Conference Speakers
CEO and Co-Founder, Montecito Medical and MontecitoPLUS
Chip Conk is co-founder of Montecito Medical and MontecitoPLUS and CEO of Montecito Medical and is responsible for the company’s vision and extraordinary growth. He plays a central, hands-on role in the company’s success, and under his leadership Montecito has transacted on over $6.5 billion in medical real estate and emerged as one of the nation’s top privately held acquirer of medical office buildings, and in each of the past seven years, GlobeSt.com named the company as a “Key Influencer in Healthcare Real Estate.”
Chip is nationally recognized in the industry. In 2021, he was named Healthcare Real Estate Executive of the Year by Healthcare Real Estate Insights (HREI). He also has received The Developer & Builder Alliance Visionary Award for Real Estate Development.
Foot & Ankle Specialist, OrthoCarolina
We are honored to have Dr. Bruce Cohen as this year’s chair.
Dr. Bruce Cohen has served in a leadership capacity throughout his tenure with OrthoCarolina, including serving as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Operations Committee as OrthoCarolina established itself as a nationally recognized model for patient success and value-based care. He served as CEO of OrthoCarolina from 2016-2023.
He currently is a Professor of Orthopedics at Atrium Health – Carolinas Medical Center. He also has acted as a principal investigator in numerous active research projects through the OrthoCarolina Research Institute (OCRI).
CEO, One Health
Dr. David Cook is a seasoned physician, entrepreneur, and healthcare executive with over 35 years of experience leading transformational change in primary care. He has founded and scaled some of the region’s largest and most innovative care platforms, including one of Charlotte’s largest primary care practices, the Lake Norman Community Health Clinic, and the Novant Health Family Medicine Residency Program. As a former health system executive, he led strategy, population health, value-based care, and EHR implementation—always with a focus on quality, provider wellness, and cost-effective care.
Today, Dr. Cook serves as Co-CEO of OneHealth and Modern Primary Care Consultants, continuing to drive innovation and integration across healthcare systems, payers, and provider organizations.
Founder and Principal Advisor, Alison Curfman MD LLC
Alison Curfman is a pediatric emergency physician, healthcare strategist, and founder who has helped build and scale clinical innovations across the healthcare ecosystem. After incubating her first company at a leading private equity firm, she launched Imagine Pediatrics—a value-based medical group serving high-needs children on Medicaid. In less than two years, she scaled the company to over 300 employees and 35,000 patients, achieving a multi-nine-figure valuation.
She brings deep operational experience in clinical model design, value-based care, technology development, and physician leadership. Through her work, she has supported healthcare organizations in translating vision into execution—while improving outcomes for some of the nation’s most vulnerable populations.
Now as the founder of Startup Physicians, Alison helps other physicians apply their clinical expertise in innovation, startups, and venture. She advises early-stage companies and investors on clinical strategy, go-to-market planning, and regulatory alignment.
Alison’s mission is to create pathways for physicians to shape the future of healthcare. She believes startups offer physicians powerful opportunities to apply their expertise in new ways—and that meaningful innovation must be rooted in clinical insight.
Leadership Lunch Speaker
CEO, Arena Lab
Brian Ferguson has spent his career working in high-performance organizations, learning from leaders and decision-makers in US national security, the military, and emerging technology. He has used those experiences to build Arena Labs, a company pioneering the field of High Performance Medicine ® and working across healthcare, elite military, the performing arts and professional sports.
Arena Labs partners with the top surgical, trauma, ICU and emergency department teams to use human performance data as a means of reducing medical error. By providing frontline doctors and nurses with tools and frameworks used by the world’s top performers under pressure, Arena Labs isredefining healthcare and using lessons-learned from hospitals for best-practices in sport, business and the military.
SVP, Capital Markets, Montecito Medical
Mike Freiburg leads the capital raising initiatives at Montecito Medical, as well as strategic capital decisions for MontecitoPLUS. Mike also works as a family office advisor to the owners of Montecito.
Mike has spent almost 20 years in financial services where he worked for large institutions such as Truist and J.P. Morgan. In his previous roles, Mike advised high net worth families, family offices, foundations, and endowments on complex financial situations.
He remains active in the Nashville community where he serves on the board of trustees for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and volunteers for other non-profits.
CEO and Founder, SwitchPoint Ventures
Ray Guzman is CEO of SwitchPoint Ventures, where he has led the company’s growth from startup to over $100 million in enterprise value, with multiple successful exits. A seasoned technology and innovation leader, Ray brings 25+ years of experience spanning early-stage startups to Fortune 100 companies, including Microsoft.
He also serves on the boards of Ascend Federal Credit Union, Belmont University, and Montecito Medical, with expertise in AI governance and strategic growth. A U.S. Army veteran, Ray’s leadership is rooted in operational excellence and a forward-thinking approach to technology’s impact on business.
CEO, Barton Associates, Inc.
April Hansen serves as chief executive officer of Barton Associates, the sixth-largest physician staffing company in the U.S. Previously, Hansen was group president, workforce solutions at Aya Healthcare, where she achieved record-setting 27x growth in just six years through digital transformation.
Her career has taken her from nurse to serial entrepreneur to executive and noted business and personal growth expert. A Top 100 Workforce Leader and TEDx speaker, Hansen has appeared in news outlets including the New York Times, The Washington Post, SIA 40.
CEO, Arrowlytics
Steve Hendrick joined the Montecito family of companies through the acquisition of Arrowlytics in September of 2024. Steve is a proven, results oriented executive with 35+ years’ healthcare experience in a variety of executive, operational and information systems roles within large healthcare / physician delivery systems, entrepreneurial and investor-backed healthcare services organizations and IT companies.
Former COO of Optum Specialty Practices, CEO of OrthoArizona, COO and CIO of OrthoCarolina (2005-2024); former senior executive with several healthcare services and information technology firms including MED3000, Health 1st Network, SeaView IPA, Heritage Health Systems, United Medical Care, Family HealthCare Associates and Medic Computer Systems (Misys) from (1989-2005). Steve’s extensive healthcare experience crosses all aspects of the provider side of healthcare. He has experience implementing and managing risk based / value-based contracts within primary care and specialty-based practices as well as large IPA networks. Steve received his degree in Computer Engineering from Forsyth College.
CEO, Vector Medical Group, LLC
Dana Jacoby is a nationally recognized thought leader in healthcare strategy, M&A, and physician business leadership. With billions in transaction experience, she has guided both her own companies and clients through complex merger and private equity deals, earning her a reputation as one of the most sought-after advisors in the field.
Her background spans roles with GE Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson, and Allergan, where she helped launch Botox in Asia. Dana’s advisory work includes strategic planning, valuations, provider compensation, and operational improvement for hospitals, health systems, and independent medical practices nationwide and abroad.
A Wharton Fellow and experienced keynote speaker, Dana holds master’s degrees from Tulane University and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. She is also a committed philanthropist through Project C.U.R.E., personally delivering medical supplies to underserved communities around the world.
Clinical Advisory Board Member, Seed Healthcare
Dr. Mitesh Kothari attended the University of Maryland at College Park from 1987-1991 where he studied Finance. Following graduation, he attended the University of Maryland School of Medicine and graduated with his medical degree in 1995. Dr. Kothari then trained in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Maryland Medical System. After completing his training, he started a solo medical practice in his hometown of Hagerstown, MD. He eventually grew his small practice, which started with only 2 employees, to become one of the largest practices in the country, employing 100 people and 26 medical providers in one location. He was instrumental in the startup of several other Maryland practices during his career. He enjoyed both the clinical and business side of his profession.
He retired from clinical medicine in 2024 and enjoys consulting with organizations on practice efficiencies, growth, and medical real estate. Dr. Kothari has enjoyed giving back to his community and has served on over 20 local non-profit boards, chairing many of them along the way.
Visionary Physician Keynote
Founder, NextMed Health and Digital.Health
Chair, NextMed Health and XPRIZE Pandemic & Health Alliance
Dr. Daniel Kraft is a Stanford- and Harvard-trained physician-scientist, innovator, and entrepreneur with over 25 years in clinical practice, biomedical research, and healthcare technology.
Founder of NextMed Health and Faculty Chair for Medicine at Singularity University, Dr. Kraft is recognized globally for his visionary insights into the future of medicine. He has delivered multiple TED and TEDMED talks, serves as Chair of the XPRIZE Pandemic & Health Alliance, and advises leading healthtech startups and Fortune-50 companies. His innovations include the FDA-approved MarrowMiner device and companies advancing precision medicine and regenerative therapies. Board-certified in Internal Medicine & Pediatrics, with fellowships in hematology/oncology and bone marrow transplantation, Dr. Kraft has published in Nature and Science and been named among the “Most Influential Voices in Healthcare.” An avid pilot and former Air National Guard flight surgeon, he brings a unique perspective on innovation at the intersection of health, technology, and human performance.
CEO, OneOncology
Dr. Jeff Patton is a board-certified hematologist and oncologist, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member at OneOncology, where he also served as President of Physician Services for over a year. His primary mission is to improve the lives of everyone living with cancer. Dr. Patton is leading OneOncology in growing their advanced partnership of top community oncology practices and positioning them to support the entire continuum of cancer care in any reimbursement environment.
Dr. Patton practiced with Tennessee Oncology, one of the nation’s leading oncology practices, for 24 years. He is currently the Chairman of the Board, Tennessee Oncology, and served as CEO of Tennessee Oncology for a decade (2010-2020).
Dr. Patton is also an active member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Tennessee Oncology Practice Society (TOPS), and is a board member and member of the executive committee of Community Oncology Alliance (COA).
Thomas J. Pauloski
Senior National Director of the Institute for Tax, Trusts and Estates, Bernstein Private Wealth Management
Thomas Pauloski is Senior National Director of the Institute for Tax, Trusts, and Estates, a research division of Bernstein Private Wealth Management. He works with private clients and their advisors on wealth transfer strategies, focusing on tax-efficient wealth management and asset allocation decisions. Previously, Tom was a partner at the Chicago law firm of Winston & Strawn LLP, where he concentrated his practice in estate, tax, and business planning. Tom also has been a member of the Chicago law firm of Levin & Schreder, Ltd., a Vice President in the Private Client Group of Zurich Life in Long Grove, Illinois, and a partner at the Chicago law firm of Schiff Hardin & Waite.
Tom is a nationally known speaker on estate planning, tax, and insurance issues, and has written numerous articles and continuing legal education materials on estate planning topics. He serves on the faculty of the American Bankers Association National Trust and National Graduate Trust Schools, and has served on the adjunct faculty of the Cannon Financial Institute Schools. Tom has been an adjunct professor at Loyola University Chicago School of Law and has taught estate planning classes at Northwestern University Law School. Tom also has served on the editorial board of Trusts & Estates magazine. He retired from the United States Naval Reserve in 2003, after 21 years of service.
CEO & General Partner, Seed Healthcare
Todd Perman is the CEO and General Partner of Seed Healthcare. In this role, he applies his 30+ years of healthcare experience, investment knowledge, and growth strategies to helping companies disrupt healthcare in the U.S. and abroad.
Todd’s unique combination of clinical insight and financial expertise, honed through his career as an investment banker and over a decade in medical devices at Stryker Corporation, led him to launch Seed Healthcare in 2020, which guides various stakeholders in healthcare companies through capital strategies, the integration of emerging technologies, and complex clinical revenue enhancement.
Todd launched the Seed Healthcare Fund, a $100 million fund dedicated to supporting disruptive healthcare technologies poised to drive change in healthcare. The key theory of change is to revolutionize healthcare through early disease detection. By investing in cutting-edge diagnostics and processes, the goal is to improve survival rates, reduce costs, and enhance patient outcomes, driving a significant shift in the healthcare paradigm. Key differentiators for the Fund include the expert Advisory Board, impact investment fund designation, and network effect of a healthcare-focused venture firm.
President, Eastern Division, Lifepoint Health and Duke-Lifepoint Healthcare
Elmer Polite is President of Lifepoint Health’s Eastern Division and the Duke-Lifepoint Joint Venture, where he leads operations for acute care hospitals across Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Previously, he served as Chief Financial Officer for the division, overseeing financial operations for 26 hospital campuses.
Elmer brings a unique blend of operational and financial expertise. His experience spans strategic planning, revenue cycle optimization, budgeting, physician practice expansion, capital management, and mergers and acquisitions. He is known for driving operational improvements that enhance care delivery and long-term sustainability.
Before joining Lifepoint, Elmer held senior leadership roles at Prisma Health, HCA, and Community Health Systems. In these roles, he managed multi-hospital markets and led large-scale financial and operational initiatives. He is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Eric Scalzo
Healthcare M&A and Private Equity Attorney, Holland & Knight LLP
Eric Scalzo is a healthcare attorney in Holland & Knight’s Nashville office. Eric focuses his practice on physician practice management companies, representing large practice groups. Eric represents private equity clients, portfolio companies and founder physicians and dentists in the formation, acquisition, growth practice management space.
Previously, Eric served as deputy general counsel and director of compliance and administration at a leading dental support organization, providing support and administrative services to nearly 50 affiliated practices across eight states. In this role, he managed day-to-day legal, corporate and compliance issues, including ensuring enterprise-wide compliance with corporate practice laws, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) rules, Medicaid requirements and other state reporting requirements.
In addition, Eric reviewed employee and independent contractor compensation structures to ensure compliance with state anti-kickback and fee-splitting laws and negotiated administrative service agreement compliance with affiliated dental practice owners. He also assisted in screening potential acquisitions and other growth opportunities for practice owners and advised practice owners with regard to state regulatory and licensing board investigations on behalf of dental practices.
Chief Financial Advisor, CEO, Founder of MD Financial
Katherine Vessenes is an Attorney and Certified Financial Planner®. She founded MD Financial Advisors in 2011 after years of consulting for leading financial advisors and institutions nationwide. Raised in a medical family, she intimately understands the unique financial pressures that drive physician stress, emotional strain, and burnout.
Katherine’s mission is transforming doctors’ financial lives through ethical, objective guidance from a fiduciary perspective. Her practice now serves over 600 doctors from Hawaii to New York, delivering on her commitment to improve doctors’ financial wellbeing—and quality of life—across America.