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Our Leadership Team


The leadership team of Starling Physicians is comprised of exceptional individuals who set the strategic direction, oversee quality, efficiency, and profitability, and work closely with the Board of Directors.

Dr. Sarit Patel

Chairman of the Board

Dr. Sarit M. Patel went to medical school at the Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He then completed an ophthalmology residency in New York at the NYU/ Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital residency program. Afterward, Dr. Patel completed two fellowships: the first in ophthalmic pathology at the University of Wisconsin, and the second in oculoplastic surgery at West Virginia University.

Dr. Patel is a board-certified ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgeon. This means he is an ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) who has completed additional training in plastic and reconstructive surgery as it relates to the eyes and their surrounding structures. Since such surgery can affect one’s ability to see, ophthalmic plastic surgeons are uniquely qualified to perform this delicate surgery and to provide any care that the eye itself may need. He is a fellow of the prestigious and rigorous American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS), which indicates that he has a special interest and training in this subspecialty. There are fewer than 500 fellows nationwide.

Dr. Patel has published over a dozen peer-reviewed papers in the ophthalmology literature. He has been a speaker at a number of local, regional and national meetings. For the past 3 years, he has taught oculoplastic surgery techniques at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meetings. He enjoys playing tennis and spending time with his family. He lives in Farmington.

Michael S. Nappi, Jr., M.Ed., MBA

Chief Operating Officer

Michael S. Nappi, Jr. is an experienced executive healthcare leader with 12 years of experience as COO and Vice President of private equity-owned organizations and large non-profit hospital healthcare systems. Michael boasts an extensive background in process improvement, multi-state & site leadership and M&A, successfully overseeing a dozen transactions totaling over $100 million.

Throughout his career, Michael consistently demonstrated exceptional business acumen and a deep understanding of industry specific market dynamics. His insights into emerging trends and opportunities have contributed to the growth and success of numerous organizations and allowed him to create scale to support organization growth while improving client satisfaction and reducing turnover and expenses.  A dynamic leader that thrives in fast-paced business environments, Michael provided direct leadership to organizations of approximately $100M while exceeding 6000 patients, with over 1000 team members across multiple states.

His collegiate background includes an MBA from the University of Hartford, an MS in Education from the University of Bridgeport, and a BA in English from Post University.

Additionally, Michael serves on two Private Equity Boards of Directors in the capacity of industry expert.

Arun Agarwal, MD, FACC

Chief of Medical Subspeciality

Elizabeth Martin, MD, CCLC, FAAP

Chief of Women & Children

Christopher J. Russo, MD

Chief of Surgery

Scott Walker, MD

Chief of Medicine

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