Our Team Dedicated to positive change

ilumed set out to bring a new, refreshing perspective to an increasingly cloudy industry. We knew we needed a diverse collection of brains and backgrounds to make it happen. No two resumes are alike, but everyone has one thing in common: a deep passion for improving healthcare.

Meet our leaders

These are the compassionate servant leaders at the helm of ilumed. Their combined centuries of global-risk management in Medicare and their endless commitment delivers an exceptional ACO REACH experience for both providers and patients.
  • Debra A. Finnel

    Chief Executive Officer

    Debra A. Finnel

    Chief Executive Officer

    The Mastermind

    Debra saw an opportunity to make an incredible impact in the industry she has devoted her life to. So, she created ilumed. Her 40-year resume is filled with important acronyms: COO of the publicly traded MSO Metropolitan Health Networks; EVP of the largest national MSO, Medical Care Consortium Inc (MCCI); and President of the AdvantageCare MA plan. Here, we simply call her the MVP.

  • Brenton R. Hood

    Chief Operating Officer

    Brenton R. Hood

    Chief Operating Officer

    The Visionary

    Brenton takes the ilumed model to new heights. After serving as CEO at Your Home Advantage and Senior VP at Metcare, he brings an unwavering expertise in developing key long-term strategies while upholding a strong shareholder value.

  • Jorge Rodriguez

    Chief Information Officer

    Jorge Rodriguez

    Chief Information Officer

    The Techy

    After 20 years of information technology experience, including CEO of AllTech IT Solutions, Jorge is not your average IT guy. With the latest solutions and tools, he keeps ilumed up to speed—and then faster.

  • Frank Richter

    Chief Financial Officer

    Frank Richter

    Chief Financial Officer

    The Data Doc

    Frank is an analytical wiz and the brains behind our care-management reporting. He translates myriad numbers into insights and real patient results that help us pioneer change in the industry.

  • Dr. David J. Priscal

    Chief Medical Officer

    Dr. David J. Priscal

    Chief Medical Officer

    The Top Doc

    David was a no-brainer for Chief Medical Officer within the ilumed family. Because he does, in fact, have quite the brain; a matchless mind for innovative care strategies, cross-industry coordination and above all else, delivering the right care at the right time and right place. After decades in the biz, from white coat to white tie, David’s leadership is pivotal in keeping the mission dedicated to the patients we serve.

  • Marco Castillo

    Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer

    Marco Castillo

    Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer

    Captain Ops

    ilumed is proud and incredibly thankful to have this U.S. Navy Veteran on our team. He was most recently Regional Director in charge of one of the largest MSO’s in the country, overseeing the entirety of the sunshine state. When it comes to healthcare operations here at ilumed, we know who’s in charge.

  • Jimmy Rhoades

    Chief Technology Officer

    Jimmy Rhoades

    Chief Technology Officer

    The Optimizer

    Jimmy knows how to bring technology and people together to create something bigger and better for companies and their customers—on time and under budget. He makes the impossible happen with a deft combination of software engineering and technology management experience coupled with a knack for uncanny innovation and dedicated collaboration. Throw him your unsolvable problem, he and his team won't just solve it, they’ll optimize it.

  • Steve Hojnacki

    Executive Vice President of Strategic Development

    Steve Hojnacki

    Executive Vice President of Strategic Development

    The Fixer

    A problem solver by nature, Steve knows how to spot opportunity and turn it in to reality. He builds better doctor-patient relationships at scale—market by market—crisscrossing the country to make it happen. A talent for adaptability led Steve from engineering sales to manufacturing imports/exports and eventually to value-based care. And it’s why he’s a phenomenal add to our team.

  • Tory Higginbotham

    Senior Vice President of Network Development

    Tory Higginbotham

    Senior Vice President of Network Development

    The Connector

    ilumed promotes the kind of care that requires major coordination within the complex web of healthcare systems. After seven years in the healthcare space perfecting the ins and outs of system contracting and network management, Tory is the thread that weaves the web together.

  • Philip Middleton

    Vice President of Social Determinants of Health

    Philip Middleton

    Vice President of Social Determinants of Health

    The People Person

    With 25 years in the biz and a few Ironman triathlons under his belt, Philip helps ilumed stay focused on what we’re all here for: the people. He finds new ways to remove barriers to health for beneficiaries whether it’s food insecurity, financial strain or loneliness. It’s no easy feat. But then again, neither is the Ironman.

  • Kate Vinez

    Senior Vice President Compliance, Risk Management & Government Relations

    Kate Vinez

    Senior Vice President Compliance, Risk Management & Government Relations

    The Enforcer

    Kate keeps ilumed on the up and up by dotting our proverbial I’s and crossing our T’s at the local, state, and federal levels. She combs through audits and assessments with a patience and attention to detail found mostly in monasteries. Whether she’s crafting a government report or drafting a contract, Kate brings her signature mix of financial, insurance, and legal expertise to bear.

  • Bill Lane

    Executive Vice President Network Development & Global Risk Contracting

    Bill Lane

    Executive Vice President Network Development & Global Risk Contracting

    The Provider Whisperer

    It takes a keen eye—and an even sharper mind—to read between budget line items to uncover the underlying story of a provider network. Bill leans on a combination of analytics and people skills to help improve patient outcomes while lowering costs at scale. He melds high-level strategy with laser-focused risk assessment to help ilumed and its network of providers stay the course for both the long haul and the everyday.

  • Toni Poggi

    Executive Administrator

    Toni Poggi

    Executive Administrator

    The Backbone

    Toni effortlessly keeps every gear turning and wheel spinning at ilumed, so the company has more time to focus on our clients. Don’t ask us how she does it, but we’re guessing it has something to do with two decades of experience.

  • Zach Finnel

    Senior Vice President of Business Development

    Zach Finnel

    Senior Vice President of Business Development

    The Builder 

    A true Floridian at home and at heart, Zach has put his Business Degree from University of Tampa to good use, working his way through many corners of the value-based care industry. His expertise helps ilumed to expand our reach and grow our mission. You know what they say—not all heroes wear capes.

  • Shad Kreidler

    Vice President of Member Outreach

    Shad Kreidler

    Vice President of Member Outreach

    The Communicator

    Shad bridges the gap between patients and the healthcare system. As a patient advocate driven to provide the best clinical outcomes for patients, he helps beneficiaries and their families get the care and resources they need and deserve to live healthy and happy.

  • Dr. Hymin Zucker

    Executive Vice President of Clinical Services

    Dr. Hymin Zucker

    Executive Vice President of Clinical Services

    The Medicare Maverick

    With over a quarter century of experience, Dr. Zucker has been a pioneer in accountable care, starting the first approved Medicare shared savings ACO in 2012. He not only knows how to practice in a value-based model but also how to rally and unify disparate providers around coordinated, patient-centered care across the entire healthcare system.

  • Annette DiPiero

    Vice President of Human Resources

    Annette DiPiero

    Vice President of Human Resources

    The Talent Booster

    Annette knows what it takes to attract and retain the best talent in ACO REACH administration. She combines her education in psychology and human development with years of healthcare human resources experience to design programs that keep employees well trained, engaged and compensated.

  • Frank H. Eberling IV

    Senior Vice President of Legal, Counsel

    Frank H. Eberling IV

    Senior Vice President of Legal, Counsel

    The Facilitator

    Frank cut his teeth managing the legal needs for a global investment bank’s portfolio of roughly 500 entities across three continents. Now he manages contracts and vendors for ilumed with a creative approach to facilitating win-win agreements day in and day out.

  • Julie Santiago

    Senior Vice President of Clinical Case Management

    Julie Santiago

    Senior Vice President of Clinical Case Management

    The Code Corrector

    With over 35 years of senior-care and oncology nursing experience, Julie knows how to translate the depth and breadth of patients’ stories into clinical documentation. Accurate coding serves as the lynchpin of coordinated care. Not even breast cancer can hold Julie back from helping providers ensure the best medical outcomes for their patients nationwide.

  • Stephanie Higginbotham

    Senior Vice President of Clinical Integration

    Stephanie Higginbotham

    Senior Vice President of Clinical Integration

    The Caremaster 

    With over 20 years of hands-on experience as a registered nurse, Stephanie knows what it takes to improve processes and procedures in the field. She’s led care and disease-management teams to transform care delivery for better outcomes and improved patient experiences using data, tech and big-hearted compassion.

  • Charlie Vazquez

    Senior Vice President, Health Services Operations

    Charlie Vazquez

    Senior Vice President, Health Services Operations

    Code Commander

    Charlie knows process, project management, people and healthcare, and he brings it all to bear in clinical metrics. He knows a health code isn’t just a code, it’s a story, and he helps providers tell accurate stories so that they can provide exceptional care—and get recognized and rewarded for that care. That’s how he helped ilumed achieve a 100% quality score, ranking in the top 10 ACO REACH entities nationwide.

  • Melanie Miller

    Senior Vice President of Operations

    Melanie Miller

    Senior Vice President of Operations

    The Smoother Operator

    Melanie has been a nurse by trade for over 15 years.  In the past 8 years as a healthcare executive, Melanie pivoted her career from hands-on nursing to a focus on Population Health, Value-based Care, APMs, and working with various risk and non-risk Medicare programs. Melanie has successfully driven her teams to deliver proven results in increased quality of care while decreasing costs and utilization. She has been a key player in developing sustainable strategic plans, proven to successfully achieve shared savings across multiple payers.

  • Andrea Thomas

    Senior Vice President of IT Operations

    Andrea Thomas

    Senior Vice President of IT Operations

    IT Guiding Light

    How does a background in the army and banking lead to healthcare? Some might think it was prompted by a moment of introspection, but for Andrea, it was a penchant for process, strategizing, and data. Andrea leads our BrainStream team, ensuring that providers have the data they need to help individual patients and improve population health. Whether it’s crafting infrastructure, administering systems or driving data quality, Andrea is there to inspire the team—and she’s loving every minute.

  • Tonya Kemper

    Senior Vice President of Care Management

    Tonya Kemper

    Senior Vice President of Care Management

    Team Weaver

    It takes vision, dedication and a touch of clinical magic to weave together leadership aspirations and staff know-how to provide exceptional healthcare. Tonya has all of that and more. She can as easily pinpoint process fails as she can rally the team to go the distance. With a 20-year track record of improving patient outcomes under her belt, Tonya has the gumption and the skills ilumed needs to heal healthcare.