Board of Trustees

Ken DeFurio, President & CEO
Ken DeFurio is President & CEO of Independence Health System. DeFurio was a key leader in the creation of Independence Health, the third largest health system and the largest community-based health system in western PA. Independence Health System was the result of bringing together Excela Health and Butler Health System. With more than 7000 employees, and approximately 1000 physicians and advanced practice providers, it is the largest employer in Butler and Westmoreland Counties. Independence Health System serves a ten-county region in western PA.

DeFurio joined Butler Health System 37 years ago as a respiratory therapist. He has been President & CEO for 17 years. DeFurio holds a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy from Indiana University of PA and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh.

DeFurio serves on a number of boards and community organizations, including Butler County Community College. He is a board member and officer of The Hospital and Health System Association of Pennsylvania (HAP).

Paul Bacharach
Paul Bacharach, Board Chair, recently retired as President and Chief Executive Officer of Gateway Rehab, having held that role since December 2013. In his position, Bacharach oversaw all facets of the Gateway Rehab system, which has more than 20 locations through Western Pennsylvania and Ohio. He previously served for 21 years as the President and CEO of Fayette Regional Health System/Uniontown Hospital. In that capacity he was responsible for the health system’s ability to maintain dominant market position in its region while advancing clinical services, infrastructure and financial stability. Prior to joining the Fayette Health System, Bacharach advanced progressively through hospital positions in Western Pennsylvania and Ohio. His association experience is extensive. Among his many leadership roles, Bacharach served a term as Board Chair of the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania. He holds an undergraduate degree from Ohio University and a Master’s Degree in Public Health Administration from the University of Pittsburgh.

Timothy J. Morgus, CPA, CGFM
Tim Morgus, Board Vice-Chair, is Managing Partner at Maher Duessel, Certified Public Accountants. A graduate of Robert Morris University with a B.S. in Accounting, Mr. Morgus has concentrated his practice to the areas of governmental and non-profit auditing. Mr. Morgus joined Maher Duessel in 1996, named partner in 2005, and named Managing Partner in 2021. Tim represents over 100 nonprofit and government clients, and is a frequently-requested speaker on topics including government finance, fraud and government accounting principles, pension standards, and tax-related matters. Tim also serves as Director of Recruiting for the firm, which under his leadership has grown to over 100 employees. He actively serves his community through volunteer service and civic engagement, including: Technical Reviewer, GFOA Special Review Committee, Past Treasurer, Government Finance Officers Association for Western PA; Butler County United Way, Past Chairman and Board Member; Leadership Butler County-Graduate and Past Board Member; and Federal Bureau of Investigation Pittsburgh Division-2015-XVI Citizens Academy.
Mr. Morgus resides in Center Township with his wife Sari and two sons Jackson and Wyatt.

Jeffrey T. Curry, MBA, CPA
Jeff Curry, Board Treasurer, has more than four decades of experience in financial operations and fiscal management within the healthcare industry, with nearly 30 years as CFO and Senior Vice President for Excela Health and its predecessor organization. During his tenure, the consolidation of healthcare providers in Westmoreland County took place. Having begun his career as a Certified Public Accountant with KPMG in Pittsburgh, with an emphasis on healthcare audits, he migrated to the provider healthcare finance field with Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital prior to coming to Westmoreland Hospital as director of fiscal services in 1984. Curry received his Bachelor’s in Commerce & Engineering from Drexel University and his MBA from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He is an emeritus member of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He served on the Excela Health board since 2021 and previously served on the board of the Central Westmoreland Development Corporation.

Patrick Hampson
Patrick Hampson currently serves as founder and managing partner of HM3 Partners LLC., a private equity investment and advisory firm. Pat was previously founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MED3OOO one of the largest and most advanced healthcare management and technology service providers in the United States. In 2012 MED3OOO was acquired by McKesson Corporation. Consistently ranked in the top ten as a FORTUNE 500 company. In 2002 Mr. Hampson received the Ernst & Young Western Pennsylvania and Ohio Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Mr. Hampson is a well-known advisor and speaker on healthcare delivery improvements through advanced access to data, physician leadership and patient/physician empowerment strategies. Pat is an advocate for physician leadership and their role in improving the cost, quality and access to healthcare in the United States. Mr. Hampson continues his focus in healthcare as an advisor, board member and/or investor in numerous companies. Current U.S. and global participation include as a Director/Advisor to AveHealth through MBK Healthcare Management (MHM) a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui & Co., Ltd (Mitsui), one of the largest investments and trading companies in the world, established as the dedicated investment and operations management platform for the healthcare business of Mitsu. MBK ownership includes being the largest shareholder of IHH Healthcare Berhad, a leading premium healthcare provider operating eighty-three hospitals in 12 countries. Director with Netsmart Inc. a leading U.S. provider of Software as a Service (SaaS) technology and services solutions for the subacute and behavioral health industry. Investor in Intervala LLC, a full-service manufacturer of high-reliability precision electronic and electromechanical products. Mr. Hampson also has investments and board participation in HM3 Insurance LP, HM3 Northshore, and HM3 Bruno, an historic movie/documentary on the life and career of Bruno Sammartino, one of the world’s most renowned wrestlers and humanitarians.

Previously Mr. Hampson was an investor and board member of Medic Computer Systems (NASDAQ) which was sold to Misys PLC and A4 Health Systems (private) which was sold to Allscripts (AHS: NYSE). Logibec one of Canada’s largest HIT companies headquartered in Montreal.

Pat, his wife Debi and three children have a commitment to charitable causes including founding and contributing to HM3 Partners Independence Fund Inc. The Independence Fund is a charitable not for profit 501 (c) 3 corporation with a mission focused on raising money for charitable organizations that support our Country, Community and Caring causes. Mr. Hampson currently serves on the board of Independence Health System and the Butler Health System Foundation. One of Eastern and Northern Pennsylvania’s largest healthcare providers.

James E. Adisey, MD, FACC
Cardiologist, James E. Adisey, MD, FACC, is medical director of the Excela Health Heart, Lung and Vascular Institute and President of the health system’s medical staff. Dr. Adisey earned his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine, followed by residency training in internal medicine at St. John Hospital, Detroit, where he remained for the first of two fellowships in cardiology. He continued specialty training at Western Pennsylvania Hospital before being recruited to the private medical practice known as Westmoreland County Cardiology. He has been a member of the medical staff since 1998 and is now part of a diverse multispecialty cardiology practice within the Excela Health Medical Group. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in cardiovascular disease.

Anie G. Perard, MD, FACOG
Anie Perard, M.D., joined Health Services of Clarion in 2005. Dr. Perard began her medical training in 1995 attending Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Her internship at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 2001 to 2002 led to her Residency at Mount Sinai School of Medicine which she completed in 2005. She was elected Chief Resident in her 4th year of residency.

Board Certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, she is also a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is also a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and the American Medical Association.

In her tenure with this health system so far, Dr. Perard has acted as Dept. Chair of Ob/Gyn and Dept. Chair of Surgery. She was Vice President of the Medical staff for six years and went on to serve as President of the Medical Staff of Clarion Hospital for four years. She is currently Director of Medical Affairs at BHS Clarion and President of the Hospital’s Network Operations Council. Through all of this, her passion has always been women’s health. It is important to her to be a part of making women feel empowered, acknowledged, respected and healthy. For Dr. Perard, it is important to help take care of the community that helps support her. “Taking care of friends, family and neighbors is rewarding in countless ways. Clarion welcomed me with open arms almost 2 decades ago and I count myself lucky to still be a part of this amazing community.”

Teresa G. Petrick
Teresa Petrick is the president of AAA East Central. She began her career at AAA in 2013 as a senior vice president and was elected in 2020 as the organization’s first female president in its 117-year history. AAA East Central serves 2.7 million members in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, New York, and West Virginia and is an affiliate of Auto Club Enterprises (ACE), headquartered in California. Overall, ACE has more than 17 million members in 21 states representing more than 30 percent of AAA members throughout the United States.

Terri began her career in healthcare administration more than 40 years ago. In that time, she rose to different leadership roles in the UPMC health system ultimately serving as president of UPMC Passavant and UPMC St. Margaret.

Terri holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University. She is an immediate past chair for Excela Health, sits on the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg board of directors and is an emeritus board director for LaRoche College. Terri also serves on the boards for the Pennsylvania AAA Federation, Ohio Conference of Motor Clubs, and AAA New York State, Inc.

John C. Reefer, MD, FACP
Dr. John Reefer opened his practice in internal medicine and was appointed to the Medical Staff of Butler Memorial Hospital in 1980. During his tenure, he held leadership positions including President of the Medical Staff and Chairman of the Department of Medicine, as well as Chair of multiple committees of the Medical Staff.

While engaged in full time practice, he expanded his interest into the areas of health care quality improvement, utilization management, and health care administration. After leading several care improvement projects, he accepted the position of Medical Director of the Office of Organizational Excellence in 1998.

In 2008, Dr. Reefer limited his practice to part time in order to accept the newly created position of Vice President of Professional Affairs and Chief Medical Officer at BMH. He served in this capacity through 2017, at which time he moved to the position of Interim Chief Operations Officer, a post he held until his retirement in 2018. At the present time, he continues to serve as a Medical Director for the Physician Assistant Program Studies program at Slippery Rock University.

After graduating from the Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Reefer attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and completed his internal medicine training at Presbyterian University Hospital. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine, a fellow in the American College of Physicians, and a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society. Over the years John has served on multiple boards including the Jean B. Purvis Community Health Clinic of Butler, the Butler County Soccer Association, Northern Steel Select Soccer Club, Good Samaritan Hospice, and Life Butler.

Larry Richert
Larry Richert is the host of the Big K Morning Show weekdays 5:30am – 11am.

Larry has been a shining star in Pittsburgh radio and television since he came to KDKA in November of 1988. There was a 10 year period where he was a weather anchor for KDKA-TV. He joined the KDKA Morning Show in 2001. His dedication to Pittsburgh made him the perfect ambassador for the city and awarded him the Vector’s Richard Caliguiri Award. He was hired in November of 1988 to follow John Cigna on the radio and hosted a TV morning show on KDKA-TV.

As Larry grew up he traveled through-out the city to many towns helping to shape his love of Pittsburgh. He was born in Millvale and raised in McCandless Township, and then attended St. Ursula grade school in Hampton. Next he progressed to North Allegheny High School where he graduated and journeyed to Clarion University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications.

Outside of radio, Richert is the public address announcer at Heinz Field for all Pittsburgh Steelers home games, a part of the University of Pittsburgh football radio team for pre-game, sideline and post- game locker room shows and since 1985 he has served as the voice of NFL Films/Steelers Highlights. Larry also co-wrote and co-produced a feature family film called “Amazing Racer” starring Lou Gossett Jr, Charles Durning, Eric Roberts and many more well know stars! He is also the Executive Producer of a new documentary, “Bruno Sammartino”.

Larry has joined the HM3 Independence Fund Board and has committed his time to helping others wherever he can with numerous charities in the region. He supports our veterans through “It’s about The Warrior Foundation”, is the Honorary Chairperson for the American Cancer Society’s annual Golf Classic and the JDRF Gala event plus the McGuire Memorial Home, just to name a few.

Larry has three children, Erica, Zachary & Emily and five grandchildren. He and his wife Cindi reside in Pine Township in Gibsonia.

John Sphon, Former Excela Health CEO
John Sphon was appointed CEO of Excela Health in December 2019, after serving as interim CEO since April of that year.

From 2008 through 2019, Sphon was CEO of MedCare Equipment Co., LLC, an Excela Health affiliate providing respiratory and durable medical equipment and supplies throughout western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia and southern New York. MedCare is a joint venture with eight other health systems. His healthcare career spans parts of four decades, including leadership roles with the health system's Physician Practices and Ambulatory and Diversified Services.

A resident and native of Westmoreland County, Sphon earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

He is on the Board of Directors of the Economic Growth Connection and a member of Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce.

During his tenure as Acting CEO at Excela, Sphon and his management team worked collaboratively with physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals across all Excela Health campuses to achieve operational and quality improvements in such important areas as length-of-stay and emergency room time from arrival to discharge. In just a short time, gains were realized in utilization and financial performance.

He was listed among Pennsylvania Business Central Top 100 People for 2020. The publication annually highlights 100 people in business and economic development who have made a dynamic impact on their organizations and communities.

He has been married to his wife, Donna, for 37 years and they have an adult son, Lucas.

Debra N. Thompson, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
Debra N. Thompson, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN is the CEO of Debra N. Thompson, LLC and holds an adjunct faculty appointment at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Nursing. Debra has expertise in leadership development, patient safety, and quality improvement. She has extensive experience in using Toyota Production Systems/Lean in health care to improve safety, quality, and care outcomes. Currently, she works with a variety of healthcare organizations nationally and internationally to apply these principles. As the Chief Nursing Officer with the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative, she led a project, cofounded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Jewish Healthcare Foundation to prepare frontline leaders as change agents to improve safety and quality and was the Pittsburgh Lead for an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality team to identify the challenges senior leadership faced in implementing a patient safety agenda. Debra has held a variety of administrative roles in both academic medical centers and community hospitals. She has coauthored multiple articles on organizational transformation, work redesign, and patient safety as well as presenting internationally and nationally. Her work with industrial models in healthcare is featured in the Shingo Prize winning book, The Pittsburgh Way by Naida Grunden.

Debra serves as patient safety and administrative advisor to Qualaris Healthcare Solutions, Inc. Debra is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. She is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives and served as a member of the Foundation Education Committee and the Patient Safety and Quality Committee. Debra has been involved with the Center for Evidence-Based Management since its inception. Debra has held multiple leadership roles in professional societies and boards. She served on the University of Pittsburgh Alumni Association board from 2014-2021, including their equity and social justice task force. She is a recipient of the University of Pittsburgh’s Bill Baierl Distinguished Alumni Service Award and School of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Award for service.