LEADERSHIP

Michael W. Gregory, MD

Chairman

Dr. Gregory received his medical degree from the University of Texas in 1993 and completed his general surgery residency in 1998 at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. During his third year of surgery residency, Dr. Gregory founded American Physicians, Inc. (API), which, under his leadership, grew into the largest Hospitalist group in Arizona.

In 2002, Dr. Gregory founded Apogee Medical Group, Inc. (dba Apogee Physicians) based on the vision of “What’s best for the patient is best for the practice”™. “It wasn’t until we, the physicians, were in control of the practice that I felt our vision could become a reality.”

Apogee´s original business plan stopped with 22 doctors in two local hospitals. Now, more than ten years later, more than 750 physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants nationwide call Apogee home. When asked what has fueled Apogee’s explosive growth Dr. Gregory replies, “Our growth has never been driven by a desire to be bigger. It has been driven by the understanding that if we do not create opportunities for our star talent, our competition will. Growth creates opportunity, and great people crave opportunity.”

Throughout his life, Dr. Gregory has maintained an impassioned commitment not only to the healthcare industry but also to social issues and philanthropic efforts. In 2007, in an effort to give back to the profession that has given him so much to it, Apogee granted the first and only full ride scholarship for students to attend medical school in the history of Arizona. Also, Apogee currently provides millions of dollars a year in free healthcare to underprivileged patients.

Steve G. Cervi-Skinner, MD

Chief Medical Officer

As an Apogee founder, Steven Cervi-Skinner has been instrumental in Apogee's success since he saw the very first Apogee patient in early 2002. He began his career with Apogee as the Program Director of our first program, Valley Lutheran Hospital. After two years with the group Dr. Cervi-Skinner became our Chief Medical Officer. In this role he has implemented processes and programs that have shaped the group into what it is today - the country's largest physician-owned, physician-led, Hospitalist group.

Along with Apogee Chairman, Dr. Michael Gregory, Dr. Cervi-Skinner has worked to define just what Apogee will be. He plays a major part in the on-going re-development of Apogee University, our training and orientation processes that each medical staff member goes through to ensure they have the tools they need to provide the best, most effective care to every patient, every time.

Dr. Cervi-Skinner realized that most physician practices blindly promote their best physicians into a management role. However, he also knew that "the best player, is rarely the best coach" and that "physicians respond to leadership, not management." He then founded Apogee's quarterly Program Director Leadership Summits, where Apogee's physician leaders gather four times a year to promote and refine their leadership skills.

Dr. Cervi-Skinner has always believed that Apogee's greatest strengths and most important assets are our physician talent. He is passionate that "for Apogee to realize its potential and fulfill its vision, Apogee must be the best place for the best Hospitalists in the world to call home." This has led Dr. Cervi-Skinner to create and lead our most critical department, Physician Relations. This department has the single task of making sure our physicians have the best possible experience as they evaluate opportunities with Apogee. The department has become so successful that Apogee is probably the only national Hospitalist group in the country with more candidates than available positions.

Back to top

Peter W. Thompson, MD

Chief of Clinical Operations

Dr. Thompson joined Apogee Physicians in 2003. He has opened and led many Apogee Hospitalist programs in Oregon and Arizona as a Program Director. During his time as a practicing Hospitalist, Dr. Thompson was honored with Apogee’s "Resilience Award" in 2005, "Program Director of the Year" award in 2006, and several of his sites won "Program of the Month" awards.

Joining Apogee´s national leadership team in July 2009 as Director of Quality and Compliance, Dr. Thompson believes that "Participating in Apogee University is a privilege and a chance to get to know and support the providers who make up the teams of Hospitalists as they prepare to start their careers with Apogee at our partner hospitals."

Since becoming Chief of Clinical Operations in May 2010, Dr. Thompson has been responsible for providing physician, program, and hospital-partner support to foster Apogee´s vision of What´s best for the patient is best for the practice™. Dr. Thompson also plays a key role in developing new positions, such as Divisional Directors. Divisional Directors provide leadership to our facilities´ Program Directors while also acting as liaisons with our partner hospitals and ensuring direct contact with the home office.

Dr. Thompson obtained his medical degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics. Following residency, he joined a growing primary care group in Eugene, Oregon, where he was on the Board of Directors and chaired numerous committees for the medical group and hospitals in which he practiced. Thompson states:
There came a time in my medical career when I felt I could best serve patients by being solely in the hospital as an inpatient physician. I helped to develop my medical group’s hospital service in Eugene, but it was in hearing of Apogee and meeting its leaders that I became inspired to contribute my time and energy to the Apogee cause: Delivering the Apogee Promise of Safety, Quality, Service and Value.

Back to top

Paul Richmann, MD

Chief of Apogee Surgical Services

Over the last few years, Dr. Gregory realized, as the Hospitalist program grew and exceeded every expectation, in order to provide more comprehensive care for the patients, Apogee needed to expand its service line. The Surgicalist Program was the most logical way to provide Apogee quality care to the patient in the perioperative setting. He called upon Dr. Richmann to take the helm of the newly formed Apogee Surgical Services.

Dr. Richmann received his medical degree from the University of Hawaii in 1993, and completed his residency in 1998 at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona, with Dr. Gregory. Upon completion of Residency and a Neuroanesthesia Fellowship, Dr. Richmann worked general and trauma cases in Phoenix, Arizona.

With 13 years in the field as a Board Certified anesthesiologist, Dr. Richmann provides expansive experience and in-depth knowledge of the practical aspects of working, running, and maintaining a successful perioperative experience. He is a "go-to" administrator with an understanding of the needs of the Medical Center administration and the surgical team.

Back to top

Kirk A. Butler, MD

Chief of Program Financial Performance

Dr. Kirk Butler has been part of the Apogee Physicians family, as one of the company’s founders, since its inception in early 2002. As is the case with most of our senior leaders, Dr. Butler began his career with Apogee working as a practicing Hospitalist. In 2004, he was asked to run a small division of the group that focused on value-based rather than fee-based compensation for hospitalized patients. Dr. Butler was extremely successful in his management of this program. In addition, Dr. Butler developed and managed the Apogee Physicians Travel Team. This is a group of the company's finest physicians who travel throughout the country, primarily to supplement permanent staffing while new programs are being implemented.

Building on his success in physician and practice management, Dr. Butler became Chief of Program Financial Performance in March 2008.  He is charged with ensuring that each of Apogee’s programs has the resources needed to serve our patients effectively. Dr. Butler is integrally involved in developing initial proposals to prospective hospital partners, as well as monitoring financial performance, reviewing staffing needs, and advising on the growth of existing Apogee programs.

Back to top

Karen J. Harwell, CPA

Chief Financial Officer

Joining Apogee in the fall of 2004, Ms. Harwell first oversaw the design and development of a new accounting infrastructure, providing timely financial information to the executive leadership team. During her tenure, these systems enhanced Apogee’s efficient growth of over 400% where they now serve more than 80 hospitals in 28 states.

As the Chief Financial Officer, she is responsible for accounting, tax, contracts and benefits administration for the Apogee family.

Apogee’s mission is to provide the best care to patients, the best home to physicians and the most value to partner hospitals. It is Ms. Harwell’s responsibility to ensure Apogee continues to provide the best Hospitalist programs across the country in a financially sustainable manner.

Ms. Harwell holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Northern Arizona University and prior to joining Apogee she served as the Chief Accounting Officer for Bionutrics, Inc. (BNRX), a nutraceutical company, and had served as the Executive Director of the Arizona Lions Eye and Tissue Bank, then the third largest eye bank in the United States.

Back to top

Kevin W. Gregory, MBA

Chief of Non-Clinical Operations

Kevin Gregory was recruited to Apogee in 2006 to implement the next phase in its information and infrastructure systems. Within his first year, Mr. Gregory created an entirely new enterprise level information system. Known as ICE, Apogee's new information infrastructure provides industry leading features offered by no other Hospitalist company. His role includes oversight of Apogee's second largest department, Patient Information Coordination.

After receiving his MBA from Southern Methodist University in 1993, Mr. Gregory subsequently founded a software-consulting firm that counted Fujitsu/ICL, American Airlines, and Turner Private Networks among its largest clients. He moved into the health care space in 2003 when he became Chief Technology Officer of Smaart Medical Systems, a PACS company. Mr. Gregory developed the image transmittal and management technology including a de-centralized, global image management network, responsible for transmitting over 1 Terabtye of data each day.

Back to top

Michael Bell

Chief of Business Development

As our Chief of Business Development, Michael Bell investigates and develops new business opportunities. He joined Apogee Physicians in 2010 and comes to us with 25 years of Business Development experience in the healthcare arena.

For nearly eight years he served as the Vice President of Business and Strategic Development for a large Hospitalist group. Previously, he served in the same capacity at Dermatology Partners, a national physician practice management firm specializing in the acquisition and management of dermatology practices. He was also the National Director of Business Development at Pediatrix Medical Group, the nation's largest physician practice management group dedicated to the medical specialty of neonatology.

Back to top

Mark Dose

Chief of Strategic Partnerships

Mark Dose joined Apogee Physicians as our Chief of Strategic Partnerships in 2012. His expertise in hospitalist strategic planning and business development as well as his 20-plus years of experience in healthcare leadership and hospitalist program services make him ideally suited for this role. Having served as the Vice President of Hospitalist Services at Community Health Systems (CHS) and holding a Master of Business Administration from Albany State University, Mr. Dose is an invaluable asset to Apogee in contributing to our continued growth.

Mr. Dose’s talents include, among others, hospital operations management, physician relations and recruiting, medical practice management, corporate compliance, service line development, and marketing. He is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and the Society of Hospitalist Medicine (SHM). Apogee is inspired by Mr. Dose’s professional mission to assist hospitals in achieving the full benefit of hospitalist medicine.

Back to top