ABOUT ME

Welcome! I am Blair Liu, an incoming Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Management Science at the Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina. I received a PhD in Business Administration with a specialization in Operations from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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.

RESEARCH INTEREST

Healthcare Operations, Technology Innovation, Digital Health, Workforce Productivity

PUBLICATION

1. Blair Liu, Diwas KC, Bradley Staats, Michael Fundora* (2026). “Operational Overload: The Impact of Workload on High-Skilled Workforce Attrition,” Manufacturing and Service Operations Management.

UNDER REVIEW

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

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

WORK IN PROGRESS

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

4. Blair Liu, Diwas KC, Bradley Staats, Michael Fundora*. “Consequences of Nurse Attrition on Patient Outcomes,” Working.

* Denotes on Data Collaborator

PRACTITIONER ARTICLE

1. Diwas KC, Blair Liu, Bradley Staats, Michael Fundora (2026). “Surprising Ways to Reduce Turnover in High-Pressure, High-Skill Jobs”, Harvard Business Review.