Susan Kizirian, RN, MBA, is chief operating officer of Ambulatory Surgical Centers of America, a physician-owned ASC development and management company that has successfully helped physicians build and operate their own surgical facilities since 1984. With more than 17 years of experience in the ASC industry, Ms. Kizirian has extensive leadership experiences ranging from executive director and ASC administrator to consultant. She served as the administrator of an ASC at University of Virginia Health Systems before joining ASCOA in 2005."As administrator, I had run the gamut of experiences, including writing the business plan, obtaining financing and getting one off the ground to converting an ASC to an HOPD. The challenge of learning, moving fast through multiple and/or complex operational issues with top results, managing multiples, creating process and protocol to obtain systemwide improvements and the big picture focus getting even bigger were primary motivators [for moving from ASC administrator to a company executive]," Ms. Kizirian said.
Ms. Kizirian is also a strong advocate for ASCs and is one of the founders and lifetime president emeritus of the Florida Society of Ambulatory Surgical Centers and past president of the Ambulatory Surgery Management Society of the Medical Group Management Association. She is also a past treasurer of the American Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers (now the ASC Association). In addition to her advocacy roles, Ms. Kizirian has experience in clinical site research and practice management.