modern healthcare. Altogether, the program provided the ideal combination of academic excellence, flexibility, and relevance to my career goals.

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? My favorite part of the online MBA program was being able to work with people from all over the country and from completely different career paths than mine. This mix of perspectives constantly pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to think outside the box. It also helped me bring ideas and strategies from other industries back into my own medical training and practice, which made the experience especially practical and impactful.

How did your online MBA experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? The biggest difference was the flexibility to work from anywhere at any time, which is unmatched compared to my undergraduate in-person experience. As someone who can spend 100+ hours in the hospital during certain weeks of neurosurgery training, the online format gave me full control over when I engaged with coursework. It allowed me to adapt learning around an unpredictable clinical schedule without sacrificing other professional or personal commitments, which would not have been possible in a traditional classroom setting.

How has your online MBA education helped you in your current job? My MBA education has been extremely impactful in my current role. In particular, I have strengthened my people management skills, learning how to motivate team members, gain buy-in for plans, and navigate conflict effectively. These skills have been invaluable in a field like neurosurgery, where outcomes are highly dependent on seamless teamwork and communication across multidisciplinary teams. The MBA gave me practical tools to function more effectively not just as a clinician, but as a leader within my team.

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? There are no formal promotions within residency training. However, I do believe that completing an MBA while in residency was a meaningful differentiator during the fellowship application process. It demonstrated a broader commitment to leadership, systems thinking, and healthcare beyond clinical training, and I am confident it contributed to my acceptance into a top spine surgery fellowship program in the country.

Why did you pursue an online MBA program instead of a full-time residential or executive MBA program?
I pursued an online MBA instead of a full-time residential or executive program because of the unique demands of my neurosurgery residency training. My clinical responsibilities often include unpredictable schedules, overnight call, emergent surgeries, and cases that extend far beyond planned hours, making it impossible to commit to a structured in-person program. The online format provided the flexibility and asynchronous structure I needed to fully engage in a rigorous MBA curriculum without compromising my medical training. It allowed me to remain fully present in my clinical responsibilities while still advancing my education in business and management. This balance was essential, and it made the online format the only realistic option for me to pursue both paths at the level of commitment they each require.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? It was interesting to begin the MBA at a time when AI tools were rapidly becoming part of everyday work and learning. I was able to see how Penn State’s online MBA program adapted thoughtfully in real time, introducing tailored AI policies across courses that varied by assignment type. This approach demonstrated both flexibility and foresight, acknowledging that AI is a transformative tool that will increasingly shape all aspects of professional life. Experiencing this in evolution firsthand gave me valuable perspective on how institutions can responsibly integrate emerging technology into learning and practice.

Number of Hours Per Week Spent on an Online MBA: 10-12 hours on average per class.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? Ultimately, I aim to become a leader in my field who drives meaningful improvements in surgical care and overall healthcare delivery for neurosurgical patients. My long-term goal is to serve in a role such as chair of a neurosurgery department at an academic institution, where I can help shape clinical care, education, and system-level improvements. In addition, I want to leverage my business education to work closely with healthcare administrators and industry leaders to help guide innovation and support the adoption of new technologies in a way that meaningfully improves patient care and system efficiency.

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