Joe has more than 29 years of experience in the dialysis services industry and is the former President and CEO of Optimal Renal Care, a joint venture in disease management between Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA) and Kaiser Permanente of Southern California. Prior to Optimal, Joe was Vice President of Administration at Fresenius and responsible nationally for managed care, medical director relations, and facility development. He has considerable operations experience from Facility Administrator to Director of U.S. Operations. Joe received his BS degree in Accounting from Bentley College.

Syed is the former President of Fresenius Medical Care North America’s southern business unit, responsible for the complete management and oversight of more than 200 outpatient dialysis facilities. His more than 26 years of dialysis services experience began as a Facility Administrator in Louisiana and increased with a series of promotions covering U.S. and overseas operations. He previously served as Regional Manager of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions (U.S.), Director and Vice President of Operations for International and later, Vice President of Operations, U.S., Canada and Mexico. Syed received his BA and MBA degrees from the University of Punjab in Pakistan.

JOHN J. MCDONOUGH
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

John has more than 20 years experience in accounting and finance. His experience includes being Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer at DaVita, the second largest provider of kidney dialysis, where he was responsible for accounting, financial reporting, and billing/collection, with a staff of several hundred people. Prior to DaVita, John was CFO at Palatin Technologies Inc., a public biotechnology company and MedChem Products Inc., a public medical device manufacturer. John began his career at KPMG Peat Marwick, in their Boston office, where he rose to the position of audit manager. John received a BS degree in Accounting from Bentley College in 1986 and his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1998.

Dr. Cronin is responsible for quality improvement and supports Medical Directors and staff at local kidney dialysis centers in their efforts to evaluate and incorporate new technologies and improve treatment options. He is a specialist in kidney diseases for more than 36 years and has been a Medical Director of outpatient dialysis facilities and inpatient dialysis programs. He is a former Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and received his B.A. and M.D. degrees from Fordham University and Georgetown University, respectively. Dr. Cronin has also served as a member of the Board of the Renal Physicians Association.

STEVEN J. RASTOM
Vice President of Operations

Steve has more than 17 years of dialysis experience and was the Vice President of Operations of DaVita’s largest division, where he was responsible for the overall management and direction of 125 outpatient dialysis facilities encompassing 6 states and Puerto Rico. Prior to DaVita, Steve was with Fresenius where he served as an Area Administrator and through a series of promotions held the positions of Area Manager of South Business Unit and subsequently Director of European Operations. Steve received his BA degree from the University of South Florida.

Jan has more than 26 years of renal care experience since she started as a staff nurse in southern California in 1979 and continued as Director of Nursing Services. Jan is the former Regional Quality Manager for Fresenius Medical Care North America’s western business unit, where she was in charge of regulatory affairs, CQI and facility compliance with company policies and procedures. During the past ten years Jan assisted in the opening and acquisition of more than 40 facilities. She worked closely with nephrologists and facility staff to ensure the facilities compliance with all regulatory agencies. During the past 9 years, Jan has served as Secretary on the Executive Board of the California Dialysis Council and is an active member of the NKF, NRAA and ANNA.

Michael has more than 10 years of experience as a corporate healthcare attorney, including 6 years as a member of the Health Business Group of the 1600 member international law firm of Greenberg Traurig where he handled complex contractual, business and regulatory matters. Michael has extensive experience representing all forms of health care providers including both large and small renal dialysis companies.  He is a frequent lecturer before hospitals, medical practice groups and legal associations on both regulatory and transactional healthcare issues and has published extensively in these areas. Michael is a graduate of Suffolk University Law School and Boston University School of Public Health.

FRANCINE WACHTMANN
Vice President and Corporate Compliance Officer

Francine has more than 20 years of experience in health care operations. Prior to joining ARA in 2004, Francine served as General Counsel for Physicians Dialysis, Inc. where she performed corporate legal, regulatory and management services for the company’s acquisition, joint venture and de novo development of free standing chronic dialysis facilities and acute dialysis management programs. Francine also developed and implemented PDI’s Corporate Compliance and HIPAA Privacy Programs and service on the Board of Director’s Compliance Advisory Committee. Francine began her legal career at the law firm of Mintz, Levin, Cohn Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo P.C. in Boston, MA. She received her B.A. from Colgate University and her J.D. from Suffolk University School of Law.

EDWARD BIANCO
Chief Information Officer

Edward has over 25 years of experience in Information Technology with 15 years working directly in the healthcare industry.  Prior to joining ARA, Edward held a number of key leadership positions at Boston Medical Center, Lowell General Hospital, Private Healthcare and most recently as the Chief Information Officer at Specialized Receivables.  Edward received his BSBA from Lesley College in 1986 and his MBA from the University of Lowell in 1998. His credits include Inc. Magazine Growing Technology award, NT Magazine Innovator of the Year award and Modern Healthcare most Wired Healthcare Organization award.

JEFF DALE
Vice President of Project Management

Jeff is responsible for developing new dialysis facilities throughout the U.S. He has been involved in the opening of more than 100 units with Physicians Dialysis, Inc., and earlier with Renal Treatment Centers. Since 1996, he has since developed over 100 de novo clinics, and expanded and relocated more than 75 facilities. Jeff also has project management experience with civil consulting, environmental, and land development companies. He received his undergraduate Civil Engineering degree from Temple University and his MBA degree from Penn State University.

Bob’s career in dialysis spans more than 35 years. He started as a patient care technician in 1970 in one of the first outpatient dialysis facilities in the United States. Later, Bob decided to transition to the technical area of dialysis where he became the Chief Technician of a 33 station dialysis facility. When Bob joined American Renal Associates in July 2000 he was a Regional Technical Manager, responsible for the oversight of 42 clinics, at Fresenius Medical Care North America. In this position, Bob ensured compliance and trained technical staff in machine operation, water treatment and physical plant operation. His professional equipment training includes all major manufacturers.

Toshiya has over 14 years of dialysis experience in the Equipment Technician and Management fields.  He has acquired specialized equipment training from B. Braun, Gambro, Minntech and Fresenius to be knowledgeable on nine distinct types of hemodialysis affiliated equipment. He joined American Renal Associates in 2005 as a Facility Technical Manager in the Titusville, FL Facility.  He was promoted to Manager of Technical Services in July of 2007.  He has worked in the dialysis environment since 1990, taking a four year hiatus to serve in the US Navy.  He has attended DeVry University in Columbus, Ohio and has also earned his AA from Okaloosa Walton Comm. College., in Fort Walton Beach, FL. 

Shari has 17 years of dialysis experience which includes management in hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and acute dialysis. She joined American Renal Associates in 2001. During that time, she was clinic manager at one facility in Butler, PA and then opened and managed two other facilities in the surrounding area. Shari was promoted to the Corporate office in April of 2006 as Manager of Clinical and Regulatory Services and in 2008 promoted to her new role as Regional Director of Operations. Shari is an active member of ANNA.

MANDY CORMIER, R.N., C.D.N.
Manager of Clinical and Regulatory Services

Mandy has 10 years of experience in the renal industry on both the manufacturer and provider side of hemodialysis.  Most recently, she held the position of Clinical Education Manager at NxStage Medical.  Mandy’s prior experience includes Clinical Nurse Specialist, Vascular Access Specialist and Project Manager at Vasca, Inc.  She has also worked for Fresenius Medical Care in the role of Charge Nurse.  Mandy has her Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Connecticut and her Nursing Degree from Endicott College.  She is a Certified Dialysis Nurse and a member of ANNA.

MARC BERGERON, R.N.
Manager of Clinical and Regulatory Services

Marc has 8 years of dialysis experience, including more than 7 years with Fresenius Medical Care.  Most recently he held the position of Clinical Manager at a large unit in Maine.  Marc’s prior experience includes Vascular Access Coordinator, In-Service Coordinator, and Charge Nurse.  Marc received his BSN from University of Southern Maine. 

Ginny has more than 28 years of dialysis experience, including 24 years with Fresenius Medical Care, where she most recently held the position of Corporate Clinical Quality Manager, serving as a clinical resource and educator for dialysis facilities, area and regional management, as well as business unit and corporate staff.  Her experience includes positions as Director of Nursing for a large acute program in Boston, as well as Case Manager with Renaissance Health Care.  Ginny received a BSN from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a Masters in Healthcare Administration from Simmons College.  She is a Certified Nephrology Nurse and a member of ANNA and NKF.