Values-driven distinguished alumna pays it forward through mentorship

Commitment to core values can separate a good enterprise from a great one. And when people within an organization adopt and champion those values, they stand out as the best ambassadors. Nimisha Kalia (MBA/MPH ’12), chief medical officer for GE Aerospace and recent winner of the Distinguished Alumna Award, is a perfect example.

With an interest in clinical medicine, population health, and business – and several Johns Hopkins alumni in her family – it was always clear to Kalia that the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School was the place for her to pursue her graduate education. “I knew I wanted a strong business background but wanted to focus on the business of health care specifically,” she said. Noting that she’s one of a growing group of physician leaders who want to become societal decision-makers, Kalia explained, “I chose Carey because of its strong connection to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and School of Public Health and the proximity to Washington D.C., where national health care policy decisions are made.”

During her time at Carey, Kalia became familiar with the school’s longstanding commitment to humanity, which is now represented in the core values of relentless advancement, unwavering humanity, boundless curiosity, and collaborative leadership. Not only do these values inform the way the school operates, but they made an impact on Kalia, who has found many opportunities to mentor future leaders throughout her career. “I had incredible mentors throughout my career, and now it's my turn to pay it forward to the upcoming graduates,” she said.

Kalia serves on Carey’s Council for Equity and Belonging and as a mentor for students at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is also involved with training at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where she is a member of the faculty, and she’s involved with the Johns Hopkins Occupational and Environmental Medicine residency program. Kalia explained, “I hope that I can continue to serve as a mentor to young physicians who are exploring different paths during and after training.”

In Kalia’s current role as the chief medical officer for GE Aerospace, she is frequently required to communicate medical guidelines to business leaders. She also plays a role in setting the strategy for employee health in the short and long term. Understanding the health care needs of a particular population, communicating and presenting those needs to leadership, implementing programs to address the needs, and then measuring outcomes are all skills Kalia says she learned at Carey.

“I made a great decision in choosing Carey Business School because today, whether I am helping to assess the ROI of an onsite clinic or making cost-benefit decisions, I cannot imagine an institution that would have better prepared me,” she said.

Known for her compassionate leadership and care, Kalia remains true to the core values she’s passing along to those she mentors. “The most salient advice I can give is to remain humble and eager to learn,” she said. “In the field of health care, your decisions can directly affect people’s lives. Never forget what a privilege this is.”