ABOUT ME

Welcome! I am Blair Liu, a fifth-year PhD student at the Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I expect to receive my doctorate in Business Administration with a specialization in Operations in Spring 2026. My advisors are Bradley Staats, Diwas KC, and Yuqian Xu.

My research interests focus on data-driven, empirical methods to address systematic challenges in healthcare delivery. I focus on two central areas: workforce productivity and technology integration. Specifically, I analyze (1) how clinicians’ work productivity influences operational outcomes, such as staff attrition, and (2) how technology adoption impacts hospital operations and patient results.

My dissertation focuses on Nurse Workforce Management, specifically exploring the causes and costs of voluntary nurse attrition and evaluating the innovative staffing solution of virtual nursing.

RESEARCH INTEREST

Healthcare Operations, Technology Innovation, Digital Health, Workforce Productivity

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

UNDER REVIEW PAPERS

  1. Blair Liu, Diwas KC, Bradley Staats, Michael Fundora. “Operational Overload: The Impact of Workload on High-Skilled Workforce Attrition,” Second Major Revision at Manufacturing and Service Operations Management.

  2. Blair Liu, Yuqian Xu, Bradley Staats. “Bridging the Nursing Gap: How Virtual Nurse Adoption Impacts Patient Outcomes,” Major Revision at Management Science. (Job Market Paper)

    • I will present at the Wharton Empirical Workshop in Philadelphia, PA. September 26, Friday, 8:30 AM to 9:05 AM.

    • I will present at the INFORMS Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA. October 27, Monday, 8:00 AM to 8:18 AM. Job Market Showcase, Room Bldg A Level 3 A313

    • I will present at the DSI Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL

    • Media Coverage: (1) UNC Chapel Hill University News, August 25 Issue, Link. (2) UNC Kenan-Flagler News and Impact, June 25 Issue, Link.

WORKING PAPERS

  1. Blair Liu, Diwas KC, Bradley Staats. “Discretionary Task Under Operating Performance: Evidence from Emergency Department”, Draft available upon request.

  2. Blair Liu, Diwas KC, Bradley Staats, Michael Fundora. “Consequences of Nurse Attrition,” Working.

  3. Blair Liu, Yuqian Xu, Vinayak Deshpande, “The Choice and Pricing of Service Channels on Telehealth Platform”, Working.

*Denotes industry collaborator