man getting an x-ray

Our History 

Founded in 2020, our company’s thesis is built upon the success of a network of over 150 board-certified ear, nose, and throat physicians with locations throughout Texas, Florida, and Louisiana. Our physicians have been caring for patients for over 50 years, offering a wide range of services that comprise every aspect of ear, nose, and throat care. Everything we do centers around providing patients with the best possible care, and our physicians and clinical staff with superior administrative support when and where they need it.

Meet the Team

Deep expertise. A collaborative approach. A commitment to quality care.

Meet our seasoned and talented team of experts who are taking healthcare to a higher level.

Medical Board

  • Ryan Boone M.D., F.A.C.S., Board of Directors

    Ryan Boone
    Ryan Boone

    Ryan Boone M.D., F.A.C.S., Board of Directors

    Dr. Ryan T. Boone is a graduate of Washington & Lee University (BS, 1995) and LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport (MD, 1999), where he received the Chancellor’s Award and was President of Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. He completed his otolaryngology – head and neck surgery training at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.  He is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

    Upon completion of his residency in 2004, Dr. Boone joined a three-person practice in his hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Recognizing a need for strategic growth, Dr. Boone was instrumental in motivating and organizing the merger of three successful ENT practices in Baton Rouge to form Louisiana ENT & Sinus, the largest independent ENT practice in the state of Louisiana, which was finalized in late 2019.  He has served on the Board of LENTS since its formation.  Dr. Boone led the process for LENTS of evaluating and ultimately joining the Elevate ENT national platform in May 2023.  The opportunity for LENTS to align with other hugely successful practices throughout the southeast and harness the expertise of the team at Elevate were major motivators for Dr. Boone and his partners.  They are also excited and confident in Elevate ENT as the vehicle for further growth and consolidation within Louisiana.

    Dr. Boone practices all aspects of general otolaryngology for both pediatric and adult care.  His personal interests include sinus disease and surgery, inner ear pathology, and healthcare strategy.  Outside of the office, he enjoys time with his wife and their 3 daughters and spends as much time as possible in the woods, bowhunting and in the mountains snow skiing.  He is humbled and excited to have been appointed to the Elevate ENT Board of Directors.

  • Ariel Grobmam M.D., Board of Directors

    Felipe Martinez
    Felipe Martinez

    Ariel Grobmam M.D., Board of Directors

    Dr. Ariel Grobman is an Otolaryngologist and South Florida native. He graduated Cum Laude from the University of Maryland Scholar’s Program, earning his B.S. in Psychology. Dr. Grobman then received his Medical Degree from the University Of Miami Miller School Of Medicine, where he graduated at the top of his class. He was then accepted into the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital Department of Otolaryngology, where he completed his internship and residency training.

    While in residency, Dr. Grobman received extensive training in all aspects of Otolaryngology from world-renowned faculty.  He learned advanced techniques in surgery of the ear and skull base, advanced airway management, endoscopic management of sinonasal disorders, facial plastic surgery, as well as the medical and surgical treatment of head and neck diseases. In addition, he conducted clinical and basic science research, produced numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals, and presented his work at multiple national scientific meetings.  Dr. Grobman was elected as the head of resident research during his chief resident year. 

    Dr. Grobman has completed advanced courses in surgery of the temporal bone and cochlear implantation, endoscopic sinus surgery, and facial plastic surgery. Dr. Grobman is fluent in English, Spanish, and Hebrew and treats adults and children for a wide variety of ear, nose, and throat conditions.

  • Cary Moorhead M.D., F.A.C.S., Board of Directors

    Cary Moorhead
    Cary Moorhead

    Cary Moorhead M.D., F.A.C.S., Board of Directors

    Dr. Cary Moorhead’s passion for education is evident in his medical practice. He enjoys the constant problem-solving that medicine demands, as well as the technical challenges of surgery. He’s constantly studying the latest research and learning new techniques. Dr. Moorhead has been a pioneer in the Houston area in delivering the newest innovations in sinus procedures and was one of the first physicians in Texas to offer the Inspire implant procedure to treat sleep apnea. He also enjoys the personal interaction with his patients. He considers listening to patients and designing a treatment program to best suit each patient to be one of the most important facets of medicine.

    The prestige of the Texas Medical Center brought Dr. Moorhead to Houston to attend medical school and complete his residency at Baylor College of Medicine, one of the top medical programs in the country. It’s no surprise he wanted to seek the best of the best. Dr. Moorhead graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in German Literature from Princeton University.

    While he grew up in Ohio, he now considers Houston home. He says nowhere else have the people been as accepting, open and friendly as Houston. He believes that here you can make whatever you want for yourself.

    A founding member of Texas ENT Specialists, Dr. Moorhead has served as its president since 2014. He helped to grow the group from three physicians in 1995 to its current size. As a leader in the organization, he has sought to attract the highest quality physicians and other team members and to foster the highest standards of professionalism in order to deliver unmatched quality of care to Texas ENT patients. Now, in partnership with The Audax Group, under the national Elevate ENT umbrella, Dr. Moorhead is excited to be able to take his passion for innovation and excellence and share it with other partnering ENT groups across the great state of Texas and the nation. Dr. Moorhead sits on the board of directors of Elevate ENT.

    Dr. Moorhead is Chairman of the Board of Faith in Practice, a national medical mission group that provides medical and surgical care in Guatemala. He personally leads surgical teams to the country every other year. In addition, he frequently travels with his family to Zambia, Africa, with an organization called Family Legacy, which works to provide education for children who have been orphaned from AIDS, malaria, and other diseases. He has been a big brother in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program since 2015.

    Dr. Moorhead is a Diplomate of the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and a Fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. He became board-certified in Sleep Medicine in 2008.

    Dr. Moorhead’s dedication carries through in his hobbies too. He’s an avid runner and has competed in six marathons including running the prestigious Boston Marathon twice. He re-qualified for the Boston Marathon for a third time in 2019. He also enjoys skiing, yoga and gardening. Dr. Moorhead and his wife have two girls, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named George and a Lagotto Romagnolo named Henry.

  • Andrew Rivera M.D., Board of Directors

    Andrew Rivera
    Andrew Rivera

    Andrew Rivera M.D., Board of Directors

    Dr. Andrew Michael Rivera is co-managing partner of South Florida ENT Associates (SFENTA) largest care center, overseeing the day-to-day operations and strategic plans for a practice of 14 physicians and 4 mid-level providers.  He also serves on the Board of Managers of the South Miami Ambulatory Surgery Center affiliated with South Miami Hospital.

    Dr. Rivera completed his undergraduate studies at an accelerated biomedical science program at the City College of New York, where he graduated summa cum laude and was honored as the salutatorian of the university.  He then went on to receive his medical degree from the New York University School of Medicine, where he obtained numerous honors, including induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honors Society.  Following medical school, he completed his internship in General Surgery and four-year residency training in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Miami /Jackson Memorial Hospital.

    Dr. Rivera received extensive training in all aspects of Otolaryngology.  He learned advanced techniques in the endoscopic management of sinonasal disorders, as well as the medical and surgical treatment of head and neck diseases, from renowned faculty.  Dr. Rivera is fluent in both English and Spanish and treats adults and children for a wide variety of ear, nose, and throat conditions.

  • Richard J Vivero M.D., F.A.C.S., Board of Directors

    Richard J Vivero
    Richard J Vivero

    Richard J Vivero M.D., F.A.C.S., Board of Directors

    Dr. Richard Vivero is a co-managing partner of South Florida ENT Associates (SFENTA) the largest care center, overseeing the day-to-day operations and strategic plans for the group's 15 physicians. Dr. Vivero served on the SFENTA Board of Directors and was an integral part of the deal team that guided the partnership between SFENTA and Audax. Dr. Vivero currently serves on the board of the new partnership, Elevate ENT Partners.

    Dr. Vivero graduated with honors from Harvard College with a B.A. in Biology, earned his M.D. from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and completed a fellowship in Laryngology and Laryngeal Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School.

  • Adam Weisstuch M.D., F.A.A.O.A., Board of Directors

    Adam Weisstuch
    Adam Weisstuch

    Adam Weisstuch M.D., F.A.A.O.A., Board of Directors

    Dr. Weisstuch is Board Certified in Otolaryngology with additional subspecialty training as a Fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy (AAOA). A native of New York, Dr. Weisstuch received his BA from Yeshiva University, where he was awarded Magna Cum Laude. He then attained his M.D. at NYU School of Medicine, where he was a member of its Honors Program. Dr. Weisstuch completed his Otolaryngology residency and Chief Residency at Albany Medical College, where he was trained by leaders in the field in the most advanced and innovative medical and surgical techniques. Dr. Weisstuch is a speaker and thought leader in the ENT industry at a local, regional, and national level. He has been an author of multiple medical articles within the field of Otolaryngology.

    Dr. Weisstuch joined SFENTA in 2014 and has been a member of its Board of Directors since 2017 and played a leading role in the formation of Elevate ENT. Throughout his time with the company, he has not only been able to provide excellent and compassionate care for his own patients but has also helped advance the scope and quality of care across the enterprise, for all Elevate ENT physician partners.

  • Manish K. Wani M.D., Board of Directors

    Manish K. Wani
    Manish K. Wani

    Manish K. Wani M.D., Board of Directors

    Houston's vibrant international and multi-cultural city, along with the Texas Medical Center, brought Dr. Manish Wani to Texas ENT Specialists in 2001. Dr. Wani started his medical career at Baylor College of Medicine. He fulfilled his internship and residency at the University of Tennessee School of Medicine, where he was awarded both the Scholastic Achievement Award for Best Resident and the Resident Research Award. Following residency, Dr. Wani completed a Fellowship at Rush Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, with Dr. William Panje in Head and Neck Surgery and Advanced Rhinology. He was Chief of Staff at Christus St. Catherine Hospital from 2009-2011. He served as Chief of Surgery at Methodist West Hospital from 2015 to 2017, followed by President of the Medical Staff at Methodist West Hospital from 2019 to 2021. He is a Diplomate of the Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and obtained Board Certification through the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery in 2000. He is a fellowship-trained sub-specialist in Advanced Rhinology and Head and Neck Cancer.

    Dr. Wani is passionate about combining the latest surgical techniques with a personal approach for each patient he encounters. He provides ENT care to patients of all ages, with an interest in chronic sinus disease as well as the treatment for underlying sinus allergies. Additionally, Dr. Wani is equally passionate about his commitment to his role as a leader. Dr. Wani recently earned a graduate studies certificate in Safety, Quality, Informatics, and Leadership (SQIL) from Harvard University. He is one of the founding partners of Texas ENT Specialists, where he serves as Vice President of the executive committee since 2014. In 2021, Dr Wani was appointed to the board of directors of Elevate ENT, the newly formed partnership initiative with Audax. Under this new platform, Dr. Wani will collaborate with stakeholders to stay ahead of the curve with an enterprising focus on growth, collaboration, and integration and a continued effort in leading medicine and providing advanced patient care

    Dr. Wani also serves on the Board of Directors for the Eternal Gandhi Museum f Houston (EGMH) whose simple mission is to promote the values of truth, non-violence, and peace. Since 2008, he has served in medical missions with Faith in Practice at the Obras Sociales del Santo Hermano Pedro hospital in Antigua, Guatemala and also spent time in Haiti in 2010 after the earthquake. Dr. Wani finished the 2004 Houston Marathon and the 2014 Houston Tough Mudder obstacle course. He regularly attends classes at Volt City Crossfit, enjoys traveling, reading, and skiing, and is an avid fan of professional sports. He lives in Katy and has two children.

Management Team

  • James Polfreman President and Chief Executive Officer

    James Polfreman
    James Polfreman

    James Polfreman President and Chief Executive Officer

    James brings a unique blend of operational skill, multi-site retail health experience and passion to Elevate ENT Partners. He is responsible for leading the strategy, development and operational scale of the Elevate ENT platform and their family of practices,  across multiple states. The company now includes over 150 physicians across 100 plus locations, with plans to add additional practices within and beyond the current 3 state.

    Prior to his current role, James was the President and CEO of Solis Mammography from 2011-2019, where he was responsible for ensuring the company’s promise of providing women with the most accurate, patient-focused, and compassionate breast screening achievable.  The company was recapitalized by the Audax Group (2015) and Madison Dearborn Partners (2018) under James’ leadership. Between 2004 and 2011, James served as CEO of Memorial Hermann Hospital’s Retail Healthcare Businesses. He was responsible for all operational aspects of 27 outpatient imaging centers, 27 physical therapy centers, 19 ambulatory surgical centers, and 37 outreach lab facilities.

    Earlier in his career, James held the position of Vice President of Operations for River Oaks Imaging and Diagnostics located in Houston, Texas. He was ultimately responsible for the overall operation, profitability, and strategic growth of 10 freestanding imaging centers over a period of four years. The business was sold to Capstreet in 2003.

  • Jonathan D. Cooper, M.D. Chief Medical Officer

    Jonathan D. Cooper, M.D.
    Jonathan D. Cooper, M.D.

    Jonathan D. Cooper, M.D. Chief Medical Officer

    Dr. Cooper was educated in NY at Union College and New York Medical College, graduating from both with honors. Following graduation, an internship and residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center prepared him for private practice as a general otolaryngologist. He started his own practice, which enabled him to learn about the business of medicine.

    In 2000, he was a founding member of South Florida ENT Associates, eventually serving as president from 2007 to 2017. Today, Dr. Cooper is an active member of the board of directors. During this time, he was deeply involved in managing the business and supporting the operation in various ways: contract negotiations, compliance review both on the business and medical side of the practice, credentialing, various HR issues, selection and implementation of an EMR, and long-term planning for the future of SFENTA.

    Dr. Cooper also served as an officer of the medical staff at the Memorial Healthcare System, eventually serving as Chief of Staff. This enabled him to be chair of multiple committees, including: the credentials committee, the quality care and patient safety committee, and the executive committee. From this experience, he gained insight into how a large healthcare entity must be managed and what best practices are needed to lead physicians of diverse backgrounds with different levels of experience and differing needs.

    The experience of nearly 30 years of practice and exposure to many different aspects of medical care allows him to bring a unique and valuable perspective to Elevate ENT Partners. Dr. Cooper is a proponent of physicians practicing evidence-based medicine and believes that when good physicians are supported by a solid business partner, these physicians can concentrate on practicing medicine without the distractions of ever-changing regulations and interference from non-clinical entities such as insurance companies.

  • Sylvain Foster Chief Financial Officer

    Sylvain Foster
    Sylvain Foster

    Sylvain Foster Chief Financial Officer

    Sylvain joined Elevate ENT Partners as Chief Financial Officer in October of 2021. He is responsible for leading the Finance organization, including Financial Planning & Analysis, Accounting, Revenue Cycle, Procurement, and Decision Support.

    Sylvain brings a blend of financial and operational experience to Elevate ENT Partners. He held various positions within Hospital and Physician groups, focusing on improving operational efficiency and driving revenue growth. Most recently, he served as CFO of Hospital & Physician Services for Healogics. At Healogics, he was responsible for the financial oversight of 625 outpatient Wound Care clinics and a 200-provider group across 46 States. Previously, he served as VP of Finance for Clinical Operations at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, where he oversaw the activities of the physician group practice and teaching hospital in Hanover, NH.

    Earlier in his career, Sylvain was the Associate Chief Financial Officer for the University of Miami Hospital Division and the Department of Ophthalmology. He also served as Director of Financial Planning for the University of Miami Medical Group and School of Medicine.

    Sylvain received his Bachelor’s degree in Finance from St. Thomas University (Miami, FL) and his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Miami. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, running, inshore fishing, golfing, and skiing.

  • Cliff Hogan Chief Information Officer

    Cliff Hogan
    Cliff Hogan

    Cliff Hogan Chief Information Officer

    Cliff Hogan joined Elevate ENT as Chief Information Officer on December 14, 2020. Cliff has over twenty-five years of experience in Information Technology leadership positions, including areas of consulting, networking, and systems integrations. These have included a wide variety of industries including healthcare, dental, banking, as well as local and state government. Before joining Elevate ENT, Cliff was the Chief Information Officer for D4C Dental Brands, Inc., located in Atlanta, GA. He helped to grow the D4C IT footprint into 15 states over a three-year timespan. Prior to D4C, Cliff was the Chief Information Officer with Women’s Care Florida for 16 years and helped to expand their business from the local Tampa Bay market into the second largest OBGYN specialty group nationally, supporting over 360 healthcare providers across more than 100 outpatient facilities.

    Cliff is originally from Birmingham, AL, and attended the University of Montevallo. During his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and playing the guitar.

  • Dan Gofman Chief Development Officer

    Dan Gofman Chief Development Officer

    Dan joined Elevate ENT Partners as Chief Development Officer in October of 2024. He is responsible for driving the organization's M&A and growth strategy, alongside physician leadership, in order to expand and accelerate the Elevate value proposition across existing and prospective markets.

    Dan is a seasoned healthcare professional with 18 years of experience across corporate strategy, development and advisory having worked alongside partner-owned, physician-led and private-equity backed companies with focus on transaction sourcing, negotiation and execution. He most recently served as Chief Development Officer of Covenant Physician Partners (KKR; sold to Tenet/USPI) and prior, led M&A efforts for North American Partners in Anesthesia (American Securities, Leonard Green & Partners).

    Earlier in his career, Dan was an investment banker for over 10 years at Cain Brothers, Barclays and Bear Stearns where he focused on physician practice management, multi-site and behavioral health transactions. Dan graduated with honors distinction from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, where he earned an MBA and B.S. in Finance and Accounting.

    Dan resides in New York, although travels around the country, and enjoys spending time with his wife and four children, while also coaching baseball, playing golf and chasing PRs at OrangeTheory Fitness.

  • Rob Presnell Chief Operating Officer

    Rob Presnell
    Rob Presnell

    Rob Presnell Chief Operating Officer

    Rob has more than 20 years of leading organizations across several industries through rapid change. He has deep experience in leading large-scale transformations, business restructuring, strategy development and execution, organizational/operational improvements, and complex technology implementations.  Accomplished in both public and private industries, everything from startups to Fortune 500 powerhouses, he has guided millions in revenue enhancements and profit performance.

    Most recently, Rob served at Vice President of Operations at Davita, Fortune 200 Healthcare Industry Leader, during his tenure he led his division to top 10 in the company.  Prior to Davita, Rob led turnaround of one of the country’s largest water systems, he also was a part of team that took the City of Detroit through Bankruptcy.  Rob is a Deloitte Consulting alum, where he advised both public and private companies on enhancing service delivery capabilities to drive both top and bottom-line performance.

    Rob holds an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Computer Science from Eastern Michigan University.

  • Puneet Mann Vice President of Operations (Florida)

    Puneet Mann
    Puneet Mann

    Puneet Mann Vice President of Operations (Florida)

    Brings a multi-faceted business leadership approach to Elevate ENT partners with a diverse healthcare operations experience with growth-oriented world-class companies.

    Puneet serves as the Vice President of Operations, providing overall Strategic and Operational support for the Florida Market. He is responsible for the growth and development of the Florida Market and leads the day-to-day operations, drives initiatives and direction.

    Prior to his current role, Puneet was the Divisional Leader for National Veterinary Associates, which is the largest private owner of freestanding veterinary hospitals. NVA owns more than 1000 veterinary hospitals and pet resorts in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. While at NVA, Puneet led overall operations for Specialty and ER hospitals across the Eastern United States with full control of over a $90 million P&L (and growing), and the company went through a recapitalization process, leading to a sale to JAB Investors. Before that, Puneet was an Associate Vice President of Operations at Sage Dental, a Dental Service Organization with practices in Florida and Georgia. Prior to that, Puneet was a Regional Operations Director at DaVita, a provider of dialysis services with more than 2600 clinics across the USA. At DaVita, Puneet managed 18 dialysis centers, with over 350 teammates and nearly $100M in revenue in the Detroit, MI market. As a Director, Puneet oversaw all aspects of operations and development for his region.

    Puneet has a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from The Ohio State University and an MBA from Arkansas State University. In his free time, he loves spending time with his family, traveling, and playing golf.

  • Alex Brock Vice President of Operations (Texas)

    Chase Authement
    Chase Authement

    Alex Brock Vice President of Operations (Texas)

    Alex Brock recently joined Elevate ENT partners, where she serves as the Vice President of Operations for the state of Texas. Alex has over a decade of experience in leading healthcare organizations through strategy, operational execution, regulatory compliance, physician recruitment, and patient experience enhancements.

    Prior to joining Elevate, Alex was with HCA (Hospital Corporation of America) for six and a half years, where she served as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Ethics and Compliance Officer at the North Cypress location, which included 4 Free Standing Emergency Departments, multiple CareNow Urgent Care Centers, and over 1,100 employees. Additionally, Alex served as the Vice President of Cardiovascular Services for HCA Gulf Coast Division, where she oversaw strategy, physician recruitment, and business development. Before joining HCA, she worked for the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System in multiple leadership positions.

    A native of Houston, Texas, Alex earned both her MBA with a healthcare administration specialization and a bachelor’s degree in health science from Baylor University in Waco. Additionally, Alex is a 4-year letterman with the Baylor University softball team and participated in the 2007 Women’s College World Series, where Baylor made its first-ever appearance. Alex is married to her husband, Dustin, and has three children – Brigid, Maverick, and Colyer.

  • Wes Gonzales Vice President of Operations (Louisiana)

    Wes Gonzales
    Wes Gonzales

    Wes Gonzales Vice President of Operations (Louisiana)

    Joined Elevate ENT in June 2023 as Vice President of Operations over the Louisiana market. People and growth minded leader with diverse leadership experience in health systems, outpatient dialysis, and healthcare start-ups.

    Prior to his current role, Wes served as Executive Director for Eleanor Health, a mental health start-up, where he was responsible for new market implementation, operations, and growth. Before that, Wes was an operations leader at DaVita Dialysis, where he was responsible for a region of dialysis clinics in the greater New Orleans area. While at DaVita Wes was a graduate of the DaVita Redwoods Foresters leadership program. Prior to DaVita, Wes worked with the Ochsner Health System, overseeing primary care clinics in the Acadiana region of Louisiana.

    Wes has an MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Administration from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he also completed his undergraduate studies while competing as a track and field athlete for the University.

    Wes is a Louisiana native and was born and raised in New Orleans where his family has been deeply rooted for centuries. In his free time Wes enjoys cooking, playing golf, and spending time on the water with friends and his wife Claire. His favorite holiday is Mardi Gras.

  • Amy Verlsteffen Vice President of Patient Access

    Amy Verlsteffen
    Amy Verlsteffen

    Amy Verlsteffen Vice President of Patient Access

    Amy joined Elevate ENT Partners as Vice President of Patient Access in January 2023. She is responsible for all patient scheduling functions in both Florida and Texas and is tasked with developing and implementing the future vision and strategy for the Contact Centers in each region.

    Amy started her career as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Jacksonville, Florida. She moved to South Florida one year later and worked at Pediatric Associates for 20 years. During the first half of her career, she provided direct patient care, and then she moved into multiple leadership roles within Pediatric Associates. She has proven expertise in establishing a working environment conducive to improving productivity, enhancing efficiency, and delivering value to an organization. Most recently, Amy served as the Head of Clinical Operations and Strategy for TytoCare, a remote monitoring device for telemedicine visits.

    In her free time, Amy enjoys spending time with her husband and five children. She spends many hours watching her children on the baseball, softball, soccer, and football fields in Parkland. She was born and raised in Naples, Florida, and attended the University of Florida, where she received both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing degrees.

  • Ellen Charleton Vice President of Human Resources

    Ellen Charleton
    Ellen Charleton

    Ellen Charleton Vice President of Human Resources

    Combining a passion for improving employee engagement with a deep understanding of Human Capital Management, Ellen is responsible for all areas of the Human Resources function for Elevate ENT Partners.

    Ellen has experience in multiple industries, including Financial Services, Manufacturing, Retail, and Insurance. Her most recent role was Vice President of Human Resources with Sun Capital Partners, a private equity firm in Boca Raton.

    Earlier in her career, she built the Human Resources function for Bayview Asset Management, a mortgage services and advisory firm in Coral Gables, FL, which grew from 50 to 2,500 employees during her thirteen-year tenure. She started her career in St. Louis at Gateway Apparel and Bombardier Motor Corporation of America.

    Ellen received her bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis and her MBA from St. Louis University. In her free time, she enjoys scuba diving, boating, reading, traveling, and collecting art.

  • Christopher Cuellar Vice President of Compliance

    Christopher Cuellar
    Christopher Cuellar

    Christopher Cuellar Vice President of Compliance

    Christopher Cuellar has recently joined Elevate ENT Partners as the Vice President of Compliance and Chief Compliance Officer.  In his capacity at Elevate ENT Partners, Christopher handles complex compliance, privacy, and ethical issues that arise, as well as overseeing Risk and Professional Claims management functions for the organization.

    Chris brings a diverse, multi-disciplinary skill set to Elevate ENT Partners. In his professional career, he has handled negotiations with government regulatory agencies, medical malpractice litigation matters, physician contracting issues, quality of care-related concerns, and implementing the 7 elements of an effective Compliance program for his previous organizations. His passion is working with motivated healthcare operational leaders to attain operational excellence through high-reliability practices in an ethical and compliant framework.

    He received his Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management (HIM) and has his Juris Doctorate (JD) and Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Florida International University. He also currently works as an adjunct professor for both FIU and FAU, teaching courses in healthcare finance, human resources, and the legal aspects of healthcare for both Master in Healthcare Administration programs. He is nationally certified in health care compliance (CHC), health care privacy (CHPC), and risk management (CPHRM).

    Chris is passionate about serving and giving back to his community. He has logged hundreds of hours volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club of Miami, the Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County, and as a national member of the American Hospital Association’s ASHRM Board of Ethics Committee. In his free time, he enjoys spending quality time with his wife and son, playing golf, reading, and traveling the world.

  • Marta Velasco Vice President of Marketing and Patient Experience

    Marta Velasco
    Marta Velasco

    Marta Velasco Vice President of Marketing and Patient Experience

    Marta Velasco joined Elevate ENT as Vice President of Marketing and Patient Experience in January of 2021. She is responsible for leading customer-centric and digital-focused marketing, brand, and advertising strategy.

    Marta started her career as a brand strategist and consumer researcher for Procter and Gamble, where she was classically trained as a consumer marketing leader. For over 15 years, she has reignited traditional healthcare brands by introducing customer relationship management theory and analytics and designing award-winning integrated digital ecosystems. She has served as head of marketing for multiple private equity-sponsored national healthcare companies. She has a proven track record for connecting brand purpose to financial results by implementing scalable, high-performance marketing platforms designed to inspire both internal and external stakeholders alike.

    In her personal time, Marta is happiest with her husband and daughter experiencing the arts, nature, and sharing time with loved ones. Marta grew up in Madrid, Spain. She moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from the University of Cincinnati. She has won over 20 awards in her career trajectory honoring her creative and strategic vision.

  • Corie Opdyke Vice President of Integration and Transformation

    Corie Opdyke
    Corie Opdyke

    Corie Opdyke Vice President of Integration and Transformation

    Corie joined Elevate ENT Partners as Vice President of Integration and Transformation in April 2023 to oversee the Integration and Project Management Offices. She is responsible for leading the successful and seamless integration of Elevate’s administrative services with newly joined practices for continued quality care.

    Corie started her career as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Pediatric Associates in Florida and quickly grew into leadership and training roles. She has served as an Adjunct Professor at Nova Southeastern University and a clinical preceptor to many graduate students in the last 20 years.  Administratively, Corie has a proven track record for building departments that support physician engagement, EMR training, and new practice transitions. Most recently, Corie served as the VP of Integration for Pediatric Associates, adding value and growth opportunities to pediatric practices in 7 states.

    In her personal time, Corie travels with her husband and 3 children, loves to run and play golf.  She grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and attended the University of Florida for her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After moving to South Florida, she graduated with a Master’s degree from Florida International University and a Board Certification in Pediatrics. 

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