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
Michael T. Hogan, MBA
President, VEI
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Mike was named president of VEI in 2018. Mike has served in leadership roles with VEI since 1993, including vice president of surgical services - working in concert with our executive directors and partnering with our medical and finance directors - and senior director of business operations for VEI where he provided business, strategy and financial services to the north campus and Hancock surgery centers, as well as periodic financial analysis support to our sports medicine team in the ambulatory division. Prior to this, Mike was a division director at Indianapolis Medical Management with oversight of physician practice management for over 50 affiliated providers.
Mike has a bachelor’s degree in business and an MBA from Indiana University. He serves on The O'Connor House Board of Directors.
Natalie Christy, RN, BSN
Vice President, Surgical Services
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Natalie was named vice president of surgical services in 2019. Natalie is responsible for the team providing VEI surgical services in Indiana, working with our directors and partnering with our medical and finance directors.
Natalie has served at Community Health Network since 2006, starting as a patient care technician before graduating with a BSN from IU. Upon graduation Natalie began work as a registered nurse in the operating room and found her passion. She spent several years in the OR then moved into the leadership roles with Community Surgery Center North and Northwest before moving into her current role.
In addition to her nursing background, Natalie holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Ball State University with a minor in interpersonal communication. She’s currently working on her MBA at Ball State with a focus in entrepreneurship.
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).