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.
Gary Golliher, MBA
CEO
Gary joins us from the Hutchinson Clinic in Kansas where he served since 2015 as the CFO of a large physician-owned, multispecialty group practice with nearly 100 providers. There he led a 96-person team, overseeing ACO strategy, accounting, revenue cycle, contracting, IT, physician compensation, clinical quality, purchasing, decision support, and compliance.
Prior to his tenure at Hutchinson, Gary worked from 2008-2015 as Director of Healthcare Finance for Kelsey-Seybold Clinic and KelseyCare Advantage in Houston, Texas which was also a physician-owned, multispecialty group practice with 400 providers in 18 locations.
Gary graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA in 1992. He received his Master of Business Administration degree from University of Washington in Seattle, WA in 1996.
Lori Vinci
Chief Operating Officer
Lori began her career at Connecticut Multispecialty Group in 2002 as a Practice Manager of the Hematology/Oncology division. Lori’s dedication advanced her progressively through more responsible positions as Senior Practice Manager, and Director of Clinical Operations through the merger between CMG and Grove Hill, now Starling Physicians. In her role as Director of Clinical Operations, Lori has been managing multiple locations and departments, becoming more involved in the overall leadership and expansion of our clinic. Lori brings a wealth of operational expertise to our Management Team.
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.
Scott Walker, MD
Chair of Primary Care
Michael R. Deshaies, DO
Medical Director
Dr. Michael Deshaies is a long time member of Starling Physicians. He is a primary care provider in Glastonbury. He attended the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Maine and did his internship and residency training in Internal Medicine at the University of Connecticut.
In November of 2020, he assumed the role of Medical Director. In this role, he partners with administration and providers to develop and implement improvements in clinical care and provide oversight, medical expertise, and leadership to ensure excellence and best outcomes. Other key responsibilities including chairing the Compliance Committee, working with our Electronic Health Records and IT team, assisting HR with disciplinary issues, and working with insurers on shared savings programs and quality of care. The role also is responsible for developing initiatives to understand and improve patient experience and patient satisfaction with care at Starling as well as physician satisfaction in the Starling work environment.
