Who We Are

At Value-Based Care Partners, we’re driven by a simple but powerful belief:
healthcare should be focused on what truly matters—the well-being of patients.

We partner with healthcare organizations to transform the way care is delivered, shifting from traditional models to innovative, value-based strategies that prioritize better outcomes for everyone involved.

Who We Work With

Digital Health Start-Ups Exploring VBC Markets

Medical Groups Transitioning from Volume to Value

IPAs Entering ACO REACH Program

Meet Our Team

We are a team of passionate experts committed to driving change in the healthcare system. With decades of experience, we know that the key to sustainable success lies in building strong, collaborative partnerships and empowering organizations to thrive in a patient-centered world.

Our mission is clear: to reshape the future of healthcare, one partner at a time.

Naveed Ahmad

Principal & Founder
(Bain, DaVita, Augmedix)

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Richard Mancuso 

Engagement Manager 
(Optum, DaVita, Augmedix)

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Richard Mancuso

Engagement Manager

Experience: Optum, DaVita, Augmedix

Specialties: Risk-Bearing Medical Groups and Startups; Strategy and Partnerships; Medicare Advantage, Medicare (ACO REACH) and Medicaid (CalAIM)

Richard is a healthcare leader driven by a passion for creating a more equitable society through continuous learning, innovation, and meaningful connections.

His healthcare journey began leading innovative technology pilots at Augmedix, followed by managing strategy and patient experience projects at DaVita's medical group through their United/Optum acquisition.

Richard serves on the boards of For A Reason, an education-focused international non-profit, and the Robert Day Scholars Program at Claremont McKenna College, where he graduated with honors in Philosophy and Economics. He is also a guest lecturer at UC Berkeley School of Public Health.

Ben Chao

Expert Consultant
(President MultiCare)

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Ben Chao

Expert Consultant

Experience: President MultiCare

Specialties: Health Systems and Startups; Corporate Development and Technology

Ben Chao is a healthcare advisor and operating executive with extensive experience in digital health strategy, corporate development, and venture capital. He currently works with investors, providers, and technology companies on growth, value creation, and product development. Previously, he held leadership roles at MultiCare Health System, where he drove digital transformation and corporate venture initiatives. Ben is passionate about leveraging innovative solutions to enhance healthcare delivery and organizational effectiveness.

Dr. Scott Kronlund 

Expert consultant
(CMO UHC, CMO Optum)

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Dr. Scott Kronlund

Expert Consultant

Experience: CMO UHC, CMO Optum

Specialties: Risk-bearing networks, IPAs, CINs and ACOs; Clinical Leadership; Medicare, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid

Scott Kronlund, MD, MS, is a seasoned physician and executive leader specializing in strategic planning, organizational design, and leadership development both in and out of healthcare. He currently operates his consulting firm, Kronlund Consulting, backed by 30 years of managed care experience while having created and built out several provider organizations (IPAs, CINs, ACOs) along the way. Previously, he held Chief Medical Officer roles at UnitedHealthcare and Northwest Physicians Network and has served on a variety of non-profit and corporate boards. Dr. Kronlund is especially passionate about partnering with leaders in small- to medium-sized organizations to enhance organizational effectiveness. His expertise includes board governance, leadership development, clinical/behavioral health integration, and accountable care organizations.

Dr. Kronlund currently serves in a voluntary capacity as program advisor to and summer camp Chair of Washington Business Week as well as a Business Program Advisor to Renton Technical College. Dr Kronlund considers himself a life-long learner and has maintained a personal growth and leadership development plan for the past 25 years. He spends most of his free time with family and friends enjoying travel, recreational cycling, meeting interesting people, and just plain hanging out.

Rachel Katz

Expert consultant
(CEO Able Health, SVP Health Catalyst, McKinsey, Fullbright Scholar )

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Rachel Katz

Expert Consultant

Experience: CEO Able Health, SVP Health Catalyst, McKinsey, Fullbright Scholar

Rachel Katz was co-founder and CEO of Able Health, a software solution to simplify and streamline quality reporting for providers. Able Health provided quality measure calculations and reporting services across hundreds of MIPS, HEDIS, ACO, and custom quality measures, and offered a certified MIPS Registry for API-based reporting to CMS. After selling the company to Health Catalyst, Rachel served as SVP of Product Development, overseeing the Health Catalyst quality measure solution development and implementation at leading health systems. Previously, Rachel was a consultant at McKinsey & Company and a Fulbright scholar.

Dave Mull 

Expert consultant
(President Elevance, CFO Humana)

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Dave Mull

Expert Consultant

Experience: President Elevance, CFO Humana

Specialties: Health plans; Finance; Medicare and Medicare Advantage

Dave Mull is a seasoned healthcare executive with over two decades of experience in finance and healthcare. He has held leadership positions at prominent organizations including Honest Medical Group and Humana. Dave specializes in driving organizational growth, optimizing value-based care models, and providing strategic leadership. With extensive expertise in managed care and Medicare, he focuses on developing innovative healthcare solutions that enhance patient outcomes and operational efficiency. Dave has a proven track record of managing significant P&Ls and leading teams through complex healthcare transformations.

Britt Westfall 

Human Resources 
(Automatiq, Bravely, MarketerHire)

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Britt Westfall 

Human Resources

Experience: Automatiq, Bravely, MarketerHire

Britt is an experienced HR and business operations consultant with a strong background in tech startups. With a deep understanding of organizational development, team dynamics, and growth strategies, Britt works with startups to build scalable, efficient HR practices and cultivate high-performing teams. In addition to providing guidance on business operations, Britt is passionate about leadership and professional development coaching, helping individuals refine their leadership skills, navigate challenges, and achieve personal and professional growth.

Gary Dees 

Expert consultant
(Experience: CIO Clover, CIO Honest )

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Gary Dees

Expert consultant

Experience: CIO Clover, CIO Honest

Specialties: Health Plans and Startups; Healthcare IT and Innovation; Medicare Advantage

Gary Dees is a technology executive with over 25 years of experience, specializing in healthcare IT. He has held Chief Information Officer positions at organizations including Honest Medical Group and Clover Health. Gary's expertise includes implementing value-based care platforms, data integration, and advanced analytics. His career highlights include contributing to Honest Medical Group's rapid growth to a $1B+ valuation and playing a key role in Clover Health's successful IPO. Gary has managed complex IT ecosystems, including nationwide corporate networks and data centers, supporting operations that serve millions of customers. He has experience in claims processing systems, risk management, and operational efficiency improvements in healthcare settings.

Karen Gee 

Expert consultant
(COO Optum, SVP Honest)

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Karen Gee

Expert Consultant

Experiences: COO Optum, SVP Honest

Specialties: Risk-Bearing Medical Groups; Business Development and Payer/Provider Contracting; Medicare (MSSP, ACO REACH, etc.) and Medicare Advantage

Karen Gee is the Senior VP of Strategy and Business Development at Prospect Health. Prior to joining Prospect, she served as the Senior VP of Health Equity at Honest Medical Group and was responsible for the application and management of five ACO REACH entities. Karen joined Honest after serving as COO of OptumCare Network of Connecticut, building a state-wide provider network to transform a market from FFS to fully delegated global risk arrangements. She transitioned to Connecticut from her position as COO of Optum/North American Medical Management, California, a provider organization with 17 IPAs in a delegated risk model for all lines of business, and also served as interim CFO during her tenure. Her 35 year career includes responsibilities over claims/config, customer service, marketing and sales, network management, CMS/CMMI programs, corporate finance, investor relations, M&A, budgeting and compensation model development. Karen has a Bachelors degree from the University of California, Berkeley and an MBA from Boston University.

Scott Coffin

Expert consultant
(CEO Alameda Alliance, Anthem )

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Scott Coffin

Expert Consultant

Scott Coffin is a retired CEO of managed care health plans with 28 years of experience in Medicare and Medicaid finance and administration, and corporate turnarounds. Scott retired after dedicating the last 8+ years as the CEO for the Alameda Alliance for Health, a public managed care health plan serving 400,000 adults, youth, and children in the East Bay of California. Alameda Alliance was in a state-mandated conservatorship in 2015 and by 2023 the organization earned quality recognitions and developed a pattern of profitability, generating more than $1.7 billion in annual revenue and retaining more than $230 million in reserves. The turnaround of the Alameda Alliance was a team effort and the organization has been re-positioned for expansion into Covered California and Medicare.

Cecilia Liang

Operations
(Box, Eden, WalkMe)

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Cecilia Liang

Operations

Experience: Box, Eden, WalkMe

Cecilia is an Operations professional with extensive experience in high-growth technology companies and startups. She brings a comprehensive skill set spanning recruitment, operational strategy, and administrative leadership. Leveraging her background in fast-paced environments, Cecilia excels at streamlining processes and building robust operational frameworks. Her expertise in talent acquisition and organizational management has helped companies scale efficiently while maintaining operational excellence.

Santiago Romero 

Senior Consultant 
(Bain & Company)

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Santiago Romero

Senior Consultant

Experience: Bain & Company

Santiago is a strategy and management consultant who has dedicated 7 years to transforming businesses and creating meaningful impact. During his tenure at Bain & Company in Latin America, he led major projects including cross-regional M&A, strategic planning, go-to-market strategy, private equity due diligence, and project management initiatives.

Ready to Transform
Your Healthcare Practice?

Reach out to our team, and let’s start a conversation about transforming care together.