Internal Leadership Team

Rachel Mazzotta is Vice President of Program Development with MedVanta, leading operations, supporting new and existing MedVanta practices, and assisting with acquisition transitions, technology assessments, staffing and personnel management.

Christine DeAngelis has nearly 30 years of multi-specialty healthcare system experience. She joined MedVanta as Senior Vice President of Managed Care and Payor Strategy in 2022. She is responsible for payor relations, negotiating managed care contracts and developing strategies and initiatives to support MedVanta practices through ongoing payment reform.

Before joining MedVanta, she previously served as Executive Director of Managed Care and Network Strategy for George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates, where she was responsible for physician network growth, developing and implementing a value-based care roadmap, managing payor contracts and improving the patient and provider experience. Before working for George Washington University, Christine spent nearly 20 years as Vice President, Physician Network and Value-Based Care at LifeBridge Health.

Christine earned her master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Towson University, where she also received her bachelor’s degree.

Kevin West is Vice President of Finance and Accounting at MedVanta, where he has overall responsibility for all finance and accounting needs for the musculoskeletal management services organization. He has more than 20 years of finance experience in the healthcare and technology sectors. In addition to his role with MedVanta, Kevin presently serves as Controller at The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics (CAO), which founded MedVanta in 2022, where he leads the company through process and system implementations.

Prior to joining CAO and MedVanta, Kevin was Assistant Controller at Somatus, a market leader in value-based kidney care, and Manager of Accounting at SHD Oil & Gas, LLC, where he oversaw all accounting functions for the multimillion-dollar oil and gas exploration and production company. Kevin previously spent two years as an Auditor for the U.S. House of Representatives Office of Inspector General. Earlier career experience includes Audit Senior at Hein & Associates, Senior Auditor for Landry’s Restaurants and Staff Accountant/Financial Analyst at Media Excel.

Kevin earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from The University of Texas at Austin. He is a Certified Internal Auditor.

Sonia Kough is MedVanta’s Vice President of Human Resources, where she delivers comprehensive HR services including strategic planning, change management, organizational review and growth. Sonia also presently serves as Senior Director of Human Resources at The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics (CAO), which founded MedVanta in 2022. At CAO, Sonia is responsible for fostering a diverse workplace, positioning the company as an employer of choice, administering HR policies and practices and more.

Before her time at CAO and MedVanta, Sonia was Director of Human Resources at InSite Wireless Group, and previously, Director of Human Resources at Visionary Integration Professionals. She also held HR management roles at P&R Enterprises, Optimization Consulting, Inc., and Onsite3.

Sonia received her graduate and undergraduate degrees in human resources from The Catholic University of America.

Renita Bean is the Chief Compliance, Privacy & Safety Officer at MedVanta, where she is responsible for risk and audit management, compliance and privacy-related regulations, employee training in compliance and more. She holds the same role at The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics (CAO), which founded MedVanta in 2022. She joined CAO in 2016.

Before CAO and MedVanta, Renita spent nearly seven years with a Federally Qualified Health Center, first as an Accreditation Specialist and Safety Officer and later as Compliance Director and Safety Officer, where she strengthened the organization’s compliance program. Renita spent more than 20 years in the United States Air Force as a Medical Specialist Flight Leader NCOIC, and also previously served as Manager of Health Information Management at MedStar Health.

Renita earned her master’s degree in health care administration from Marylhurst University and her bachelor's degree in economics from Fairfield University. She also has a HITECH certification from the University of Colorado Denver.

Will serves as the Director of Information Technology and Data Security at MedVanta, where he oversees IT operations and security strategy. He also holds the same title at Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics, the founding organization of MedVanta (established in 2022). Will joined the Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics team in 2021 and has dedicated his entire career to the field of technology.

Prior to his current roles, Will served for twelve years as Director of IT Services at Avosina Medical Technologies / CPR Inc, a provider of medical platform services and billing solutions. His earlier experience includes serving as ITSM Manager at both SoftMed Systems (3M) and Intelsat.

Will began his technical career in the U.S. Air Force, specializing in aircraft electronics (Avionics), where he served for ten years in England.

He holds the CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional certification from (ISC)² since 2021. His additional certifications include:

MCSE – Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (retired), CompTIA Network, US Air Force Master Integrated Avionics Systems Technician, Wartime Area Turn Supervisor NCOIC. Awarded the U.S. Air Force Commendation Medal.

Kathryn Poppe is Senior Director of Practice Solutions at MedVanta. She joined the company in 2023.

She previously spent 12 years as Practice Administrator for the Maryland Orthopedic Specialists division at The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics. Before joining CAO, Kathryn was FIRST Director, Physician Extender at ATI Physical Therapy, where she supported physical therapy patients in the clinic and worked with an MD, evaluating patients, splinting, casting and more. She also served as a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer at the University of Connecticut, where she provided athletic training support for the softball and volleyball teams. Earlier in her career she held sales positions with the Hudson Valley Renegades and Lakewood BlueClaws.

Kathryn earned her master's degree in sports management and sociology from the University of Connecticut and her bachelor's degree in athletic training and exercise science from Ithaca College.

Thomas Shallow is the Senior Director of Divisional Operations and Support at MedVanta. He holds the same position at The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics (CAO), the orthopaedic private practice group that founded MedVanta in 2022. He first joined CAO in 2016 as Director of Development for the Virginia region.

Previously, Thomas was Chief Executive Officer at Hampton Roads Otolaryngology Associates, a physician ENT and allergy practice. He spent nearly four years at the Greater Metropolitan Orthopaedic Institute, an orthopaedic musculoskeletal practice, where he first served as Chief Financial Officer and then Chief Administrative Officer/Compliance Officer. He began his career at the American Petroleum Institute in various positions in the Office of General Counsel, Legislative Affairs – Taxation, and Information Systems departments. He also has healthcare management consulting experience.

Thomas holds a master’s degree in accounting from the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business, and a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Rhode Island.

Leana Derbarghamian serves as General Counsel for MedVanta and The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics (CAO). She oversees all legal operations and strategy for the musculoskeletal management services organization and the orthopaedic private practice group, respectively.

She has strong legal experience in the healthcare industry, including her previous role as General Counsel at H.H.C. Group, a medical claims cost containment company. She was a Corporate Litigator and Managing Partner at Leana Law Group for six years, an Attorney at Shulman, Rogers, Gandal, Pordy & Ecker, P.A., and an Associate at Holland & Knight LLP. She began her career as a Research Assistant for the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health.

Leana earned her juris doctor degree from Regent University School of Law, and bachelor’s degrees in biology and political science from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

Katie Santilli is the Marketing Director at MedVanta, where she supports new business development and orchestrates strategic marketing initiatives. In addition to leading marketing efforts at MedVanta, Katie serves in the same position at The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics (CAO), the orthopaedic private practice group that founded MedVanta in 2022.

She began her career with CAO, first as Front Office Manager in one of the group’s practices, where she became Marketing Director in 2017. She transitioned to the Marketing Director role in CAO’s corporate office in 2022. Katie has sharpened a well-rounded skillset and has a track record of success in managing marketing efforts across social media, digital marketing, sales and lead generation.

Katie earned her bachelor’s degree in business management with a concentration in human resources management from the University of Maryland.

Myong Choi, the VP of the Revenue Cycle in the Central Billing Office, is responsible for the revenue cycle for MedVanta practices, including The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics, which has an annual net collection of approximately $270 million. Myong joined CAO in 2016 and took on additional responsibilities with MedVanta in 2022. She provides more than two decades of strong industry knowledge that is the driving factor of ensuring the CBO’s effective response to the ever-changing market requirements. She has increased responsibilities and exceptional abilities to blend leadership and collaboration to provide successful billing operations, strategic financial oversight, and the resolution of problems quickly and with integrity. She also designs and implements internal processes to improve billing and financial operations.

She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) with a degree in Computer Science. She is also a Certified Professional Coder (CPC).

Debbie, the therapy executive director, is tasked with overseeing our physical and occupational therapy department by offering services, creating strategic goals and acting as a liaison between other medical departments. She has over 20 years of clinical experience as a therapist. She has implemented sound and effective financial strategies, helped to meet therapy requirements and increased business opportunities for our therapy services.

Debbie earned her bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy from Arcadia University.

Kendra Roark is the Vice President of Care Transformation at MedVanta, where she leads the shift towards value-based healthcare models, emphasizing prevention and high-quality care. With nearly 20 years of experience across various medical sectors, she excels in developing visionary healthcare initiatives and strategic collaborations.

Previously, Kendra served as the Senior Director of Patient Care Navigation at MedVanta, directing population health and value-based programs, and held roles in value-based care coordination at the Florida Orthopaedic Institute.

Earlier in her career, Kendra's diverse experience included positions at the 703rd Munitions Support Squadron at Volkel Air Base in the Netherlands, OrthoCare Florida, and Moffitt Cancer Center. Her broad exposure to different facets of healthcare has been pivotal in her current role, driving innovation in patient care and operational efficiency.

Kendra holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Southeast Missouri University and is a registered nurse in Florida. Her professional certifications include SFMA Level 1 and a Diploma in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, underscoring her commitment to comprehensive, patient-centered care.