Why did you leave pharmacy for consulting?
I had been in pharmacy for about three years in retail and hospital environments when I started managing hospital pharmacies and home health services. I realized I enjoyed the business aspects of health care more than the clinical ones. I thought that to really help hospitals and health care systems I needed more formal business training, so I decided to get my MBA. As I entered my sixth year of pharmacy I transitioned into a full-time MBA student.

Do you believe an MBA is necessary for consulting?  
That depends on the type of consulting work you are pursuing. I needed some additional business training to help me move into management consulting. In many instances an MBA is the best way to enter strategic management consulting, which is what my KSA practice provides. If an individual is more interested in implementation or other areas of consulting, he or she may not need an MBA.

How do you leverage your past experience in your current role?
My pharmacy experience has helped me in several ways at KSA. First, it gave me a significant understanding of the internal operations of a hospital. To help people make strategic facility decisions you must have a good knowledge of how things function operationally. Pharmacy provided me with insights into nearly all aspects of hospital operations. Second, the general health care knowledge I gained in pharmacy school and working in the field has helped me understand the general dynamics of the industry. Finally, having a clinical background gives me an advantage when I talk to other clinicians, as I can speak their language and provide them with the comfort of knowing that I have experienced some of what they are going through in their positions.

What changes have you seen in health care consulting since joining KSA?
Health care is an extremely dynamic industry, which is why I enjoy health care consulting. Very diverse groups of constituents — including clinicians, hospitals, payors, patients, technology, and government organizations — impact the industry. Changes in payment structures, including managed care and proposed capitation, drove decisions early in my career. Lately, government payment impacts and major technology advances have driven significant change. I expect the driving forces will continue to shift and provide us with challenges. The key is to remember that the goal is to provide the best patient care possible.

Describe your current KSA project(s).
I am currently involved in several projects. The largest is the planning and programming of a 450,000 square-foot building on the Massachusetts General Hospital campus. This is the second building I have planned on the MGH campus and it ties directly into the long-range vision for the organization. My role is to help the management team with key decisions regarding what services should be housed in the building and how these services will relate to current services offered on the campus. The project also involves the development of a detailed functional and space program for each department or service assigned to the building. Other projects include master planning at the University of Pennsylvania Health System, new hospital planning at Henry Ford Health System, and master planning for Newton Wellesley hospital in suburban Boston.

How have you balanced traveling and family life?
It is certainly something I work very hard at managing. I discuss this very subject at least once a year with my wife to ensure we are both committed to this job and lifestyle. I have three children (ages seven, five, and three) and have been able to maintain a solid home life while traveling three days per week through careful planning. I believe the key is in identifying the events you want and need to be home for and not allowing work to infringe on those activities. I have found that clients are very accommodating of family activities in project schedules as long as you are up front with them about days you will not be on site.

Where is your favorite ski destination?  
I enjoy the mountains in general, which is why I like to ski and trout fish. The western U.S. Rocky Mountain region is the prime destination for me. Most recently I skied in Park City, Utah and found the variety of off-hill activities and on hill-skiing very enjoyable. It is also very close to excellent trout fishing, which is a bonus for sure!

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