Members of the advisory board meet several times a year with the senior management team to provide critical input into the strategic vision of our company and advice on how we can best deliver on our long-term goals. Members come from divergent backgrounds in healthcare, technology, risk, and law. This provides Gauze with an external team to discuss new ideas, markets, and innovations.
Suzanne Garber, DSc, MLA
Prior to co-founding Gauze and chairing its board, Dr. Garber held C-level positions at International SOS where she was responsible for developing global provider networks across ~1 million healthcare, security, aviation and logistics partners resulting in tens of millions of dollars in savings in healthcare claims and reimbursements. She is also the director and executive producer of the PBS documentary, “GAUZE: Unraveling Global Healthcare.” Dr. Garber began her career at FedEx, culminating in the role of Managing Director, South America based in Brazil and is the current CEO of the Newfound RiseUp Fund, a HUD-certified housing counseling agency, that focuses on housing as a social determinant of health and wealth.
A dual US/EU citizen, two-time cancer survivor, and congenital heart defect survivor, Dr. Garber received her Doctor of Science from the University of Alabama at Birmingham for her dissertation, “Predictors of US Hospital Responsiveness to International Patient Inquiries.” She also holds a Master of Liberal Arts with honors from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor degree with honors from Rutgers University. Reared in Spain, Mexico, Algeria, Egypt, the Dominican Republic and various US states due to her father's career in the US Air Force and the private sector, she is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Her professional and board work have taken her to every continent and 101 countries.
Bernardo “Bernie” Fernandez, M.D.
Chief Executive Officer of Baptist Health Medical Group, Dr. Fernandez shapes the strategy and vision for the expansion of physician enterprises. He also represents physician interests throughout Baptist Health.
An internist who specializes in vascular medicine, Dr. Fernandez most recently served as president of Cleveland Clinic Florida, an organization of 200 physicians and 2,000 employees with multiple locations throughout the region. In 2013, Governor Rick Scott appointed him to the Florida Board of Medicine, where he currently is vice-chairman. Dr. Fernandez also serves on the board of Health Network Foundation, an organization dedicated to connecting patients with world-class specialists within the United States.
Born in Havana, Dr. Fernandez received his medical degree from the Ponce Medical School of Medicine in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in vascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. He also holds an MBA from the University of Miami School of Business and is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business Executive Development Program.
Charlie Bernier
Charlie Bernier is the President of ECBM Insurance Brokers and Consultants, one of the nation’s premiere independent risk management advisory firms. Charlie began his career with ECBM over thirty years ago to provide comprehensive solutions in insurance and risk to the healthcare, logistics, manufacturing and professional services industries. Since joining ECBM, Charlie has risen to the post of President and has diversified the service offerings of ECBM to include cyber-security, employee benefits consultation and claims services.
Charlie earned the 2013 “Leader of Innovation” medal from Philadelphia University for his unparalleled work in the area of creativity, integrity, and leadership within his industry. Now working alongside two of his three sons, Charlie blends work with family to achieve and appreciate a proper life balance. Charlie is a graduate of Philadelphia University and lives by his corporate motto of, “Assume nothing. Question everything.”
Honorable Renée Cardwell Hughes (Ret.)
Renee Cardwell Hughes was the CEO of the American Red Cross of Eastern Pennsylvania where she managed a budget of over $20M and led a team of 80 staff and more than 4000 volunteers to respond to 5-7 fires daily as well as major national disasters. Her responsibilities also included ensuring the adequacy of the region’s blood supply. During the course of her tenure at the American Red Cross, Judge Hughes managed multiple mergers to enhance the provision of services and to ensure that donor dollars are most effectively used. Noteworthy, during her tenure is her leadership during hurricanes Sandy & Irene, the Amtrak train derailment and support of the historic visit of Pope Francis to America.
Prior to joining the Red Cross, she was a trial judge for more than 15 years where she handled both complex civil and criminal cases but specialized in homicides, handling some of the City’s most notorious cases. She founded the City’s mental health court and co-authored a book on witness intimidation.
Judge Hughes received her legal degree from Georgetown University Law Center and her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and has received numerous awards for her leadership, courage, and community involvement.
Chris Miles
Chris Miles founded Miles Technologies in 1997 with money earned from the first company he started when he was only 16 years old. Today, the award-winning IT consulting, custom software, web design, and online marketing firm employs more than 160 people, earned first place in the Philadelphia Business Journal’s BEST PLACES TO WORK 2013, and was named one of Forbes’ Top Software Development Companies in the US. The mission of Miles Technologies is to provide highly customized, ground-breaking technology solutions that further business goals and objectives. Chris believes to experience continued growth and profitability, businesses need to leverage the tremendous opportunities technology can deliver.
A graduate of the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in engineering, Chris is active in his community through his charity, “A Step Toward Hope” which provides medical, financial, and emotional assistance to those living with paralysis and other neurological disorders. He also started TEO, “Technology Equals Opportunity,” an outreach program that gets technology into the hands of those who need it most, regardless of their financial standing. In his safely guarded free time, Chris enjoys relaxing with his family, boating, and the beach. Chris is particularly proud of his three children and his beautiful wife.
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