Program Overview

Introduction to the Physician Executive MBA Program

The Physician Executive MBA (PEMBA) program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business is designed to equip physicians with the business acumen and leadership skills necessary to succeed in the healthcare industry. This program is tailored to meet the unique needs of physicians, providing them with the knowledge and expertise to drive transformation in healthcare.

Program Overview

The PEMBA program is a one-year, accredited MBA program that allows students to continue working full-time with minimal disruption. The program requires only 20 days out of the office and combines one week on campus each quarter with weekly distance learning. The format includes four residence periods held at UT's Knoxville campus, reinforced through online sessions.

Key Features of the Program

• Applied Learning: The program focuses on applied learning, with individual and team projects that put concepts into action immediately.
• Healthcare Connections: Students join a network of over 1,000 physician leaders and expert clinicians in leadership roles, forming a national network of executives and mentors.
• Leadership Development: The program includes a personalized leadership development program, with one-on-one coaching and peer-to-peer relationships that contribute significantly to leadership development.

Program Structure

The PEMBA program is structured to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of business principles and their application in the healthcare industry. The program includes:

Quarterly In-Person Residencies

Invaluable learning takes place during four one-week residence periods on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, Tennessee. The program breaks from the traditional academic format, integrating business topics in the classroom to replicate how leaders make decisions in the healthcare environment.

Distance Learning

Between each residence period, students participate in regularly scheduled Distance Learning (DL) sessions, complete relevant and applied assignments, and have access to recorded course content. Students also work on their year-long Organizational Action Project (OAP), which targets issues of major importance to their organization.

Organizational Action Project

The OAP is a key component of the PEMBA program, delivering an immediate and measurable return on investment. Students design their own project and work in concert with their organization's leadership team, with a faculty advisor providing mentorship and assessing deliverables throughout the program year.

Faculty

The PEMBA program is taught by faculty experts in healthcare leadership, business strategy, and emerging technologies like AI. The faculty includes:

• Kate Atchley: Professor of Practice
• Randy Bradley: Associate Professor, Haslam Family Faculty Research Fellow
• Zack Buck: Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Professor of Law
• Adam Campbell: Adjunct Professor, Quality Improvement
• Amy Cathey: Associate Dean, Graduate and Executive Education, Professor of Practice
• Jody Crane: Adjunct Professor, Lean for Healthcare and Chief Medical Officer, TEAMHealth
• Phillip Daves: Voigt Scholar, Associate Professor
• Matthew Harris: Stahl PEMBA Fellow, Charlie and Caroline Newcomer Faculty Research Fellow, Associate Professor
• Keith Leitner: Lecturer
• David Maslar: Academic Director – Full-Time MBA program, Teaching Associate Professor
• Charles Noon: Professor Emeritus
• Angel Norman: Senior Lecturer
• Nancy Scott: Director of Leadership Development Programs
• Steven Stack: Adjunct Professor, Healthcare Policy
• Alice Stewart: Distinguished Lecturer
• Jason Strickling: Lecturer
• Linda Blake Walsh: Lecturer
• Howard Weeks: Adjunct Faculty
• Martha Weeks: Lecturer
• Lynn Youngs: Senior Lecturer
• Alex Ricardo Zablah: Marketing Department Head, Gerber/Taylor Professor of Marketing, Fisher Family Faculty Research Fellow

Curriculum

The PEMBA curriculum is built for physicians, blending finance, healthcare economics, strategic problem-solving, and the responsible use of emerging technologies like AI to prepare leaders for executive decision-making. The curriculum includes:

Core Executive Competencies

• Apply Business Acumen: Physician Executive MBA graduates will be able to implement leading business principles into practice due to a robust understanding of finance and accounting, marketing, analytics, and more.
• Create Operational Excellence: Physician Executive MBA graduates will be able to drive organizational excellence by understanding and adapting strategic business models to fit the needs of their patients, providers, and healthcare organizations at large.
• Prioritize Systems Thinking: Physician Executive MBA graduates will be able to assess and improve the health of their organizations through integrated care, value-based and risk-sharing service models, and continuous monitoring of individual and organizational performance.
• Lead Holistically: Physician Executive MBA graduates will be able to empower their teams and stakeholders while creating initiatives and open communication models to alleviate healthcare provider burnout.

Admissions

The PEMBA program has a competitive admissions process, with applicants typically having:

• A medical doctorate (MD or DO) from an accredited institution or foreign equivalent (MBBS, MB ChB, BM, or BMed)
• 5+ years of professional experience in healthcare
• A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; 2.7 minimum GPA out of a possible 4.0 (exceptions may be available for minimum GPA)
• Interested in making an impact in healthcare delivery
• Proficiency in spoken and written English

Tuition and Fees

The total program fee for the Physician Executive MBA is $79,000. The program fee includes:

• All university tuition and fees
• Personalized Leadership Development Plan and coaching, including 6 months after graduation
• Books and materials, including course-specific software
• Technical support for all software
• Local transportation to and from classes and special events during residence periods
• Breakfasts, lunches, and several dinners

The program fee does not include:

• Professional subscriptions and other supplies
• Laptop computer (if needed, you can purchase a laptop at a discount through the UT Computer Store)
• Lodging and travel during residency periods

Payment Schedule

The 2026 tuition payment schedule is:

• Program deposit: $1,000 (paid to confirm attendance)
• Spring semester 2026: $26,000 due in early January
• Summer semester 2026: $26,000 due in May
• Fall semester 2026: $26,000 due in early August

Tuition may also be paid in a lump sum at the start of the first semester. The university offers a Deferred Payment Plan administered through One Stop Student Services for students who wish to spread payments more evenly throughout the year.

Support for Military Members and Their Families

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is a designated Military Friendly Gold School and Military Spouse Friendly School due to the expansive support available for the military community and their families at UT. Talk to an enrollment advisor for more information.

Key Dates

The Physician Executive MBA admissions team reviews applications on a rolling basis. Cohorts are limited, so the earlier you complete your application, the sooner you can get an admissions decision to reserve your seat.