Our experienced senior leadership team is the catalyst that enhances the economic interests of physicians and hospitals alike. On average, the members of our senior leadership team have decades of experience creating and managing joint ventures with our company. This talented team partners with hospitals and physicians to deliver consistent growth and profitability.
Executive Leadership
Jason Fahrlander
President, VEI
Jason Fahrlander joined Community Health Network in the summer of 2013 as the president of the Hospital Division, overseeing all hospital campuses, and in early 2017 became the chief operating officer for the network. In this role, he is responsible for the performance and strategic development for over 200 hospital and ambulatory sites of care.
Prior to joining Community, Jason was the CEO of Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa, OK; the chief operating officer of Memorial Health System in Colorado Springs, CO; and SVP and administrator of Parkland Hospital in Dallas, TX.
He holds a master of health administration degree from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and a BS in Gerontology from Missouri State University. Jason is also a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Natalie Christy, RN, BSN
Vice President, Network Perioperative Services
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Natalie Christy serves as vice president of perioperative services for Community Health Network, overseeing VEI surgical services across ambulatory and acute settings in partnership with operational, medical and finance leaders.
Natalie began her career with the network in 2006 as a patient care technician. After earning a nursing degree from Indiana University, she became an operating room nurse where she developed a passion for perioperative care. Natalie later advanced into leadership roles, including her current position.
Natalie holds a master's degree in health leadership as well as bachelor degrees in nursing and psychology.
Valita Fredland
General Counsel
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Valita has a long history of practicing healthcare law, including health information technology, as well as data privacy and security law. Valita joined the VEI team as its in-house counsel after providing in-house counsel services at several large healthcare systems and a health information technology company. Valita has been involved with the negotiation and implementation of large projects such as developing data warehouses, selecting and installing electronic medical records, and large outsourcing arrangements. She is also a bioethicist who has evolved her ethics learning to include its application to artificial intelligence and algorithm use.
Valita has a bachelor's degree in economics from Mount Holyoke College, a law degree from Cornell University, and a master of bioethics degree from the University of Virginia.
She enjoys spending her free time continuing to learn about new technologies and their applications, especially in healthcare, traveling, and spending time outdoors with her family. Some of her free time is devoted to serving on the following: Past President, St. Richard’s Episcopal School Board of Trustees; Board Member, BellFound Farm; Board Member and Past President, Indiana Security and Privacy Network; Member, Governor Holcomb’s Cybersecurity Taskforce; Board Emeritus, Women’s Fund of Central Indiana.
Bret A. Weitzel
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
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In 1989, Bret started his career as a staff accountant within VEI’s physician practice management division. He rapidly advanced to accounting supervisor, then to accounting manager. Since 1995, Bret has served in the capacity of vice president and chief financial officer for VEI. He is responsible for the financial reporting for the corporation and all limited liability companies (LLC) owned and managed by VEI. His activities include the coordination of the annual budgeting process, supervision of all banking relationships, materials management activities, financial statement preparation and analysis, tax return preparation, pension plan administration, ASC central business office, and coordination of internal and external audits.
Bret holds a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Indiana University, a master of business administration degree from Butler University, and is a certified public accountant (CPA).