Dean Gould is a Member of Dykema Gossett PLLC, a national full-service law firm. In his role, he advises healthcare industry clients and dental service organizations (DSOs) on strategic transactions, including acquisitions, mergers, recapitalizations, and divestitures. Dean also assists clients in forming regulatory-compliant practice management structures and equity incentive arrangements for key employees.

The healthcare transaction landscape is becoming increasingly complex as providers, investors, and advisors navigate evolving regulations and market pressures. With new technologies emerging and ownership rules tightening, dealmaking requires precision and foresight. How can healthcare leaders structure transactions to support growth while staying compliant?

Healthcare transactions expert Dean Gould has developed strategies for managing risk, structuring incentives, and communicating effectively with clients and partners. He stresses the importance of clear communication, sound incentive structures, and understanding the dynamics of human capital in physician service organizations. Dean also recommends leveraging technology to improve efficiency while maintaining compliance across state and federal laws.

In this episode of Transaction Healthcare, Zak Eisenberg talks with Dean Gould, Member of Dykema, about trends shaping healthcare transactions. Dean explains why human capital drives value in physician deals, how AI is transforming legal and clinical efficiency, and what to expect from evolving state and federal healthcare regulations.

Zak Eisenberg is the Vice President of Merritt Healthcare Advisors, which provides investment banking services to healthcare services organizations. In his role, he manages the strategic development and execution of ASC, surgical hospital, and physician practice transactions. Zak specializes in sourcing and analyzing transactions and capital and negotiating and structuring investments. Previously, he was a Biofund Venture Analyst at New Orleans Bioinnovation Center, a biotech and life science-focused venture capital firm, and led the analysis team at a renewable energy-focused private equity firm.

The healthcare industry is shaped by legal reforms, financial pressures, and a growing demand for value-based care. For entrepreneurs and physician groups, navigating this complexity requires more than just medical expertise; it demands business strategy, operational foresight, and cultural alignment. How can healthcare leaders prepare their organizations in this dynamic environment while staying true to their mission of improving patient outcomes?

Experts across the healthcare M&A space understand how to navigate deals effectively. Bart Walker emphasizes transparency in due diligence, advising healthcare businesses to identify compliance issues early to avoid costly surprises later. Zak Eisenberg encourages leaders to align every financial decision with a clear strategic purpose, viewing transactions as tools for growth rather than exits. John Nantz highlights the importance of culture and operational discipline in building sustainable healthcare organizations, while Rani Khetarpal underscores the growing opportunity in care coordination and patient navigation.

In this episode of Transaction Healthcare, Zak Eisenberg looks back on his most insightful episodes. Bart Walker, John Nantz, and Rani Khetarpal discuss how to prepare for due diligence in healthcare transactions, build high-performing organizations through strategic alignment, and expand care coordination to improve outcomes for both providers and patients.

Rani Khetarpal is the Co-founder and CEO of NavPoint Health, a company dedicated to advancing patient navigation and care coordination through innovative technology solutions. With over 25 years of experience across pharmaceuticals, digital health, and value-based care, she brings a strategic and mission-driven approach to transforming healthcare. Previously, she held leadership roles at companies including GSK, Teva, and CVS, and founded and exited Global Transitional Care, the first Medicare-recognized transitional medicine provider. Rani is also the President of the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators and Founding Partner of Raviya Health Solutions.

For patients with chronic or complex conditions, the healthcare system can feel like a maze of confusion, missed handoffs, and limited support. Despite breakthroughs in treatment, the human side of care — like coordination, communication, and patient guidance — is often fragmented or under-resourced. How can healthcare leaders bridge the gap between clinical care and patient experience in a scalable, sustainable way?

Rani Khetarpal, a healthcare executive with extensive experience in pharmaceuticals, value-based care, and digital health, shares how early career pivots and entrepreneurial instincts led her to tackle the fragmentation in patient support services. Rani emphasizes the importance of understanding operational inefficiencies from both clinical and administrative perspectives and recommends a hybrid approach that combines technology with human connection. She highlights the evolution of navigation roles, the rise of risk-based models, and the necessity of strong partnerships to scale solutions across diverse healthcare systems.

In this episode of Transaction Healthcare, Zak Eisenberg interviews Rani Khetarpal, CEO of NavPoint Health, about transforming patient navigation through innovation and experience. Rani shares how her corporate background informed her entrepreneurial ventures and how timing is crucial when introducing healthcare solutions. She also discusses the emergence of principal illness navigation codes, the human-AI balance in care coordination, and why second-time founders approach building differently.

Dusty Majumdar is the CEO of PredxBio, a precision pathology company leveraging AI and spatial biology to transform cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. With over two decades of leadership experience in precision healthcare, he has held senior roles at the American Society of Clinical Oncology, IBM, Exact Sciences, and GE Healthcare. Dusty has spoken at numerous forums, including The Economist War on Cancer and a MIT plenary lecture on AI in healthcare.

Despite recent advances in cancer research, early detection and effective treatment remain major challenges. Traditional diagnostic tools often fail to fully capture the complex biological interactions driving tumor growth and therapy resistance. How can emerging technologies like AI and spatial biology help personalize cancer care and improve patient outcomes?

Spatial biology and AI can decode the tumor microenvironment at a much deeper level than genomics alone. By analyzing how cells organize and communicate within tumors, this approach can predict therapy responses with over 90% accuracy. Oncology, genomics, and AI-driven healthcare leader Dusty Majumdar emphasizes the importance of integrating multi-omic data, such as proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics, to personalize treatment strategies. He envisions a future where virtual clinical trials drastically reduce development time and costs while improving trial success rates.

Tune in to this episode of Transaction Healthcare as host Zak Eisenberg chats with Dusty Majumdar, CEO of PredxBio, about using AI and spatial biology to transform oncology care. Dusty talks about liquid biopsy limitations, the role of regulatory bodies like the FDA, and the evolution of AI in healthcare.

Christopher (Chris) Raphaely is the Co-chair of the Health Care & Life Sciences Practice Group at Cozen O'Connor, a full-service law firm with practices in litigation, business, and government relations. In his role, he provides transactional and regulatory counsel to various healthcare providers and investors.

With nearly three decades of experience in the healthcare industry, Chris specializes in mergers and acquisitions, payer negotiations, HIPAA compliance, and value-based payment arrangements. Before joining Cozen O'Connor, he served as Deputy General Counsel at Jefferson Health System, where he facilitated major transactions and led the system's restructuring efforts.

Since the advent of the new presidential administration, the healthcare industry has experienced a period of intense disruption; regulatory overhauls, rising costs, and an influx of cutting-edge technology have created complexity for providers, investors, and entrepreneurs. At the center of it all are high-stakes transactions requiring legal precision and a strategic vision. How can leaders in this space make informed decisions and future-proof their deals in such a volatile environment?

Healthcare transaction attorney Chris Raphaely urges healthcare practices and providers to understand legal risks as well as the operational and regulatory contexts in which healthcare organizations operate. He advises aligning legal strategies with your business model, fostering collaborative negotiations, and staying abreast of changing regulations. Healthcare businesses should also prepare for potential financial disruptions caused by policy changes and emerging technologies.

In today's Transaction Healthcare episode, Zak Eisenberg speaks with Christopher (Chris) Raphaely, Co-chair of the Health Care & Life Sciences Practice Group at Cozen O'Connor, about navigating the regulatory landscape to structure healthcare transactions. Chris shares insights on value-based care, Medicaid expansion, ACA subsidy shifts, and how to navigate C-suite dynamics.

Zak Eisenberg is the Vice President of Merritt Healthcare Advisors, which provides investment banking services to healthcare services organizations. In his role, he manages the strategic development and execution of ASC, surgical hospital, and physician practice transactions. Zak specializes in sourcing and analyzing transactions and capital and negotiating and structuring investments. Previously, he was a Biofund Venture Analyst at New Orleans Bioinnovation Center, a biotech and life science-focused venture capital firm, and led the analysis team at a renewable energy-focused private equity firm.

With rising interest rates, increasing consolidation, and changing payer models, many physician practices wonder how to position themselves for growth in 2025 and beyond. How can healthcare leaders adapt to protect practice value and capitalize on emerging growth opportunities?

In today's transactional climate, healthcare M&A executives Zak Eisenberg, John Nantz, and Barry Tanner emphasize the importance of specialization, strategic growth, and recognizing market shifts. Rather than relying on base compensation, physician groups can offer candidates shared equity to align interests for growth. As physician practices consider whether to expand their surgery centers, Zak, John, and Barry state that practices with tight margins and a loyal patient base can expand existing centers into ASCs for a more controlled and profitable environment.

In the final installment of the Transaction Healthcare webinar series, Kayla Marty gathers closing thoughts from Zak Eisenberg, John Nantz, and Barry Tanner about the future of healthcare M&A. Together, they debate how market dynamics have reshaped practice valuations, how to scale small practices, and emerging investment opportunities in 2025 and beyond.

Zak Eisenberg is the Vice President of Merritt Healthcare Advisors, which provides investment banking services to healthcare services organizations. In his role, he manages the strategic development and execution of ASC, surgical hospital, and physician practice transactions. Zak specializes in sourcing and analyzing transactions and capital and negotiating and structuring investments. Previously, he was a Biofund Venture Analyst at New Orleans Bioinnovation Center, a biotech and life science-focused venture capital firm, and led the analysis team at a renewable energy-focused private equity firm.

As the healthcare landscape shifts rapidly, practices are under pressure to grow, innovate, and cut costs — all while improving patient outcomes. With rising labor costs, increasing payer complexity, and mounting administrative burden, how can physician-owned businesses stay competitive without losing focus on care?

Zak Eisenberg, John Nantz, and Barry Tanner recommend aligning operations with value-based care principles. This requires optimizing the patient experience even beyond in-office visits, leveraging tools like AI to provide support between appointments and decrease costs. Strategic partnerships with payers, clear internal visions for growth, and selecting the ideal capital partners can position practices to scale effectively.

In part two of the Transaction Healthcare webinar, Kayla Marty continues her discussion with Zak Eisenberg, John Nantz, and Barry Tanner about creating value in the healthcare system. Together, they talk about reducing system waste, how investment capital drives innovation, and how to prepare for a transaction.

Zak Eisenberg is the Vice President of Merritt Healthcare Advisors, which provides investment banking services to healthcare services organizations. In his role, he manages the strategic development and execution of ASC, surgical hospital, and physician practice transactions. Zak specializes in sourcing and analyzing transactions and capital and negotiating and structuring investments. Previously, he was a Biofund Venture Analyst at New Orleans Bioinnovation Center, a biotech and life science-focused venture capital firm, and led the analysis team at a renewable energy-focused private equity firm.

Physician practices face increasing pressure from rising costs, shifting regulations, and evolving patient expectations. While independent practices struggle with financial stability, private equity-backed consolidations often lead to misaligned incentives and physician dissatisfaction. How can healthcare providers and investors balance financial growth with patient care?

According to healthcare transaction consultants Zak Eisenberg, John Nantz, and Barry Tanner, shifting compensation models impact physician motivation. Healthcare practices should structure these deals to align long-term physician incentives with practice growth. This requires clear communication and strategic planning to prevent physicians from feeling disengaged or undervalued in private equity-backed models.

In part one of the Transaction Healthcare webinar, moderator Kayla Marty hosts Zak Eisenberg, John Nantz, and Barry Tanner to discuss the financial and operational trends in physician practice management. Together, they share emerging technological and regulatory healthcare trends, the shift toward physician practice consolidation, and how AI can reduce healthcare costs and improve patient care.

Bart Walker is a Partner at McGuireWoods, an international law firm, and a co-leader of the firm's healthcare and life sciences industry team. In his role, he focuses on healthcare mergers and acquisitions, strategic joint ventures, and regulatory compliance, advising healthcare providers, private equity sponsors, and lenders. Bart's clients include hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, dental service organizations, urgent care providers, and large physician group practices. He has been recognized as an emerging leader in mergers and acquisitions by The M&A Advisor.

Healthcare transactions are complex, highly regulated, and often misunderstood. Whether you're an investor, a healthcare provider, or a legal professional, navigating this space requires deep industry knowledge and a strategic approach. How can you balance business priorities with regulatory compliance?

Healthcare M&A facilitator Bart Walker recommends assembling a team of legal, financial, and operational experts to anticipate and mitigate risks. Stakeholders must conduct rigorous due diligence to uncover potential compliance issues early and address them proactively. Bart also encourages industry professionals to stay informed and adapt to emerging trends like increased state-level transaction reporting and the evolving role of AI in healthcare regulation.

In today's episode of Transaction Healthcare, Zak Eisenberg meets with Bart Walker, a Partner at McGuireWoods, to discuss the regulatory landscape of healthcare transactions. He explores the impact of AI on healthcare regulation, why client communication is crucial during transactions, and the shift toward domestic pharmaceutical services.

Dr. Michelle Nguyen, MD, is a Gastroenterology Specialist at Unio Specialty Care, a multi-specialty physician practice. As a board-certified gastroenterologist, she has over 15 years of experience specializing in esophageal diseases and quality metrics in colonoscopy. Dr. Nguyen has held leadership positions, including Chief of Gastroenterology in Santa Cruz and an Infusion Site Lead at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

Healthcare professionals often face a difficult choice: stay within large, structured health systems with financial stability or take the leap into private practice, gaining autonomy but facing business uncertainties. How can physicians make this transition while prioritizing patient-centered care?

After noticing limitations on physician autonomy, patient care, and new technology, seasoned gastroenterologist Dr. Michelle Nguyen transitioned from working in a large multidisciplinary healthcare group to establishing a private practice. Physicians can navigate this transition by focusing on patient experiences, leveraging technology to streamline operations, and embracing entrepreneurship to create sustainable and inclusive healthcare models. Dr. Nguyen highlights the importance of maintaining a strong reputation to attract patients organically and collaborating with other independent practitioners to strengthen negotiating power with insurers.

In this episode of Transaction Healthcare, host Zak Eisenberg interviews Dr. Michelle Nguyen, Gastroenterology Specialist at Unio Specialty Care, about the challenges and rewards of private medical practice. Dr. Nguyen shares insights on building patient trust, adopting new technologies, and navigating shifting trends in the healthcare landscape.