Dr. Jared Tadje, WG’20, juggles a lot running his own orthopedic surgery practice and raising seven kids in Boise, Idaho. However, like many doctors who come to Wharton’s MBA Program for Executives, he wanted to gain business knowledge and broaden his network to explore additional opportunities in healthcare.
“My immediate goal is to learn how to better run my practice, but I’d like to do more in my industry down the road. I’m interested in exploring leadership opportunities as well as policymaking,” he said. “I came to Wharton because of the quality and diversity of the students. While there are five other doctors in my class, students come from a wide range of backgrounds and parts of the world.”
Finding balance isn’t easy, but Jared applies several strategies to make it work:
Family Study Hall
“I do homework at night with my kids. It motivates them to work hard with their schoolwork. If their dad at age 45 can study hard, then they can study hard too. It’s opened up some nice conversations about achieving goals.”
Block Off Time
“I slightly slowed down my practice, setting aside one afternoon a week for schoolwork.”
Communication
“Before I came to Wharton, I talked to my family and employees about how this program would impact my time. Communication is key, and it’s a continuing effort. I try to let everyone know my schedule and what to expect as the program continues because some months are busier than others.”
Be Efficient
“I don’t waste any time. I use my 1.25-hour direct flight from Boise to San Francisco to study. I fly into San Francisco two hours before classes start and use that time for homework and to conduct phone calls for my practice.”
Rely on Classmates
“Students in this program want to help each other succeed, so it’s a collaborative environment. We help each other by sharing notes and study guides. In our Learning Teams, we always support each other.”
As for exploring new opportunities, Jared says he’s already starting to see areas where he can make a different type of impact in healthcare. “It’s stimulating to step off the day-to-day treadmill of healthcare delivery to get new perspectives and think about the broader picture. This has been a big investment in myself, but it’s worth it.”
— Meghan Laska
Posted: April 23, 2019
