United Digestive (UD) has announced Dr. Neal C. Patel as its new chief executive officer (CEO), effective April 1. He succeeds Mark Gilreath, who has led the organization since 2018.
Under Gilreath’s leadership, United Digestive expanded its operations dramatically. Reflecting on his tenure, Gilreath expressed tremendous pride in the organization’s growth and development over the years:
“I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together from the early beginnings of one practice in 2018 to a formidable national platform across multiple states. I am also proud that we implemented a healthy CEO succession process, and it’s now very exciting for me to pass the baton to Dr. Neal Patel. Dr. Patel is a gifted leader. His strategic vision, operational acumen, and commitment to our company’s patient-focused mission make him the ideal leader to carry UD into the future.”
Dr. Patel previously served as United Digestive’s president and chief strategy officer. He expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to assume the CEO position, stating, “I am deeply honored to lead our organization into its next chapter of growth. Mark’s mentorship and vision have set a strong foundation, and I am committed to building upon it to drive innovation and excellence. This transition strengthens our dyad collaboration between physicians and administrators to deliver superior patient care.”
The transition in leadership was also met with enthusiasm from Evan Wildstein, a partner at Kohlberg & Company, a key stakeholder in United Digestive. Wildstein praised Dr. Patel’s understanding of the challenges faced by physicians and his proven leadership abilities, commenting that “Dr. Patel’s appointment as CEO marks an exciting new chapter for UD. Given his deep understanding of the issues that physicians are faced with and proven leadership, we are confident that he will accelerate the company’s growth plans and further solidify UD’s position as a leader in gastrointestinal healthcare.”
With Dr. Patel’s appointment, the company is poised to continue its history of innovation, success, and advancing gastrointestinal healthcare.
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