Biography
Dan Refai 23EMBA is very familiar with the Emory campus. As co-director of the Emory Spine Center and a professor of Neurosurgery and Orthopedics at Emory University School of Medicine, he had a good idea where he wanted to pursue getting his Executive MBA. With a passion for entrepreneurship and more than 40 medical patents, Dan was looking for a program with a strong national reputation with engaged faculty and successful alumni. What Dan initially found through applying to Goizueta’s Business School was a welcoming admissions team. “The admissions team was very knowledgeable and was able to connect me with similar background students to discuss work-school balance,” Dan said.
To help navigate an EMBA program, the admissions committee and dean of students engaged with Dan and fellow students on a regular basis and were extremely supportive in mentor selection, lecture seminars, and job searches. “The support and outreach are incredible.”
Even after his first term of classes, Dan was surprised at how much the coursework and leadership teachings could immediately be applied. His favorite class so far in the program is Strategic Management taught by Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Organization & Management Robert Kazanjian. “[Kazanjian] is an expert and thought leader in the field,” Dan said. “The Strategic Management course is well structured and organized to maximize your learning and is the foundation for future coursework.”
Getting a degree at Goizueta is more than just getting a piece of paper for Dan. It’s about learning to be a better leader, role model, and more successful healthcare innovator and entrepreneur. “Goizueta has surpassed my expectations,” Dan said. “I feel welcomed and fortunate to be surrounded by highly motivated individuals with a clear sense of camaraderie.”