Prior to founding Acucare Health Strategies in 1994, Mr. Chaalan served as Chief Executive Officer of several health care organizations and medical practices, managing budgets in excess of $300 million.

With over 20 years of senior level executive management in medical practices, home health and hospice, and as a Certified Compliance Professional, Mr. Chaalan is adept at strategically positioning companies to gain market share and competitive advantage while remaining compliant with regulations.

With a proven record of leadership, financial savvy, and business development, he is instrumental in process redesign, strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, integrating operations and reducing costs, managed care contracting, and regulatory compliance.

Mr. Chaalan has served on several Boards and co-chaired the telemedicine committee at Georgetown University Medical Center. He is the recipient of the Senior Care Action Network Foundation (SCAN) award for three consecutive years. Contact Us

Sandra Marshall Cerkez

Manager, Business Development

East Region

Ms. Cerkez joined Acucare Health Strategies in 2008 with an extensive background in business development, market analysis, and marketing plan development in service and product based organizations.

Ms. Cerkez served as a Director for two start-up trade associations, one being the prestigious Turnaround Management Association representing Turnaround and Crisis Managers, Bankers, Lenders and Attorneys. In her past roles she exceeded expectations in chapter development, educational program development and in membership retention. She also brings the experience of Public Relations Director for the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce. Contact Us

Wyspher Wilkes
Reimbursement Manager
Ms. Wilkes experience began as an office manager in home care agencies, pursued an education in nursing and returned to manage home care organizations. she gained significant experience during her past tenure as a marketing representative for Wheatland Health Services, a Kansas home care agency. In 2006, she joned Acucare as a Reimbursement Analyst and a PPS billing expert.

Ms. Wilkes assists clients with PPS billing issues, outsourced billing services and troubleshooting Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance claims. Contact Us

W. Joseph Brown
Manager, Business Development
West Region

Mr. Brown brings a compassionate heart and an extensive knowledge of the healthcare industry to Acucare's team. He served on Capitol Hill as the Vice President of Political Affairs for the Health Savings Account Coalition and the Executive Director for J. Patrick Rooney's Fairness Foundation. Most recently he was the Director of Public Relations for the National Association for Homecare and Hospice.

In 1996 he earned his Master of Arts Degree in Philosophy, and in 1999 he earned his Masters of Divinity in Theology from Saint Meinrad School of Theology. Contact Us

Michelle McKenzie, RHIT, CPC, CCS-P, HCS-D
Coding Analyst
Ms. McKenzie is a Certified Professional Coder and a Certified Coding Specialist. She is a skillful home care coder, and a previous medical records director for several home care agencies.  

Prior to joining Acucare, Ms. McKenzie served as a coder for home care providers, physicians, emergency rooms, and surgery centers. She is also an educator to nurses and field staff regarding coding guidelines. Contact Us