About Us
Management Team
Lifeline Vascular Access is comprised of a highly qualified team of professionals who bring a wealth of experience and expertise to our organization.
Gerald A. Beathard, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President Provider Development
Gerald A. Beathard, M.D., Ph.D. joined Lifeline Vascular Access in 2000 as Vice President and Provider Development. He has been practicing medicine for over 40 years and is widely regarded as the pioneer of Interventional Nephrology.
As Vice President Provider Development, Dr. Beathard works with providers across the country to develop dedicated vascular access centers, drives the training and development programs for these centers and serves as a member of the Lifeline Vascular Access Medical Advisory Board.
Dr. Beathard received both his M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas and is board certified in Internal Medicine, Nephrology, Allery and Clinical Immunology and Pathology. His is also a founding member and the first president of the American Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology (ASDIN). He is a fellow of the American Society of Nephrology (ASN).
As Vice President Provider Development, Dr. Beathard works with providers across the country to develop dedicated vascular access centers, drives the training and development programs for these centers and serves as a member of the Lifeline Vascular Access Medical Advisory Board.
Dr. Beathard received both his M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas and is board certified in Internal Medicine, Nephrology, Allery and Clinical Immunology and Pathology. His is also a founding member and the first president of the American Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology (ASDIN). He is a fellow of the American Society of Nephrology (ASN).
Aris Q. Urbanes, M.D., Vice President Provider Relations
Aris Q. Urbanes, M.D. joined Lifeline Vascular Access in 2005 as Vice President Provider Relations. Prior to joining Lifeline Vascular Access, Dr. Urbanes served as Chief of the Section of Nephrology and Associate Program Director for Internal Medicine at Providence Hospital located in Southfield, Michigan.
Dr. Urbanes previously served as a partner with Michign Kidney Consultants in Oak Park, Michigan. He also served as Medical Director for both Michigan Kidney Access Center and DaVita Novi Dialysis Center. During his time with the Michigan Kidney Access Center, he performed over 3,000 procedures. He has lectured on Inteventional Nephrology and Vascular Access at national renal meetings including: the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), the American Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology (ASDIN) and the Renal Physicians Association (RPA).
Dr. Urbanes received his M.D. from the University of the Philippines, Manila. He completed his Nephrology fellowship at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Dr. Urbanes previously served as a partner with Michign Kidney Consultants in Oak Park, Michigan. He also served as Medical Director for both Michigan Kidney Access Center and DaVita Novi Dialysis Center. During his time with the Michigan Kidney Access Center, he performed over 3,000 procedures. He has lectured on Inteventional Nephrology and Vascular Access at national renal meetings including: the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), the American Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology (ASDIN) and the Renal Physicians Association (RPA).
Dr. Urbanes received his M.D. from the University of the Philippines, Manila. He completed his Nephrology fellowship at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Richard Nee, Vice President and General Manager
Richard Nee joined Lifeline Vascular Access in 1999 as Vice President and General Manager. Under his leadership, Lifeline Vascular Access has grown from two centers to more than 50 centers around the country. More than 250,000 patients have been treated at vascular access centers managed by Lifeline Vascular Access. Before joining Lifeline Vascular Access, Richard spent sixteen years in various financial and operational roles at Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Caremark International, Inc. and MedPartners, Inc.
Richard received his Bachelor of Science in accounting from Northern Illinois University and his Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Additionally, he is a Certified Public Accountant.
Glenn Davis, Vice President Business Development
Glenn Davis joined Lifeline Vascular Access in 2000 and currently oversees national business development. He has extensive knowledge of the vascular access business and is well versed in center creation and management.
Having been in the renal field since 1984, Glenn brings a wealth of industry and management experience to Lifeline Vascular Access. While with Baxter Healthcare Corporation, he advanced through the sales organization to be an Area Vice President responsible for the Western US. Glenn then joined Optimal Renal Care, an ESRD disease management company, where he was responsible for sales and marketing and later became COO. During Glenn's tenure, Optimal gained three full risk contracts with health plans and managed the care of some 500 ESRD patients in Oregon and Hawaii.
Having been in the renal field since 1984, Glenn brings a wealth of industry and management experience to Lifeline Vascular Access. While with Baxter Healthcare Corporation, he advanced through the sales organization to be an Area Vice President responsible for the Western US. Glenn then joined Optimal Renal Care, an ESRD disease management company, where he was responsible for sales and marketing and later became COO. During Glenn's tenure, Optimal gained three full risk contracts with health plans and managed the care of some 500 ESRD patients in Oregon and Hawaii.
Richard Turner, Vice President Field Teams and Customer Operations
Richard Turner has spent more than 30 years in the dialysis industry. He performed various roles at a physician-owned chain of centers leading up to a position as Vice President Operations, and then served as Director of New Business/Acquisitions at Medical Ambulatory Care. He has also held positions at the nonprofit Satellite Dialysis of Southern California and Nevada, on the marketing team at Baxter in Illinois, and served as Regional Vice President at Gambro, covering Northern California and Oregon. When Gambro was acquired by DaVita, Turner became Divisional Vice President of the Pacific Gold Division, handling Northern California, Northern Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Utah. Following this assignment, Turner worked on special projects for Dream Team/Lifeline Vascular Access before joining Lifeline Vascular Access full time in early 2011.
Terry Foust Litchfield, Vice President Clinical Operations
Terry Foust Litchfield joined Lifeline Vascular Access from the beginning and currently serves as Vice President of Clinical Operations. Terry has been active in the renal industry in a variety of capacities for over twenty years. She is active in outcomes research and disease management for renal disease and chronic kidney disease patients. She is also a dedicated patient advocate: her husband Bill recently celebrated 38-years of renal replacement therapy.
Previously, Terry was a member of the founding group for RMS Disease Management, a former affiliate of Baxter Healthcare. With her renal background spanning more than two decades, she has held many influential positions throughout her career. Terry served as Executive Director for the Kelsey-Seybold Foundation for Medical Research and Education, an outcomes research foundation affiliated with the MedPartners group.
Terry’s areas of expertise focus on renal care, vascular access program development, design and reporting as well as diabetes, high-risk obstetrics and the design and implementation of disease management programs with outcomes research for validation. Her role as Vice President Clinical Operations with Lifeline Vascular Access gives Terry a unique insight into the changes of the current healthcare environment related to renal disease treatment.
Larry Rohrer, Vice President Commercial Operations
Larry Rohrer joined Lifeline Vascular Access in 2006 and currently serves as Vice President Commercial Operations. Larry has an in-depth knowledge of the healthcare industry from provider, manufacturer, and distributor perspectives. Before joining Lifeline Vascular Access, Larry was Senior Vice President of Global Sales at AKSYS, LTD, a manufacturer of equipment for more frequent home hemodialysis.
Larry received his Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering from the University of Notre Dame and his Master of Science in mechanical engineering from Northwestern University. He also earned his MBA with concentration in marketing from Northern Illinois University.
Samuel Awuah, Vice President Marketing and Strategy
Samuel Awuah joined Lifeline Vascular Access in 2008 and currently serves as Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Planning. In this role Sam is responsible for driving horizontal and vertical company growth as well as directing the company’s external, internal and interactive marketing initiatives. Sam has several years of consulting industry experience and has served clients in several sectors including healthcare, insurance and telecommunications. His expertise is in business strategy development with a focus on growth strategies using business analytics and marketing as a transformational engine.
Sam holds an MBA from the Amos Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College and has a BS in Engineering from Swarthmore College.
Sam holds an MBA from the Amos Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College and has a BS in Engineering from Swarthmore College.
Thor Paulson, Group General Counsel
Thor Paulson provides legal guidance to Lifeline Vascular Access as well as regulatory and compliance support. In addition, he provides counsel on a variety of general and commercial matters with an emphasis on healthcare law, business development, sales and marketing, licensing, real estate and other commercial transactions and agreements.
Most recently, Thor served as Senior Counsel for Baxter Healthcare Corporation where he was primary legal support for Baxter’s contract manufacturing business. Prior to that, he was Senior Legal Counsel for Caremark RX, Inc. and also worked at First Health Group Corp., United HealthCareand Latham & Watkins.
He received his JD from Northwestern University School of Law and earned a BA degree in History from Carleton College.
Most recently, Thor served as Senior Counsel for Baxter Healthcare Corporation where he was primary legal support for Baxter’s contract manufacturing business. Prior to that, he was Senior Legal Counsel for Caremark RX, Inc. and also worked at First Health Group Corp., United HealthCareand Latham & Watkins.
He received his JD from Northwestern University School of Law and earned a BA degree in History from Carleton College.
