Mr. Scott is the Chairman and CFO of Ascent Surgical Partners.  He has over twenty years of accounting and healthcare experience. Mr. Scott holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration from Tennessee Technological University and is a Certified Public Accountant. He brings to the client both financial and development experience having developed over 25 ambulatory projects.

Mr. Scott was a Co-founder and Senior Vice President of a physician practice and ancillary management company, with responsibility for operations, acquisitions and development in the Florida and Georgia markets. Prior to that, he served as controller of a company that developed and managed ambulatory surgery centers, clinical treatment centers and mobile imaging centers. During his career, Mr. Scott was responsible for the financial operations of an outpatient service company specializing in outpatient diagnostic centers.

Robert O. Baratta, M.D. is Chief Executive Officer of Ascent Surgical Partners and was previously chairman and chief executive officer of Ascent, L.L.C. headquartered in Stuart FL. Prior to joining Ascent, L.L.C. in 2004, Dr. Baratta was president, chief executive officer and vice chairman of the board of directors of Ecosphere Technologies, Inc., formerly known as UltraStrip Systems, Inc. (“Ecosphere”), an environmentally protective marine industrial company. Prior to joining Ecosphere in 2001, Dr. Baratta engaged in the private practice of ophthalmology in Stuart, Florida, where he served as president and chairman of the board of directors of Stuart Eye Institute. Dr. Baratta began practicing medicine in 1973. He has served as a director of the FPIC Insurance Company (FPIC:NASDAQ) since its formation in 1996 and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1999 until May 2007. Dr. Baratta currently serves as Immediate Past Chairman of the Board of Directors. Dr. Baratta also served as a director of First Professionals Insurance Company from 1993 to 2000. He has owned and managed surgery centers for 25 years. He worked as a surgeon in a surgery center and understands the needs of the surgeon as well as the essentials of a successful center. 

Scott Baratta is Executive VP of Strategic Operations for Ascent Surgical Partners and was previously President and Chief Financial Officer of Ascent, LLC. Mr. Baratta has over 16 years of experience in financial analysis, strategic planning and management with both early-stage and Fortune 500 companies. He earned a Masters degree in Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania,. He spent two years as Vice President with MediCepts, Inc., a start-up medical device manufacturer, helping launch a machine designed to relieve back pain, and three years as Senior Vice President of Finance of UltraStrip Systems, Inc. (subsequently known as Ecosphere Technologies, Inc.), an environmentally protective marine industrial company. Mr. Baratta also served as a Senior Manager with marchFIRST, an Internet consultancy, and he spent three years as a Manager in financial and strategic planning with the Frito-Lay, Inc. division of Pepsico.

Mr. Riegle Executive VP of Field Operations for Ascent Surgical Partners with over seventeen years of healthcare experience with focus in the area of surgery center operations. He holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Business Administration from Vanderbilt University. Mr. Riegle brings years of experience working directly with physicians, patients and payors at both the center and corporate levels.

Mr. Riegle was a Director of Operations for HealthSouth Corporation with responsibilities for surgery center operations in the State of Tennessee. While with HealthSouth, he also served as Administrator of two surgery centers. Prior to HealthSouth, Mr. Riegle served as Director of Business Operations for a start-up surgery center company and as a regional manager for a large surgery center chain. Mr. Riegle has spent most of his career working in the field, directly with facility staff and physicians.

Ms. Diedrich was a founding shareholder of Ascent Partners.  Ms. Diedrich brings eighteen years of executive experience in operations and development of outpatient healthcare facilities to the benefit of all our clients. She provides “hands-on” leadership and problem resolution based upon in-depth industry knowledge to new project evaluations, facility developments, equipment planning, procurement and oversight; with interim and ongoing management contracts.

Ms. Diedrich’s broad healthcare background includes Regional Vice Presidencies with Surgical Health Corporation and the Ambulatory Surgery Division of HealthSouth Corporation, Vice President of Operations for Navix Radiology, IPA Manager for Physicians Health Corporation, and several administrator and project management positions for Columbia Hospital Corporation. She has a Masters degree in Public Administration and has held several Board positions with the Florida Society of Ambulatory Surgery Centers and is a member of the American Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers.