ASCOA Team
Founders/Executive Management
Development
Operations
Finance
Corporate Support
Founders/Executive Management:
Thomas J. Bombardier, MD, FACS
tbombardier@ascoa.com
Dr. Bombardier is an ophthalmologist, and one of the three founding
principals of the company. Prior to founding ASCOA, he established the
largest ophthalmic practice in Western Massachusetts, two ambulatory
surgical centers, and a regional referral center. Over the past
seventeen years, he has been a real estate developer on Cape Cod, MA.
Dr. Bombardier is a graduate of Amherst College, Albany Medical College,
and Louisiana State University residency program.
Brent W. Lambert, MD, FACS
blambert@ascoa.com
Dr. Lambert is a board-certified ophthalmologist, is a graduate of
Harvard College, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons,
Harvard Medical School, and Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary residency
program. Prior to the founding of Ambulatory Surgical Centers of
America, Dr. Lambert was the developer and owner of three ambulatory
surgical centers, including the first eye ASC in New England. Currently
Dr. Lambert is responsible for business development at ASCOA.
George A. Violin, MD, FACS
gviolin@ascoa.com
Dr. Violin is a board-certified ophthalmologist, and one of the three
founding principals of the company. He has owned and developed two
ambulatory surgical centers and a large multiple office ophthalmic
practice in eastern Massachusetts. He is a graduate of Columbia College,
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and Harvard
Medical School & Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary residency program.
Luke M. Lambert, MBA, CFA, CASC
llambert@ascoa.com
Mr. Lambert came to ASCOA, first as its CFO in 1997 and then becoming
its CEO in 2002, with a broad background in finance, strategy, and
operations. Mr. Lambert worked for Smith Barney in international sell
side equity research. At Booz, Allen & Hamilton and Ernst & Young, Mr.
Lambert consulted with entities starting new ventures, entering new
markets and reengineering business processes. Mr. Lambert is a graduate
of Harvard College, where he studied economics, and obtained his MBA
from the Columbia Graduate School of Business. Mr. Lambert was among the
first to earn the CASC designation in 2002.
Robert Westergard, CPA
rwestergard@ascoa.com
Mr. Westergard is the Chief Financial Officer of the company.
Prior to joining ASCOA, Mr. Westergard worked as the Controller for
Truman Capital Advisors. Mr. Westergard has an additional eight years of
finance and accounting experience in the software, chemical and
healthcare industries. He received a BS in Accounting from Brigham Young
University.
Susan Kizirian, RN, MBA
skizirian@ascoa.com
Ms. Kizirian is the Chief Operating Officer of ASCOA. Ms. Kizirian
has over 17 years experience in all aspects of ASC operations serving as
Executive Director and as a consultant for ASC management and
development. Most recently, Ms. Kizirian worked with the University of
Virginia Health System ASC program. Additionally, she has 15 years of
practice management experience and 8 years of expertise with clinical
site research. Ms. Kizirian currently serves as Life-Time Past President
Emeritus on the Board of Directors of the Florida Society of Ambulatory
Surgery Centers, is past Treasurer of the American Association of
Ambulatory Surgery Centers (AAASC), and past President of the Ambulatory
Surgery Management Society of the Medical Group Management Association.
She has her RN from Florida State University and her MBA from Nova
University.
Development:
Jeff E. Péo
jpeo@ascoa.com
Mr. Péo is a Vice President of Acquisitions & Development. He graduated
from Brigham Young University with a degree in Manufacturing Engineering.
Prior to joining ASCOA, Mr. Péo ran a Knowledge Management and Information
Technology consulting division for a Fortune 100 company.
Tyler Merrill
tmerrill@ascoa.com
Mr. Merrill is a Vice President of Acquisitions & Development. Prior to
joining ASCOA he worked as a sales representative for Pfizer
Pharmaceuticals. In addition to traditional sales training, Mr. Merrill has
experience developing business strategy for online start-ups as well as
storefront ventures. He holds a BA in Anthropology from Dickinson College.
Mr. Merrill is also an accredited tennis pro, and an avid skier.
Brandon T. Frazier
bfrazier@ascoa.com
Mr. Frazier is a Vice President of Acquisitions & Development and is
focused on the recruitment of key surgeon partners in existing ASCOA
centers. Before joining ASCOA, Mr. Frazier served Smith & Nephew Endoscopy
in a leadership position that was exclusively focused on the ASC market.
Prior to that, he spent 11 years at the nation's largest GPO working on
behalf of hospitals and surgery centers across the U.S. There, he helped
healthcare providers aggregate their purchasing volume in order to lower
their capital equipment and medical supply expenses. Mr. Frazier received a
BBA from Oklahoma Baptist University and is currently working towards
completing his MBA.
Richard N. Christie, MD
rchristie@ascoa.com
Dr. Christie is a Vice President of Acquisitions & Development. Dr.
Christie is a board-certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist and owned a private
practice in Newport Beach, CA for 15 years. As an investor and physician
at The Newport Beach Surgery Center, he has extensive personal knowledge of the
ASC industry. In addition to his medical career, Dr. Christie was also
involved in real estate development in Newport Beach and Palm Springs, CA. Dr.
Christie is a graduate of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX and
completed his residency in San Diego, CA.
Robert H. Beck
rbeck@ascoa.com
Mr. Beck is a Vice President of Acquisitions & Development. Prior
to joining ASCOA he spent 30 years in executive positions in the Grocery
Distribution, Software and Educational Assessment industries. His career has
focused upon starting new ventures, entering new markets, leveraging emerging
technologies, increasing operational efficiency and managing change in complex
and high growth environments. His experience includes responsibilities for
operations, sales and consulting.
Donna Greene
dgreene@ascoa.com
Ms.
Greene is a Vice President of
Acquisitions and Development with over 20 years experience in
healthcare. During her career, Ms. Greene has
overseen the acquisition and development of more than 250 facilities,
including ambulatory surgery centers, surgical specialty hospitals,
imaging centers and outpatient rehabilitation centers, for leading
healthcare companies such as HealthSouth, United Surgical Partners
International, and Symbion. Additionally, Ms. Greene has been licensed
as a registered rep with the National Association of Securities Dealers
since 1997. Ms. Greene holds both a Series 22 and a
Series 63 license and has successfully syndicated more than one hundred
ambulatory surgery centers, surgical specialty hospitals and whole
hospitals. Ms. Greene received a BA from University
of North Texas.
Jimbo Cross
jcross@ascoa.com
Mr.
Cross is a Vice President of
Acquisitions and Development. Prior to joining ASCOA, Mr.
Cross spent 10 years with Johnson & Johnson in executive and sales
management positions within their medical device and pharmaceutical
sectors. Most recently he led cross functional teams across the J&J
Family of Companies, at some of the largest hospital systems
nationally. He has extensive experience managing large physician owned
companies, utilizing six sigma process improvements to enhance practice
performance. Prior to Johnson & Johnson, he had a successful career
with a Fortune 500 supply chain and logistics company. Mr. Cross
received a B.S. from Texas A&M University and has completed coursework
toward his MBA at the University of Texas at Austin.
Operations:
Ann Geier, RN, MS, CNOR, CASC
ageier@ascoa.com
Ms. Geier is a Senior Vice President of Operations with over 20 years of
experience in all aspects of ASC operations, including perioperative services,
clinical coordinator, administrator and chief operating officer of a
multispecialty ASC. Ms. Geier serves on the Board of Directors of ASCAssociation,
writes a monthly column for Outpatient Surgery Magazine, lectures for AORN, and
is on the editorial board of Same Day Surgery.
Laurie Hendrix, RN, BSN, CASC
lhendrix@ascoa.com
Ms. Hendrix is a Senior Vice President of Operations with over 20 years
experience in all aspects of the ASC setting, including Administrator, Clinical
Coordinator and OR nurse. Ms. Hendrix was Administrator of The Surgery Center,
Columbus, Georgia from 2000-2004. She has an Associate Degree in Nursing from
Highline Community College and a BSN from Columbus State University.
Sharon Bowen, CASC
sbowen@ascoa.com
Ms. Bowen is a Vice President of Operations with more than 20 years of
experience in all aspects of ambulatory surgery center administration. Prior to
joining ASCOA, Ms. Bowen was the administrator of three multi-specialty surgery
centers and one single-specialty center. She developed two of the centers from
the design stage through operations and remodeled and expanded two centers. She
also served as an advisor in the development of a 13-suite GI unit and has
consulted in the development of other surgery centers. Ms. Bowen received her
CASC in December 2002.
Suzanne Wienbarg, RN
swienbarg@ascoa.com
Ms. Wienbarg is a Senior Vice President of Operations with over 25 years of
experience in Healthcare management and operations. Prior to joining ASCOA, Ms.
Wienbarg was a Vice President of Operations for the Ambulatory Surgery Division
of HealthSouth Corporation. While with HealthSouth, Ms. Wienbarg was a
registered rep for syndications of surgery centers. During her career with
HealthSouth, she worked extensively in development, operations and physician
recruitment. She has been active as a member and officer in healthcare
professional organizations. Ms. Wienbarg is an RN and received her nursing
degree from Florida Community College in Jacksonville.
Cathy Rudisill, RN, MHA, CNOR, CASC, BSN
crudisill@ascoa.com
Ms. Rudisill is a Senior Vice President of Operations with extensive
experience in the perioperative setting. Prior to joining ASCOA, Ms. Rudisill
worked as a market manager for the HealthSouth Corporation and as the Executive
Director for the Bon Secours St. Francis Health System Surgery Center. Ms.
Rudisill is a Registered Nurse with certification in operating room nursing; she
completed her BSN at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and her MHA at
Seton Hall University.
Lee Rocque, RN
lrocque@ascoa.com
Ms. Rocque is a Senior Vice President of Operations with over 30 years of
management experience in the healthcare field. Prior to joining ASCOA, Ms.
Rocque worked as an administrator for Surgical Care Affiliates, formerly
HealthSouth, and lead in the development of a patient educational brochure,
Understanding Your Pain, which was featured for publication by both JACHO
Perspectives and OR Manager. In addition, Ms. Rocque has extensive experience in
initial development and start-up operations in various healthcare markets
including senior living facilities, managed healthcare, and group practice
management. She received her nursing degree from Brevard Community College and
is an active member in various healthcare and professional organizations.
Stacey K. Taylor, RN, BSN, CASC
staylor@ascoa.com
Ms. Taylor is a Senior Vice President of Operations with over 15 years of
experience in all aspects of the healthcare field. Prior to joining the company,
Ms. Taylor was the Regional Administrator of four multi-specialty surgery
centers and was recognized for resourceful management skills and the exceptional
ability to lead projects. She earned her BSN in 1996 from Shepherd College in
West Virginia and received her CASC in May, 2006.
Kim Albert, RN, CGRN, CASC
kalbert@ascoa.com
Ms. Albert is a Vice President of Operations with over 20 years of experience
in all aspects of the healthcare field, including 8 years in the ASC setting.
Prior to joining the company she assisted in the development of a single
specialty ASC from the design stage. Ms. Albert had oversight of operations and
served as the Administrator. She is a registered nurse and received her CASC in
May 2005.
Suzan M. Sattler, RN, BSN, CASC
ssattler@ascoa.com
Ms. Sattler is a Vice President of Operations with over 30 years experience
in the healthcare industry specializing in quality and performance improvement.
Ms. Sattler won the Codman Award, which recognizes excellence in the use of
outcomes measurement to improve the quality and safety of healthcare, from The
Joint Commission in 2007. Additionally, she has expertise in the design,
development, and management of interventional pain centers. She earned her BSN
from Fairleigh Dickinson University and is licensed as a Registered Nurse in
Florida, New York and New Jersey. She is currently working toward completing her
MBA at Nova Southeastern University.
Charles S. Cohen
ccohen@ascoa.com
Mr. Cohen is a Vice President of Operations with over 20 years of experience
in healthcare management and operations. Mr. Cohen worked most recently as an
independent consultant specializing in physician-owned outpatient facilities.
Mr. Cohen has served in a “C” level capacity at Deployed Medical Solutions, Inc.
and SurgiCare Inc., where he was involved in the development, acquisition, and
management of physician-owned outpatient surgical facilities. He also has
extensive experience in the design and construction and daily operations of
surgical centers. Mr. Cohen was educated at the University of Missouri and
Maryville University.
Marlene Bell, RN, MN, CASC, CNOR
mbell@ascoa.com
Ms. Bell is a Vice President of Operations with over 30 years experience
working in healthcare. Prior to joining ASCOA, Ms. Bell spent five years as a
nurse practitioner, 16 years in inpatient perioperative services and, most
recently, 11 years in the ASC industry. She has worked as an ASC Administrator
and as an Operations Consultant for ASCs and hospital perioperative departments.
Ms. Bell received her CASC in 2005.
Varlene M. Hamilton, RN, MBA, CNOR, LHRM
vhamilton@ascoa.com
Ms. Hamilton is a Vice President of Operations with over 22 years
experience in the perioperative setting. She began her career as a surgical
technologist advancing to the roles of Director of Nursing, Administrator and
Risk Manager. She has also served as a consultant to several ASCs with
experience in the startup and licensure of multi and single specialty ASCs. Ms.
Hamilton earned her BSN from Florida Atlantic University and her MBA from Barry
University, Florida.
Arthur E. Casey, CASC
acasey@ascoa.com
Mr. Casey is a Vice President of Operations with almost 20 years of
healthcare experience. Prior to joining ASCOA he was the Principal Consultant of
his own consulting firm, an Executive Vice President with a surgical and
diagnostic imaging company, and was a Senior Vice President for the Western
Ambulatory Surgery Division of HealthSouth Corporation. Mr. Casey is a Past
President of the California Ambulatory Surgery Association (CASA) where he has
served on the Board of Directors since 1998. He was recently selected to
sit on the Board of Ambulatory Surgery Certification, and was a member of the
Board of Ambulatory Surgery Certification Exam Committee from 2001-2008.
He received his CASC credentials in 2002.
Sharon Benson, RN, MSN, MBA, CASC
sbenson@ascoa.com
Ms. Benson is a Vice President of Operations with over 25 years of
management and healthcare experience. Prior to joining ASCOA, Ms. Benson
worked for 8 years with AmSurg Corp in all aspects of ASC operations. Most
recently she worked as Associate Vice President of Operations for the
Multi-Specialty Division of AmSurg Corp. Ms. Benson is a registered nurse
who received her CASC in September 2006. She has been an active member of
healthcare organizations and is currently a member of the American College
Healthcare Executives (ACHE). She completed her MSN at Wesley College in
Delaware and MBA at the University of Arizona.
Margaret Chappell, RN, MS, CASC
mchappell@ascoa.com
Ms. Chappell is a Vice President of Operations with more than 25 years
of experience in all aspects of ambulatory surgery center administration,
including risk management, chief operating officer and administrator of two
multi-specialty surgery centers. She has also consulted in the development,
remodel and expansion of three surgery centers.
Sherry Goldstein, RN, BSN, MA, CNOR
sgoldstein@ascoa.com
Ms. Goldstein is a Vice President of Operations with over 25 years of
perioperative management experience in hospital and ambulatory surgery center
settings. Ms. Goldstein has worked as ASC Administrator, Director of Nursing and
Director of Surgical Services, and has a strong facility development and
operational background. She also worked for over 12 years as a consultant, in
areas such as Interim Management, Process Design, Supply Chain Management and
Quality Improvement. Ms. Goldstein is a graduate Northwestern University with a
degree in Nursing, earned a Masters degree in Healthcare Management at Webster
University and is an active member of AORN.
Finance:
Catherine Meredith, RN, BS, CASC
cmeredith@ascoa.com
Ms. Meredith is Vice President of Finance. She has been managing surgery
departments since 1979 and has extensive experience in all phases and aspects of
inpatient and outpatient surgery management and development. Her ambulatory
systems expertise extends to physician offices where she has set up office-based
operation rooms, endoscopy suites, and pulmonary function and cardiac testing
labs. Prior to joining ASCOA, Ms. Meredith worked primarily in the development
of ambulatory surgery centers while with Woodrum/ASD. She earned her diploma in
nursing from St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing in Memphis, Tennessee and her
BS in Healthcare Administration from St. Joseph College in Windham, ME.
Sue McAllaster
smcallaster@ascoa.com
Ms. McAllaster serves as a Director of Finance for the company. She has
worked for over 20 years in physician healthcare management, with experience in
practice administration, medical billing management, and hospital consulting for
physician practices. Ms. McAllaster received an MBA from the University of Maine
at Orono.
Pamela B. Smalley
psmalley@ascoa.com
Ms. Smalley serves as a Director of Finance for the company. She has
over 20 years of experience in the healthcare field. Her experience is in
management and medical billing in the ambulatory surgery setting as well as
physician offices. Ms. Smalley received her degree in Business Management
and Accounting from Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, NC.