Ambulatory surgery centers, old and new, are led by experienced management teams. Chief executives oversee these company's visions and growth. Alongside roles like CEO and COO, the chief development officer has become an important part to play. Here are 12 ASC industry CDOs to know.
Rodger Baca (Physicians Endoscopy). Mr. Baca was appointed CDO of Physicians Endoscopy in March 2014. Previously, he was vice president of acquisitions and development at Ambulatory Surgical Centers of America. He focuses on creating strategies for physician partners, hospital joint ventures and syndication of profitable ASCs.
Brett Brodnax (United Surgical Partners International). Mr. Brodnax has been with USPI since 1999. During his time with the company he has served as senior vice president and executive vice president. He was named CDO in 2011. Prior to USPI, Mr. Brodnax was an assistant vice president at Baylor Health Care System.
Joe Clark (Surgical Care Affiliates). Mr. Clark serves as executive vice president and chief development officer for Surgical Care Affiliates. Prior to SCA, he served as the president and CEO of HealthMark Partners, Inc. (a surgery center and surgical hospital provider), and as CEO of Response Oncology (an oncology provider). He worked previously for Humana and American Medical International (hospital providers), and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College.
Eric Gleichman (Nueterra). Mr. Gleichman is CDO of Nueterra, a position he assumed in 2011. Previously, he was executive vice president and chief development officer at Foundation Surgery Affiliates. Mr. Gleichman has more than 20 years of experience in business development, healthcare transactions and more.
Kenneth Hancock (Meridian Surgical Partners). Mr. Hancock is the president and chief development officer at Meridian Surgical Partners, a development and management company that centers on multispecialty and spine-driven ambulatory surgical centers. He is the former executive vice president, chief development officer and co-founder of Surgical Alliance Corporation, a specialty surgical hospital company founded in 2001. Prior to Surgical Alliance, Mr. Hancock was previously the chief development officer for OrthoLinks Physicians. He also worked in various positions for DePuy. Mr. Hancock received his bachelor's degree from the University of Kentucky in Lexington.
R. Bruce Johnson (Arise Healthcare). Mr. Johnson's experience in the healthcare industry dates back more than 20 years. In the 1990s he led business development for the physician therapy division of HealthSouth in Austin. He later served as Surgical Care Affiliates' SEC representative. During his career, he has lobbied for the ASC industry in Washington, D.C., Santa Fe and Austin. Mr. Johnson is now the CDO of Arise Healthcare.
Jeff Péo (Ambulatory Surgical Centers of America). Mr. Péo is the CDO of ASCOA. Before taking on the CDO position this year, Mr. Péo was a vice president of acquisitions and development with ASCOA. Before entering the ASC industry he led a knowledge management and information technology division for a Fortune 500 company. Mr. Péo earned his degree from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
David Manning (AmSurg). David Manning is the co-founder, executive vice president and CDO of AmSurg. Mr. Manning and Rodney Lunn founded Practice Development Associates, the forerunner of AmSurg.
Christine Merryman (SurgCenter Development). Ms. Merryman is chief development and operations officer of SurgCenter Development. Ms. Merryman has worked with SurgCenter Development for nearly 11 years. She earned her degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Jeffrey Simmons (Regent Surgical Health). As CDO, Mr. Simmons oversees all acquisition and development activity at Regent Surgical Health. During his more than 25-year career, he has held various leadership positions including CEO of two specialty hospitals and associate CEO of an acute care hospital. He also founded and served as executive vice president of IntensiCare, a venture-financed hospitalist company.
Joseph Tarsia (Surgem). Mr. Tarsia joined Surgem in 2007. Before Surgem, he worked with Olympus. Since he joined Surgem, the company has grown to more than 15 centers. As CDO, Mr. Tarsia leads his team in sales, marketing and physician recruitment efforts.
Lecia Willingham (Practice Partners in Healthcare). Ms. Willingham has more than 25 years of experience in healthcare. She has focused on healthcare development, operations management and capital equipment sales. She has successfully played a role in more than 50 healthcare acquisitions and de novo development projects. Before becoming CDO of Practice Partners, she was a national account executive with GE Healthcare.