Physician Leader Profiles

Bruce Meyer, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
OB/GYN
Vice-President for Medical AffairsAssociate Dean, Executive Director - MSRDPUT-Southwestern Health SystemProfessorDepartment
University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
Dallas, TX


Dr. Meyer is the Vice-President for Medical Affairs, Associate Dean for Health System Affairs and Executive Director of the 900-member faculty Practice Plan at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Prior to assuming these roles, from 2001 to 2007, he was Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and President of the UMass Memorial Medical Group, the 740-physician faculty practice of the institution. Prior to that, Doctor Meyer was at the State University of New York at Stony Brook where he was vice chair of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive medicine, and director of maternal-fetal medicine. Doctor Meyer received his medical degree in 1984 and his MBA in 1999.

Thurman Pedigo, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
Family Medicine
Clinical Professor. Department Head
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Goodlettsville, TN


Dr. Pedigo has been a participating physician for more than twenty-five years. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee Medical School at Memphis, Tennessee, and specializes in family practice. Dr. Pedigo is married with three children and four grandchildren.

David Gossage, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
Allergy and Immunology
Medical Director, Respiratory Division
MedImmune
,


Dr. Gossage received his bachelor's degree in biology at the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee and earned his medical degree at the University of the Tennessee at Memphis, Tennessee. He completed a pediatric residency at the Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, which was followed by a three-year fellowship in allergy/immunology at Duke University. He spent an additional three years serving as a Procter and Gamble basic science research scholar at the Children's Research Foundation in Cincinnati, Ohio. From 1997-2006 he pursued a career in private practice, also serving as a principle investigator in over 80 asthma and allergy clinical trials. He retuned to academia in 2006 for two years, serving as a faculty member at Vanderbilt University. In 2008 Dr. Gossage joined MedImmune to serve as a medical director in the Respiratory Division.

Harry Sanner, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
Anesthesiology
President
Children's Anesthesiologists, P.C.
Knoxville, TN


Dr. Sanner graduated from Columbia Union College in Takoma Park, Maryland. His medical education began at Loma Linda University Medical School in 1975. After graduating, he completed a pediatric residency at Loma Linda University Hospital. Following three years of service in the Nation Health Service in Southern Colorado, he returned to Loma Linda University and completed a two-year anesthesiology residency. Dr. Sanner held a one-year pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at Pittsburgh Children's Hospital. In 1988, he and his family moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where Dr. Sanner joined the anesthesiology practice at East Tennessee Children's Hospital. Currently he is Chief of the Department of Anesthesiology, which is staffed by four anesthesiologists and ten certified registered nurse anesthetists.

Melissa Trekell, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
Surgery
President, Managing Partner
Tennessee Breast Center, Inc.
Maryville, TN


Dr. Trekell received her medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City, Missouri in May 1978. Her internship and residency were at the University of Kansas-St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. Dr. Trekell is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Since beginning her general surgery practice in Maryville, Tennessee in 1986, Dr. Trekell was instrumental in developing the trauma system at the hospital and is currently director of Trauma Services and a member of the Tennessee State Trauma Committee. In March 1991 she founded the Tennessee Breast Center. As the president she represents the breast center on a regional and national level. The multidisciplinary focus of the breast center has resulted in the formation of a cancer center for the hospital. Dr. Trekell's interest is in women's health care, continuous quality improvement and marketing.

James Leigh, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
Surgery
President, Consultant
MedLink Georgia
Gainsville, GA


Dr. Leigh is the Medical Director for MedLink Georgia. As medical director he has responsibility for over 10 centers in the provision of health care services for the underserved population, as well as the uninsured, Medicare and Medicaid populations. He has practiced general surgery in Gainesville, Georgia since 1973. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia since 1975 and was active in forming the Longstreet Clinic, a primary care and multi-specialty clinic. PEMBA enabled Dr. Leigh to become familiar with the language of business and to prepare him to enter the medical business consulting field.

Jonathan Swartz, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
Family Medicine
Vice Chair, Medical Director
Montefiore Medical Center
Yonkers, NY


Dr. Swartz is Vice Chair for Clinical and Academic Affairs of the Department of Family and Social Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York. Dr. Swartz also serves as Medical Director for Montefiore Medical Group 2, a network of nine community based primary care practices in medically underserved areas of the Bronx that provide 300,000 visits annually with a budget of $40 million. The network includes five teaching practices that train primary care residents in family medicine, pediatrics, and primary care internal medicine. Montefiore Medical Center is a $1.6 billion integrated delivery system that combines an academic medical center with a large primary care network, home care agency, and contract management organization that currently carries global risk for 150,000 lives. Dr. Swartz received his education at the University of Connecticut, earning a bachelor's with honors in biology in 1976 and his medical degree at the School of Medicine in 1980. He trained in family practice at the residency program in social medicine at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx, New York. Dr. Swartz completed his MBA in December 1999 at the Physician Executive MBA Program at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Dr. Swartz's areas of interest lie in practice management in non-profit health care organizations as well as medical informatics and total quality management.

Thomas von Dohlen, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
Internal Medicine
Owner
The Heart Center, PLLC
Caldwell, WV


Dr. von Dohlen is in private practice in West Virginia. Previously he was an internist/noninvasive cardiologist at The Greenbrier Clinic, a multi-specialty diagnostic facility in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Dr. von Dohlen chose PEMBA in order to acquire knowledge in a setting with other physicians that represented a broad spectrum of geographic and practice environments. PEMBA has proved invaluable for him to recognize the value of diversity and respect different viewpoints. Furthermore, he believes the professors are highly qualified and have a supportive nature. Said Dr. von Dohlen, They (the faculty) truly go out of their way to make the Physician Executive MBA what I would venture to say is the best among physician-directed business education programs.

Ronald Reynolds, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
Emergency Medicine
Clinician
Grand Strand Regional Medical Center
Myrtle Beach, SC


Dr. Reynolds specializes in emergency medicine and practices in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Dr. Reynolds pursued an MBA because he was seeking self-growth. He felt that emergency medicine was a young profession and that he needed another challenge. He has discovered many new opportunities through PEMBA. Said Dr. Reynolds, The demand for physicians with an MBA is very high, and these physicians help to bridge the gap between business and medicine. Dr. Reynolds recommends the Physician Executive MBA to physicians who want to enhance their self-growth, keep up with the changes in health care, and increase their knowledge base. The program is a great equalizer in that all doctors need to keep the knowledge out there and share with each other. They will succeed with the benefits derived from this openness. Everyone in PEMBA is there to help themselves and each other. These bonds stay strong, even after the program is over.

John Hajjar, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
Urology
President and CEO
Urology Specialty Care, P.A.
Cresskill, NJ


Dr. Hajjar graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1981 and subsequently was trained for two years in general surgery and four years in Urology at NYU Medical Center. He started his solo practice in 1987, subsequently opening his ambulatory multi-specialty surgical facility in 1992. Dr. Hajjar has assembled a large group of urologists in his successful practice in New Jersey. He is presently the Chief Executive Officer of Urology Specialty Care and Surgicare Surgical Associates. He is interested in disease management with the subsequent carve out for urology care. As a physician, surgeon, and business leader, Dr. Hajjar developed one of the first ambulatory surgery centers in the State of New Jersey at Fair Lawn and has been managing facilities profitably since 1992. Dr. Hajjar also operates one of the largest private practices of Urology in the United States and participates in and performs surgery at two of the SurgiCare locations.

JoAnn Riggins-Woodhouse, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
Family Medicine
Regional Medical Director
Oakwood North Westland Medical Center
West Bloomfield, MI


Dr. Woodhouse is currently the Regional Medical Director of Oakwood Hospital multi-specialty Ambulatory Division. She is a graduate of Michigan State University-College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her internship and residency training at Michigan State University/St. Lawrence Hospital Family Practice. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice. Dr. Woodhouse's experience includes the practice of comprehensive family medicine with an emphasis on family centered birthing. She is most proud of the time she spent training family practice residents. Dr. Woodhouse currently is Regional Medical Director for Oakwood Hospital Multi-Specialty Ambulatory Division. Through PEMBA, Dr. Woodhouse gained knowledge about the business side of medicine and developed stronger leadership skills. Said Dr. Woodhouse, I have gained valuable relationships at PEMBA, both personal and professional. Also, I have gained a deeper understanding of the marketplace and a global view of the factors that influence decisions making in healthcare.

Wayne Berberian, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
Orthopedic Surgeon
Associate Professor and Residency Program Director
New Jersey Medical School
Paramus, NJ


Dr. Berberian is the Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at New Jersey Medical School. In this role, he teaches and supervises medical students, conducts research, and practices as an orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Berberian pursued an MBA because the current health care climate was making it increasingly difficult for physicians to remain effective without a comprehensive understanding of management techniques. As an academician serving in a large tertiary care center, he felt that an MBA would provide him with the business knowledge to help his department and institution succeed. Said Dr. Berberian, The PEMBA curriculum opened my eyes to effective strategic planning and negotiating techniques. The Leadership Development Program and employee interaction portions of Physician Executive MBA have actually permitted me to deal with my staff and colleagues in a more beneficial manner.

C. Bevan Stuart, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
Internal Medicine
Clinician
Riverside Community Hospital
Ancaster, ON


Dr. Stuart arrived in Riverside, California, in 1970 for his internship in internal medicine. After completing three years in internal medicine and an additional year in a cardiology fellowship, he moved back to London, Ontario, where he did a final year in cardiology. In 1975 Dr. Stuart set up a solo practice in cardiology in Riverside, California. He has been involved in various medical staff administrative activities for the past twenty-three years and is currently the Chief of Staff at Riverside Community Hospital. Dr. Stuart has recently accepted the position of Senior Vice President and Medical Director of Riverside Community Hospital. He is particularly interested in CQI activities and the development of a computerized medical record, both for the hospital and an integrated office record. His interests include computers, wine, and food. He and his wife have owned and operated a retail wine store and wine storage facility for thirteen years and also chaired a wine auction fundraiser for the American Heart Association generating over $200,000 for AHA over the last fourteen years.

Pedro Cardona, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
Pulmonology
Medical Director
Gateway Health Plan
Pittsburgh, PA


Dr. Cardona is a medical director with Gateway Health Plan. Prior to joining Gateway Health Plan, Dr. Cardona was a managing partner of the Sussex Pulmonary Associates, LLC for 12 years. Prior to his own practice Dr. Cardona was medical director at a respiratory therapy program at Delaware Technical and Community College in Georgetown. Dr. Cardona received his medical education at the University of Puerto Rico Medical School and received his MBA at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Cardona is also board-certified with the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Cardona is a member of the American College of Physician Executives and he joined the PEMBA program at the University of Tennessee to develop the business skills to set a direction for the growth of his organization and compete effectively in the rapidly changing health care environment. Being a member of multiple committees, he wanted to develop the knowledge to effectively communicate with the financial officers and other administrators of the local hospitals.

Attila Devenyi, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
Gastroenterology
Clinician
Regional Gastroenterology Associates of Lancaster
Hummelstown, PA


Dr. Devenyi is a graduate of the Cornell University College of Engineering. He attended medical school at the Penn State College of Medicine and completed his residency and fellowship at the Tufts New England Medical Center. Following this he founded and directed the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology at the Penn State Geisinger Health System. In the health system he has served on the Physician Compensation Committee and the Strategy Planning and Marketing committee.

Daniel Anhalt, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
Emergency Medicine
Associate Emergency Department Director
Champlain Valley Physicians' Hospital
Plattsburgh, NY


Dr. Anhalt went to the University of California-Los Angeles School of Medicine and McGill University Family Medicine residency. He has been practicing emergency medicine for 14 years and has served in two emergency departments as chief of emergency medicine for a total of five years. Dr. Anhalt has great interest in, and depth of Internet technologies knowledge as well as being an experienced web site developer.

Michael Johnston, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
Family Medicine
President
Columbus Regional Healthcare System
Phenix City, AL


Dr. Johnston is a Family Practitioner from Phoenix City, Alabama, where he has been in solo practice since 1986. He graduated from medical school in 1980 at the University of South Alabama and is now part of the Columbus Regional Healthcare System based out of Columbus, Georgia. Other interests in medicine include integration of computers into the health care system and improving the speed of test reporting at his local hospital. The Physician Executive MBA enabled Dr. Johnston to gain business skills pertinent to the practice of medicine and be exposed to many aspects of business practice.

Gurinder Wadhwa, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
Oral / Maxillofacial Surgery
President, Managing Partner
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Menands, NY


Dr. Wadhwa owns and manages an oral and maxillofacial surgery group practice. The practice is affiliated with major teaching hospitals in the Albany area. He is involved with teaching residents and holding Continuing Medical Education programs. He has taught in the Lean for Healthcare program at the University of Tennessee.

Alan Lassiter, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
Pediatrics
President, Consultant
Cook Children's Physician Network
Raleigh, NC


Dr. Alan Lassiter served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cook Children's Physicians Network in Fort Worth, Texas. He pursued an MBA to gain a broader understanding of business principles. Dr. Lassiter chose PEMBA because he was impressed with the curriculum and the quality of the educators. While he appreciates the convenience of long distance learning, he believes the quality of the education separates the PEMBA program from others. Through the Physician Executive MBA, Dr. Lassiter has gained insight into management issues and strategic positions. Said Dr. Lassiter, Without formal business training, doctors are nearsighted. An MBA is best for a doctor who is looking for a leadership position. Doctors must be able to exist in both the clinical and business worlds in order to move to the next level.

Raul Montalvo, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
Internal Medicine
Vice-President Medical Affairs
Preferred Health Management
Ponce, PR


Dr. Montalvo graduated from the Ponce School of Medicine in his hometown of Ponce, Puerto Rico in 1982. He is board-certified in internal medicine and is the Chief Medical Officer and Partner of Grupo Medico Lafayette, a six-member physician group. Dr. Montalvo has served as Dean for Academic Affairs at the Ponce School of Medicine and was the medical director for a rural hospital in Puerto Rico and a network of several outpatient clinics. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Ponce School of Medicine, Global Education and Research Institute, a non-profit organization working to improve access to technology in rural and under-served areas. Dr. Montalvo also serves on the Board of Ponce Medical and Hospital Corporation, a for-profit corporation bidding for hospitals and healthcare facilities in Puerto Rico. He was recently appointed to the consulting board of Preferred Health Management Inc., the largest physician practice administration organization in Puerto Rico with 200,000 covered lives. Dr. Montalvo completed his Physician Executive MBA at the University of Tennessee in 1999. He specializes in business planning, organizational strategy, and the Hispanic market.

Kenneth Call, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
Surgery
CEO
Call Medical Associates, P.A.
Brandon, MS


Dr. Call attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville from 1976-1977 and transferred to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He graduated from East Carolina University School of Medicine in 1991 and immediately entered a 6-year surgical residency, which he completed in 1997. Since completing his residency, Dr. Call has been working as an independent contractor performing locum tenens coverage in both general surgery and emergency medicine for various hospitals. In 1998 he formed the professional association Call Medical Associates.

Vania Naydenova, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
ENT, Otoneurology, and Occupational Medicine
Professor
South College
Knoxville, TN


Dr. Naydenova is a native Bulgarian, but she has lived in the United States since June 1998. She graduated from the Medical University in Sofia in Bulgaria. Her specialty is in ENT diseases and occupational medicine. Before her arrival in the states, she worked at the Medical University in Sofia as an ENT otoneurologist at the Clinic of Occupational Diseases. Dr. Naydenova pursued an MBA to keep her emerged in the medical profession while learning about the business aspect of medicine. Said Dr. Naydenova, The Physician Executive MBA has given me the confidence that I can build better leadership skills by applying the knowledge that I have learned. I have seen positive results already in my personal life, and I know it will work in my career too.

Curtis Mock, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
Family Medicine
Senior Regional Medical Director
Optum Care Management
Rehoboth, RI


Dr. Mock is currently employed by Optum Care Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of United Health Group, as its Senior Regional Medical Director. This position combines seventeen years of clinical experience with knowledge obtained from business experience running a medical office and the PEMBA program. He is a senior regional medical director and has three medical directors reporting to him at this time.

David Morris, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
Internal Medicine
President and CEO
Mercy Medical Group
Weston, FL


Dr. Morris' medical background includes medical school at the University of Miami and an internal medicine residency at the prestigious Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He has been a practicing internist in the South Florida area for over 10 years and is board-certified in internal medicine. His business background includes a finance degree while at the University of Texas and an MBA from the University of Tennessee. He is the founder of the Florida Drug-Free Workplace company and has served on several community boards. Dr. Morris has served as an Assistant Volunteer Professor of Medicine for the University of Miami since 2003 and is the official team internist for the University of Miami's athletic department, taking care of over 200 athletes in over 10 sports.

George Jirak, MD, MBA
1999 Graduate
OB/GYN
Clinician
Ohio Valley Women's Health
Triadelphia, WV


Dr. Jirak is a practicing board-certified OB/GYN physician who is a practicing gynecologist/urogynecologist in Wheeling, West Virginia. Dr. Jirak obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Wisconsin. His previous experience includes 20 years of medical practice, Chief of Gynecology and Co-Residency Director for OB/GYN at the Presidio of San Francisco, Chief of OB/GYN, and Vice-Chief of the Medical Staff. Dr. Jirak was the president of Jackson Purchase Physician Association in 1994, a 70-member independent physician association. He was President of JPPA for five years and developed physician dominated health networks and systems. Dr. Jirak was project coordinator for the Physician Executive MBA Electronic Medical Record Project.