Pelto Health Partners launched three years ago with a mission to preserve physician independence in an increasingly consolidated healthcare environment, and a part of that mission involved a board made up entirely of physicians.
Three years ago, Pelto Health Partners emerged with a bold mission: to protect and advance physician independence in a healthcare landscape increasingly dominated by consolidation and administrative oversight.
Central to this mission is a unique governance structure, a board comprised entirely of physicians.
Frank Aluisio, MD, a physician at EmergeOrtho and the current chair of Pelto’s board, recently joined Becker’s to discuss why having physicians at the helm isn’t just symbolic, it’s essential.
Editor’s note: This interview was edited lightly for clarity and length.
Question: Could you speak on the importance of having physicians in leadership roles, especially in a system that often resists that?
Dr. Frank Aluisio: It’s absolutely crucial. We’re the ones in the trenches. We understand the patient experience and know what they need. We can best represent their interests. It also provides legitimacy — if you want buy-in from physicians, you need someone who walks in their shoes.
Physicians might listen to what admin says, but it doesn’t carry the same weight. When it’s a peer speaking, especially on tough or controversial subjects, it makes a difference.
In hospitals, administrators often aim to build their résumés and move up to the next role. Physicians, on the other hand, are focused on patient care and making our practices succeed. We’re not using leadership as a stepping stone — we’re using it to make our lives, and those of our partners, better. That brings more loyalty and buy-in because we’re not looking to leave.
When we formed EmergeOrtho, we knew we needed a CEO with a business background, but we also needed a physician leader to get buy-in from our partners. That’s been a key to our success.
Pelto’s board is made entirely of physicians, but our senior admin teams play a huge role. They have weekly operational meetings and are deeply involved in subcommittees and initiatives.
One of the biggest initiatives came from our administrators — creating a unified brokerage and employee benefits package that all joining groups can opt into. It’s resulted in major cost savings for those who’ve participated.
