Pooyan Kazemian, Assistant Professor of Innovation, Technology and Operations
Pooyan Kazemian
What is your home department?
Innovation, Technology, and Operations
Please list your degrees and where you received them.
- B.S. in industrial engineering, University of Tehran
- M.S. in industrial and systems engineering, Rutgers University
- Ph.D. in industrial and operations engineering, University of Michigan
What are your research interests
My research lies at the intersection of machine learning, artificial intelligence , and optimization modeling, with a focus on applications in healthcare management. My research aims to improve healthcare operations, personalize and guide medical decision-making, and inform public health policy, with the overarching goal of improving health outcomes while lowering costs.
What drew you to your field of research?
When I began my graduate studies, I was fascinated by operations management as a discipline, by its ability to optimize processes, improve efficiency and solve complex problems. But I hadn’t fully realized the profound potential that operations management could have in healthcare until I experienced hospitals and the emergency room as a patient. Enduring long waiting times, facing poor continuity of care and encountering fragmented healthcare processes was an eye-opening experience for me. It was an epiphany that fundamentally changed the way I viewed the potential of operations management. I realized that the tools and methods we develop aren’t just abstract models. They can directly impact people’s lives by improving access to care, enhancing the quality of care, and making healthcare systems more efficient and effective. That experience sparked my interest in healthcare management research and inspired me to focus my work on tackling some of the most pressing challenges in healthcare, not just as an academic pursuit but as a personal mission.
How do you see your work connecting to students and the business world?
Healthcare is a massive and complex industry where better analytics and decision-making can make a tangible difference. By engaging students in this space, my work connects them to real-world challenges with high societal impact and prepares them to apply analytical methods across industries and business contexts.
Which course will you be teaching at Rady, and what do you hope students take away from it?
I will be teaching two new courses in the MSBA program. In Winter, I will offer a new course on Healthcare Analytics that covers both predictive and prescriptive methods for healthcare management. In Spring, I will teach a new course on Optimization Modeling, in which students will learn how to frame and solve complex business problems using mathematical optimization. My goal is for students to leave these courses with the confidence and skills to tackle real-world challenges with advanced analytics.
What excites you most about joining the Rady School community?
Rady offers a vibrant and collaborative environment where innovation, analytics and business meet. I am particularly excited about the opportunity to work with exceptional colleagues and students, and to engage with San Diego’s dynamic healthcare and biotech ecosystem. This unique setting provides an ideal platform for translating research into real-world impact.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, exercising, playing basketball, and baking. I am also an avid soccer fan and have been a Manchester United supporter for 27 years. I rarely miss a Manchester United match!
Do you have a favorite show that you like to binge/stream?
My favorite show is Friends! It is a classic, timeless, and always fun to re-watch.
For more information on the Rady School of Management’s faculty, go to the Rady School Faculty and Research website.
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