About

Transforming healthcare with human connection.

Our story begins with a physician on a mission to enhance his own experience and that of his patients and colleagues. Today, our commitment extends nationwide, empowering entire systems to elevate healthcare experiences through organizational skill development.

Meet Our Leadership Team

In healthcare, true progress comes from collaboration. Our leadership team embodies this philosophy, uniting seasoned professionals from diverse healthcare backgrounds. Their expertise forms the foundation of Practicing Excellence.

Stephen Beeson, MD

Founder

As a successful family medicine physician, medical group leader, and clinician coach, Dr. Stephen Beeson’s has pioneered an approach to care for those who care for our communities by scaling coaching to every care team member.

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He is the author of two national best-selling books, “Practicing Excellence: A Physician’s Manual to Exceptional Healthcare” and “Engaging Physicians: A Manual to Physician Partnership.”

As the former Physician Director for the Sharp Experience at Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group, in San Diego, Dr. Beeson deployed people development approach helped improve clinician performance in patient experience from the sixth percentile to above the ninetieth percentile nationally, while the Medical Group was recognized with multiple Acclaim Awards from the AMGA, the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award and recognition as one of the top performing medical groups in the state. Using a skill-building approach, he was able to achieve the 99th percentile in patient satisfaction for a decade straight, while receiving one of San Diego’s Top Physicians Award for eight straight years. 

Dr. Beeson founded Practicing Excellence in 2013 to tap the power of systemic skill development to improve healthcare at both an organizational and national level. Currently, Dr. Beeson serves as a national thought leader, speaker and author in the field of human development mapping to healthcare challenges and priorities.

Gidon Margolin

President & CEO

As the President and CEO of Practicing Excellence, Gidon brings a wealth of experience in healthcare strategy, transformation, and organizational development. As a trusted advisor to healthcare leaders nationwide, Gidon catalyzes the strategy and direction of the Practicing Excellence team as we partner with leading health systems and medical groups to achieve organizational imperatives through a comprehensive human development strategy. 

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As a graduate of George Washington University, he has held leadership positions in management consulting companies, specializing in experience, innovation, and driving outcomes. He served as Vice President of Health System Strategy at NRC Health, where he unified solutions to help partners accelerate healthcare experience transformation. He has also held leadership roles at Vocera Communications, Booz Allen Hamilton, and The Advisory Board. He currently serves as a Solutions Advisory Board Member at The Beryl Institute.

Mary Sue Easmeil, CPXP

Chief Operating Officer

Mary Sue’s more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality and patient experience industries has given her unique insights into the consumer and patient experience, enabling her to make an impact as a leader across the healthcare continuum.

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In her role as Chief Operating Officer, she leads the Practicing Excellence Operations team, including Client Success, Content, Marketing, and Production, to ensure the seamless delivery of the company’s healthcare skill-building and human development solutions. As a Certified Patient Experience Professional (CPXP), she has also held roles as Director of Patient Experience for a large health system and as a Customer Experience Consultant. Mary Sue thrives on seeing Practicing Excellence’s clients achieve outcomes that will make a positive difference in caregivers’ and patients’ lives.

Michael Papay

Chief Strategy Officer

In his role as Chief Strategy Officer at Practicing Excellence, Michael brings more than two decades of experience building and advising high-growth companies to achieve behavior change at scale. A multi-time founder and strategic leader, he partners with health systems nationwide and world-class learning and development firms committed to delivering exceptional experiences, enabling sustained behavior change, and driving measurable performance. He is passionate about creating cultures that put their people first, and believes that the best leaders balance their regard for people and performance.

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Michael began his career at Fort Hill Company, partnering with leading Fortune 500 organizations and leadership development firms to ensure learning translated into disciplined follow-through and delivered visible impact, while helping generate best practices adopted by millions of employees globally. More recently, Michael was the CEO & Co-Founder of Sageful AI, where he led the development of a platform to help organizations drive behavior change at scale. Michael also previously served as CEO & Co-Founder of Waggl and later served as SVP of Alliances & Partnerships at Perceptyx, where he built and scaled a strategic partnerships channel that accelerated enterprise growth and strengthened the company’s market leadership. Throughout his career, Michael has advised and supported mission-driven organizations and human capital platforms. These experiences reflect his passion for helping organizations balance creativity with scale, culture with performance, and innovation with disciplined execution.

Drew Batshaw

Chief Technology Officer

As Chief Technology Officer at Practicing Excellence, Drew brings more than 20 years of experience building and scaling products while leading high-performing technical teams. He drives the company’s technology vision and innovation strategy, delivering personalized coaching solutions that enable meaningful behavior change at scale. Drew believes in creating human-centered technology that empowers healthcare leaders and teams to perform at their best.

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Drew is a three-time founder and seasoned technology executive. Prior to joining Practicing Excellence, he co-founded Sageful AI and served as VP of Engineering for Data Analytics and AI at Perceptyx. As Co-Founder and CTO of Waggl, he built the engineering and product organization from the ground up, raised more than $10 million in venture funding, and led technology and product due diligence through the company’s successful acquisition by TCV-backed Perceptyx. Across his career in HR technology, analytics, SaaS, and early-stage ventures, Drew has built high-performing teams and scalable platforms that translate insight into action. His early work in coaching and leadership development continues to shape his belief that technology should amplify—not replace—human capability.

Adam Tanner

Vice President, Growth

As Vice President of Growth at Practicing Excellence, Adam partners with health systems and medical groups across the country to create scalable workforce development solutions that improve patient experience, strengthen leadership, and build engaged, high-performing teams. With more than 20 years of experience in healthcare and HR technology, he enjoys working alongside healthcare executives to solve complex challenges and help organizations create lasting change through their people.

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Before joining Practicing Excellence, Adam was a co-founder and product leader at Waggl, helping build the company from startup through acquisition. He later held product and commercial leadership roles at Perceptyx and NRC Health, with a focus on employee engagement and healthcare experience improvement. Throughout his career, Adam has helped bring innovative solutions to market, build trusted customer partnerships, and support healthcare organizations as they navigate change. He is passionate about helping leaders create cultures where caregivers thrive, teams perform at their best, and patients receive exceptional care.

Matt Gosney, Ed.D.

Senior Advisor, Talent Strategy

Matt’s more than 20 years of knowledge and experience in talent management and human resources development in healthcare is now being leveraged as the Senior Advisor for Talent Strategy at Practicing Excellence. In this role, Matt partners with organizations to understand their people challenges, align with organizational strategy, and unlock human potential. He believes HR’s purpose in healthcare is to know, grow, and move the mission-aligned talent in a way that attracts, inspires, and retains.

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Matt has held roles as Director of Organizational Development, Vice-President of Organizational Development and Learning Services, and System Chief People Officer for large, integrated healthcare systems across the country. He has also spent time outside of the healthcare sector, working in financial services, global retail, and technology. At UCHealth, one of the Mountain West’s largest integrated health systems, Matt’s work improved the internal promotion rate from 37% to 67% in five years – reaching 71% for executive-level roles. All while the system grew from 16,000 to 36,000 employees. Matt holds a Doctor of Education in Human Resources Development from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. He serves on the Talent Management Advisory Board for RedThread Research and on the Advisory Board for the Marriott School of Business MBA-HR program for Brigham Young University. He is a published author, sought-after speaker, and innovative practitioner in the space of strategic talent management.

Meet Our Faculty

At Practicing Excellence, we bring together experts from diverse healthcare disciplines to create and curate evidence-based, video coaching tips. This ensures insightful, practical content immediately applicable to real-world scenarios.

Mark Hertling

Mark Hertling

Marla Weston, RN, PhD, FAAN

Marla Weston, RN, PhD, FAAN

Shikha Jain, MD, FACP

Shikha Jain, MD, FACP

Heidi Wald, MD, MSPH

Heidi Wald, MD, MSPH

Neil Gokal, MD, FAAFP

Neil Gokal, MD, FAAFP

Dan Weberg, RN

Dan Weberg, RN

Mark Shapiro, MD

Mark Shapiro, MD

Bob Garry

Bob Garry

Nicole Harris-Hollingsworth

Nicole Harris-Hollingsworth

Tim Porter-O’Grady, DM, EdD, ScD(h), FAAN, FACCWS GCNS-BC, NEA-BC, CWCN, CFCN

Tim Porter-O’Grady, DM, EdD, ScD(h), FAAN, FACCWS GCNS-BC, NEA-BC, CWCN, CFCN

Jo Shapiro, MD, FACS

Jo Shapiro, MD, FACS

Pantea Vahidi, RN

Pantea Vahidi, RN

Susan Leggett-Johnson, MD

Susan Leggett-Johnson, MD

Corey Feist, JD

Corey Feist, JD

Stefanie Simmons, MD

Stefanie Simmons, MD

Ed Clarke, MD

Ed Clarke, MD

Michael L. Weaver, MD, FACEP

Michael L. Weaver, MD, FACEP

Rana Awdish, MD FACP FCCP

Rana Awdish, MD FACP FCCP

Dike Drummond, MD

Dike Drummond, MD

Renee K Dversdal, MD

Renee K Dversdal, MD

Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH, ACC

Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH, ACC

Paddy Barrett, MD

Paddy Barrett, MD

Darla Adams, FNP-BC

Darla Adams, FNP-BC

Megan Furnari, MD

Megan Furnari, MD

Katie Lydon, MSN, RN, NE-BC, CPXP

Katie Lydon, MSN, RN, NE-BC, CPXP

Amruti Borad, DO

Amruti Borad, DO

Perry Gee, RN, PhD, NEA-BC, FAAN

Perry Gee, RN, PhD, NEA-BC, FAAN

Erika Clemens, MS OTR/L, SWC, IBCLC, NTMTC

Erika Clemens, MS OTR/L, SWC, IBCLC, NTMTC

Sarah Bieber, LCSW

Sarah Bieber, LCSW

Nathalie Dougé

Nathalie Dougé

Jennifer Schwartz, LMSW

Jennifer Schwartz, LMSW

Jacquelyn M. Bowers, MD

Jacquelyn M. Bowers, MD

Alison Tothy, MD

Alison Tothy, MD

Gabe Chaberneau, MD

Gabe Chaberneau, MD

Sherry Kroll, MD, MBA, FACP, CPE, CPXP

Sherry Kroll, MD, MBA, FACP, CPE, CPXP

Chrissy Quartuccio-Carran, DO

Chrissy Quartuccio-Carran, DO

Stephanie Cao, MD, PGY-2

Stephanie Cao, MD, PGY-2

Daniel L. Meltzer, MD, MPH, FACEP

Daniel L. Meltzer, MD, MPH, FACEP

Larry McEvoy, MD

Larry McEvoy, MD

Carolyn Gorman, MD

Carolyn Gorman, MD

Katie Ryder, MD

Katie Ryder, MD

Jacqueline C. Shepard-Lewis, MD

Jacqueline C. Shepard-Lewis, MD

Shankar Sridhara, MD

Shankar Sridhara, MD

Justine Suba-Cohen, DO

Justine Suba-Cohen, DO

Blaine C. Brackett

Blaine C. Brackett

Jill Hallman

Jill Hallman

Brittany DiNatale, BSN, RN

Brittany DiNatale, BSN, RN

Barbara Burnes, RN, MS, CPXP

Barbara Burnes, RN, MS, CPXP

Renee Oinonen, RN, BSN

Renee Oinonen, RN, BSN

Julie Cobos, RN, MSN

Julie Cobos, RN, MSN

Hannah Fox, BSN, RNC-OB

Hannah Fox, BSN, RNC-OB

Kevin Cruz, MBA, MSN-L, RN, CCRN-K

Kevin Cruz, MBA, MSN-L, RN, CCRN-K

Louann Mace, DNP, RN, CMSRN, LSS-GB

Louann Mace, DNP, RN, CMSRN, LSS-GB

Susan A. Johnson, RN

Susan A. Johnson, RN

Lisa Van Brunt, RN, BSN

Lisa Van Brunt, RN, BSN

Anelis Encinas, MBA, RN, BSN

Anelis Encinas, MBA, RN, BSN

Danielle Graber, RN

Danielle Graber, RN

Veronica Carmack, RN

Veronica Carmack, RN

Lorina Medina, RN

Lorina Medina, RN

Rachel Naranjo, RN

Rachel Naranjo, RN

Leo Taylor, RN

Leo Taylor, RN

Anthony Martinez, RN

Anthony Martinez, RN

Alicia Gonzalez, MD

Alicia Gonzalez, MD

Lisa MacLean, MD

Lisa MacLean, MD

Cara Marie Jackson, DO, FACEP

Cara Marie Jackson, DO, FACEP

Sam Torbati, MD

Sam Torbati, MD

Jennifer Scogin

Jennifer Scogin

Sam Hickert

Sam Hickert

Rhiannon Green

Rhiannon Green

Sheena Garland, RN

Sheena Garland, RN

Matilda Adams, DNP, RN

Matilda Adams, DNP, RN

Sarah Greenwald, RN

Sarah Greenwald, RN

Jessica Bryant, RN

Jessica Bryant, RN

Lisa Ferraro, RN

Lisa Ferraro, RN

Amit Vashist, MD, MBA, FACH

Amit Vashist, MD, MBA, FACH

Kaila Lotito, RN

Kaila Lotito, RN

Cole Edmonson, DNP, RN, FAAN

Cole Edmonson, DNP, RN, FAAN

Alicia Gonzalez, MD

Alicia Gonzalez, MD

April Schetler, FAND,RD,MS

April Schetler, FAND,RD,MS

Azure Ziegler, APRN

Azure Ziegler, APRN

Raylene Thompson, MBA, CPXP

Raylene Thompson, MBA, CPXP

Kelley Degarate, BSN, MBA CPHQ, CPPS

Kelley Degarate, BSN, MBA CPHQ, CPPS

Kelly Gibbons, MSN, RN, CPXP

Kelly Gibbons, MSN, RN, CPXP

Kate Kellogg, MD, MPH, CPPS

Kate Kellogg, MD, MPH, CPPS

Kendra Brennan, RN, MSN, RN, OCN, NE-BC

Kendra Brennan, RN, MSN, RN, OCN, NE-BC

Benedict Aimua, MD

Benedict Aimua, MD

Beth Korhonen, BSN

Beth Korhonen, BSN

Beth Ulrich

Beth Ulrich

Cecilia Cayton, BSN, RN

Cecilia Cayton, BSN, RN

Christine Pawliczek, BA, MSN, RN, CMSRN

Christine Pawliczek, BA, MSN, RN, CMSRN

Comfort Oseme, MSN, RN, CMSRN

Comfort Oseme, MSN, RN, CMSRN

Cori Norgaard, DO

Cori Norgaard, DO

Deborah Schiff, MD

Deborah Schiff, MD

Richard Senelick, MD

Richard Senelick, MD

Toluwalase Ajayi, MD

Toluwalase Ajayi, MD

David Valenzuela, MD

David Valenzuela, MD

Debra Moran

Debra Moran

Patricia Gardner

Patricia Gardner

Elan Hekier, MD

Elan Hekier, MD

Elizabeth De Leon-Gamboa, RN

Elizabeth De Leon-Gamboa, RN

Elizabeth Pinto, MBA

Elizabeth Pinto, MBA

Erin McNeely, MD

Erin McNeely, MD

Francis P. Hogan, RN, MSN, RN-BC

Francis P. Hogan, RN, MSN, RN-BC

Mark Weisman, MD

Mark Weisman, MD

Gene Gincherman, MD, MBA

Gene Gincherman, MD, MBA

Heather Veltre, DNP, MS, RN, NEA-BC

Heather Veltre, DNP, MS, RN, NEA-BC

Heidi Kosanke

Heidi Kosanke

Howard Ross, MD

Howard Ross, MD

Janet Hall

Janet Hall

Jason Brown, MD, FACP

Jason Brown, MD, FACP

Jason Leubner, MD

Jason Leubner, MD

Jennifer Main-Rutberg, MD

Jennifer Main-Rutberg, MD

Christy Lane

Christy Lane

Joseph Gregory, MD

Joseph Gregory, MD

Kevin Fields

Kevin Fields

Kiriski Mitchell

Kiriski Mitchell

Lauren Rineer, MSW, LCSW, CTCP

Lauren Rineer, MSW, LCSW, CTCP

Lawrence Volz, MD

Lawrence Volz, MD

Leah Korkis, MSN, RN, AGCNS, NPD-BC

Leah Korkis, MSN, RN, AGCNS, NPD-BC

Lindsay Harris, NP, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, FAAN

Lindsay Harris, NP, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, FAAN

Liz Paskas

Liz Paskas

Pamela Biernacki, NP

Pamela Biernacki, NP

Mel Cortez, RN, BSN

Mel Cortez, RN, BSN

Michael Stifelman, MD

Michael Stifelman, MD

Raj Gurunathan, MD, FACEP

Raj Gurunathan, MD, FACEP

Christopher Gilligan, MD

Christopher Gilligan, MD

Elise Boggs

Elise Boggs

Marty Scott, MD

Marty Scott, MD

Paul DeChant, MD, MBA

Paul DeChant, MD, MBA

Tarun Kapoor, MD, MBA

Tarun Kapoor, MD, MBA

Terri Reed, RN

Terri Reed, RN

Tim Niacaris, MD, PhD

Tim Niacaris, MD, PhD

Tina Suneja, MD

Tina Suneja, MD

Carla Schwalm, MD

Carla Schwalm, MD

Liz Edelstein, MD

Liz Edelstein, MD

Jeffrey Millstein, MD

Jeffrey Millstein, MD

Jeffrey Merrill, MD

Jeffrey Merrill, MD

Nicholas Nguyen, MD

Nicholas Nguyen, MD

Robert Muggia, MD

Robert Muggia, MD

Samantha Aydin, RN, BSN

Samantha Aydin, RN, BSN

Breanna Celis, RN

Breanna Celis, RN

Toya Ellis, MD

Toya Ellis, MD

Trish Moody, MSN

Trish Moody, MSN

Megan Wagner, RN

Megan Wagner, RN