Innovators in the surgical
hospitalist movement

Dr. Scherer is an internationally recognized, fellowship-trained trauma surgeon certified by the American Board of Surgery in general surgery and trauma/critical care. She joined Surgical Affiliates from her most recent position as professor of surgery and chief of trauma and emergency surgery at UC Davis Medical Center. After joining Surgical Affiliates, Dr. Scherer took on the role of trauma medical director at Mercy San Juan Medical Center, a Level II Trauma Center that has continuously achieved verification from the American College of Surgeons since 2000.

Dr. Scherer received her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston where she graduated with honors. She completed her general surgery residency and trauma/critical care fellowship at the University of California, Davis Medical Center. In addition to being board certified by the American Board of Surgery, Dr. Scherer is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and is an active member in the largest national trauma society, the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma. She is committed to standardizing care for severely injured patients while advancing Surgical Affiliates’ clinical and administrative model to current and future client partners.

Scott Flacks brings more than 20 years of experience in global operations, strategic planning, and customer relationship management experience to Surgical Affiliates. He is responsible for a broad variety of practice operations and has been instrumental in the significant growth at Surgical Affiliates.

Prior to joining Surgical Affiliates, Scott was an influential force in healthcare technology helping drive double-digit growth in users and revenues as Chief Operating Officer for IDEAL LIFE. He has extensive experience in building strategic partnerships with healthcare organizations and implementing processes that improve quality while simultaneously improving user experience.

Previously, Flacks was a Chief Operating Officer for Intermix Media/Alena, a leading online direct response marketing company. The network’s performance-based marketing engine had revenues in excess of $70 million annually, before being purchased by News Corp as part of the 2006 Myspace.com acquisition.

Flacks currently serves on the Board of Directors for Twentieth Century Fox FCU and is a Reserve Deputy Sheriff with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Bill Garden joined Surgical Affiliates Management Group in March 2019 as Chief Financial Officer. He brings 30 years of experience across a broad array of business environments, including over 17 years in healthcare. His finance, strategy, and operations experience spans hospital administration, practice management, revenue cycle, consulting and technology services. Prior to joining SAMGI, Bill led high-growth, innovative healthcare companies focused on achieving the triple aim of better care, better health, and lower cost. He is also an advisor to private equity firms and innovative startup companies in the healthcare space.

Earlier in his career, Bill was a management consultant with Deloitte Consulting and a rocket scientist specializing in solid-rocket design and development on the Star Wars program. He holds a BS in Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

A trained raptor handler, Bill volunteers his time teaching environmental education through close-up encounters with owls, eagles, hawks, and falcons.

Chris Brown joined Surgical Affiliates Management Group in October 2020 as Chief Sales Officer.  He is responsible for business development, marketing and sales operation functions.  Chris is an award-winning sales leader who drives revenue, profit, and EBITDA growth. With 30 years of healthcare sales experience, he excels in launching, turning around, and optimizing the performance of sales teams.  He is distinguished in the development of key account relationships and market introduction of new products and healthcare services. He has a verifiable track record of building shareholder value in start-up, venture-backed and publicly traded companies, and he’s integrally contributed to the successful sale of 3 separate, privately held, healthcare companies.

Earlier in his career, he held executive positions with Zynex Medical, Atec Spine/SafeOp Surgical, Nuvasive/Impulse Monitoring, MSN/InteliStaf Healthcare and STERIS Corporation.  He serves as a board member and board advisor to companies in the medical device and medical technology space.  Chris holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  He is committed to improving the lives of patients through partnerships with leading healthcare providers.

Chris spent many years as a Level IV, USA Hockey certified coach in the Dallas Stars Youth Hockey Association.

Dr. Koh has been with SAMGI since 2015 and served in several capacities as a surgeon, Medical Director and Associate CMO, as well as President of Medical Staff and Trauma Medical Director at SAMGI client sites Sutter Health and Kern Medical. Prior to joining SAMGI, he held surgical leadership positions with Kaiser Permanente. Dr. Koh earned his MBBS at the National University of Singapore and served his residency in the Drexel University Easton Hospital Program.