Transforming Healthcare Leaders: The Milestone of Isenberg's 1,000th AAPL Graduate

This past summer marked a significant milestone for Isenberg’s partnership with the American Association of Physician Leaders (AAPL):  The 1,000th AAPL member graduated from Isenberg’s Online MBA program.

Soon after the launch of its Online MBA in 2001, Isenberg formed a partnership with the American Association of Physician Leaders (known as the American College of Physician Executives until 2014), an organization that prepares medical professionals to be effective leaders in healthcare services. 

MaryBeth Kimball, director of new business development and administration for professional programs at Isenberg and the dedicated advisor for AAPL students, began working with students early in the existence of the Online MBA program. She remembers the early days of the AAPL partnership. 

“In the beginning, many students had never completed a course asynchronously online, and they were concerned about their learning experience,” she says, recalling questions asked by prospective students during information sessions she hosted. “We instantly put that to rest, because we were teaching the same core curriculum, the same courses, and using many of the same faculty as our bricks-and-mortar programs.” She had faculty members speak to prospective students as well. “Our faculty went above and beyond to make sure students felt comfortable with the new platform.”

Coupled with confidence in the program’s high quality, the flexibility of online learning was exactly what many medical professionals needed, says Dr. Peter Angood, AAPL President and CEO. “Isenberg has a unique approach to physician leadership and the commitment to helping create significant change in healthcare by providing crucially important educational programs and an advanced degree to physicians who aspire to lead. The American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL) has been equally committed to this philosophy for 50 years, and it is a privilege for AAPL to have been a partner with the Isenberg School for so many years. Celebrating the achievement of 1,000 AAPL/Isenberg MBA graduates is an outstanding achievement for the school, and the healthcare industry is that much better as a result.”

In 2001, Brigadier General (Ret.) Robert Enzenauer, MD, MPH, '08 MBA was a junior professor in ophthalmology, looking to advance his civilian medical career, having also served in the military in a variety of medical roles. He was intending to pursue graduate studies at a different institution when the terrorist attacks of September 11 unfolded. “I switched to UMass Amherst, with the excellent guidance of MaryBeth Kimball, mainly because I could participate asynchronously, totally online, and didn't require in-person attendance,” he says. Dr. Enzenauer continued his studies while serving numerous deployments as a battalion surgeon and flight surgeon in Afghanistan and Iraq. “MaryBeth was a great help in organizing my course load, especially when I was deployed, and Isenberg was incredibly flexible when it was very hard based on combat actions and connectivity concerns.” Immediately after earning his MBA in 2008, Dr. Enzenauer was appointed Chief of Pediatric Ophthalmology at Children's Hospital Colorado. He also served as Brigadier General and Assistant Adjutant General for Space and Missile Defense, Colorado Army National Guard, before his retirement from the military in 2016.

Gary Josephson, MD, ’09 MBA is a pediatric otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat) specialist in Jacksonville, Florida. He especially appreciated the quality and flexibility of the online learning experience. “The Isenberg faculty were amazing,” he says. “They were available at after-hour sessions, through e-mail, and on the phone.  As a physician, I enjoyed being in groups with others both in and out of the medical field that offered a real-world experience.”  

Kimball confirms that a significant amount of new student enrollment and matriculation is due to referrals from our Isenberg MBA alumni. “Overall, what created this success was the demand of students who need maximum flexibility and an asynchronous platform,” she says. “But the biggest factor of our success is our faculty. They deserve the credit because of their creativity and dedication to students—our program is what it is today because of them.”

“At Isenberg, in our partnership with AAPL, we have long recognized that the effective delivery of healthcare services requires leadership and management expertise,” notes Nikunj Kapadia, associate dean of Isenberg’s graduate programs. “We are proud to note that our physician graduates are not only experts in the field of medicine, but also leaders who drive innovation within the industry. There's 1,000 physicians with Isenberg MBAs improving healthcare and how hospitals are run across the country.”

Click here to learn more about the benefits offered to physicians who undertake the Isenberg Online MBA through the AAPL.

About the Isenberg Online MBA
The Isenberg Online MBA program, which was launched in 2001, was one of the first such programs in the country. It has more than 1,400 current enrolled students and some 5,600 alumni around the world. The program is highly regarded by both alumni and peers. The latest 2024 U.S. News & World Report ranked the Isenberg online MBA #2 in the Northeast and #12 overall amongst the best online MBA programs including both private and public universities