How UW-Whitewater alumnus says the DBA program lead to his dream career

December 17, 2022

December 5, 2022: Whitewater, WI: “A ticket to my dream career” is how University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Doctor of Business Administration(DBA) graduate, Tim Hager, describes the DBA program.

Hager enrolled in UW-Whitewater’s DBA program with the hopes of switching roles at his then-current employer. Hager worked as a reimbursement manager but desired to move to the health economics and outcomes research team.

Two necessary tasks in UW-Whitewater’s DBA program are writing a Curriculum Vitae (CV), which is a highly detailed resume, and creating a diversity statement. Both are tasks, which at the time, Hager found to be rather pointless. “I begrudgingly completed the assignment to make a CV and diversity statement… I had filed them away and never thought much of it beyond [the] class,” commented Hager.

Hager’s research in the DBA program was conducting an analysis of the cost-effectiveness of a new dosing formulation of an existing prescription drug. During the project, Hager traveled to New York to present his coursework to a team of colleagues. While there, an unexpected opportunity arose. Hager explained, “I was informed that two new positions were open, and [they] asked if I was interested in applying. I replied, ‘of course,’ and was then told to hand over my CV to be briefed to the team of health economic scientists to gauge their interest in me. My jaw hit the floor.”

Hager handed over his CV along with the research statement of purpose with comments on diversity in research. Hager’s documents impressed the hiring committee. Soon he was interviewing for the position. “After eleven interviews and one seminar presentation (of my research), I was named Associate Director of Health Economics and Outcomes Research in Medical Affairs at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.”

First thought mundane, Hager noted that the assignments, in retrospect, “were the tickets to my dreams… as were the other lessons I have taken from the DBA program at UW-Whitewater.

Ideal for working professionals, the DBA program at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater College of Business and Economics focuses on applied learning to solve real-world business problems. UW-Whitewater’s College of Business and Economics is the only AACSB-accredited DBA program in Wisconsin. >AACSB-accredited schools are considered to be the best business schools in the world. In fact, only 2% of the world’s business schools meet AACSB accreditation for business and accounting: the College of Business and Economics at Whitewater is one of them. UW-Whitewater’s College of Business and Economics is also the largest business school in the state.

Professor K. Praveen Parboteeah, Ph.D., is the Director of the Doctorate of Business Program. He notes, “The DBA program provides students with a superior framework to better understand business problems, resulting in more innovative solutions. DBA students also use these new research skills to advance in their professions and academia.” 

You can see some examples of student success here: https://www.uww.edu/cobe/doctorate/student-perspectives/achievements

Hager would like to give a special thanks to Professor Jon Werner, Ph.D., for the deep impact of his leadership and curriculum. “Thank you, Jon, for your kind guidance and professional compassion. Thank you for demonstrating how to become what we dream of.”

Professor Werner remembers this former student of his and has a few words of encouragement for him, “Tim Hager is a bright, energetic, and funny individual. He brought that energy into every session he had with me and wasn’t shy about questioning the “why” behind class activities. It is amazing to see how his completed DBA degree has become the “ticket to his dreams,” and I can’t wait to see what is next for him.”

To learn more about the Doctorate of Business Administration program at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater College of Business and Economics, visit uww.edu/cobe/doctorate. Applications are now being accepted for Fall 2023.

To learn more about Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, visit www.regeneron.com