Here are 101 phyisician leaders to know in the ASC industry.
The ambulatory surgery center industry is built upon a number of leadership roles in both the clinical and business spheres, but ASCs would not exist without physicians. Beyond providing care in the low-cost, high-quality environment of ASCs, physician leaders lead clinical and administrative teams, establish successful ASCs, stand up for the industry and found companies that support industry growth.
From founding members of surgery centers and companies to medical directors and industry advocates, here are 100 physician leaders who have made significant contributions to the ASC sector.
David Abraham, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon and partner with The Reading Neck & Spine Center in Wyomissing, Pa. He completed a spine surgery fellowship in Detroit and is a member of the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He is involved in advocacy for orthopedics and offers both surgical and non-operative care for patients.
Charlie Agnone, MD, FACS, is a board-certified ophthalmologist and a founding member of Marysville (Ohio) Surgical Center. Dr. Agnone is also the on Ambulatory Surgery Center Association board of directors. She earned her medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus and interned at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus. Dr. Agnone completed her residency at The Ohio State University Hospitals.
Dale Armstrong, MD, is chairman of the board of Mason City (Iowa) Surgery Center as well as member and current president of the board of directors at Mason City Clinic. He is a board certified psychiatrist and is a member of the American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Oklahoma Psychiatric Association. He earned his medical degree at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in Oklahoma City. He completed his residency in adult psychiatry and fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Joseph Banno, MD, is founder and co-owner of Peoria (Ill.) Day Surgery Center. He has been associated with Peoria Urological Associates for more than 30 years and serves as a clinical instructor of urology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. Over the past few years, Dr. Banno has been involved in developing the world's first mobile ambulatory surgery center.
Stacey Berner, MD, is president and principal of SurgCenter Development, which he joined in 2012. He previously practiced at orthopedic hand and upper extremity surgery for 18 years. He served as medical director of the Hand Centers at Carroll Hospital Center and Northwest Hospital Center in Maryland. He helped develop and pioneer hand and wrist arthroscopy techniques as well as robotic surgery.
Robert Boeglin, MD, has been the board president of the Midwest Eye Institute in Indianapolis since 1997. He is also the co-founder of Health Venture Management, a company that develops surgery center partnerships between physicians and Clarian Health. He has been an active lecturer at the American Academy of Ophthalmology national conference and received the AAO Achievement Award in 2002. That same year he left clinical practice but continues to serve as Midwest Eye's president. He earned his medical degree and completed his ophthalmology residency at Indiana University. He has also completed a glaucoma fellowship at Yale University.
Thomas Bombardier, MD, FACS, is a founding principal of Ambulatory Surgical Centers of America. He is an ophthalmologist and prior to founding ASCOA he established the largest ophthalmic practice in Western Massachusetts, two ambulatory surgical centers and a regional referral center. Throughout his career, Dr. Bombardier has shared his expert insight and opinions on the state of the ASC industry, turnarounds and healthcare reform at national conferences.
Robert Bray Jr., MD, is founder, CEO and a neurological surgeon at DISC Sports & Spine Center in Marina Del Rey, Calif. He founded DISC in 2006 and opened a second surgery center in Newport Beach in early 2012. During his career, Dr. Bray devoted his practice to minimally invasive spine surgery and participated in the design and development of the Zeiss Microscope. He has treated several elite athletes and was a founder of the Institute for Spinal Disorders at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.
Joseph Burkhardt, DO, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with Meridian Surgical Partners' Brookside Surgery Center in Battle Creek, Mich. Dr. Burkhardt earned his medical degree from Kansas City (Mo.) University of Medicine and completed his residency at Michigan State University in Lancing. He completed his orthopedic surgery fellowship training at the University of Southern Florida/The Florida Knee and Orthopedic Center in Clearwater.
Matthew Bush, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and the board president of Central
Maine Orthopedics, which has an AAAHC-accredited ambulatory surgery center. Dr. Bush joined CMO in 2006. He focuses on hand and upper extremity surgery. Dr. Bush earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and Rhode Island Hospital in Providence. He completed his hand and upper extremity surgery fellowship at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C.
John Caruso, MD, FACS, is a neurosurgeon and founder of Parkway Surgery Center in Hagerstown, Md. The ASC is a Blue Chip Surgery Center Partners affiliate. He has more than 16 years of experience in neurological surgery and board certification from the American Board of Neurological Surgery. Dr. Caruso went into practice at Neurosurgical Specialists after completing a two-year fellowship at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and is a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
Richard N. Christie, MD, is a vice president of operational development at Ambulatory Surgical Centers of America. He is a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist and owned a private practice in Newport Beach, Calif., for 15 years. He was an investor in the Newport Beach Surgery Center and been involved in real estate development in Newport Beach and Palm Springs, Calif. Dr. Christie earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and completed his residency in San Diego.
Stephen Cohen, MD, MBA, FACS, FASCRS, is the medical director of Spivey Station Surgery Center in Jonesboro, Ga., and serves as a diplomat on the National Board of Medical Examiners. He is board certified and a member of the American Medical Association, American College of Gastroenterology and American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. He has published scientific research in national and European medical journals. He earned his medical degree at University of California Los Angeles and completed his residency at Boston University Medical Center. He also completed specialty training in colon and rectal surgery at Cleveland Clinic Florida.
Edward F. Coles, MD, FACP, FACG, is a board-certified gastroenterologist with Gastroenterology of San Marcos (Texas). Dr. Coles is a board member of New Braunfels Christus and Physicians Surgery Center. He also founded Central Texas Ambulatory Endoscopy Center in San Marcos, of which he currently serves as a managing partner. Dr. Coles received his medical degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and completed his residency training at Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco. Dr. Coles completed his fellowship at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.
Christine Corbin, MD, is the medical director of Surgery Center at Tanasbourne in Hillsboro, Ore., a 17,000-square-foot facility. The center is a joint venture with the surgeon-owner investor group, Providence Health & Services and Blue Chip Surgical Center Partners. She is also the founder and president of Northwest Gynecology Associates. Dr. Corbin is a board-certified obstetrics and gynecology surgeon. She earned her medical degree at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine in Rootstown and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago.
R. Blake Curd, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon with Orthopedic Institute in Sioux Falls, S.D., and chairman of the board of directors for Surgical Management Professionals. He is president-elect of Physician Hospitals of America and manager for Medical Facilities Corp. He completed a fellowship at the Indiana Hand Center and serves as an associate team physician for local athletic teams. Dr. Curd serves on the South Dakota State Senate and was accepted to the leadership fellows program of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He previously served as a representative in the South Dakota House of Representatives.
Urfan Dar, MD, currently serves as the medical director of Theda Oaks Surgical Center in San Antonio, and principal and president of Interventional Pain Management Physicians. Before his current roles, he served as medical director of Stone Oak Research Foundation in San Antonio. He is certified by the American Board of Pain Medicine and American Board of Anesthesiology, and he focuses on advanced techniques to treat all types of chronic and cancer pain. He is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Society of Interventional Pain Management Physicians, American Society of Anesthesiology and American Neuromodulation Society. He earned his medical degree at the University of Kashmir in India and completed his residency in anesthesiology at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.
Daniel Daube, MD, FACS, the medical director of Surgical Center for Excellence in Panama City, Fla., which is affiliated with ASD Management. Dr. Daube also owns his own practice in Panama City called Gulf Coast Facial Plastics & ENT Center. He is a plastic surgeon as well as ENT physician. He is certified by The Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery as well The American Board of Otolaryngology. He is fellowship-trained and accredited with the American Academy of Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery.
Thomas Deas Jr., MD, is the medical director of Fort Worth (Texas) Endoscopy Center, a Surgical Care Affiliates facility. He is board-certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology. He earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport and completed his internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio. Dr. Deas is a past president of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and has served as advisory board member for the GI Quality Improvement Consortium. Dr. Deas emphasizes quality and safety monitoring in his role as medical director of Fort Worth Endoscopy Center. He also serves as an SCA Physician Leadership Board Member.
Edward Decter, MD, FACS, is the medical director of Short Hills Surgery Center in Millburn, N.J., and is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. He also serves on the physician executive council of the sports medicine institute at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, N.J. He practices with Center for Orthopaedics in West Orange, N.J. He has served as head orthopedic surgeon and head physician for the Red Bull New York/New Jersey MetroStars pro soccer team. He is a member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and New Jersey Orthopaedic Society. He earned his medical degree at Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha and completed his residency at the Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York.
Randy Delcore, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, is the president and medical director of Cedar Orthopaedic Surgery Center in Cedar City, Utah. Dr. Delcore earned his medical degree from the Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, and completed his residency at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. Directly out of residency training, Dr. Delcore began his independent practice, which grew to include a freestanding imaging facility and onsite physical therapy services. He opened Cedar Orthopaedic Surgery Center in 2005 and continues to look for ways to expand. "As COSC looks into and develops web-based media our ability to expand our cash pay and medical tourism business will grow as we provide transparent prices for those individuals and businesses that are looking to truly manage their insurance and personal dollars," says Dr. Delcore.
Meena Desai, MD, is the founder, president and CEO of Nova Anesthesia Professionals and a board-certified anesthesiologist. Nova Anesthesia Professionals provides physician and CRNA anesthesia services to ambulatory surgery centers, endoscopy centers and specialty hospitals. Dr. Desai earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Pennsylvania and completed her residency at Temple University in Philadelphia. She has held numerous leadership positions with AAAHC and the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia.
Thomas Eickmann, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon with The Surgery Center at Lutheran in Wheat Ridge, Colo., which is a Pinnacle III center. Dr. Eickmann earned his medical degree and completed his residency training at Loma Linda (Calif.) University School of Medicine. He practices with Cornerstone Orthopedics in Denver.
John Fitz, MD, is the founder and chairman of the board for The Surgery Center of Farmington, which is managed by ASD Management. He has more than 23 years in practice of comprehensive ophthalmology. He has performed more than 10,000 cataract surgeries and been on the forefront of using premium IOL's that correct presbyopia and astigmatism. He was among the first Crystalens-certified surgeons in his region. He is on the faculty of the American College of Surgeons.
Mark Flood, DO, is an orthopedic spine surgeon and chief of surgical innovation for Laser Spine Institute, which currently owns and operates five surgery centers. He earned his doctor of osteopathic medicine from the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University, where he also completed his residency. He holds a spine surgery fellowship from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and a scoliosis and pediatric orthopedic surgery fellowship from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Dr. Flood founded two private practices and then became director and a founding member of the Center for Spinal Disorders and Pediatric Orthopedics in Mesa, Ariz. Dr. Flood joined Laser Spine Institute in 2008.
Robin Fowler, MD, is medical director of Interventional Spine and Pain Management Center and founder and medical director of Interventional Management Services. He has been a pain practitioner in Atlanta since 2005 and serves as medical director for four pain management surgical centers. Throughout his career, Dr. Fowler has spoken at several medical universities and national ASC conferences. He is a member of the American Academy of Pain Medicine and National Pain Foundation.
James L. Fox Jr., MD, is the founding leader of the Ravine Way Surgery Center in Glenview, Ill. Dr. Fox, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, practices at Illinois Bone & Joint Institute. He has a clinical focus on general orthopedic surgery, arthroscopy, fracture care and orthopedic oncology. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. Dr. Fox completed his residency training at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He holds a joint replacement fellowship from Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital in Chicago, and an orthopedic oncology fellowship from Sloan-Kettering Memorial Cancer Center in New York.
Ralph A. Gambardella, MD, is president of Kerlan-Jobe Surgery Center and chairman and president of Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles. He completed a sports medicine fellowship at Kerlan-Jobe and is a former president of the Association of Major League Team Physicians. He also serves on American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Council of Delegates and an orthopedic consultant to the LA Dodgers.
Robert Gannan, MD, PhD, is the founder of Physicians Endoscopy. He is the company's past national medical director and chairman of the board of directors. Dr. Gannan is board-certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology. He earned his medical degree from the University of Rochester (N.Y.) School of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. Gannan completed his residency and fellowship training at the University of California Hospital. Dr. Gannan has spoken internationally on a number of topics in gastroenterology and on the development of ambulatory surgery centers.
David S. George, MD, is the medical director of Physicians Outpatient Surgery Center in Belpre, Ohio, and a member of the board of directors and secretary of the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association. Dr. George is a board-certified ophthalmologist. He also serves on the board of directors of the Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society. He completed his medical degree and residency at The Ohio State University in Columbus. Dr. George has an interest in glaucoma, diabetic eye care, cataract surgery and refractive surgery.
Gregory George, MD, PhD, is founding principal of SurgCenter Development. Under his leadership, SurgCenter Development has developed more than 105 successful physician-owned ASCs. He was previously a high surgical volume ophthalmologist at a busy practice. He earned his medical degree from Duke University in Durham, N.C.
James Gesler, MD, is founder and medical director for Wooster (Ohio) Ambulatory Surgery Center. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Case Western Reserve & Affiliated Hospitals in Cleveland. Dr. Gesler has a special interest in total joint replacement, spine, general orthopedics and adult reconstruction. For several years, he has served as a cabinet member of the United Way.
Anthony Giamberdino, MD, is chairman of Symbion's Physician Quality Council, which meets routinely to review benchmark data, evaluate common issues, share information and best practices and make policy recommendations. He is a board-certified anesthesiologist and earned his medical degree at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Evanston, Ill.-based Northwestern University. He is one of the 165 surgeons and physicians who are on staff at Valley Ambulatory Surgery Center in St. Charles, Ill.
Scott Glaser, MD, DABIPP, is Co-Founder and President of the Pain Specialists of Greater Chicago. Throughout his career, he has been elected twice to the national board of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians and been president of the Illinois Society of Interventional Pain Physicians. Dr. Glaser was one of the first instructors selected by the International Spinal Interventional Society and currently instructs for ASIPP.
Matthew F. Gornet, MD, is a board-certified spine surgeon who focuses on the treatment of patients with low back and neck pain. He also has a professional interest in treating those suffering from pain after failed spine surgery. He is a governing board member at St. Louis Spine & Orthopedic Surgery Center. He is a member of the North American Spine Society, International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery and AOSpine. Dr. Gornet completed his orthopedic surgery residency and a spine surgery fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
David Grainger, MD, is medical director of Cypress Surgery Center in Wichita, Kan., and chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita. He is also a governing board member of the surgery center and serves on Symbion's Physician Quality Council, which regularly meets to review benchmark data, evaluate common issues, share information and best practices and make policy recommendations. He completed his residency training at University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita.
John Hajjar, MD, FACS, MBA, is the chairman and CEO of Surgem, a physician-centered ASC development, management and operations company. He holds appointments and actively practices urology at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, N.J., Hackensack (N.J.) Medical Center and St. Joseph's Hospital in Paterson, N.J. He earned his medical degree Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and completed training in general surgery and then urology at New York University Medical Center. He also completed an MBA from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, with specialization in office-based ambulatory surgical centers.
Scott Holley, MD, is the president and founder of Great Lakes Plastic & Hand Surgery in Portage, Mich. He is board-certified in general surgery, plastic surgery and he holds the certificate of added qualification as a specialist in hand surgery. He is a member of American Society of Plastic Surgeons and Michigan Association of Hand Surgeons. He has served as president of the Michigan Association of Hand Surgery and has been a patient advocate on the Worker's Compensation Committee of the Michigan State Medical Society. He earned his medical degree at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis and completed residencies in general and plastic surgery at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He has completed fellowships in hand and microsurgery at the Kleinert Institute in Louisville, Ky., burn surgery at the Shriner's Hospital in Cincinnati and cosmetic surgery in Miami.
Gregory Horner, MD, is on the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association's board of directors. He also serves as the CEO of Hacienda Surgery Center in Pleasanton, Calif. Dr. Horner is a board-certified hand surgeon in practice with Tri-Valley Orthopedic Specialists. He earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and completed his residency at UCLA Medical Center. He then completed upper extremity fellowships at Tufts University School of Medicine and New England Bone and Joint Institute in Boston.
William Isaacson, MD, is the medical director of Crozer-Keystone Surgery Center at Haverford, which acquired its name when the Surgery Center of Pennsylvania became a part of the Crozer-Keystone Health System in April 2013. Dr. Isaacson is a board-certified anesthesiologist. He also focuses on interventional pain medicine. He completed his residency training at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.
Peter Janes, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with Peak One Surgery Center in Frisco, Colo. Dr. Janes began a community surgery day at Peak One Surgery Center, affiliated with Pinnacle III, in collaboration with the Summit Community Care Clinic. Dr. Janes earned his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis and completed his residency at the University of Utah Medical School in Salt Lake City. Dr. Janes practices with Vail (Colo.) Summit Orthopaedics.
Dennis P. Johnson, MD, is the medical director of Grand Valley Surgical Center in Grand Junction, Colo., as well as chief of anesthesia. He is board-certified and earned his medical degree at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City. Grand Valley Surgical Center is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care. Its surgeons provide care in a number of specialties, including ENT, ophthalmology, general surgery, urology, orthopedics, gynecology and neurology.
Steven Kern, MD, FACS, is the medical director of North Memorial Ambulatory Surgery Center in Maple Grove, Minn. He also serves as a board member of Surgical Management Professionals. Dr. Kern is a board-certified general surgeon. He earned his medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha and completed his residency at the University of Kansas in Wichita. He also serves as chief of surgery at Maple Grove Hospital. Dr. Kern has a special interest in thyroid surgery.
Lawrence Kim, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterologist with South Denver Gastroenterology. He earned his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. He completed his residency at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and underwent his fellowship training at the University of California in San Francisco. Dr. Kim serves on the governing board of the American Gastroenterologist Association. In 2004, he became the first gastroenterologist to join the board of directors of the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care. He is also an AAAHC surveyor. Dr. Kim is active in the American College of Gastroenterology, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.
Lawrence Kosinski, MD, MBA, is a board-certified gastroenterologist with Elgin (Ill.) Gastroenterology. He is a managing partner of Illinois Gastroenterology Group, which includes seven endoscopy centers. He performs procedures at Algonquin Road Surgery Center in Lake in the Hills, Ill., and Elgin (Ill.) Gastroenterology Endoscopy Center. He serves on the board of directors for Sherman Hospital and as a member of the advisory board of the Illinois Health Information Exchange. Dr. Kosinski is the chair of the American Gastroenterological Association Practice Management and Economics Committee. He earned his medical degree from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, Ill. He completed his residency and two fellowships with Loyola University.
Donald Kramer, MD, is founder of Northstar Healthcare and spent the past 20 years founding numerous healthcare businesses, including 30 outpatient surgery centers. He developed Omniplus Healthcare in 1995 and Access MediQuip in 1996. Prior to retiring from his clinical anesthesia practice in 2007, he founded Palladium for Surgery-Houston which became the cornerstone for Northstar Healthcare.
Richard Kube, MD, is founder of Prairie Spine & Pain Institute and Prairie SurgiCare in Peoria, Ill. He is a fellowship-trained spine surgeon and has a special interest in motion preservation techniques. He has made more than 20 international presentations during his career and serves as a faculty member at the University of Illinois School of Medicine in Peoria. He is a member of several professional societies, including the American College of Spine Surgery and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Peter R. Kurzweil, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon and founder of Surgery Center of Long Beach. He is on the board of directors for Arthroscopy Association of North America as well as the team orthopedic surgeon for Cal State University Long Beach. Dr. Kurzweil completed a fellowship in orthopedics at Southern California Center for Sports Medicine.
Brent Lambert, MD, FACS, is a founding principal of ASC management and development company Ambulatory Surgical Centers of America and a board-certified ophthalmologist. Prior to founding ASCOA, he developed and owned three surgery centers, including one the first centers in New England. In his current role with ASCOA, he focuses on business development. Dr. Lambert earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York and completed his residency at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary in Boston.
James Lehmann, MD, is the medical director of Specialty Surgery Center in San Antonio, Texas, and a board-certified ophthalmologist. He currently practices with Focal Point Vision in San Antonio. He focuses on cataract, corneal and refractive surgery. Dr. Lehmann conducts clinical research, gives scientific presentations and participates in clinical and surgical volunteer work through I Care Clinic at the Haven for Hope. He recently performed cataract surgery in Huatulco, Mexico, and served as a volunteer faculty member of ORBIS International to help teach residents and physicians in Trujillo, Peru, new techniques in cataract and corneal surgery.
Bruce Levy, MD, JD, is CEO of Austin Gastroenterology as well as a member of the board of directors of Texas Ambulatory Surgery Center Society. He is a board-certified anesthesiologist who previously practiced at The Methodist Hospital and served on the faculty at Baylor College of Medicine, both in Houston. He has previously served as executive director of the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners and chairman of the Health Professions Council of Texas. He earned his medical degree at Drexel University College of Medicine, previously known as Hahnemann Medical College, in Philadelphia and his legal degree at The University of Houston Bates School of Law.
James Lynch, MD, is founder of SpineNevada and Surgery Center of Reno, and serves as a partner and director of spine services at Regent Surgical Health. He has more than 20 years of experience as a spinal neurosurgeon and has performed minimally invasive techniques since 2002. He was the first surgeon in Reno to perform MIS TLIF and MAS PLIF and among the first to perform artificial disc replacements. This past year, Dr. Lynch served as a board member for the High Fives Organization.
Laximaiah Manchikanti, MD, is the chairman of the board, founder and CEO of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians and Society for Interventional Pain Management Surgery Centers. He also serves as the medical director of Pain Management Centers of Paducah (Ky.). Dr. Manchikanti is board-certified in anesthesia and pain medicine. He earned his medical degree at Gandhi Medical College at Osmania University in India and completed his residency in anesthesiology at Gandhi Hospital. His additional training includes a fellowship in anesthesiology and critical care medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Bryan Massoud, MD, is founder of Spine Centers of America. He has a special interest in minimally invasive spine procedures and endoscopic spine surgery. He completed training at Texas Back Institute in Plano and traveled for further training in England with Dr. Martin Knight. Dr. Massoud also instructs orthopedic residents and physicians in new spinal surgery techniques.
Alfred McNair, MD, is founder of Digestive Disease Center in Ocean Springs, Miss. The practice includes six gastroenterologists and three physician assistants to cover a wide variety of GI patient needs and treatments. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. McNair founded the Mississippi Center for Autism and Related Development Disabilities. He is also a former member of the Mississippi State Board of Health.
Keith Metz, MD, JD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist and the medical director of Great Lakes Surgical Center in Southfield, Mich. Dr. Metz also serves on the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association's board of directors. He earned his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit.
Andrew J. Michael, MD, is a partner and board member of Stony Point Surgery Center in Richmond, Va. He is a board-certified ophthalmologist with a focus on surgical management of cataracts and glaucoma. He founded his practice, Commonwealth Eye Care Associates, in 2000. The practice now includes six physicians. Dr. Michael earned his medical degree from the University of Texas in Dallas and completed his residency and glaucoma fellowship at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. Dr. Michael is also an editor and co-author of the American Academy of Ophthalmology BCSC Glaucoma Text.
Carol Mitchell-Springer, MD, is a board-certified obstetrics/gynecologist and a partner of Surgery Center of Anchorage in Alaska. Dr. Mitchell-Springer is in private practice with Alaska Women's Health and currently serves as the practice's president. She focuses on urogynecology and gynecology. Dr. Mitchell-Springer earned her medical degree and residency at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. Surgery Center of Anchorage is affiliated with Regent Surgical Health.
Arvind Movva, MD, is the CEO of Gastroenterology Consultants in Moline, Ill. He also serves as the assistant medical director of Valley View Anesthesia, Midwest Clinical Research Associates and Regional Surgicenter in Moline. He also serves as a consultant with Movva Medical Consulting. Dr. Movva received his medical degree The Chicago Medical School and completed his residency training at the University of Illinois Medical Center, Chicago. He received his gastroenterology and hepatology fellowship training from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta.
Jeffrey P. Nees, MD, is a neurosurgeon and partner with Laser Spine Institute at the Oklahoma City surgery center location. He spent 15 years in private practice as a general neurosurgeon and among the first neurosurgeons to use artificial discs in Oklahoma City. He is involved in medical missions to Haiti and is a diplomat of the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
Jon Nielsen, MD, is an OB/GYN at North Memorial Ambulatory Surgery Center at Maple Grove (Minn.), managed by Surgical Management Professionals. The surgery center was organized in 2006 and also includes gastroenterology, ENT, orthopedics and pain management. He is president emeritus of Oakdale Obstetrics & Gynecology and serves as the medical director of women's and children's services at the North Memorial Medical Center and Maple Grove Hospital.
Toni R. Patterson, DO, is an anesthesiologist and medical director of Mid-Rivers Surgery Center in Saint Peters, Mo. She is a physician with Physician Anesthesia Associates in St. Louis and serves as a member of a group that covers six ambulatory surgical centers. She previously served as president of the American Osteopathic College of Anesthesiologists. The organization gave her the 2013 AOCA Distinguished Service Award in October. Mid-Rivers Surgery Center is accredited by Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care and includes two operating rooms and one treatment room. It offers procedures in a wide array of specialties, such as general surgery, ophthalmology, pain management, ENT and gastroenterology.
Chuck Peck, MD, is the managing director and board member at Navigant. He is an internist and rheumatologist with more than 35 years of experience in healthcare. He has served in a number of leadership positions at various organizations, including CEO and partner in a global healthcare advisory company. His areas of interest and expertise include health strategy and policy, performance improvement, clinical and operational excellence, change enablement, clinical care and leadership training.
Donald J. Perry, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and a partner in Surgery Center of Mt. Dora (Fla.), a center affiliated with Regent Surgical Health. Dr. Perry practices at Radnothy-Perry Orthopaedic Center in Tavares, Fla., as well as serving as the co-director of the Joint Replacement Center at Florida Hospital. Dr. Perry earned his medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and completed his residency at King-Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles. He holds a knee reconstruction and sports medicine fellowship from Jewett Orthopaedic Center in Winter Park, Fla.
Kenneth Pettine, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon. He is the founder of The Spine Institute and Loveland (Colo.) Surgery Center. Dr. Pettine also founded the Society for Ambulatory Spine Surgery. He received his medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver. He completed his residency and master's degree at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Dr. Pettine then completed his fellowship training at the Institute for Low Back and Neck Care in Minneapolis.
Anil Pinto, MD, is the founder of ReproMed Fertility Center, a private practice in Dallas. Dr. Pinto currently leads Vivere-Dallas Surgery Center and IVF Laboratory in Dallas. He is board-certified in fertility and reproductive endocrinology. He completed his fellowship at the Washington University School of Medicine. "A personal touch is what sets Vivere – Dallas apart from other clinics. I make sure that I'm always approachable to my patients so they feel comfortable while undergoing treatment processes that are often tough both emotionally and physically," he says.
Paul Protomastro, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic hand surgeon with Surgical Care Affiliates' Norwalk (Conn.) Surgery Center. Dr. Protomastro practices with Coastal Orthopaedics in Norwalk, Conn. He earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He completed his residency training at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland. Dr. Protomastro completed his hand and upper extremity surgery fellowship at Harvard University School of Medicine in Boston. Dr. Protomastro focuses on minimally invasive upper extremity surgery, total joint replacement of the shoulder and elbow and arthroscopic shoulder surgery. He is also a board member of the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association.
Stephen Punzak, MD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist and pain medicine physician. Dr. Punzak is also the developer of One Medical Passport, an online preadmission solution. One Medical Passport was developed 14 years ago as the only online-based preadmission solution at the time. One Medical Passport is used at numerous medical facilities including, Short Hills Surgery Center in Millburn, N.J., North Pointe Surgery Center in Lancaster, Pa., and Elmhurst (Ill.) Outpatient Surgery Center. Dr. Punzak has served as anesthesiologist for 21 years for ASCs and large tertiary hospitals. He has worked with ASCs such as Faunce Corner Surgery Center in Dartmouth, Mass., and New England Baptist Surgicare in Brookline, Mass.
Take Pullos, MD, is a board-certified general surgeon and partner of High Plains Surgery Center, a Regent Surgical Health center in Cheyenne, Wyo. Dr. Pullos began practicing general surgery in Cheyenne in 1984. He earned his medical degree from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque. Dr. Pullos currently practices with Cheyenne Physicians Group. He focuses on general and trauma surgery.
Vito Quatela, MD, is the co-founder and CEO of Ambulatory Healthcare Strategies, which offers administrative, oversight and consulting services. Dr. Quatela is a board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon and otolaryngologist. He is a past president of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. He also founded the non-profit organization HUGS, which supports annual medical mission trips to Ecuador, Guatemala and Vietnam. He completed his medical degree and residency at Northwestern University in Chicago. He completed his fellowship training at Tulane University in New Orleans.
Michael Redler, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician with Surgical Care Affiliates' Surgery Center of Fairfield County in Bridgeport, Conn. Dr. Redler is also a co-founder and partner of The Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center in Trumball, Conn. He earned his medical degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in Farmington. He completed his residency and fellowship training at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Dr. Redler also serves as an SCA Physician Leadership Board Member.
Wallace Reed, MD, is co-founder of Phoenix Surgicenter, the nation's first ASC, in 1970. He received the 2010 Health Care Heroes Lifetime Achievement Award from the Phoenix Business Journal, among several other recognitions throughout his career. Even since his retirement, Dr. Reed continues to inspire members of the healthcare and ASC industry.
Christopher Reising, MD, FACS, is the medical director of Pine Ridge Surgery in Wausau, Wis., a Pinnacle III affiliated center. Dr. Reising is a board-certified general surgeon. He earned his medical degree from Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis. He completed his residency and fellowship training at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Dr. Reising has an interest in endocrine surgery, surgical oncology, bariatrics and vascular surgery.
Blair Rhode, MD, is a sports medicine physician with Orland Park (Ill.) Orthopedics, which includes an MRI, Joint Commission-accredited surgery center and physical therapy center. Dr. Rhode started Orland Park Orthopedics in 2003 after finishing his fellowship at Southern Carolina Center for Sports Medicine. He performs minimally invasive knee replacements, allograft articular cartilage transplantation and meniscus repair.
J. Carlos Roman, MD, is a partner and pain management physician with Meridian Surgical Partners facility Central Arkansas Surgical Center in Russellville. He is the chairman of the Pain Management Review Committee of the Arkansas State Medical Board and has worked to increase awareness for regulations affecting prescription drugs. He is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and Anesthesia Political Action Committee.
John Romano, MD, is a board-certified otolaryngologist with a special interest in surgical treatment of thyroid conditions. He is a partner of the Regent Surgical Health-affiliated High Plains Surgery Center in Cheyenne, Wyo. He completed his medical degree at the University of Arizona School of Medicine in Tucson and completed his ENT residency at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Donald Schellpfeffer, MD, PhD, is the director and CEO of Medical Facilities Corp., which owns controlling interests in five specialty surgical hospitals and an ambulatory surgery center in California. Dr. Schellpfeffer has served the company's CEO since its inception in 1985. He is also a founding member and current CEO of Sioux Falls (S.D.) Specialty Hospital. He earned his medical degree from the University of South Dakota School of Medicine in Sioux Falls and completed an anesthesiology residency in Wisconsin.
David Shapiro, MD, CASC, is the immediate past president of the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association and a partner of ASC consulting company Ambulatory Surgery Company in Tallahassee, Fla. He also serves as the executive director of the Ambulatory Surgery Foundation and on the board of directors of the ASC Quality Collaboration. Dr. Shapiro is an anesthesiologist.
Joshua Siegel, MD, is a founding partner and managing member of Northeast Surgery Center in Newington, N.H. Dr. Siegel is board-certified in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine. He serves as sports medicine director at Access Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics. He earned his medical degree from SUNY Buffalo (N.Y.) and completed his residency at SUNY Health Science Center in Syracuse, N.Y. Dr. Siegel completed his sports medicine fellowship under James Andrews, MD, and William Clancy, MD, at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Ala.
Thomas Simpson, MD, is a board-certified otolaryngologist and chairman of the board of directors at Iowa City Ambulatory Surgical Center. He has served as president of the Iowa Academy of Otolaryngology. He is a member of numerous professional societies, including American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Sleep Medicine and American Sleep Disorders Association. His clinical interests include facial plastic reconstructive surgery, pediatric otolaryngology, laryngology, laryngeal pharyngeal reflux disease, otitis media, hearing loss and vertigo, among others. He completed his residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
Keith Smith, MD, is the co-founder and chief medical director of Surgery Center of Oklahoma, which posts its prices online. Dr. Smith is a board-certified anesthesiologist. He earned his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.
Margaret Spear, MD, is the 2013 to 2014 president of the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care. Dr. Spear is a fellow of the American College Health Association and currently serves as the senior director of University Health Services at Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Spear earned her medical degree from Mount Sinai Medical School in New York. She is board-certified in internal medicine. She has also served as AAAHC vice chair, treasurer and secretary, and has been an AAAHC surveyor since 1994.
Kevin Stone, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon and the founder of The Stone Clinic in San Francisco, which includes an ambulatory surgery center. Dr. Stone also serves as chairman of the Stone Research Foundation. He holds more than 40 U.S. patents on novel inventions for the field of healthcare. He earned his medical degree from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Harvard, a research fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, and a knee surgery fellowship under Richard Steadman, MD, in Lake Tahoe, Calif.
Charles Tadlock, MD, is founder of Surgery Center of Southern Nevada. He practices at the Center for Pain Management and is board certified in anesthesiology and pain management. The first case was performed at the surgery center in 2003 and the center continues to see an average of 300 cases per month.
William Tobler, MD, is chairman of the board of directors for The Christ Hospital Spine Surgery Center in Cincinnati. He has a special interest in minimally invasive spine surgery, outpatient spine surgery and image-guided neurosurgery. During his career, Dr. Tobler has spent time on the board of directors for the Mayfield Clinic and serves as chairman of the board for The Christ Hospital Spine Surgery Center. He is also the director of neurosurgery at The Christ Hospital and neurosurgical consultant to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Daniel J. Tomes, MD, is president of Southwest Lincoln (Neb.) Surgery Center and serves on the board of directors of Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln. He is a member of the Nebraska Medical Association and Midwest Neurosurgical Society as well as an active provisional member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. He has had research articles published in numerous journals, including Oncology and Journal of Neurosurgery. His clinical interests include brain and spinal tumor resection and minimally invasive spinal discectomy and fusion. He earned his medical degree at University of Nebraska College of Medicine in Omaha, where he also completed his residency.
Rebecca S. Twersky, MD, MPH, is the medical director of the ambulatory surgery unit at Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y. She also serves as a professor of anesthesiology and vice chair of research at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. Dr. Twersky earned her medical degree from SUNY and completed her residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. She received the 2005 Society of Ambulatory Anesthesia Distinguished Service Award and is a past president of SAMBA. Dr. Twersky is on the on the American Society of Anesthesiologists' Professional Liability Committee.
Richard N.W. Wohns, MD, JD, MBA, is founder and president of NeoSpine and Microsurgical Spine Center in Puyallup, Wash. He is a pioneer of outpatient spine surgery and founded the company NeoSpine in 2001 to develop a national network of outpatient spine surgery centers, which was acquired by Symbion in 2008. He was among the first United States neurosurgeons qualified to perform the eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion for minimally invasive lumbar fusions and has performed more than 3,000 outpatient cervical and lumbar surgeries.
William Van Wyk, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic hand surgeon with Forth Worth (Texas) Surgery Center, a Surgical Care Affiliates ASC. Dr. Van Wyk earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He underwent his residency training at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Van Wyk completed his fellowship training at Orthopedic Hospital in Los Angeles.
Pedro Vergne-Marini, MD, FACP, FACC, is the founder and vice-chairman of PCI | HealthDev, formerly known as Physicians' Capital Investments. He also serves as program director for transplantation and renal disease at Methodist Dallas Medical Center as well as a clinical professor of medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He is a member of a number of different medical societies of nephrology, including a founding member of the American Society of Transplant Physicians and the Texas Transplant Society. He earned his medical degree at University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. He completed his residency and the NIH cardiology fellowship at the University Hospital of the Puerto Rico School of Medicine. He has also completed his NIH nephrology fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas.
George Violin, MD, FACS, is one of the three founding principals of Ambulatory Surgical Centers of America. Dr. Violin, a board-certified ophthalmologist, has developed and owned a large ophthalmology practice and two ambulatory surgery centers. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York and completed his residency at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston.
Jeff Visotsky, MD, is founder of Morton Grove Surgery Center. He practices with Illinois Bone and Joint Institute and serves as an associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Northwestern University in Chicago. Dr. Visotsky is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American College of Physician Executives.
Daniel Weikert, MD, a board-certified ophthalmologist, is the medical director of Cool Springs Surgery Center in Franklin, Tenn. He also serves as assistant professor at Vanderbilt Eye Center in Nashville, Tenn. He focuses on age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and refractive errors. He earned his medical degree at Vanderbilt University and completed his residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Founded in 2000, the Cool Springs Surgery Center has five operating rooms and one gastroenterology procedure room. It is accredited by The Joint Commission.
Michael Weiss, DO, FAOAO, is Laser Spine Institute's chairman of surgery. He served as Laser Spine Institute's chief spine surgeon from 2008 to 2010 and was named chairman of surgery in 2011. In this role, Dr. Weiss oversees the proprietary fellowship training program. He is oversees the expansion of Laser Spine Institute's surgery centers. Dr. Weiss is based at Laser Spine Institute's Tampa, Fla., location, but trains surgeons at all of Laser Spine Institute's locations. He earned his medical degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and completed his internship at Pontiac (Mich.) Osteopathic Hospital. He has completed additional training in hand surgery, total joint surgery, adult reconstructive surgery and pediatric surgery. Dr. Weiss has also completed the Laser Spine Institute minimally invasive spine surgery fellowship.
Lindsay Wells, MD, is the founder of Audubon Fertility and Reproductive Medicine and a reproductive endocrinologist with Vivere-Audubon Surgery Center in New Orleans. Dr. Wells completed a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the University of Iowa and then returned to New Orleans. She partnered with Vivere-Health to open the Vivere-Audubon Surgery Center and IVF laboratory. "I know firsthand how infertility can take over peoples' lives and put a major strain on a couple's relationship, so I try to make my patient's experiences as stress-free as possible. I have a lot of empathy for them," says Dr. Wells.
Robert Wills, MD, is a co-founder and chief medical officer of Arise Healthcare, which owns and operates three ambulatory surgery centers in the Austin area. Dr. Wills founded Austin Pain Associates in 2002 and Arise Healthcare in 2005. He earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. He completed his residency training at Parkland Hospital in Dallas and Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle. Dr. Will is board-certified in anesthesiology.
Kimberly Wood, MD, is co-chair of the ASC Quality Collaboration. She is also the founder of kmdWOOD, which provides consulting services to the ASC industry. She has participated in several collaborative and cooperative initiatives, including the ASC Advocacy Committee and the ASC Coalition.
Jay N. Yepuri, MD, is a manager and on the board of directors for Digestive Health Associates of Texas. He is also the vice president of the Texas Ambulatory Surgery Center Society and medical director H.E.B. GI Lab. Dr. Yepuri is a surveyor for the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care. He completed a fellowship at the Digestive and Liver Diseases at Parkland Hospital/UT Southwestern in Dallas.
Igor R Yusupov, MD, is a neurosurgeon with Blue Chip Surgery Center Partners-affiliated center The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Center of Paradise Valley in Phoenix. He earned his medical degree, completed his neurological residency and conducted his spine fellowship training at the State University of New York School of Medicine. Dr. Yusupov is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, AO Spine International and North American Spine Society.
David Zarin, MD, is one of the founding partners of Texas ENT Specialists in Houston. He also serves as medical director of United Surgical Partners International as well as chairman of the board and chief of staff at TOPS Surgical Specialty Hospital in Houston. He is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. He earned his medical degree at University of Cincinnati and completed residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Please contact Carrie Pallardy at cpallardy@beckershealthcare.com with any questions regarding this list.
The ambulatory surgery center industry is built upon a number of leadership roles in both the clinical and business spheres, but ASCs would not exist without physicians. Beyond providing care in the low-cost, high-quality environment of ASCs, physician leaders lead clinical and administrative teams, establish successful ASCs, stand up for the industry and found companies that support industry growth.
From founding members of surgery centers and companies to medical directors and industry advocates, here are 100 physician leaders who have made significant contributions to the ASC sector.
David Abraham, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon and partner with The Reading Neck & Spine Center in Wyomissing, Pa. He completed a spine surgery fellowship in Detroit and is a member of the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He is involved in advocacy for orthopedics and offers both surgical and non-operative care for patients.
Charlie Agnone, MD, FACS, is a board-certified ophthalmologist and a founding member of Marysville (Ohio) Surgical Center. Dr. Agnone is also the on Ambulatory Surgery Center Association board of directors. She earned her medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus and interned at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus. Dr. Agnone completed her residency at The Ohio State University Hospitals.
Dale Armstrong, MD, is chairman of the board of Mason City (Iowa) Surgery Center as well as member and current president of the board of directors at Mason City Clinic. He is a board certified psychiatrist and is a member of the American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Oklahoma Psychiatric Association. He earned his medical degree at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in Oklahoma City. He completed his residency in adult psychiatry and fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Joseph Banno, MD, is founder and co-owner of Peoria (Ill.) Day Surgery Center. He has been associated with Peoria Urological Associates for more than 30 years and serves as a clinical instructor of urology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. Over the past few years, Dr. Banno has been involved in developing the world's first mobile ambulatory surgery center.
Stacey Berner, MD, is president and principal of SurgCenter Development, which he joined in 2012. He previously practiced at orthopedic hand and upper extremity surgery for 18 years. He served as medical director of the Hand Centers at Carroll Hospital Center and Northwest Hospital Center in Maryland. He helped develop and pioneer hand and wrist arthroscopy techniques as well as robotic surgery.
Robert Boeglin, MD, has been the board president of the Midwest Eye Institute in Indianapolis since 1997. He is also the co-founder of Health Venture Management, a company that develops surgery center partnerships between physicians and Clarian Health. He has been an active lecturer at the American Academy of Ophthalmology national conference and received the AAO Achievement Award in 2002. That same year he left clinical practice but continues to serve as Midwest Eye's president. He earned his medical degree and completed his ophthalmology residency at Indiana University. He has also completed a glaucoma fellowship at Yale University.
Thomas Bombardier, MD, FACS, is a founding principal of Ambulatory Surgical Centers of America. He is an ophthalmologist and prior to founding ASCOA he established the largest ophthalmic practice in Western Massachusetts, two ambulatory surgical centers and a regional referral center. Throughout his career, Dr. Bombardier has shared his expert insight and opinions on the state of the ASC industry, turnarounds and healthcare reform at national conferences.
Robert Bray Jr., MD, is founder, CEO and a neurological surgeon at DISC Sports & Spine Center in Marina Del Rey, Calif. He founded DISC in 2006 and opened a second surgery center in Newport Beach in early 2012. During his career, Dr. Bray devoted his practice to minimally invasive spine surgery and participated in the design and development of the Zeiss Microscope. He has treated several elite athletes and was a founder of the Institute for Spinal Disorders at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.
Joseph Burkhardt, DO, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with Meridian Surgical Partners' Brookside Surgery Center in Battle Creek, Mich. Dr. Burkhardt earned his medical degree from Kansas City (Mo.) University of Medicine and completed his residency at Michigan State University in Lancing. He completed his orthopedic surgery fellowship training at the University of Southern Florida/The Florida Knee and Orthopedic Center in Clearwater.
Matthew Bush, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and the board president of Central
Maine Orthopedics, which has an AAAHC-accredited ambulatory surgery center. Dr. Bush joined CMO in 2006. He focuses on hand and upper extremity surgery. Dr. Bush earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and Rhode Island Hospital in Providence. He completed his hand and upper extremity surgery fellowship at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C.
John Caruso, MD, FACS, is a neurosurgeon and founder of Parkway Surgery Center in Hagerstown, Md. The ASC is a Blue Chip Surgery Center Partners affiliate. He has more than 16 years of experience in neurological surgery and board certification from the American Board of Neurological Surgery. Dr. Caruso went into practice at Neurosurgical Specialists after completing a two-year fellowship at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and is a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
Richard N. Christie, MD, is a vice president of operational development at Ambulatory Surgical Centers of America. He is a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist and owned a private practice in Newport Beach, Calif., for 15 years. He was an investor in the Newport Beach Surgery Center and been involved in real estate development in Newport Beach and Palm Springs, Calif. Dr. Christie earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and completed his residency in San Diego.
Stephen Cohen, MD, MBA, FACS, FASCRS, is the medical director of Spivey Station Surgery Center in Jonesboro, Ga., and serves as a diplomat on the National Board of Medical Examiners. He is board certified and a member of the American Medical Association, American College of Gastroenterology and American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. He has published scientific research in national and European medical journals. He earned his medical degree at University of California Los Angeles and completed his residency at Boston University Medical Center. He also completed specialty training in colon and rectal surgery at Cleveland Clinic Florida.
Edward F. Coles, MD, FACP, FACG, is a board-certified gastroenterologist with Gastroenterology of San Marcos (Texas). Dr. Coles is a board member of New Braunfels Christus and Physicians Surgery Center. He also founded Central Texas Ambulatory Endoscopy Center in San Marcos, of which he currently serves as a managing partner. Dr. Coles received his medical degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and completed his residency training at Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco. Dr. Coles completed his fellowship at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.
Christine Corbin, MD, is the medical director of Surgery Center at Tanasbourne in Hillsboro, Ore., a 17,000-square-foot facility. The center is a joint venture with the surgeon-owner investor group, Providence Health & Services and Blue Chip Surgical Center Partners. She is also the founder and president of Northwest Gynecology Associates. Dr. Corbin is a board-certified obstetrics and gynecology surgeon. She earned her medical degree at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine in Rootstown and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago.
R. Blake Curd, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon with Orthopedic Institute in Sioux Falls, S.D., and chairman of the board of directors for Surgical Management Professionals. He is president-elect of Physician Hospitals of America and manager for Medical Facilities Corp. He completed a fellowship at the Indiana Hand Center and serves as an associate team physician for local athletic teams. Dr. Curd serves on the South Dakota State Senate and was accepted to the leadership fellows program of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He previously served as a representative in the South Dakota House of Representatives.
Urfan Dar, MD, currently serves as the medical director of Theda Oaks Surgical Center in San Antonio, and principal and president of Interventional Pain Management Physicians. Before his current roles, he served as medical director of Stone Oak Research Foundation in San Antonio. He is certified by the American Board of Pain Medicine and American Board of Anesthesiology, and he focuses on advanced techniques to treat all types of chronic and cancer pain. He is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Society of Interventional Pain Management Physicians, American Society of Anesthesiology and American Neuromodulation Society. He earned his medical degree at the University of Kashmir in India and completed his residency in anesthesiology at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.
Daniel Daube, MD, FACS, the medical director of Surgical Center for Excellence in Panama City, Fla., which is affiliated with ASD Management. Dr. Daube also owns his own practice in Panama City called Gulf Coast Facial Plastics & ENT Center. He is a plastic surgeon as well as ENT physician. He is certified by The Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery as well The American Board of Otolaryngology. He is fellowship-trained and accredited with the American Academy of Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery.
Thomas Deas Jr., MD, is the medical director of Fort Worth (Texas) Endoscopy Center, a Surgical Care Affiliates facility. He is board-certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology. He earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport and completed his internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio. Dr. Deas is a past president of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and has served as advisory board member for the GI Quality Improvement Consortium. Dr. Deas emphasizes quality and safety monitoring in his role as medical director of Fort Worth Endoscopy Center. He also serves as an SCA Physician Leadership Board Member.
Edward Decter, MD, FACS, is the medical director of Short Hills Surgery Center in Millburn, N.J., and is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. He also serves on the physician executive council of the sports medicine institute at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, N.J. He practices with Center for Orthopaedics in West Orange, N.J. He has served as head orthopedic surgeon and head physician for the Red Bull New York/New Jersey MetroStars pro soccer team. He is a member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and New Jersey Orthopaedic Society. He earned his medical degree at Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha and completed his residency at the Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York.
Randy Delcore, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, is the president and medical director of Cedar Orthopaedic Surgery Center in Cedar City, Utah. Dr. Delcore earned his medical degree from the Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, and completed his residency at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. Directly out of residency training, Dr. Delcore began his independent practice, which grew to include a freestanding imaging facility and onsite physical therapy services. He opened Cedar Orthopaedic Surgery Center in 2005 and continues to look for ways to expand. "As COSC looks into and develops web-based media our ability to expand our cash pay and medical tourism business will grow as we provide transparent prices for those individuals and businesses that are looking to truly manage their insurance and personal dollars," says Dr. Delcore.
Meena Desai, MD, is the founder, president and CEO of Nova Anesthesia Professionals and a board-certified anesthesiologist. Nova Anesthesia Professionals provides physician and CRNA anesthesia services to ambulatory surgery centers, endoscopy centers and specialty hospitals. Dr. Desai earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Pennsylvania and completed her residency at Temple University in Philadelphia. She has held numerous leadership positions with AAAHC and the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia.
Thomas Eickmann, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon with The Surgery Center at Lutheran in Wheat Ridge, Colo., which is a Pinnacle III center. Dr. Eickmann earned his medical degree and completed his residency training at Loma Linda (Calif.) University School of Medicine. He practices with Cornerstone Orthopedics in Denver.
John Fitz, MD, is the founder and chairman of the board for The Surgery Center of Farmington, which is managed by ASD Management. He has more than 23 years in practice of comprehensive ophthalmology. He has performed more than 10,000 cataract surgeries and been on the forefront of using premium IOL's that correct presbyopia and astigmatism. He was among the first Crystalens-certified surgeons in his region. He is on the faculty of the American College of Surgeons.
Mark Flood, DO, is an orthopedic spine surgeon and chief of surgical innovation for Laser Spine Institute, which currently owns and operates five surgery centers. He earned his doctor of osteopathic medicine from the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University, where he also completed his residency. He holds a spine surgery fellowship from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and a scoliosis and pediatric orthopedic surgery fellowship from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Dr. Flood founded two private practices and then became director and a founding member of the Center for Spinal Disorders and Pediatric Orthopedics in Mesa, Ariz. Dr. Flood joined Laser Spine Institute in 2008.
Robin Fowler, MD, is medical director of Interventional Spine and Pain Management Center and founder and medical director of Interventional Management Services. He has been a pain practitioner in Atlanta since 2005 and serves as medical director for four pain management surgical centers. Throughout his career, Dr. Fowler has spoken at several medical universities and national ASC conferences. He is a member of the American Academy of Pain Medicine and National Pain Foundation.
James L. Fox Jr., MD, is the founding leader of the Ravine Way Surgery Center in Glenview, Ill. Dr. Fox, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, practices at Illinois Bone & Joint Institute. He has a clinical focus on general orthopedic surgery, arthroscopy, fracture care and orthopedic oncology. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. Dr. Fox completed his residency training at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He holds a joint replacement fellowship from Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital in Chicago, and an orthopedic oncology fellowship from Sloan-Kettering Memorial Cancer Center in New York.
Ralph A. Gambardella, MD, is president of Kerlan-Jobe Surgery Center and chairman and president of Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles. He completed a sports medicine fellowship at Kerlan-Jobe and is a former president of the Association of Major League Team Physicians. He also serves on American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Council of Delegates and an orthopedic consultant to the LA Dodgers.
Robert Gannan, MD, PhD, is the founder of Physicians Endoscopy. He is the company's past national medical director and chairman of the board of directors. Dr. Gannan is board-certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology. He earned his medical degree from the University of Rochester (N.Y.) School of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. Gannan completed his residency and fellowship training at the University of California Hospital. Dr. Gannan has spoken internationally on a number of topics in gastroenterology and on the development of ambulatory surgery centers.
David S. George, MD, is the medical director of Physicians Outpatient Surgery Center in Belpre, Ohio, and a member of the board of directors and secretary of the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association. Dr. George is a board-certified ophthalmologist. He also serves on the board of directors of the Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society. He completed his medical degree and residency at The Ohio State University in Columbus. Dr. George has an interest in glaucoma, diabetic eye care, cataract surgery and refractive surgery.
Gregory George, MD, PhD, is founding principal of SurgCenter Development. Under his leadership, SurgCenter Development has developed more than 105 successful physician-owned ASCs. He was previously a high surgical volume ophthalmologist at a busy practice. He earned his medical degree from Duke University in Durham, N.C.
James Gesler, MD, is founder and medical director for Wooster (Ohio) Ambulatory Surgery Center. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Case Western Reserve & Affiliated Hospitals in Cleveland. Dr. Gesler has a special interest in total joint replacement, spine, general orthopedics and adult reconstruction. For several years, he has served as a cabinet member of the United Way.
Anthony Giamberdino, MD, is chairman of Symbion's Physician Quality Council, which meets routinely to review benchmark data, evaluate common issues, share information and best practices and make policy recommendations. He is a board-certified anesthesiologist and earned his medical degree at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Evanston, Ill.-based Northwestern University. He is one of the 165 surgeons and physicians who are on staff at Valley Ambulatory Surgery Center in St. Charles, Ill.
Scott Glaser, MD, DABIPP, is Co-Founder and President of the Pain Specialists of Greater Chicago. Throughout his career, he has been elected twice to the national board of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians and been president of the Illinois Society of Interventional Pain Physicians. Dr. Glaser was one of the first instructors selected by the International Spinal Interventional Society and currently instructs for ASIPP.
Matthew F. Gornet, MD, is a board-certified spine surgeon who focuses on the treatment of patients with low back and neck pain. He also has a professional interest in treating those suffering from pain after failed spine surgery. He is a governing board member at St. Louis Spine & Orthopedic Surgery Center. He is a member of the North American Spine Society, International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery and AOSpine. Dr. Gornet completed his orthopedic surgery residency and a spine surgery fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
David Grainger, MD, is medical director of Cypress Surgery Center in Wichita, Kan., and chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita. He is also a governing board member of the surgery center and serves on Symbion's Physician Quality Council, which regularly meets to review benchmark data, evaluate common issues, share information and best practices and make policy recommendations. He completed his residency training at University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita.
John Hajjar, MD, FACS, MBA, is the chairman and CEO of Surgem, a physician-centered ASC development, management and operations company. He holds appointments and actively practices urology at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, N.J., Hackensack (N.J.) Medical Center and St. Joseph's Hospital in Paterson, N.J. He earned his medical degree Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and completed training in general surgery and then urology at New York University Medical Center. He also completed an MBA from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, with specialization in office-based ambulatory surgical centers.
Scott Holley, MD, is the president and founder of Great Lakes Plastic & Hand Surgery in Portage, Mich. He is board-certified in general surgery, plastic surgery and he holds the certificate of added qualification as a specialist in hand surgery. He is a member of American Society of Plastic Surgeons and Michigan Association of Hand Surgeons. He has served as president of the Michigan Association of Hand Surgery and has been a patient advocate on the Worker's Compensation Committee of the Michigan State Medical Society. He earned his medical degree at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis and completed residencies in general and plastic surgery at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He has completed fellowships in hand and microsurgery at the Kleinert Institute in Louisville, Ky., burn surgery at the Shriner's Hospital in Cincinnati and cosmetic surgery in Miami.
Gregory Horner, MD, is on the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association's board of directors. He also serves as the CEO of Hacienda Surgery Center in Pleasanton, Calif. Dr. Horner is a board-certified hand surgeon in practice with Tri-Valley Orthopedic Specialists. He earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and completed his residency at UCLA Medical Center. He then completed upper extremity fellowships at Tufts University School of Medicine and New England Bone and Joint Institute in Boston.
William Isaacson, MD, is the medical director of Crozer-Keystone Surgery Center at Haverford, which acquired its name when the Surgery Center of Pennsylvania became a part of the Crozer-Keystone Health System in April 2013. Dr. Isaacson is a board-certified anesthesiologist. He also focuses on interventional pain medicine. He completed his residency training at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.
Peter Janes, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with Peak One Surgery Center in Frisco, Colo. Dr. Janes began a community surgery day at Peak One Surgery Center, affiliated with Pinnacle III, in collaboration with the Summit Community Care Clinic. Dr. Janes earned his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis and completed his residency at the University of Utah Medical School in Salt Lake City. Dr. Janes practices with Vail (Colo.) Summit Orthopaedics.
Dennis P. Johnson, MD, is the medical director of Grand Valley Surgical Center in Grand Junction, Colo., as well as chief of anesthesia. He is board-certified and earned his medical degree at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City. Grand Valley Surgical Center is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care. Its surgeons provide care in a number of specialties, including ENT, ophthalmology, general surgery, urology, orthopedics, gynecology and neurology.
Steven Kern, MD, FACS, is the medical director of North Memorial Ambulatory Surgery Center in Maple Grove, Minn. He also serves as a board member of Surgical Management Professionals. Dr. Kern is a board-certified general surgeon. He earned his medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha and completed his residency at the University of Kansas in Wichita. He also serves as chief of surgery at Maple Grove Hospital. Dr. Kern has a special interest in thyroid surgery.
Lawrence Kim, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterologist with South Denver Gastroenterology. He earned his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. He completed his residency at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and underwent his fellowship training at the University of California in San Francisco. Dr. Kim serves on the governing board of the American Gastroenterologist Association. In 2004, he became the first gastroenterologist to join the board of directors of the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care. He is also an AAAHC surveyor. Dr. Kim is active in the American College of Gastroenterology, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.
Lawrence Kosinski, MD, MBA, is a board-certified gastroenterologist with Elgin (Ill.) Gastroenterology. He is a managing partner of Illinois Gastroenterology Group, which includes seven endoscopy centers. He performs procedures at Algonquin Road Surgery Center in Lake in the Hills, Ill., and Elgin (Ill.) Gastroenterology Endoscopy Center. He serves on the board of directors for Sherman Hospital and as a member of the advisory board of the Illinois Health Information Exchange. Dr. Kosinski is the chair of the American Gastroenterological Association Practice Management and Economics Committee. He earned his medical degree from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, Ill. He completed his residency and two fellowships with Loyola University.
Donald Kramer, MD, is founder of Northstar Healthcare and spent the past 20 years founding numerous healthcare businesses, including 30 outpatient surgery centers. He developed Omniplus Healthcare in 1995 and Access MediQuip in 1996. Prior to retiring from his clinical anesthesia practice in 2007, he founded Palladium for Surgery-Houston which became the cornerstone for Northstar Healthcare.
Richard Kube, MD, is founder of Prairie Spine & Pain Institute and Prairie SurgiCare in Peoria, Ill. He is a fellowship-trained spine surgeon and has a special interest in motion preservation techniques. He has made more than 20 international presentations during his career and serves as a faculty member at the University of Illinois School of Medicine in Peoria. He is a member of several professional societies, including the American College of Spine Surgery and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Peter R. Kurzweil, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon and founder of Surgery Center of Long Beach. He is on the board of directors for Arthroscopy Association of North America as well as the team orthopedic surgeon for Cal State University Long Beach. Dr. Kurzweil completed a fellowship in orthopedics at Southern California Center for Sports Medicine.
Brent Lambert, MD, FACS, is a founding principal of ASC management and development company Ambulatory Surgical Centers of America and a board-certified ophthalmologist. Prior to founding ASCOA, he developed and owned three surgery centers, including one the first centers in New England. In his current role with ASCOA, he focuses on business development. Dr. Lambert earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York and completed his residency at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary in Boston.
James Lehmann, MD, is the medical director of Specialty Surgery Center in San Antonio, Texas, and a board-certified ophthalmologist. He currently practices with Focal Point Vision in San Antonio. He focuses on cataract, corneal and refractive surgery. Dr. Lehmann conducts clinical research, gives scientific presentations and participates in clinical and surgical volunteer work through I Care Clinic at the Haven for Hope. He recently performed cataract surgery in Huatulco, Mexico, and served as a volunteer faculty member of ORBIS International to help teach residents and physicians in Trujillo, Peru, new techniques in cataract and corneal surgery.
Bruce Levy, MD, JD, is CEO of Austin Gastroenterology as well as a member of the board of directors of Texas Ambulatory Surgery Center Society. He is a board-certified anesthesiologist who previously practiced at The Methodist Hospital and served on the faculty at Baylor College of Medicine, both in Houston. He has previously served as executive director of the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners and chairman of the Health Professions Council of Texas. He earned his medical degree at Drexel University College of Medicine, previously known as Hahnemann Medical College, in Philadelphia and his legal degree at The University of Houston Bates School of Law.
James Lynch, MD, is founder of SpineNevada and Surgery Center of Reno, and serves as a partner and director of spine services at Regent Surgical Health. He has more than 20 years of experience as a spinal neurosurgeon and has performed minimally invasive techniques since 2002. He was the first surgeon in Reno to perform MIS TLIF and MAS PLIF and among the first to perform artificial disc replacements. This past year, Dr. Lynch served as a board member for the High Fives Organization.
Laximaiah Manchikanti, MD, is the chairman of the board, founder and CEO of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians and Society for Interventional Pain Management Surgery Centers. He also serves as the medical director of Pain Management Centers of Paducah (Ky.). Dr. Manchikanti is board-certified in anesthesia and pain medicine. He earned his medical degree at Gandhi Medical College at Osmania University in India and completed his residency in anesthesiology at Gandhi Hospital. His additional training includes a fellowship in anesthesiology and critical care medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Bryan Massoud, MD, is founder of Spine Centers of America. He has a special interest in minimally invasive spine procedures and endoscopic spine surgery. He completed training at Texas Back Institute in Plano and traveled for further training in England with Dr. Martin Knight. Dr. Massoud also instructs orthopedic residents and physicians in new spinal surgery techniques.
Alfred McNair, MD, is founder of Digestive Disease Center in Ocean Springs, Miss. The practice includes six gastroenterologists and three physician assistants to cover a wide variety of GI patient needs and treatments. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. McNair founded the Mississippi Center for Autism and Related Development Disabilities. He is also a former member of the Mississippi State Board of Health.
Keith Metz, MD, JD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist and the medical director of Great Lakes Surgical Center in Southfield, Mich. Dr. Metz also serves on the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association's board of directors. He earned his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit.
Andrew J. Michael, MD, is a partner and board member of Stony Point Surgery Center in Richmond, Va. He is a board-certified ophthalmologist with a focus on surgical management of cataracts and glaucoma. He founded his practice, Commonwealth Eye Care Associates, in 2000. The practice now includes six physicians. Dr. Michael earned his medical degree from the University of Texas in Dallas and completed his residency and glaucoma fellowship at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. Dr. Michael is also an editor and co-author of the American Academy of Ophthalmology BCSC Glaucoma Text.
Carol Mitchell-Springer, MD, is a board-certified obstetrics/gynecologist and a partner of Surgery Center of Anchorage in Alaska. Dr. Mitchell-Springer is in private practice with Alaska Women's Health and currently serves as the practice's president. She focuses on urogynecology and gynecology. Dr. Mitchell-Springer earned her medical degree and residency at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. Surgery Center of Anchorage is affiliated with Regent Surgical Health.
Arvind Movva, MD, is the CEO of Gastroenterology Consultants in Moline, Ill. He also serves as the assistant medical director of Valley View Anesthesia, Midwest Clinical Research Associates and Regional Surgicenter in Moline. He also serves as a consultant with Movva Medical Consulting. Dr. Movva received his medical degree The Chicago Medical School and completed his residency training at the University of Illinois Medical Center, Chicago. He received his gastroenterology and hepatology fellowship training from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta.
Jeffrey P. Nees, MD, is a neurosurgeon and partner with Laser Spine Institute at the Oklahoma City surgery center location. He spent 15 years in private practice as a general neurosurgeon and among the first neurosurgeons to use artificial discs in Oklahoma City. He is involved in medical missions to Haiti and is a diplomat of the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
Jon Nielsen, MD, is an OB/GYN at North Memorial Ambulatory Surgery Center at Maple Grove (Minn.), managed by Surgical Management Professionals. The surgery center was organized in 2006 and also includes gastroenterology, ENT, orthopedics and pain management. He is president emeritus of Oakdale Obstetrics & Gynecology and serves as the medical director of women's and children's services at the North Memorial Medical Center and Maple Grove Hospital.
Toni R. Patterson, DO, is an anesthesiologist and medical director of Mid-Rivers Surgery Center in Saint Peters, Mo. She is a physician with Physician Anesthesia Associates in St. Louis and serves as a member of a group that covers six ambulatory surgical centers. She previously served as president of the American Osteopathic College of Anesthesiologists. The organization gave her the 2013 AOCA Distinguished Service Award in October. Mid-Rivers Surgery Center is accredited by Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care and includes two operating rooms and one treatment room. It offers procedures in a wide array of specialties, such as general surgery, ophthalmology, pain management, ENT and gastroenterology.
Chuck Peck, MD, is the managing director and board member at Navigant. He is an internist and rheumatologist with more than 35 years of experience in healthcare. He has served in a number of leadership positions at various organizations, including CEO and partner in a global healthcare advisory company. His areas of interest and expertise include health strategy and policy, performance improvement, clinical and operational excellence, change enablement, clinical care and leadership training.
Donald J. Perry, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and a partner in Surgery Center of Mt. Dora (Fla.), a center affiliated with Regent Surgical Health. Dr. Perry practices at Radnothy-Perry Orthopaedic Center in Tavares, Fla., as well as serving as the co-director of the Joint Replacement Center at Florida Hospital. Dr. Perry earned his medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and completed his residency at King-Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles. He holds a knee reconstruction and sports medicine fellowship from Jewett Orthopaedic Center in Winter Park, Fla.
Kenneth Pettine, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon. He is the founder of The Spine Institute and Loveland (Colo.) Surgery Center. Dr. Pettine also founded the Society for Ambulatory Spine Surgery. He received his medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver. He completed his residency and master's degree at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Dr. Pettine then completed his fellowship training at the Institute for Low Back and Neck Care in Minneapolis.
Anil Pinto, MD, is the founder of ReproMed Fertility Center, a private practice in Dallas. Dr. Pinto currently leads Vivere-Dallas Surgery Center and IVF Laboratory in Dallas. He is board-certified in fertility and reproductive endocrinology. He completed his fellowship at the Washington University School of Medicine. "A personal touch is what sets Vivere – Dallas apart from other clinics. I make sure that I'm always approachable to my patients so they feel comfortable while undergoing treatment processes that are often tough both emotionally and physically," he says.
Paul Protomastro, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic hand surgeon with Surgical Care Affiliates' Norwalk (Conn.) Surgery Center. Dr. Protomastro practices with Coastal Orthopaedics in Norwalk, Conn. He earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He completed his residency training at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland. Dr. Protomastro completed his hand and upper extremity surgery fellowship at Harvard University School of Medicine in Boston. Dr. Protomastro focuses on minimally invasive upper extremity surgery, total joint replacement of the shoulder and elbow and arthroscopic shoulder surgery. He is also a board member of the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association.
Stephen Punzak, MD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist and pain medicine physician. Dr. Punzak is also the developer of One Medical Passport, an online preadmission solution. One Medical Passport was developed 14 years ago as the only online-based preadmission solution at the time. One Medical Passport is used at numerous medical facilities including, Short Hills Surgery Center in Millburn, N.J., North Pointe Surgery Center in Lancaster, Pa., and Elmhurst (Ill.) Outpatient Surgery Center. Dr. Punzak has served as anesthesiologist for 21 years for ASCs and large tertiary hospitals. He has worked with ASCs such as Faunce Corner Surgery Center in Dartmouth, Mass., and New England Baptist Surgicare in Brookline, Mass.
Take Pullos, MD, is a board-certified general surgeon and partner of High Plains Surgery Center, a Regent Surgical Health center in Cheyenne, Wyo. Dr. Pullos began practicing general surgery in Cheyenne in 1984. He earned his medical degree from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque. Dr. Pullos currently practices with Cheyenne Physicians Group. He focuses on general and trauma surgery.
Vito Quatela, MD, is the co-founder and CEO of Ambulatory Healthcare Strategies, which offers administrative, oversight and consulting services. Dr. Quatela is a board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon and otolaryngologist. He is a past president of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. He also founded the non-profit organization HUGS, which supports annual medical mission trips to Ecuador, Guatemala and Vietnam. He completed his medical degree and residency at Northwestern University in Chicago. He completed his fellowship training at Tulane University in New Orleans.
Michael Redler, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician with Surgical Care Affiliates' Surgery Center of Fairfield County in Bridgeport, Conn. Dr. Redler is also a co-founder and partner of The Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center in Trumball, Conn. He earned his medical degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in Farmington. He completed his residency and fellowship training at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Dr. Redler also serves as an SCA Physician Leadership Board Member.
Wallace Reed, MD, is co-founder of Phoenix Surgicenter, the nation's first ASC, in 1970. He received the 2010 Health Care Heroes Lifetime Achievement Award from the Phoenix Business Journal, among several other recognitions throughout his career. Even since his retirement, Dr. Reed continues to inspire members of the healthcare and ASC industry.
Christopher Reising, MD, FACS, is the medical director of Pine Ridge Surgery in Wausau, Wis., a Pinnacle III affiliated center. Dr. Reising is a board-certified general surgeon. He earned his medical degree from Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis. He completed his residency and fellowship training at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Dr. Reising has an interest in endocrine surgery, surgical oncology, bariatrics and vascular surgery.
Blair Rhode, MD, is a sports medicine physician with Orland Park (Ill.) Orthopedics, which includes an MRI, Joint Commission-accredited surgery center and physical therapy center. Dr. Rhode started Orland Park Orthopedics in 2003 after finishing his fellowship at Southern Carolina Center for Sports Medicine. He performs minimally invasive knee replacements, allograft articular cartilage transplantation and meniscus repair.
J. Carlos Roman, MD, is a partner and pain management physician with Meridian Surgical Partners facility Central Arkansas Surgical Center in Russellville. He is the chairman of the Pain Management Review Committee of the Arkansas State Medical Board and has worked to increase awareness for regulations affecting prescription drugs. He is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and Anesthesia Political Action Committee.
John Romano, MD, is a board-certified otolaryngologist with a special interest in surgical treatment of thyroid conditions. He is a partner of the Regent Surgical Health-affiliated High Plains Surgery Center in Cheyenne, Wyo. He completed his medical degree at the University of Arizona School of Medicine in Tucson and completed his ENT residency at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Donald Schellpfeffer, MD, PhD, is the director and CEO of Medical Facilities Corp., which owns controlling interests in five specialty surgical hospitals and an ambulatory surgery center in California. Dr. Schellpfeffer has served the company's CEO since its inception in 1985. He is also a founding member and current CEO of Sioux Falls (S.D.) Specialty Hospital. He earned his medical degree from the University of South Dakota School of Medicine in Sioux Falls and completed an anesthesiology residency in Wisconsin.
David Shapiro, MD, CASC, is the immediate past president of the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association and a partner of ASC consulting company Ambulatory Surgery Company in Tallahassee, Fla. He also serves as the executive director of the Ambulatory Surgery Foundation and on the board of directors of the ASC Quality Collaboration. Dr. Shapiro is an anesthesiologist.
Joshua Siegel, MD, is a founding partner and managing member of Northeast Surgery Center in Newington, N.H. Dr. Siegel is board-certified in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine. He serves as sports medicine director at Access Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics. He earned his medical degree from SUNY Buffalo (N.Y.) and completed his residency at SUNY Health Science Center in Syracuse, N.Y. Dr. Siegel completed his sports medicine fellowship under James Andrews, MD, and William Clancy, MD, at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Ala.
Thomas Simpson, MD, is a board-certified otolaryngologist and chairman of the board of directors at Iowa City Ambulatory Surgical Center. He has served as president of the Iowa Academy of Otolaryngology. He is a member of numerous professional societies, including American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Sleep Medicine and American Sleep Disorders Association. His clinical interests include facial plastic reconstructive surgery, pediatric otolaryngology, laryngology, laryngeal pharyngeal reflux disease, otitis media, hearing loss and vertigo, among others. He completed his residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
Keith Smith, MD, is the co-founder and chief medical director of Surgery Center of Oklahoma, which posts its prices online. Dr. Smith is a board-certified anesthesiologist. He earned his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.
Margaret Spear, MD, is the 2013 to 2014 president of the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care. Dr. Spear is a fellow of the American College Health Association and currently serves as the senior director of University Health Services at Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Spear earned her medical degree from Mount Sinai Medical School in New York. She is board-certified in internal medicine. She has also served as AAAHC vice chair, treasurer and secretary, and has been an AAAHC surveyor since 1994.
Kevin Stone, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon and the founder of The Stone Clinic in San Francisco, which includes an ambulatory surgery center. Dr. Stone also serves as chairman of the Stone Research Foundation. He holds more than 40 U.S. patents on novel inventions for the field of healthcare. He earned his medical degree from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Harvard, a research fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, and a knee surgery fellowship under Richard Steadman, MD, in Lake Tahoe, Calif.
Charles Tadlock, MD, is founder of Surgery Center of Southern Nevada. He practices at the Center for Pain Management and is board certified in anesthesiology and pain management. The first case was performed at the surgery center in 2003 and the center continues to see an average of 300 cases per month.
William Tobler, MD, is chairman of the board of directors for The Christ Hospital Spine Surgery Center in Cincinnati. He has a special interest in minimally invasive spine surgery, outpatient spine surgery and image-guided neurosurgery. During his career, Dr. Tobler has spent time on the board of directors for the Mayfield Clinic and serves as chairman of the board for The Christ Hospital Spine Surgery Center. He is also the director of neurosurgery at The Christ Hospital and neurosurgical consultant to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Daniel J. Tomes, MD, is president of Southwest Lincoln (Neb.) Surgery Center and serves on the board of directors of Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln. He is a member of the Nebraska Medical Association and Midwest Neurosurgical Society as well as an active provisional member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. He has had research articles published in numerous journals, including Oncology and Journal of Neurosurgery. His clinical interests include brain and spinal tumor resection and minimally invasive spinal discectomy and fusion. He earned his medical degree at University of Nebraska College of Medicine in Omaha, where he also completed his residency.
Rebecca S. Twersky, MD, MPH, is the medical director of the ambulatory surgery unit at Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y. She also serves as a professor of anesthesiology and vice chair of research at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. Dr. Twersky earned her medical degree from SUNY and completed her residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. She received the 2005 Society of Ambulatory Anesthesia Distinguished Service Award and is a past president of SAMBA. Dr. Twersky is on the on the American Society of Anesthesiologists' Professional Liability Committee.
Richard N.W. Wohns, MD, JD, MBA, is founder and president of NeoSpine and Microsurgical Spine Center in Puyallup, Wash. He is a pioneer of outpatient spine surgery and founded the company NeoSpine in 2001 to develop a national network of outpatient spine surgery centers, which was acquired by Symbion in 2008. He was among the first United States neurosurgeons qualified to perform the eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion for minimally invasive lumbar fusions and has performed more than 3,000 outpatient cervical and lumbar surgeries.
William Van Wyk, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic hand surgeon with Forth Worth (Texas) Surgery Center, a Surgical Care Affiliates ASC. Dr. Van Wyk earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He underwent his residency training at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Van Wyk completed his fellowship training at Orthopedic Hospital in Los Angeles.
Pedro Vergne-Marini, MD, FACP, FACC, is the founder and vice-chairman of PCI | HealthDev, formerly known as Physicians' Capital Investments. He also serves as program director for transplantation and renal disease at Methodist Dallas Medical Center as well as a clinical professor of medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He is a member of a number of different medical societies of nephrology, including a founding member of the American Society of Transplant Physicians and the Texas Transplant Society. He earned his medical degree at University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. He completed his residency and the NIH cardiology fellowship at the University Hospital of the Puerto Rico School of Medicine. He has also completed his NIH nephrology fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas.
George Violin, MD, FACS, is one of the three founding principals of Ambulatory Surgical Centers of America. Dr. Violin, a board-certified ophthalmologist, has developed and owned a large ophthalmology practice and two ambulatory surgery centers. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York and completed his residency at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston.
Jeff Visotsky, MD, is founder of Morton Grove Surgery Center. He practices with Illinois Bone and Joint Institute and serves as an associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Northwestern University in Chicago. Dr. Visotsky is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American College of Physician Executives.
Daniel Weikert, MD, a board-certified ophthalmologist, is the medical director of Cool Springs Surgery Center in Franklin, Tenn. He also serves as assistant professor at Vanderbilt Eye Center in Nashville, Tenn. He focuses on age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and refractive errors. He earned his medical degree at Vanderbilt University and completed his residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Founded in 2000, the Cool Springs Surgery Center has five operating rooms and one gastroenterology procedure room. It is accredited by The Joint Commission.
Michael Weiss, DO, FAOAO, is Laser Spine Institute's chairman of surgery. He served as Laser Spine Institute's chief spine surgeon from 2008 to 2010 and was named chairman of surgery in 2011. In this role, Dr. Weiss oversees the proprietary fellowship training program. He is oversees the expansion of Laser Spine Institute's surgery centers. Dr. Weiss is based at Laser Spine Institute's Tampa, Fla., location, but trains surgeons at all of Laser Spine Institute's locations. He earned his medical degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and completed his internship at Pontiac (Mich.) Osteopathic Hospital. He has completed additional training in hand surgery, total joint surgery, adult reconstructive surgery and pediatric surgery. Dr. Weiss has also completed the Laser Spine Institute minimally invasive spine surgery fellowship.
Lindsay Wells, MD, is the founder of Audubon Fertility and Reproductive Medicine and a reproductive endocrinologist with Vivere-Audubon Surgery Center in New Orleans. Dr. Wells completed a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the University of Iowa and then returned to New Orleans. She partnered with Vivere-Health to open the Vivere-Audubon Surgery Center and IVF laboratory. "I know firsthand how infertility can take over peoples' lives and put a major strain on a couple's relationship, so I try to make my patient's experiences as stress-free as possible. I have a lot of empathy for them," says Dr. Wells.
Robert Wills, MD, is a co-founder and chief medical officer of Arise Healthcare, which owns and operates three ambulatory surgery centers in the Austin area. Dr. Wills founded Austin Pain Associates in 2002 and Arise Healthcare in 2005. He earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. He completed his residency training at Parkland Hospital in Dallas and Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle. Dr. Will is board-certified in anesthesiology.
Kimberly Wood, MD, is co-chair of the ASC Quality Collaboration. She is also the founder of kmdWOOD, which provides consulting services to the ASC industry. She has participated in several collaborative and cooperative initiatives, including the ASC Advocacy Committee and the ASC Coalition.
Jay N. Yepuri, MD, is a manager and on the board of directors for Digestive Health Associates of Texas. He is also the vice president of the Texas Ambulatory Surgery Center Society and medical director H.E.B. GI Lab. Dr. Yepuri is a surveyor for the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care. He completed a fellowship at the Digestive and Liver Diseases at Parkland Hospital/UT Southwestern in Dallas.
Igor R Yusupov, MD, is a neurosurgeon with Blue Chip Surgery Center Partners-affiliated center The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Center of Paradise Valley in Phoenix. He earned his medical degree, completed his neurological residency and conducted his spine fellowship training at the State University of New York School of Medicine. Dr. Yusupov is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, AO Spine International and North American Spine Society.
David Zarin, MD, is one of the founding partners of Texas ENT Specialists in Houston. He also serves as medical director of United Surgical Partners International as well as chairman of the board and chief of staff at TOPS Surgical Specialty Hospital in Houston. He is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. He earned his medical degree at University of Cincinnati and completed residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Please contact Carrie Pallardy at cpallardy@beckershealthcare.com with any questions regarding this list.