Susanne Madden is founder and CEO of The Verden Group, a consulting firm founded to help practices navigate through the increasingly complex business of healthcare. 
Her career has spanned across several sections of the healthcare industry. Prior to founding Verden, she was employed by UnitedHealthcare in the area of physician network management and spent several years as an independent healthcare consultant specializing in business development, revenue cycle remediation, vendor management and process improvement.

Formerly a practice administrator and billing manager, she understands the many different challenges facing practices today. With an MBA in both Management Systems and Information & Communication Systems, she has applied her formal learning to understanding the principles of knowledge management and how information can be transformed into comprehension at all levels with the right facilitation. The Verden Group is the culmination of that knowledge, which seeks to inform, transform and reform the business of healthcare today.
Susanne writes frequently and speaks regularly on the business aspects of healthcare and is frequently quoted in industry and media publications.
Susanne can be reached at madden@theverdengroup.com

As an attorney with over twelve years of experience, Mr. Lopata has done substantial trial work and has participated in hundreds of mediation and arbitration hearings. Jason served not only as an advocate, but also as a court-appointed mediator in the Cook County (Illinois) Mediation Program. Jason’s legal practice included defending first and third party actions involving commercial liability, employer liability, professional negligence, construction claims, and both product and premises liability. Jason has negotiated settlements on behalf of clients, ranging from individuals to small and mid-size companies, and has counseled businesses on state and federal regulatory compliance. As a part of a large Chicago law firm, Jason was also involved in analyzing policy and coverage matters for a leading insurance carrier. He received his Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law, with honors, in 1997. Jason also received a Certificate in Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution, taking part in a clinical program specializing in trial advocacy and conflict resolution. While in law school, he was recognized for excellence with an Award for Trial Advocacy and served as a judicial extern for Federal Court Judge Ruben Castillo of the Northern District of Illinois. Jason received his Bachelor of Science from the School of Management at Binghamton University in 1994, with a concentration in Business Finance. Jason can be reached at jason@theverdengroup.com

Tiffany brings more than twelve years experience in the healthcare field to The Verden Group, with a focus on clinical research coordination, pediatric nursing, and clinical practice familiarity. Most recently, Tiffany provided management services to a highly successful multi-site clinical research facility; engineering the marketing of the practice to procure high-budget contracts and repeat business and the facilitating of regulatory compliance across all sites. She remains an active member of an Institutional Biosafety Committee charged with the review of gene studies and genetic transfer trials to evaluate any potential environmental risk. With a versatile background that includes client education, resource management, and customer service, Tiffany brings to The Verden Group a strong foundation of experience across the healthcare spectrum. In the role of Client Services Manager, Tiffany’s outstanding interpersonal and clinical skills combine to create an in-depth understanding of clients’ needs, allowing her to bring unique insight and depth to client relationships. Tiffany can be reached at tiffany@theverdengroup.com.

With a background in hematology and microbiology, Patsy is our primary policy researcher, reviewing hundreds of changes monthly and determining which policies are applicable to which specialties. Formerly a Med Lab Technologist, she has a comprehensive medical background working in hospitals and research departments including the areas of cancer research and immunology. She has lived in Ireland and Canada, working there as Food Technologist for the Canadian Federal government and returning to Ireland to work in Biochemistry in a teaching college in Dublin. These days, her focus is more on Energy Medicine, PsychoNeuroImmunology, and a particular interest in the science of longevity With her considerable exposure to clinical operations, her ability to research and analyze managed care policy information is a valuable asset to the Verden Group and our subscribers.Patsy can be reached at patsy@theverdengroup.com.

Ahmed is responsible for supporting all aspects of Verden’s operations necessary for the success, growth and development of the company. In this capacity, he is our client services lead and the liaison for all concierge-level accounts. With a primary role in sales and marketing activities, he supports the team in delivering innovative services and education to subscribers and clients. Responsible for designing and updating our content libraries, Ahmed is also a primary resource for research and analysis of industry data and managed care insurance companies. He also supports initiatives and shares creative feedback for product, service, and operational improvements. A great asset to the company, Ahmed brings with him diverse experience - from working on various projects for the customer service and operations department at Crescent Commercial Bank, to managing Business Process Outsourcing projects for The Resource Group. In addition to his responsibilities with The Verden Group, Ahmed is also working as a consultant and lecturer with the Fashion Merchandising Department at the Iqra University, where he has developed and lectured various merchandising and management courses. Ahmed can be reached at ahmed@theverdengroup.com

Scott is charged with bringing fresh ideas to the Verden mission, keeping our message on track and up to date, and ensuring it’s delivered to the right audience as effectively as possible. He has a finely tuned, problem-solving approach to marketing communications that achieves effective audience-focused solutions. And his ability to synthesize straightforward communications with the complexities inherent in this industry, coupled with strong and innovative design, has greatly enhanced Verden's visibility in this marketplace.

Scott has been working in the marketing, identity and design field for more than 15 years since receiving his Bachelor’s of Communications Design Degree from NSCAD University. In addition to his role with The Verden Group, Scott has created fully integrated identity and marketing materials for both private and institutional clients in the US, Canada and abroad. These include public sector organizations such as San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, US Bureau of Reclamation and the Province of Nova Scotia. Private clients range from Acadian Gold Corporation, IWK Regional Poison Centre to petroleum services provider TDA in Qatar. Scott can be reached at scott@theverdengroup.com.

Chip's expertise includes almost 20 years with a focus on practice management, financial analysis, and clinical improvement. He is best known for his extensive knowledge of primary care practice management and is recognized through articles published in Pediatric Coding Alert and the Medical Group Management Association's Connexion Magazine and his work with the AAP's Section on Administration and Practice Management (SOAPM). Additionally, Chip regularly speaks at chapter and regional meetings of the American Academy of Pediatrics and other pediatric group gatherings. With a solid background in consulting, marketing, business development, and customer service, Chip brings a wealth of knowledge to the Verden Group.

Chip can be reached at chip@theverdengroup.com.

As project manager for the group, Joe's responsibilities range from coordinating field logistics and managing contracts, to keeping clients informed and project details current, as well as maintaining internal communications.

With a background in construction, Joe has many years experience coordinating teams, materials and seeing projects through to completion down to the last nail. With an interest in art and music, he is also in charge of Verden's aesthetics and website. Joe can be reached at joe@theverdengroup.com.

Yossi brings both experience and education to the table, having earned an MBA with honors in Healthcare Administration and 14 years experience in the healthcare industry. Yossi owns and manages Faber Healthcare Solutions, a consultancy in New Jersey, he owns Clean Bill of Health, a third party billing company, he is a member of Gerson Lehrman Group Councils, which are industry- and discipline-focused networks of professionals from around the world, and is a member of the Round Table Group Expert Network, an organization of world-class industry experts who provide research, consultation, and expert witness testimony services. He is an invited lecturer at major academic medical centers, including the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, the New York University School of Medicine, Hackensack University Medical Center and the Albert Einstein School of Medicine.

Yossi serves as a special projects consultant for The Verden Group. With career experience working with major academic medical centers, not-for-profit organizations and private medical practices, Yossi has worked in operating rooms, in research facilities, on ambulances, and in private practice management, with line employees, mid-level managers, physicians and directors. He is an active member of both the Medical Group Management Association and the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Yossi can be reached at yossi@theverdengroup.com

With more than 30 years of experience in the health care industry, Robert E. Goff is a recognized expert in care delivery, organization and financing. His career has spanned a wide range of leadership positions as a hospital administrator, regulator, managed care executive, consultant and association executive. He has been an adjunct professor, at the New School University, instructing in Managed Care and Healthcare Strategic Planning and is a frequent lecturer to physicians and community organizations.

As an entrepreneur he has been responsible for the development of numerous health care businesses, including one of the first for-profit HMOs in New York State, the first network model Medicaid managed care plan in New York, one of the earliest physician practice management companies, a chain of urgent care centers, as well as a variety of provider based health care business initiatives.

Mr. Goff currently serves as CEO of University Physicians Network, LLC (UPN) in New York City, an organization of physicians engaged in supporting the private practice of medicine and its relationship with managed care companies. Additionally, Mr. Goff holds advisory roles with a number of emerging healthcare companies, and is active in consultative roles including the position he holds at the Verden Group. He can be reached at goff@theverdengroup.com >

Oisin (Ush-een) is an extraordinarily cuddly Shih Tzu and mascot for the Verden Group!

Heidi Hallett has been working with words for over two decades. With over 14 years of experience in Marketing and Communications, ranging from newspaper publishing to writing business plans and advertising copy, Heidi is passionate about words and business communications. Combining a strong grasp of both written and verbal communications with a flair for helping clients  deliver their messages more effectively, Heidi's motto is "words that work".

Hallett was the recent owner of Frog Hollow Books and a past co-owner of  The Coast, Halifax's Weekly. A student of life and a graduate of St. Mary's University, with a B.A. in English Literature, Heidi brings a unique perspective and a wealth of enthusiasm to everything she does.  Heidi is the creative writer for wordbird, a communications company in Halifax, NS and the Communications Director for The Verden Group in NY. She can be reached at heidi@theverdengroup.com .