MEMBER PROFILE

Matt Lau

MARCH 2025

Matt Lau, senior vice president of client accounting & financial services at MedHQ in Westchester, Illinois, discusses what EBITDA multiple means and its significance in ASC valuation.

Erin Wieniewitz, RN, nurse manager and preoperative RN at Urological Associates of Savannah, PC, in Savannah, Georgia, talks about how to retain a personal touch in patient communication in today’s digital world.

Tracey Opaczewski, CASC

JANUARY 2025

Tracey Opaczewski, CASC, director of quality management and regulatory compliance at Allied Physicians Surgery Center in South Bend, Indiana, talks about how to ace an accreditation survey.

Dan Stannard, RN, CASC

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2024

Dan Stannard, RN, CASC, administrator of Red Hills Surgical Center in Tallahassee, Florida, shares strategies for engaging physicians in benchmarking and quality improvement efforts to enhance patient care and performance.

Jane Glover

OCTOBER 2024

Jane Glover, business office operations manager at Surgical Investors & Advisors, LLC, in Alpharetta, Georgia, discusses how an ASC can expedite a facility credentialing process that its payer requires.

Christi Geiger

SEPTEMBER 2024

Christi Geiger, clinical director of the Florida/Louisiana region at Surgery Partners in Brentwood, Tennessee, shares her best strategies to keep her ASC at the forefront of quality.

Garret Hilgendorf

AUGUST 2024

Garret Hilgendorf, administrator of Mankato Surgery Center in Mankato, Minnesota, talks about staying on top of Life Safety Code compliance.

Fawn Esser Lipp, CASC

JUNE-JULY 2024

Fawn Esser Lipp, CASC, executive director of The Surgery Center LLC in Franklin, Wisconsin, discusses the factors affecting the efficacy of disinfection and sterilization in an ASC.

Alina Brett

MAY 2024

Alina Brett, business office manager at Live Oak Surgery Center in Plano, Texas, shares her best strategies to protect the financial health of an ASC.

Elisa Auguste, CASC

APRIL 2024

Elisa Auguste, CASC, administrator of Precision Care Surgery Center in Setauket, New York, and board member of the New York State Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers in Albany, New York, shares tips on using clinical technology effectively in the ASC.

Eric K. Shepard, MD

MARCH 2024

Eric K. Shepard, MD, anesthesia director at Frederick Surgical Center in Frederick, Maryland, and director of Outpatient Regional Anesthesia–Maryland for North American Partners in Anesthesia in Melville, New York, discusses the evolution of anesthesia services in the ASC.

Linda A. Roccograndi-Bravyak, RN, CASC

FEBRUARY 2024

Linda A. Roccograndi-Bravyak, RN, CASC, director of Ambulatory Surgery Services at Pocono Ambulatory Surgery Center in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, discusses how to keep your ASC’s waste to a minimum.

Tina Piotrowski, RN, CASC

JANUARY 2024

Tina Piotrowski, RN, CASC, chief executive officer of Copper Ridge Surgery Center in Traverse City, Michigan, discusses how to identify and provide constructive career development opportunities.

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Tammeria Tyler, RN, CAIP

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023

Tammeria Tyler, RN, CAIP, an infection preventionist at Southeastern Spine Institute Ambulatory Surgery Center in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, discusses the evolution of infection prevention in ASCs.

Julie Lykins, RN

OCTOBER 2023

Julie Lykins, RN, nurse administrator at Ohio Specialty Surgical Suites in North Canton, Ohio, discusses the benefits of performing total joint procedures in an ASC.

Apryl McElheny, RN, CASC

SEPTEMBER 2023

Apryl McElheny, RN, CASC, senior consultant for Progressive Surgical Solutions in Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, shares her best tips on writing an emergency preparedness plan.

Stephanie McIntosh, RN, CAIP

AUGUST 2023

Stephanie McIntosh, RN, CAIP, director of clinical quality for SCA Health in San Diego, California, discusses the medication management hot spots in ASCs and how to avoid being cited on them.

Tamala Norris, RN

JUNE-JULY 2023

Tamala Norris, RN, chief nursing officer and vice president of clinical operations for United Surgical Partners International in Dallas, Texas, discusses her company’s DEI initiatives and their goals.

Rebecca Craig, RN, CASC

MAY 2023

Rebecca Craig, RN, CASC, former ASCA Board president and chief executive officer of Harmony Surgery Center LLC and Peak Surgical Management LLC in Fort Collins, Colorado, discusses how an ASC can tell if it is picking the right topics for its QI studies.

Sami Spencer

APRIL 2023

Sami Spencer, chief executive officer of Missoula Bone & Joint Surgery Center in Missoula, Montana, discusses her best strategies for recruiting and retaining top staff.

Raghu Reddy

MARCH 2023

Raghu Reddy, chief administrative officer of SurgCenter of Western Maryland LLC in Cumberland, Maryland, discusses his top three reasons for attending ASCA’s annual conference.

Melissa Hermanson, RN, CASC

FEBRUARY 2023

Melissa Hermanson, RN, CASC, administrator of Ambulatory Care Center in Vineland, New Jersey, discusses her best strategies for marketing an ASC.

Dustin Chleboun

JANUARY 2023

Dustin Chleboun, materials management coordinator for Harmony Surgery Center in Fort Collins, Colorado, discusses the common materials management mistakes that ASCs make and how can they best be avoided.

Michelle George, RN, CASC

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2022

Michelle George, RN, CASC, vice president of clinical quality for SCA Health in Pasadena, California, discusses the most important steps to improve patient experience in an ASC.

Steve Sanchez

OCTOBER 2022

Steve Sanchez, network administrator and facilities manager for Pend Oreille Surgery Center LLC in Ponderay, Idaho, discusses the best way to prepare for an IT failure.

John Goehle

SEPTEMBER 2022

John Goehle, chief operating officer of Ambulatory Healthcare Strategies LLC in Rochester, New York, discusses how to remain successful in these difficult financial times.

David Shapiro, MD

AUGUST 2022

David Shapiro, MD, ASCA Board member and anesthesiologist at Red Hills Surgical Center in Tallahassee, Florida, discusses FGI guidelines that ASCs should be most aware of this year.

Cristina Bentin

JUNE-JULY 2022

Cristina Bentin, president of Coding Compliance Management LLC in Franklin, North Carolina, discusses how actions of the business office staff impact patient satisfaction.

Mary Merrill, RN

MAY 2022

Mary M. Merrill, administrator and director of nursing for Endoscopy Center of Niagara in Niagara Falls, New York, shares tips to increase patient safety during a pandemic.

Marie Edler

MARCH 2022

Marie Edler, ASCA Board member and chief strategy officer for Surgical Care Affiliates, discusses the growing specialties in ASCs.

Rena Courtay, RN, CASC

FEBRUARY 2022

Rena Courtay, RN, CASC, assistant vice president of perioperative ambulatory surgery for Duke University Health System, discusses the most valuable features of an ASCA annual conference.

Robert J. Carrera

JANUARY 2022

Robert J. Carrera, vice president of business development for Surgical Care Affiliates, discusses the most important issues in the ASC industry in 2022 and going forward.

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Maura Cash, RN, CASC

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021

Maura Cash, RN, CASC, vice president of clinical strategies for HST Pathways in Nashville, Tennessee, discusses current trends in ASC technology.

Sandra Jones, CASC

OCTOBER 2021

Sandra Jones, CASC, president and chief executive officer of Ambulatory Strategies Inc. in Dade City, Florida, shares her best tips for emergency preparedness compliance with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements.

Cheryl Garmon, RN, CASC

SEPTEMBER 2021

Cheryl Garmon, RN, CASC, director of Heaton Laser and Surgery Center in Tyler, Texas, discusses the key aspects of training and mentoring exemplary employees into management roles.

Scott Schlesinger, MD

AUGUST 2021

Scott Schlesinger, MD, founder of Legacy Surgery Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, shares his thoughts on the most important advocacy issues for ASCs going into 2022.

John Blanck

JUNE-JULY 2021

John Blanck, senior vice president of operations for Surgery Partners, shares his top three pieces of advice for ASCs looking to build new or relocate.

Stanford Plavin, MD

MAY 2021

Stanford Plavin, MD, ASCA Board member and anesthesiologist at Ambulatory Anesthesia Partners in Atlanta, Georgia, discusses best practices for working with anesthesia providers in the ASC setting.

Barbara Draves, CASC

APRIL 2021

Barbara Draves, CASC, president of the Ohio Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers and administrator of The Surgery Center in Middleburg Heights, Ohio, shares the strategies she uses to handle conflict management and employee problems in her facility.

Kelly Bemis, RN

MARCH 2021

Kelly Bemis, RN, chief clinical officer of Azura Vascular Care LP and National Cardiovascular Partners in Malvern, Pennsylvania, talks about the cardiac procedures performed in ASCs today and what she foresees in the cardiac field for ASCs in the next five years.

Michelle George, RN, CASC

FEBRUARY 2021

Michelle George, RN, CASC, senior director of clinical services at Surgical Care Affiliates in Pasadena, California, discusses the essential steps to designing and implementing a successful clinical benchmarking program.

Gary Richberg, RN, CASC

JANUARY 2021

Gary Richberg, RN, CASC, director of ambulatory surgery centers at Kadlec Clinic in Richland, Washington, shares what he believes are the top three issues facing the ASC community this year.

Member Profile

MEMBER PROFILE