Interview with Dr. Spanos, MD, FACS, FASCRS - ACT MBA '18
Mr. Constantine Spanos, Associate Professor of Surgery at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, recently completed his MBA at the ACT School of Business. Mr Spanos was born in Baltimore, Maryland and moved to Greece at an early age. He is a graduate of the Aristotle University School of Medicine, and has pursued postgraduate medical training in the United States. He was a resident in General Surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and Tufts Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. He completed a fellowship in Colon and Rectal Surgery at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He joined the ACT MBA program in 2015.
How would you describe your overall experience as an MBA student at ACT?
I have only positive things to say about my experience as an MBA student. The curriculum was of the highest quality, and all of our professors and instructors were well-prepared. The classes were focused and oriented towards interaction and discussion among students and faculty. The emphasis was on teamwork; excellent collaboration between students of varying backgrounds was the result. The teaching facilities and library are second to none. All in all, I found this to be a stimulating experience.
In addition, I found the faculty to be characterized by a high level of professionalism. All faculty are from the "real-world" of local and international business, with exceptional education and training.
Why did you decide to pursue an MBA and what value do you think it will add to your professional development in your field?
The main reason for pursuing an MBA was to familiarize myself with basic disciplines in business. My family owns a major company associated with the hospitality industry, and I thought that an MBA would be of great value. It has really helped in the understanding of basic and complex concepts that pertain to most interactions and transactions of individuals and teams in the business world.
My real "day-job" is that of a full-time academic surgeon who practices in both the public and private sector. In addition, I am a University Professor. The business concepts that I mentioned previously are applicable to my profession as well. Of note, several medical schools in the United States have combined MD-MBA programs, such as Tufts and Boston University. I believe that an MBA is of great help to professionals who deal with a combination of decision-making, administration, as well as allocation of funds and resources. My profession is such an example.
Was it difficult to combine your MBA studies and a demanding profession?
The ACT MBA curriculum is a demanding and high-quality program. Even if you committed yourself to it full-time, it is not easy. I pursued the part-time route, over two years. I had to combine my studies with a busy teaching and operating schedule. What made this possible was that, in the end, the MBA program was a lot of fun! I couldn't wait to get to school, and I did not miss a single minute of class.
If you were to describe ACT in a couple of words what would you say?
ACT: exceptional education in an exceptional setting.
