Professor Julie Carmichael
Q: Tell us a little about you! (family, pets, interests)
A: I’m a Hoosier by birth and grew up in Martinsville. My family owns the Martinsville Golf Club, and I was obsessed with the game from the time I could walk. I started playing competitive golf when I was 9 years old. Thanks to golf, I was able to attend Stanford University where I studied International Relations. Although I loved competing, professional golf didn’t appeal to me. I moved back to Indiana and interned with the Indiana Hospital Association before attending Kelley School of Business. After graduating from Kelley, I returned to Indianapolis and the Indiana Hospital Association. I’ve had the privilege to work in healthcare for the past 35 years.
My parents, Sam and Susan, are in their eighties and going strong. Dad spends every day working at the golf course, and my mom spends her time spoiling my two nephews. Kelly, my only sister, is a high school English teacher.
I retired from competitive golf 3 years ago, but occasionally think about playing again. I also love to fly-fish and hike. I moved back to Martinsville in July and live on the golf course with my dog, Hazard. Life does come full circle!
Q: Short description of the course you teach in the MSHM curriculum. How does the course you teach bring value to future health leaders?
A: I’m teaching Health Industry Regulation this semester. Our focus is on how legal, policy, and political considerations influence administrative agencies’ regulatory policies in healthcare. We’re studying the regulatory structure and process in addition to reviewing key regulations that impact the industry.
Having worked in the industry, I can speak firsthand to the need to understand the regulatory environment and how to navigate it. As a health leader, you’re responsible for your organization’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations. To do that, its imperative future leaders develop a working knowledge of the regulatory landscape. I think it’s also valuable for future leaders to know how to influence policy at both the state and federal levels.
Q: What is your research area of interest?
A: I am a Lecturer at O’Neill, so I don’t have research responsibilities. I focus my time and energy exclusively on teaching students. Given my industry background, I also hope to bring my healthcare connections to bear for our students and the program.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your work?
A: Being new, I’m still settling into my role and designing the courses I am teaching. I love the challenge of course design and am focused on active learning strategies. At the end of the day, I want to help my students become curious, life-long learners and to fall in love with healthcare. It’s exciting to be part of a team focused on developing future leaders in the industry!
Q: What brought you to the O’Neill School?
A: I was an adjunct faculty in the MHA program at IUPUI for 15 years. I loved that experience and always thought about teaching again. Then, about a year ago, I decided to move back to my hometown for family reasons. I was looking for a way to stay involved in healthcare when the opportunity at O’Neill presented. It felt like fate to me. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of the O’Neill faculty. This opportunity allows me to stay involved in the field I love and be close to my family at an important time.
Q: What is the most helpful advice you’ve received?
A: My dad always told me to “do what you love and love what you do”. That advice has been my north star. After grad school, I took a position at the Indiana Hospital Association rather than one of the other jobs I was offered that paid more. I went back to IHA because I fell in love with healthcare during my internship. I stayed in healthcare because I’m passionate about making the system better.
Q: Do you have any advice for MSHM students who are about to become transformational healthcare leaders?
A: I heard an interview with Coleman Domingo recently about playing Bayard Rustin in a film about the little-known, civil rights organizer. Mr. Domingo shared that his approach to a successful life has been to show the world who he believes he is because that’s how the world will see you. That advice resonates with me because I believe leadership is intentional. Create a vision of the leader you intend to be and then take every opportunity to practice until you become that leader. Becoming a transformational leader happens over time, but it starts today!