Leadership

Leadership Team
Board of Directors

Leadership Team

The legacy and collaboration of our leadership sets us apart. This team has dedicated their careers to creating the best organization where providers can thrive.

Mark Gilreath
Chief Executive Officer

Mark Gilreath brings more than 27 years of operational leadership, innovation, and GI experience to United Digestive’s executive team. As former operating partner for Frazier Healthcare Partners, he facilitated the formation of United Digestive in 2018.

In 2008, Mark founded EndoChoice Inc. (NYSE: GI) and served as its CEO from the company’s inception until the company was acquired by Boston Scientific in 2016. EndoChoice focuses on the R&D and commercialization of a diverse portfolio of medical technologies and services for physicians in gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. The Company was recognized six consecutive years by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing companies in America. Mark led the company from his basement in 2008 to an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange, with more than 500 employees.

Before founding EndoChoice, Mark served on the executive committee at Given Imaging (NASDAQ: GIVN) as President of The Americas and Chief Marketing Officer. During his eight years at Given Imaging, the company launched the PillCam Video Capsule and was transformed from a pre-revenue startup to a NASDAQ company approaching $200 million in revenue. The Company was acquired by Covidien (now Medtronic).

Prior to joining Given Imaging, Mark served in a variety of leadership roles at PENTAX Medical during 7 years of rapid growth. He began his career serving in the U.S. military in Naval Intelligence during Operation Desert Storm.

Mark has served on the boards of several public and private companies, and non-profit organizations. In 2013, he was selected as Business Person of the Year in Metro Atlanta, and he is an active member of YPO’s Southern 7 Chapter. Mark holds a B.Sc. in finance from Winthrop University and an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.

Steven Morris, MD
Chief Medical Officer

Prior to joining United Digestive, Dr. Steven Morris was co-founder of Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates and served as the practice’s managing partner for nearly 40 years. Under his leadership, the practice grew from just two physicians in one Atlanta-based clinic to more than 95 board-certified physicians and 60 locations throughout Georgia – including 14 accredited endoscopy centers.

After receiving his medical degree from State University at Buffalo in New York, he completed both an internship and residency at Emory University-affiliated hospitals in Atlanta. He then completed a fellowship in digestive diseases at the University of Miami. In addition, he also holds a juris doctorate from the Georgia State University College of Law and is a member of the State Bar of Georgia. Dr. Morris currently serves on the board of directors of EyeSouth Partners. He is past president of the Georgia Gastrointestinal Society and previously served as chief of staff at Emory University Hospital Midtown in Atlanta.

Rita Odisho
Chief Financial Officer

Rita Odisho brings more than 25 years of healthcare, M&A, and practice management experience – both publicly-held and private equity-owned – to United Digestive’s executive team. As a financial and operational leader, Rita has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, revenue cycle management, practice integration, and running multi-state operations serving hundreds of clinicians. In addition, she is Lean Six Sigma certified with proven experience in building high-performing teams.

Most recently, Rita served as the chief administration officer and vice president of operations for West Dermatology. Prior to this, she served in several executive and senior leadership roles, including chief financial officer, vice president of revenue cycle management, and vice president of finance. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business law from Northeastern University.

Jana Baker
Vice President, Operations

Jana Baker brings more than 17 years of healthcare leadership experience to United Digestive. As former practice administrator for Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates, Jana was responsible for all financial, operational, and administrative functions of the practice. She worked closely with the practice’s managing partner and physician executive committee to strategically grow the organization through M&A, as well as played a key role in implementing new service lines, hiring physicians, and leading new building construction and renovation projects.

Previously, Jana worked for Stockamp & Associates (now part of Huron Consulting Group), where she consulted with large academic medical centers on revenue cycle improvements and optimization of inpatient throughput. She holds a bachelor’s in industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she graduated with honors.

Leslie Graham
Vice President, Human Resources

Leslie Graham brings more than 20 years of human resources, employee engagement, and talent management experience to United Digestive’s executive team. Most recently, Leslie served as the director of people services for DaVita Dialysis providing expertise in the areas of leadership executive coaching, human resources operations strategy, leadership development, and performance management.

Prior to that, she served as the leadership talent attraction manager at Apple, Inc., held senior-level human resources positions at Target Stores, and served in leadership roles for the talent acquisition and training & development departments of Saks Fifth Avenue. Leslie holds a bachelor’s in psychology from Temple University in Philadelphia.

Neal C. Patel, MD
Vice President, Clinical Development

In addition to serving as vice president of clinical development at United Digestive, Dr. Neal C. Patel is also a partner and an executive committee member with Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates.

Dr. Patel graduated magna cum laude and was a Presidential Scholar with a degree in Banking and Finance at the University of Georgia. He then graduated cum laude from the Morehouse School of Medicine, where he received the prestigious Academic Achievement Merit Scholarship. Dr. Patel later completed his internal medicine residency and gastroenterology and hepatology fellowship with the Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Education. While there, he was named assistant professor of medicine. He currently holds academic appointments with both Emory University School of Medicine and Morehouse School of Medicine.

Dr. Patel has been invited to present at numerous national conferences, including Digestive Diseases Week, American College of Gastroenterology’s Annual Meeting, and the ASGE Presidential Plenary Session. In addition, he has been widely published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and has also co-authored several book chapters, including a chapter in the highly regarded Sleisenger and Fordtran’s Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease.

Paul Tuffy
Vice President, Corporate Development

With nearly 25 years in management, Paul Tuffy brings extensive marketing, business development, M&A, and physician recruitment experience in both the healthcare and biopharmaceutical fields to United Digestive.

Most recently, Paul held various executive roles at Advanced Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery where he directed acquisitions, operations, provider recruiting, and marketing. He oversaw 20 regional managers and 190 clinics across 15 states. Prior to that, he served as co-founder and managing partner for Ermis Labs, held senior-level marketing positions for Stiefel Laboratories, and served in leadership roles for the sales, marketing, finance, and operations departments at Amgen. Paul holds a bachelor’s in biological sciences from the University of Pittsburgh and an MBA from The Graziadio School of Business at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.

Board of Directors

A culture of collaboration and accountability starts at the top. Our board of directors is comprised of cross-functional business and clinical leaders who help guide our organization and ensure we continue to accomplish our goals.