Howard J. Peterson, MHA
Howard J. Peterson, MHA, is the Founder and Managing Partner of TRG Healthcare (TRG). He is a well-respected industry veteran with nearly four decades of experience developing progressive strategic, financial and operational solutions for a broad range of healthcare clients. Mr. Peterson is a recognized expert and innovator in the areas of market positioning, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), strategic regional organization (SRO) development, and in dealing with issues unique to academic medicine. His work supports the performance of hospitals, health systems, emerging and established SROs, and academic medical centers in markets nationwide.
Prior to forming TRG, Mr. Peterson had a successful career as a healthcare executive in the field. He served as President of Founders Healthcare, Inc., a for-profit physician organization in Philadelphia (PA). He also served for 15 years as a hospital executive, including seven years as CEO of Penn State University Hospital / Hershey Medical Center and eight years in various executive positions including COO of the University of Michigan Medical Center.
Mr. Peterson has authored numerous articles in major healthcare publications and is a regular contributor to The Field Clinic blog (on www.Philly.com) to inform debates and policy decisions as the rollout of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) continues. Mr. Peterson has a Master’s degree in Hospital and Health Care Administration and a Bachelor of Science degree in business, public health and sociology from the University of Minnesota.
Robin Lacey, MS, MBA, is a Partner with TRG Healthcare (TRG) and has over 22 years of healthcare project management and consulting experience. She is highly experienced in healthcare strategy, hospital transactions, new market entry, new hospital planning, as well as clinical service line and ambulatory care planning. She has reorganized services within ambulatory care settings and long-term care facilities, and has experience conducting market assessments, feasibility assessments, and cost analyses. Ms. Lacey also specializes in implementing organizational change through operations improvement and system redesign activities and has led numerous physician practice analyses, business plan development for clinical service lines, and new market/facility planning projects.
Prior to joining TRG Healthcare, Ms. Lacey worked as a project and contract manager. In that role she was responsible for physician and staff development, budgeting and financial projections, overseeing operational improvements, and marketing.
Ms. Lacey has a Master of Business Administration from Temple University, a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Cabrini College.
Allen S. Lichter, MD, is a Senior Partner with TRG Healthcare. Prior to joining TRG he was Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), a medical professional organization representing over 40,000 physicians and health professionals in oncology. He served from 2006-2016
In addition, Dr. Lichter was at the University of Michigan in two significant leadership roles. He served as Chair and Professor of Radiation Oncology from 1984-1996 and as Dean of the Medical School from 1998 – 2006. Dr. Lichter was named the first Isadore Lampe Professor of Radiation Oncology and also held the Newman Family Professorship of Radiation Oncology. Prior to his tenure at the University of Michigan, Dr. Lichter was the Director of the Radiation Therapy Section of the NCI’s Radiation Oncology Branch.
Dr. Lichter’s research at the NCI helped advance the use of lumpectomy plus radiation as an alternative to mastectomy in the local management of breast cancer. His work at Michigan established the clinical utility of three-dimensional treatment planning and conformal dose delivery. He has been awarded Gold Medals from the American Society for Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) and the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). In 2002 he was elected to membership in the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). He is a past-President of ASCO (1998-1999).
Dr. Lichter earned a bachelor’s degree (1968) and medical degree (1972) from the University of Michigan. He trained in radiation oncology at University of California, San Francisco, before joining the faculty at Johns Hopkins University, and later the National Cancer Institute
Gordon L. Alexander, Jr., M.D., is a Senior Partner with TRG Healthcare (TRG). Dr. Alexander is a board certified OB/GYN physician with more than 30 years’ experience working in various practice settings and administrative leadership roles at prominent hospitals and academic medical centers across the country. He brings significant business acumen, creativity and strategic leadership to each engagement, as well as practical insight and experience in hospital/physician alignment, strategic planning, service line refinement and rationalization, operational improvement, financial turnarounds, academic partnerships and physician mentoring/leadership development.
Prior to joining TRG, Dr. Alexander served as President and CEO of Children’s Hospital Central California. Previously, he led the formation of a 750-physician PHO with Fairview Health Services, subsequently becoming Chief Medical Officer of Fairview. As CMO he led and grew Fairview Clinics – which became a 250 employed physician group. He then became President and CEO of the newly created University of Minnesota Medical Center – Fairview where he merged and rationalized two hospitals and related services. Serving in that capacity, Dr. Alexander led an operational and quality turn-around in partnership with the organizationally distinct faculty practice plan, the University of Minnesota Physicians.
Dr. Alexander received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Minnesota, and practiced for 14 years in Obstetrics and Gynecology prior to entering administrative medicine.
Prior to TRG Healthcare Mr. Wilkins served as Senior Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer at Atlantic Health System. He led commercial and operations teams at Quest Diagnostics. He also dedicated 28-years with Danaher – Beckman Coulter.
Mr. Wilkins is driven to improve healthcare access, affordability and innovation to improve healthcare outcomes and operations across all communities. Mr. Wilkins balanced his business endeavors with community service to regional healthcare boards and professional associations. Mr. Wilkins served as Chair Person for St. Joseph Hoag Health – Providence St Joseph Health. He also served as Chair Person for the California Hospital Association (CHA) Governance Forum and was a member of the Governor of California Office of Health Equity Advisory Committee. Finally, he served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the American Hospital Association and the Institute for Diversity and Equity.
Mr. Wilkins is Board Certified in Healthcare Management as an American College of Healthcare Executives Fellow. He earned an MBA in Finance from Argosy University. He is certified in Population Health Management by the California Hospital Association. He holds a Lean/Six Sigma Green Belt from California State Fullerton and corporate governance certifications from the University of Southern California, Forum of Corporate Board Directors, and University of California, Irvine. Registered with California Department of Insurance as producer of Healthcare Insurance.
Cathy Cresta, is the Office Administration at TRG Healthcare (TRG) and has over 20 years of experience in all aspects of business office management. Ms. Cresta is responsible for office organization; purchasing and managing supplies and equipment; review, track and prepare budgets; accounts receivables and payables; benefits; payroll and payroll taxes, as well as typing, travel arrangements, scheduling, etc.
Prior to joining TRG, Ms. Cresta worked for Founders Health Care as the Assistant to the Vice President and as the Community Relations Coordinator at the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic.
David J. Campbell, FACHE, has more than 35 years in the leadership and management of hospitals and health systems. He has extensive consulting operational experience and expertise in multiple health care settings that includes an established record of leading teaching institutions experiencing severe financial stress through significant organizational changes and integration. His leadership also includes the development and implementation of programs to create a service-oriented, proactive culture in financially challenged institutions with a history of difficult labor relations. He has done extensive consulting in strategic and operational assessment, mergers and acquisitions, physician and academic alignment and operational improvement.
Mr. Campbell has served as a President and Chief Executive Officer of Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers of New York, the Detroit Medical Center in Detroit, and Allegheny Health Services in Pittsburgh. He has also served in senior leadership positions at Henry Ford Health System, Oakwood Healthcare, Inc., and The University of Michigan Hospitals.
Mr. Campbell has a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in Hospital Administration from the University of Michigan. Campbell has a number of professional affiliations including serving as a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Les Wold, M.D., is a Principal with TRG Healthcare. Dr. Wold has held numerous health care positions during his greater than 30 year career as a member of both not-for-profit and for profit organizations. During the course of his tenure at Mayo Clinic he was the Chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Chair of Mayo Medical Ventures, Chair of Mayo Collaborative Services, Inc and a member of the Executive Committee and Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees. After retiring from Mayo Clinic he joined JARI Research as Chief Medical Officer to develop a radiopharmaceutical for the treatment of cancer and subsequently became Chief Medical Officer of VitalHealth Software and a Special Advisor to the Noaber Foundation.
Dr. Wold has had an abiding interest in leveraging the use of data to better support the needs of patients and providers. He has encouraged the participation of all stakeholders in the dialogue to develop better systems of care. As a consultant he has brought his enthusiasm to engagements in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Dr. Wold obtained his BA from St. Olaf College, an MA from Cornell University in Chemistry, his MD from the University of Chicago and an MBA from Augsburg College.
Joseph M. Huber, CPA, is a Partner with TRG Healthcare (TRG) and has more than 35 years of experience in healthcare financial management and accounting. He brings significant technical financial knowledge to his clients in addition to possessing a senior level perspective on financial planning and strategy in healthcare organizations. Mr. Huber’s consulting work focuses on developing financial strategies related to mergers and acquisitions, evaluating the impact of clinical service line development or expansion, and establishing targets for performance improvement. Mr. Huber has significant experience with large teaching hospitals and academic medical centers and has a thorough understanding of the complex relationships that exist between provider, academic and physician practice plans in these settings.
Prior to joining TRG, Mr. Huber served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Graduate Health System, Senior Financial Officer for Mediq Consulting Services, Inc., Co-Founder and Principal for Delaney Associates/Huber & Tierney CPAs, and in the healthcare consulting department for Ernst & Young. In addition, he has worked as an independent consultant focusing on financial planning, reimbursement and bankruptcy.
Mr. Huber is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. His educational background includes a Master of Science degree in taxation from Widener University and a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from LaSalle University.
Marc A. Halman, is a Partner with TRG Healthcare (TRG) and has over 40 years of experience working in academic health centers and working with community health systems and their physician providers. Mr. Halman has significant experience and expertise in the area physician compensation and productivity. He served for several years as chair of the MGMA/APA survey operations committee, which produces the annual physician compensation and productivity report. He was also a member of similar AAMC committees.
Prior to joining TRG, Mr. Halman served as the Vice Chair for Finance and Administration in the Department of Medicine at the University of Miami from 2008-2012. He came to Miami from the University of Michigan where he had worked for 32 years. During his last 20 years there he served as the Director of Administration in the Department of Radiation Oncology as well as Administrative Director of the Michigan Cancer Center Network.
Mr. Halman has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Eastern Michigan University and a Master’s degree in Social Welfare Administration from the University of Michigan.
Mr. Ptacek is an experienced and innovative executive with expertise in building and growing Medicare, Medicaid, and Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) organizations. He works with executives, operators, and interested investors for companies ranging from those that are early stage or private equity-backed to more traditional and established organizations needing to transform their business models. Mr. Ptacek focuses in the areas of strategic product design, developing value-based care arrangements, core health plan operations and transformation, sales, and marketing.
Mr. Ptacek has spent the previous twenty years in government programs healthcare, working within notable payer organizations such as PacifiCare Health Systems, WellCare, Bravo Health, Magellan Health, and most recently Bright Health. While his early career focus was on product management and marketing within the Medicare Advantage space. Mr. Ptacek has more recently provided executive leadership for start-ups and distressed organizations in the broader government programs arena. In the past 10 years he has held positions such as the Chief Executive and COO for a start-up New York City-based Medicaid MLTC/LTSS plan, Lead market-based executive for a new private-equity backed multi-regional Medicare Advantage organization, SVP of Marketing for a venture capital-owned multi-state multi-specialty medical group in the oncology space, and Executive Vice President of Marketing for a private equity-backed multi-state Medicare Advantage organization.
Jane C. Kaye, MBA, is a Principal with TRG Healthcare (TRG) with 20 years of financial and analytic expertise in healthcare. She is a collaborative, results-oriented financial consultant with extensive experience in various leadership roles in the healthcare industry. Ms. Kaye brings an outstanding blend of analytic, problem-solving and interpersonal skills to the engagement. She is noted for her unique ability to simplify healthcare finance for healthcare executives, clinicians, and Boards. Her areas of consultative expertise include strategic problem solving and fiscal management. Other core competencies include financial statement analysis, revenue cycle management and new business evaluation.
Prior to consulting Ms. Kaye was the CFO at the Robert Wood Johnson Healthcare Corporation at Hamilton (NJ) and Bayshore Community Health Services (NJ).
Ms. Kaye’s educational background includes a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Boston College and a Bachelor’s degree in Art History from the University of Pennsylvania.
Natalie Combs, MHA, is a research analyst/consultant with TRG. She provides critical research and analytic support. Much of her time is spent working on strategic planning, market positioning and business development activities.
Ms. Combs is a recent graduate of St. Joseph University where she received her Master’s Degree in Health Administration. She completed her undergraduate studies at West Virginia University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications with a minor in Business Administration.
Janet M. Lorenz, is a Principal with TRG Healthcare (TRG). Ms. Lorenz works with clients on developing contextual leadership competencies that help them navigate everyday situations more effectively or reach for transformational shifts in work habits and organization culture. Her experience spans work with venture start-up entrepreneurs to large organizations.
Prior to joining TRG, Ms. Lorenz was a former Change Management Services leader with Accenture in the global healthcare practice. In that role, she worked with clients on implementing clinical care technologies, business process effectiveness strategies and change management initiatives from multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary perspectives. She led a major clinical services transformation project in Singapore for the public health system (Tan Toc Seng) and served as the interim practice leader for the burgeoning healthcare practice in Southeast Asia. Early in her career, she was an oncology research nurse at the Hospital University of Pennsylvania.
Ms. Lorenz has an MBA from the Fox School of Business Administration, Temple University; a BS in Nursing from Pennsylvania State University; and, a professional certificate in Leadership Development and Coaching from the Institute for Transformational Leadership at Georgetown University.
Mr. Lorenz is closely involved with Philadelphia’s entrepreneurial community through the Alliance for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE). She is the Chair of the Building Bridges Fellowship Program, a signature and competitive program that provides mentoring, coaching, and networking support to select early-stage entrepreneurs, many of them healthcare/life sciences and technology start-ups. She is also a core member of the leadership team launching AWE Ventures, an early stage capital fund in partnership with Ben Franklin Technology Partners.
Wayne Mercer, PhD., is a Principal with TRG Healthcare (TRG). Dr. Mercer is a board-certified laboratory director with over 35 years of experience in laboratory strategic planning, operational improvement, outreach program development, and management. Dr. Mercer has significant experience as a consultant for the last 20 years. He has performed a broad range of studies for hospital laboratory clients in the areas of operational review and optimization, space planning and facility design, consolidation, and interim management. He has acted as project director for the design of over 25 laboratories in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East.
Prior to joining TRG, Dr. Mercer spent eight years as a Senior Consultant with the Chi Solutions laboratory consulting practice. Before that, he was President of Medical Laboratory Consultants, Inc., in Alpharetta, Georgia, with a focus on strategic planning, interim management, process and operational improvement, and outreach program development for both hospital and independent laboratories. His company has also performed due diligence analysis for venture capital firms and developed new diagnostic tests for independent laboratories and diagnostic companies.
Dr. Mercer received his PhD in Medical Sciences (Pathology) from the University of Florida in Gainesville and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Texas Health Science Center (Oncology) and the University of Florida (Pathology). He is certified under CLIA ’88 as a Laboratory Director and by the American Board of Bio-analysts as a Bio-analyst Clinical Laboratory Director. Additionally, he is certified in Lean Healthcare applications.
Paul Musgrave, MBA, FACHE, has over 30 years of experience in the design, development, and management of hospital, higher education and manufacturing operations. His areas of expertise include hospital operations management, strategic planning, strategic sourcing, hospital wide process re-engineering and multi-hospital process integration. Mr. Musgrave specializes in the rapid analysis of a company’s operations with a focus on the delivery of substantial cost savings through implementing aggressive but realistic performance improvement action plans. Mr. Musgrave is a Six Sigma Green Belt and has successfully managed multiple performance improvement initiatives using Six Sigma and Lean methodologies.
Mr. Musgrave’s experience as a healthcare executive include key leadership roles at large academic medical centers and large Multi-Hospital systems including: Chief Operating Officer and Board Member – Lovelace Women’s Hospital (Albuquerque NM), Performance Improvement Leader for Tenet Healthcare’s Dallas Division, Vice President Strategic Planning and Population Health Operations for Children’s Medical Center (Dallas), Interim Chief Operating Officer at Howard University Hospital (Washington D.C), Interim Vice President of Administrative Services at Howard University (Washington D.C.) and Interim Vice President of Operations at Hurley Medical Center (Flint MI.).
Prior to joining TRG Healthcare, Mr. Musgrave served as a Senior Manager at Deloitte Consulting and was responsible for helping lead Deloitte’s Healthcare Provider practice. Mr. Musgrave also spent time at Voluntary Hospitals of America (Irving, TX) and Baxter Healthcare (Deerfield, IL). Mr. Musgrave’s publications include: “Avoiding Scope Creep in Large System Projects” (National Association of Purchasing Managers Magazine), “Strategy and Planning for Healthcare Materials Management” (Healthcare Materials Management Magazine) and contributor to the “Efficient Healthcare Consumer Response” study. He has a Master’s and Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Indiana State University.