Russell Rhodus: President, and Founder
Russ' 25 years of experience spans the fields of operations, strategic planning, new business development, process quality engineering and talent recruitment. His understanding of the difficulties facing physicians and the healthcare industry is the reason why Axis Health Innovations was started. "Being married to a physician leader has shown me the profound difficulties the changes in healthcare has created for physicians and clinicians."
Russ spent 5 years developing energy efficiency programs for DP&L and Vectren. This experience deepened his knowledge and understanding of "Big Data" and its powerful impact in directing operational decisions to provide the best financial outcomes for all key stakeholders. "I believe the amount of undigested data in the healthcare industry is rich for harvesting. This untapped resources will be the next generation of technological innovation that will provide our healthcare systems with the operational tools needed to be cost effective to maintain the high level of quality patient-care performed by physicians and clinicians."
Russ has his B.S. in Operations from Wright State University, and M.B.A. from Xavier University with a concentration in Business Analytics.
Michael G. Dragoon Vice President Quality Assurance and Process Development
Mike’s comprehensive experience in leadership of strategic business solutions, creative organizational redesign intervention, and new production processes in high-profile consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, and food industries provides the strength needed in the operational analysis segment of the Axis modeling system needed to assure quality system processes improvement recommendations. His ability to effectively communicate technical data with insightful humor to non-technical quality audiences is a critical component to weaving Lean concepts into existing physician and clinician processes.
Mike’s 25+ years at Proctor and Gamble has provided a rich, diverse and professional environment from which, he has honed his skills as a transformational and multi-faceted senior management executive. As a collaborative consultant and change agent with excellent communication and interpersonal abilities to build rapport and nurture critical long-term partnerships with key stakeholders to improve interactions, resolve complex problems and assist them to succeed with development of innovative solutions, along with the discovery of their true capabilities and passions.
As a graduate of the University of Maine, Orono, ME with a BS, Engineering Physics, Mechanical Engineering and the President – Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity and Member – Physics Honor Society, Mike’s scientific approach to problem solving creates a synthesis with physicians and clinicians to optimize and smoothly incorporate quality changes.
Robert Praetzel: Director of Finance and Accounting, and Co-founder.
Robert has 5+ years of directing and leadership experience with various non-profit organizations. His understanding of key financial indicators is vital for Axis Health Innovations to frame savings and costing models. These models are the foundation to accurate cost savings and increases in revenue cycle. Robert's research and experience in healthcare time studies, motion and waiting waste is a critical component of the Lean philosophy and an imperative component to the quality aspect of the Axis modeling process.
Robert's experience in programming and database management is a key aspect of bringing quality process improvements from the drawing board to the dashboard. Axis's quality starts in the units and on the floors where clinicians and patients interact and after rigorous data collection and analysis of the processes is performed the data is then transformed into usable information in dashboard form. Robert is an essential element of this process.
Robert earned his undergraduate degree in business management and marketing from Franciscan University of Steubenville, and recently received his MBA from Xavier University. .
Tim LaBarge: Director of Strategic Initiatives, and Co-founder.
Tim's experience in managing client relationships, identifying client needs, and assuring projects meet customer deliverable's as they relate to cost, implementation and completion. He act's as project manager and takes on many roles to complete projects. His versatility is a valuable asset as he expedites other team members roles depending on the project demands.
Tim wears many hats as he acts as Marketing/Brand Manager, Human Resources Manager, Website Content Manager, Quality Trainer and Liaison with Key Stakeholders in the industry and within the organization.
Tim has a B.A. in English and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame; and an MBA from Xavier University.
Mohammed Altwaijry: Director of Operations, and Co-founder.
Mohammed is originally from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He has several years of experience in operations management and business process management. Mohammed's background and experience in process management is a fundamental aspect of the operational component of the Axis modeling system. Using process mapping, critical path and flow charting Mohammed focuses on the overproduction, over-processing and inventory waste.
Mohammed's experience in applying Six Sigma principles to length of stay for surgical and support functions in healthcare has proved to be a valuable administrative tool to achieve savings through cost savings and revenue cycle increases.
Mohammed has a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from King Saudi University and an M.B.A from. Xavier University with General Business concentration. Mohammed is also a Certified Business Process Manager (CBPM).