Carol A. Solomon, Chief Executive Officer
Kim Eller, Chief Financial Officer
Colin Hulin, Chief Information Officer
Mike Putiak, Chief Marketing Officer
Macon Moore, Vice President, Planning and Development
Janice Ortego, Vice President of Network Development
Michael J. Robert, Vice President of Audit and Compliance
Warren Murrell, Vice President of IPA Services
Kristie Marino, Assistant Vice President of Decision Support
Kevin J. Roache, M.D., Vice President of Medical Affairs
Frank N. Deus, M.D., Medical Director for Benefits and Medical Review
Greg Ruppert, Director of Human Resources
Carol A. Solomon
As Chief Executive Officer of Peoples Health, Carol Solomon has brought a unique blend of expertise in the arena of managed care and a passion for community involvement to Louisiana’s largest locally-owned Medicare Advantage provider. Recruited because of her skilled leadership in the challenging managed care industry, Ms. Solomon has structured the Peoples Health plans to facilitate fulfilling lifestyles for seniors through both comprehensive healthcare and the acknowledgement that excellence in life is achieved because of age.
Prior to her tenure at Peoples Health, Ms. Solomon held leadership positions at other Louisiana-based healthcare organizations, serving as Chief Executive Officer of MedFirst Health Plans and directing the development of a pilot managed care project at LSU Medical Center. Outside of Louisiana, she performed as Vice President of Operations at CAC-Ramsey (now United Healthcare), the second-largest HMO in Florida. Ms. Solomon’s professional background includes executive positions in operations, finance and provider network development.
Ms. Solomon’s community involvements range from serving as a founding member of the Women’s Leadership Initiative for the United Way of New Orleans to putting her spirit behind what gives New Orleans its spirit, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Ms. Solomon serves as a board member and Treasurer of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation and performs as co-chair of the Foundation’s Gala Committee.
Under Ms. Solomon’s direction, Peoples Health was a United Way Pace Setting Organization in 2005. Her company’s benefaction extends to numerous other organizations as well, through sponsorships for the: Jefferson Performing Arts Society, New Orleans Zephyrs, Louisiana Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk, New Orleans Hornets, Louisiana Senior Olympics, American Diabetes Association’s Walk for Diabetes, American Heart Association, Jefferson Chamber of Commerce and Louisiana State University Athletics.
Ms. Solomon functions as a member of the Selection Committee for the Peoples Health Champions program, in collaboration with the New Orleans Saints, as well as holds the position of President of the Louisiana Association of Health Plans. Ms. Solomon also served as local chairwoman of the American Heart Association’s 2007 Go Red for Women luncheon. She participates in a number of other community organizations, serving as Louisiana Healthcare Summit Delegate for the Louisiana Governor’s Office and Delegate for the Louisiana Healthcare Delivery Forum. Ms. Solomon was recognized in 2004 and 2006 as a New Orleans CityBusiness Woman of the Year honoree.
Kim Eller
Chief Financial Officer
Kim Eller joined Peoples Health Network (PHN)as Chief Financial Officer in 2004, and oversees all financial operations for the healthcare administrator. Mr. Eller came to PHN after an extensive career with Tenet Healthcare Corporation, most recently as CFO for Tenet’s Meadowcrest Hospital in the New Orleans suburb of Gretna.
Mr. Eller received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting in 1976 from the University of Florida and began his career with the State of Florida Office of Auditor General. He transitioned into healthcare with a move to Nashville to work for Hospital Corporation of America and then to New Orleans in 1984 when he joined Lakeside Hospital. The following year he joined National Medical Enterprises (which would eventually become Tenet Healthcare Corporation) and has since worked for a number of full-service hospitals including University Medical Center in Lebanon, TN, Parkview Hospital in Philadelphia, PA and several hospitals in the New Orleans area — Doctors Hospital, St. Charles General and Meadowcrest Hospital. While at Tenet, he represented the company on the PHN Board of Directors and as Treasurer of the Tenet Choices, Inc. Board of Directors.
An acknowledged leader, Mr. Eller was three times recognized as CFO of the Year during his tenure with Tenet. Personally, Mr. Eller enjoys time spent with his wife, Ana and their three children Greg, Alexis and Emilie. An avid Gator fan, he follows his alma mater’s sports teams and especially enjoys football season.
Colin Hulin
C
hief Information Officer
As Chief Information Officer for Peoples Health Network (PHN), Colin Hulin develops information strategies that are compliant with regulatory and organizational requirements. Under his direction, the PHN IT Department develops and maintains automation systems that facilitate company operations and support more than 300 PHN employees.
Colin earned both his Bachelor of Arts and his Master of Science degrees in Mathematics from the University of New Orleans. His information systems and technology career spans almost 30 years during which he served as Chief Information Officer for Summit Health Group and Vice President of Information Systems for New Orleans based Pan-American Life. Colin also served as an adjunct university computer science instructor and curriculum advisor for over 12 years at the University of New Orleans. In 1995, he was recognized by the UNO College of Sciences as Alumnus of the Year.
A regular speaker at regional IT conferences, he has served as an advisor for various campaigns including the United Way, Better Business Bureau and Junior Achievement. Colin also volunteers his IT expertise to several New Orleans area community, school, scouting and church organizations. A dedicated teacher, Colin is a school board officer for both St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Elementary School and Archbishop Chapelle High School. He also volunteers his time as a local playground basketball and baseball coach. An avid music enthusiast, Colin is especially proud to have written the CD liner notes for “Best of Zebra”.
Mike Putiak
Chief Marketing Officer
As Chief Marketing Officer, Mike Putiak is responsible for the sales, marketing, communications and public relations activities of Peoples Health Network(PHN). Hired with the charge of building market share, PHN enrollment and revenue have grown more than
twenty-fold since he joined the company in 1998. PHN is now the dominant plan in its service area, with 2/3 of the local Medicare Advantage market and 20% of all Medicare eligibles in the area enrolled as plan members.
Prior to joining PHN, Mr. Putiak served as Vice President of Sales & Marketing with New Orleans-based Advantage Health, supervising the start-up plan’s growth to become the third largest health plan in Louisiana. Born in the Bronx, Mr. Putiak moved to New Orleans in 1978 to join the communications faculty at Xavier University and three years later, the University of New Orleans.
Actively involved with state and local development, Mr. Putiak collaborated with the NFL Saints to establish the Tenet Choices Champions program in 2003. He is a representative to the Region 1 Consortia of the Governor’s Healthcare Reform Panel, an advisor for the Louisiana Senior Olympics and a member of Louisiana Association of Health Plans’ (LAHP) Legislative Affairs and Regulatory Affairs committees. Mr. Putiak also chairs LAHP’s Membership Committee, serves on the LAHP Board of Directors and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Louisiana.
In addition to a B.A. degree in humanities from Antioch College, Mr. Putiak was awarded M.A and M.Ed. degrees in communications from Columbia University and an M.F.A degree in directing from Tulane University. He is a regular speaker at Medicare and marketing conferences nationwide.
An avid outdoor enthusiast, Mr. Putiak is recognized as a Canyon Leader by the American Canyoneering Association.
Macon Moore
Vice President, Planning and Development
As Vice President, Planning and Development for Peoples Health Network (PHN), Macon Moore identifies and facilitates new business opportunities and directs the implementation of new products and services. He also helps to identify and secure strategic partnerships that can support and expand PHN services.
With more than 10 years of healthcare management experience, Mr. Moore served as Chief Operating Officer
at Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans prior to joining PHN. He also served as Chief Operating Officer for Meadowcrest Hospital in Gretna and worked at NorthShore Regional Medical Center in the New Orleans suburb of Slidell.
Actively involved in New Orleans community affairs, Mr. Moore was recently profiled by CityBusiness magazine as one the top business leaders under age 40 and he received the Mayor’s Award of Recognition for his work with local and minority businesses. Mr. Moore is active with the Jefferson Parish Chamber of Commerce, the Algiers Economic Development Foundation and serves on the Development Board for Our Lady of Holy Cross College. A graduate of the Chamber Leadership Institute, Mr. Moore served as United Way’s Medical Division Chairperson and on the Boys and Girls Club Westbank Governing Board. Additionally, as co-founder of the Krewe of the Rolling Elvi, Mr. Moore has the rare distinction of having created one of the most popular new events at Mardi Gras.
Mr. Moore has a Master of Health Administration degree from Medical College of Virginia and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Marketing and Management from East Carolina University.
Janice Ortego
Vice President of Network Development
Janice Ortego joined Peoples Health Network (PHN)as the Director of Network Development and Provider Relations in 1998. With over 30 employees under her direction, Ms. Ortego manages all physician and hospital related issues including contracting, credentialing, communication, education, appeals and resolutions.
Ms. Ortego has more than 20 years of health insurance experience and served as Vice President of Provider Relations for a start-up HMO in the New Orleans area prior to joining PHN. In that capacity, she contracted a comprehensive network of physicians, ancillary providers and hospitals and assisted with contracting providers for the HMO’s four statewide Managed Service Organization sites. Ms. Ortego previously worked in provider relations for CAC – Ramsay (formerly Comprehensive American Care) in Miami. Ms. Ortego began her health insurance career as a health plan marketing representative and office manager in Texas.
Ms. Ortego is an active member of the America’s Health Insurance Plans and the Louisiana Association of Health Plans.
Michael J. Robert
Vice President of Audit and Compliance
Michael J. Robert joined the staff of Peoples Health Network (PHN) in 1995 and currently serves as Vice President of Audit and Compliance, responsible for implementing comprehensive internal control and reporting systems and the regular monitoring and evaluation of those systems. He is also responsible for coordinating regulatory and financial reviews with outside agencies and auditors. A key participant in PHN strategic planning activities, Mr. Robert coordinates the development of all plan cost projections, ACRP filings and Medicare Advantage bids.
Mr. Robert additionally serves as Privacy Officer for PHN, ensuring the New Orleans- based health plan remains compliant with all state and federal regulations. In this capacity, he directed the development and implementation of the company’s HIPAA compliance program.
With a B.A. degree in accounting from Southeastern Louisiana University, Mr. Robert began his financial career as controller for Browns Velvet Dairy in New Orleans and served on the Louisiana Dairy Association Finance Committee. Promoted to the position of CFO, his work was instrumental to the dairy’s favorable sale to a national chain. Mr. Robert then joined the newly established MedFirst Health Plans in New Orleans as Controller, and served as part of the management team in acquiring an HMO license, developing a business plan and designing competitive health insurance products.
Mr. Robert is an active member of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and the Louisiana Association of Health Plans (LAHP). He is a member of St. Peters School Finance Committee and chairs the school’s Building and Maintenance Committee. Mr. Robert is additionally an active member of the Knights of Columbus.
Warren Murrell
Vice President of IPA Services
As Vice President of IPA (Independent Physician Association) Services, Warren Murrell oversees the delivery of all management services by Peoples Health to its owner IPAs, their member physicians and other contracted healthcare providers. The IPAs are teams of both primary care physicians and specialists who provide
healthcare services to members of the health plans administered by Peoples Health. Mr. Murrell works closely with each IPA’s board of directors to provide strategic direction, planning and information in support of their individual and collective business objectives. Mr. Murrell also oversees the maintenance of each IPA’s corporate records, including the preparation of resolutions, corporate documents, contracts and annual filings in coordination with the Peoples Health Legal department and each IPA’s outside legal counsel.
Mr. Murrell earned his bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and launched his career in marketing and public relations. He joined Peoples Health in 2000 as Sales Manager and became Regional Director of IPA Services in 2004. He was promoted to his current position as Vice President of IPA Services in 2006.
Prior to joining Peoples Health, Mr. Murrell served as the Sales Manager and Marketing Administration Supervisor at Memorial Sisters of Charity Health Network in Houston, Texas, and held other marketing and sales management positions in the healthcare industry since 1994.
Mr. Murrell is a member of the Louisiana Association of Health Plans and America’s Health Insurance Plans.
Kristie Marino
Assistant Vice President of Decision Support
Affiliated with Peoples Health since 1995, Kristie Marino serves as Assistant Vice President of Decision Support. In this capacity, Ms. Marino oversees advanced data collection and reporting. Ms. Marino also develops and maintains automated and integrated systems for the retrieval, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data
to support planning and operations at all levels of the organization. Additionally, she supports outside actuarial firms in the development of annual medical budgets and ensures compliance with all applicable Louisiana Department of Insurance and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regulations.
Upon graduating from Louisiana State University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree in quantitative business analysis, Ms. Marino began her career at Baptist Hospital in New Orleans as a budget data analyst. She later joined Aetna’s Information Systems department in the Property and Casualty division. She currently participates on the Peoples Health Implementation Team and Compliance Committee. She often represents Peoples Health on Louisiana Association of Health Plans task teams and has participated in America’s Health Insurance Plans’ Operations Metrics Study Advisory Group to create an operational benchmarking survey for health plans.
Ms. Marino is a member of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Home and School Association, where she volunteers for various school fundraisers. Ms. Marino also serves as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church and is an active member of the Woodlake Civic Association.
Kevin J. Roache, M.D.
Vice President of Medical Affairs
As Vice President of Medical Affairs for Peoples Health, Dr. Kevin Roache oversees the Medical Management team, comprised of Peoples Health’s medical directors, nursing staff and non-nursing staff. Responsible for ensuring that Medical Management policies are implemented, Dr. Roache also provides oversight for Credentialing, Quality Improvement, Disease Management and Pharmacy Services, and manages the physician element of the healthcare network.
With an extensive operational background in managed care organizations, Dr. Roache has served as the Regional Medical Director of other managed care organizations in Louisiana, including Humana and Ochsner Health Plans. He most recently served as the National Transplant Medical Director for Humana, where he provided medical assistance to the transplant staff and interacted with both the transplant facilities and oncologists. Dr. Roache also functioned as the Chief Medical Director of Suburban Heights Medical Center and as the Medical Director of the Saint James Hospital Home Health Division, both in Chicago, Ill.
Dr. Roache earned his Masters of Medical Management from Tulane University and holds a Doctorate of Medicine from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine as an Internist and Gastroenterologist. Additionally, he is a Certified Physician Executive and Fellow of the American College of Physician Executives. He participates in the LAHP Medical Directors Forum and the National Association of Managed Care Physicians and is a Fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology.
Frank N. Deus, M.D.
Medical Director for Benefits and Medical Review
As Medical Director for Benefits and Medical Review, Dr. Frank Deus oversees the Peoples Health Medical Review Unit, claims review, network physicians, field team staff and member census reviews. Dr. Deus also ensures compliance of medical necessity and quality requirements. He serves as a liaison between healthcare providers and Peoples Health member services.
Dr. Deus practiced medicine in the New Orleans area for twelve years. He previously served as chief resident at Tulane University School of Medicine, as well as chief of surgery and chief of staff at Doctors Hospital of Jefferson. He has also performed administrative roles with Peoples Health as a founding member of the Pontchartrain Independent Physician Association in 1994.
Dr. Deus earned his Doctor of Medicine from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine. He is a board-certified urologist and is a member of the American Urological Association, the American Medical Association and the American College of Physician Executives, as well as a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Deus enjoys playing the saxophone and spending time with his two sons.
Greg Ruppert
Director of Human Resources
As Director of Human Resources for Peoples Health, Greg Ruppert oversees the human resources functions of the company by planning, directing and carrying out policies relating to all phases of personnel activity. In addition to supervising hiring and orientation practices, Mr.
Ruppert facilitates growth tracks for current employees and evaluates employee benefits and compensation
structures.
With an extensive background in human resource management, Mr. Ruppert most recently served as the Recruitment Manager for the Gulf Coast market of Tenet HealthSystem. He has spent 14 years serving the human resources needs of companies within the Greater New Orleans area, including Hibernia National Bank, Pelican Homestead and Savings Association and First Commerce
Corporation, the holding company for First National Bank of Commerce.
Mr. Ruppert earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and his Master of Business Administration from the University of New Orleans. He holds his Professional Human Resources certification and is a member of the Society of Human Resource Management.