Meet The Ascendant Team
Joseph Hoang – Senior Managing Director
With over 25 years of healthcare consulting experience, Joseph Hoang’s project portfolio has spanned a variety of healthcare industry clients, including private equity firms, portfolio companies, health insurers, managed care organizations, hospital and health systems, physician practices, pharmacy benefit managers, as well as pharmaceutical manufacturers and wholesalers.
Joseph specializes in assisting clients and leading teams through a multitude of healthcare challenges. Such areas involve healthcare regulatory, compliance, investigation, dispute resolution and operations matters, complex data management and analysis, business intelligence, EMR systems and Medicare claim reviews, and claim-related audits.
Russell Manns – Managing Director
Russell Manns works with healthcare clients including hospitals and health systems, home health agencies, managed care organizations, venture capital firms, physician practices, and federal health programs. He has served as the General Director of Planning and Cost Control, Interim CFO, and Assistant Hospital Director of an academic medical center, Controller of a three facility health system.
Russell managed the procurement and implementation of a large-scale health information solution, directed new vendor identification and procurement efforts, performed operational assessments, completed provider and payer contract reviews, managed facility and health system financial operations, completed business service/product line reviews, prepared and analyzed facility operating and capital budgets as well as served as a Conservator of an HMO.
Bill Chapin – Managing Director
Bill Chapin is a Managing Director with over 15 years of experience working closely with and leading large organizations through strategy and execution of transformational change. Areas of expertise include informational and operational technology assessment, project and program management and enabling change through technology. Having worked across many areas of the business and IT, Bill brings an effective combination that allows for the appropriate use of process and technology to enable and achieve business outcomes.
Bill has worked across a number of industries, including Healthcare, Pharmacy Benefit Management, Technology Banking and Finance, Insurance, and Government. From large-scale system implementations and data migrations to PMO stand-up and administration to the enablement of engineering teams to produce working software, Bill has advised clients and executed high-profile efforts successfully.
Abe Warshaw, MD
Dr. Abraham Warshaw is a licensed physician, turnaround leader, and consultant with 20+ years of progressive medical leadership experience in well-regarded, high-acuity healthcare systems. He has achieved consistent success meeting critical challenges on time and on budget. Dr. Warshaw has laser focus on the delivery of high quality medical care, high emotional intelligence, and strong business and financial acumen.
Dr. Warshaw has a track record of driving sustainable growth by developing and implementing programs that help achieve high-quality, patient-centered, and cost-efficient care. His proven ability to manage multisite operations, build high-performing teams, establish patient-centered cultures, lead organizational change, and successfully direct strategic initiatives has led him to become an excellent strategist with a history of successfully architecting and executing organizational restructuring, expansion, acquisition, and integration initiatives and evaluating and implementing physician practices and clinical programs.
Sarah Chapin – Senior Director
Sarah Chapin is an a accomplished People Business Partner with over 15 years of strategic HR leadership experience across diverse industries. Proven track record of partnering with executive teams to drive people strategies that support business objectives, including talent management, employee engagement, and diversity initiatives.
Sarah is skilled in designing and implementing innovative HR solutions that enhance organizational performance, employee satisfaction, and retention rates. Adept at leading change, advocating for employees, and fostering inclusive environments that empower teams to excel.
Dan Stelljes - Senior Director / Principal Solution Engineer
Dan Stelljes is a seasoned data management and business intelligence professional with over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry. He has a proven record of strategizing, developing, and implementing data solutions to drive business success. As a self-starter, he excels in understanding the big picture while applying his technical expertise in data modeling, warehousing, and visualization to deliver capabilities within payer and provider operational environments.
Dan's achievements include spearheading the successful implementation of new data solutions for performance improvement, driving EDI usage, and building strategic data warehouses. Dan combines his academic background with his wealth of industry experience to deliver tangible data products that result in driving business efficiencies.
Than Chen – Senior Director
Than Chen has dedicated his career to all aspects of software engineering, from development and design architecture to directing teams in creating high-quality, innovative enterprise software solutions. With over 25 years of experience, Than is a seasoned technical leader with a proven track record of solving complex problems, demonstrating leadership, and building high-performance teams.
Than is also a hands-on technical leader, capable of directly contributing to technical solutions. He specializes in developing web and client applications using .NET C#, Vue.js, JavaScript frameworks, HTML5, CSS3, WPF, relational databases (SQL Server and Oracle), data analytics and visualization, Databricks, and the Elastic Stack.
Afraaz Zariwala – Senior Analyst
Afraaz Zariwala carries a passion and drive for improving healthcare institutions. Areas of expertise include healthcare regulatory compliance, data analytics, and technology advisory. His combination of business development, analytical, and technical skills create a holistic, end-to-end problem-solving approach. M
Afraaz received his training from Columbia University, at the Mailman School of Public Health, and he has worked in various organizations, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the refugee resettlement agencies.