Anthony J. Davidson, Johns Hopkins Carey MD/MBA Class of 2026
Age: 27
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Johns Hopkins University; B.S. Neuroscience, Psychology Minor
Pre-MBA Work Experience: CEO, Jeffco Services, 2 years; CEO, Lee Street Garage, 2 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I spent the better part of 6 years preparing to matriculate to medical school. Everything I pursued from the choice of undergraduate institution, football program, volunteer and research experience, etc. was aimed at preparing me to be the most competitive applicant I could be. I was accepted to my dream school, Johns Hopkins, and could not believe that as a first-generation college student, I was now taking the first step towards becoming the first doctor in my family.
During my first year of medical school, when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak, my family and the small service business that supported us began to struggle. I faced a difficult decision to remain in school or return home during a trying time. I elected to take a year off from school to support my family and found myself learning the nuances of running a small business. The entire experience was foreign to me as my background was in science and suddenly I was self-teaching skills such as HR/recruitment, operations, financial analysis, and marketing. I helped to revitalize our family operation and learned how difficult it was to own/operate a business especially when people were counting on you.
After a successful year away from my medical studies, I was ready to return and assumed that my time/interest in business would be fleeting; however, I soon found how valuable the business perspective and skillset were in medicine. The opportunity to combine my newfound passion for business with my first love of medicine at Johns Hopkins University through the combined MD/MBA program was an opportunity I could not pass up.
Therefore, the choice to attend business school now came from an unforeseen series of events, but I could not be more grateful for the opportunity before me. I am leveraging this program to make me a more well-rounded clinician with the tools necessary to impart change on a larger scale and influence how patients receive care.
Why did you choose Johns Hopkins Carey? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I am hopefully on the path to becoming a Hopkins “lifer”, which is best understood as someone who begins and ends their career at Johns Hopkins. I attended Hopkins undergrad and was a two-time Academic All-American in the football program before matriculating to the School of Medicine. The academic pedigree of this institution is world-class and has opened countless doors for me during my academic journey. I owe a great deal of who I am professionally to Johns Hopkins and am grateful for my time spent in the Baltimore community. To receive an MBA from Carey represented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that was impossible to pass up.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2026?
This is difficult to say for my classmates have arrived from all walks of life and across all industries with incredible personal/professional accomplishments! It has been a privilege to learn alongside them, and I am hopeful that my most valuable contribution will come through my unrelenting passion for patient care and community outreach. Going on my 10th year in Baltimore, I believe I can help others with their transition and integration into the city, while sharing with them the incredible opportunities to impact lives through the Hopkins system.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I love to golf and recently took on a new hobby in the form of World Long Drive. The goal is to compete with others to see how far you can hit the ball, and I was fortunate enough to win my most recent tournament thereby qualifying for the World Championships at the end of September!
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Reach out to the admissions office and get connected early! They are always available for questions and to help guide you through the process. The application cycles are becoming more competitive each year, so take advantage of the team for they are here to help you succeed.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Take the time to sit with your essays and ensure they capture your authentic self. All prospective applicants will look great on paper and present with amazing accomplishments; however, the essay portions of your application allow you to convey who you are as a person. Stats, experiences, and accomplishments are only a piece of the much larger application puzzle thus a genuine depiction of your core values is essential to your success.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I spend a great deal of time weighing out the pros/cons when making an important decision. Choice paralysis strikes every time, and I often find myself overthinking. In this case, I wish I would have skipped the extensive deliberation and followed my gut instinct. If Carey and its core values speak to you, send an application. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain, and I recognize how stressful the application cycle can be for prospective students. So trust your gut, and if a program aligns with your personal and professional goals, take the chance!
What is your initial impression of the Johns Hopkins Carey students/culture/community?
As mentioned, Carey did an incredible job at recruiting a diverse student body. This cohort represents one of the most accomplished groups of people I have met such that with every interaction with my peers I learn something new. We have physicians/surgeons, policymakers, accomplished entrepreneurs, and future leaders all of whom I share a classroom with daily. It is a privilege to call these individuals both classmates and friends!
What is one thing you have learned about Johns Hopkins Carey that has surprised you?
The vast number of programs available allow you to fully customize your degree. As an MD/MBA student, my curriculum is accelerated; however, the academic advising team here is outstanding and takes great pride in helping students build a schedule that will meet their needs. I am looking into experiential learning coursework that will allow me to travel and learn around the world by leveraging the Hopkins international community. The opportunities here are simply endless and having a passionate support system behind you makes all the difference.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Getting back into the classroom after a year of clinical rotations will be quite the adjustment. It is always uncomfortable transitioning to something new, but I am confident that the abundant support at Carey will make this process seamless.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Working with my faculty mentors at the school of medicine, we have developed an idea for a startup that I was able to obtain funding through the Pava Center for Entrepreneurship. This represents the intersection of my career interests, and I cannot wait to see how the project develops.
