VEI Leadership Team

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, network COO and VEI presidentJason 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, VP, Surgical ServicesNatalie 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 counselValita 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 OfficerBret 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).

Surgery Center Leadership

Patrick Beaupre, director, Community Surgery Center North
Patrick Beaupre
Director

Community Surgery Center North
Indianapolis, Indiana

Laura Edwards, director, Community Surgery Center Hamilton
Laura Edwards, MBA, RN
Director

Community Surgery Center Hamilton
Noblesville, Indiana

Katey Munoz, director, Community Surgery Center Westfield
Katey Munoz
Director

Community Surgery Center Westfield 
Westfield, Indiana

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Kelly Patton
Director

Community Surgery Center South 
Greenwood, Indiana

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Jill Reeves, MBA, BSN, RN, CGRN
Director

Community Digestive Center
Anderson, Indiana

Tammy Richardson, executive director of endoscopy services
Tammy Richardson, RN, BSN, MHA
Executive Director, Endoscopy Services

Community Endoscopy Center
Indianapolis, Indiana

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Suzanne Ringel, BSN, CNOR
Director

Community Surgery Center Howard 
Kokomo, Indiana

Jennifer Sparks, directory, Community Surgery Center PLUS
Jennifer Sparks, MBA, RN, CNOR
Director

Community Surgery Center Plus
Indianapolis, Indiana

Lori Walton, RN, director, Community Surgery Center East
Lori Walton, RN
Director

Community Surgery Center East 
Indianapolis, Indiana

Additional Leadership

Darla Carpenter, Director of Property Management
Darla Carpenter
Director of Property
Management

Melissa R. Hughes, Director, Finance
Melissa R. Hughes
Director, Finance

 

Dave Mooney, Director, Finance
Dave Mooney
Director, Finance

 

Betsy Hart, director of quality, VEI surgical services
Betsy Hart, RN
Director of Quality/
Regulatory Resources

Jeff Timmons, VEI controller
Jeff Timmons
Controller

 

Terri Wealing, VEI Revenue
Terri Wealing
Executive Director,
Revenue Cycle