DENVER – August 13, 2020 – Gastro Care Partners (“GCP”), the largest provider of gastroenterology services and ancillary patient treatment services in Colorado, today announced a new executive leadership team, which includes: Jeff Rinkov as Chief Executive Officer, Eric Hayes as Chief Financial Officer, Andy Hewlett as Chief Development Officer and Julie Meurer as Vice President of Operations and Integration.

GCP is the parent company of Peak Gastroenterology Associates (“Peak”), which completed a growth equity partnership with Varsity Healthcare Partners (“VHP”) in December 2019. VHP is a middle market private equity investment firm focused on building leading healthcare services companies.

“We have assembled a strong management team with significant experience in building and scaling physician practices and delivering a unified, high standard of care to patients with complex medical needs,” said Mr. Rinkov, CEO of GCP. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with VHP and executing a transformational strategy, which leverages Peak’s unique model and maintains a patient-centric approach.”

Dr. Buck Patel, Chief Research Officer of GCP and founder of Peak, commented, “We have been pleased to integrate with GCP and become part of a large and growing platform focused on GI services. Since Mr. Rinkov joined GCP, we have made significant progress in executing our business strategy and enhancing operating efficiencies so that we are able to spend more time developing innovative new treatments for patients.”

Jeff Rinkov, CEO, brings 20 years of leadership and management experience across healthcare and retail industries to GCP. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of EyeCare Partners, the largest vertically integrated medical vision services provider in the US. Prior to EyeCare Partners, Mr. Rinkov served as president of Rinkov Eyecare Centers, where he developed and led the practice’s long-term strategic growth initiatives. He received a JD from The University of Chicago and a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Eric Hayes, CFO, is a proven financial executive with more than 15 years of experience in healthcare and private equity. He joined GCP in February 2020. Previously, he served as CFO of Urology Associates of Denver. Mr. Hayes has also spent time at several financial sponsors, including Backline Partners, KRG Capital Partners and Norwest Mezzanine Partners. He received a BA from St. John’s University.

Andy Hewlett, Chief Development Officer, has extensive experience in strategy, growth and M&A across the healthcare spectrum. Prior to GCP, he led growth initiatives as Vice President of Business Development with American Vision Partners, one of the largest and fastest growing eye care practice management organizations in the nation. At American Vision Partners, he led the firm’s efforts to identify, integrate and source new independent ophthalmology practices across the US. Prior experience includes advising healthcare services clients as a Vice President at Harris Williams & Co. Mr. Hewlett received an MBA from The University of Chicago and a BS from the University of Virginia.

Julie Meurer, Vice President of Operations and Integration, brings 15 years of experience and specializes in developing and implementing operational strategies and supporting systems. She joined GCP from Panorama Orthopedics & Spine Center, where she planned, directed and monitored day-to-day operations of facilities and helped ensure a high-quality, cost-effective care was delivered to patients. Ms. Meurer received a BIS from Weber State University.

The executive leadership team will accelerate GCP’s clinical footprint growth throughout Colorado and other selected states, and will focus on partnering with hospital systems to enhance gastroenterology capabilities in communities with underserved patient demand.

About Gastro Care Partners

Based in Denver, Colorado, Gastro Care Partners is the largest provider of gastroenterology services and ancillary patient treatment services in Colorado. GCP’s highly experienced clinical workforce administers a broad spectrum of advanced gastroenterology and digestive services across a network of outpatient locations and ambulatory and hospital-based endoscopy centers. For more information, visit www.gastrocarepartners.com.

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