2026 - 2027 Board of Directors

Terry Rosenthal, MBA, ATC
President

Practice Name: The Orthopaedic Clinic, P.C.
Location: Opelika, AL
Group Size: 5 Surgeons, 4 PAs, 5 Other Providers
Undergraduate Degree: BS in Physical Education, Cal-State Fullerton
Graduate Degree: MBA, Troy University
Graduate Degree: M.Ed, Health Promotion, Auburn University

Terry has been at the Orthopaedic Clinic for 29 years, the past 16 as CEO.  Prior to his current role, he served 13 years as the Director of Sports Medicine and Clinical Coordinator.  A strong believer in analytics and benchmarking, he feels this is a way to truly investigate how your clinic is performing compared to your peers and where it can improve. 

As a Certified Athletic Trainer, he served in various capacities with the Los Angeles Rams, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, NFL Europe, ESPN Survival of the Fittest, and The American Gladiators prior to joining TOC.

Terry has served on the AAOE Benchmarking Council since 2017, including two years as the chair, and is in his 4th year on the Board of Directors. In addition, Terry is very active in AAOE’s advocacy initiatives. Terry is a past president of Alabama Bones and MGMA of East Alabama.  Terry believes that AAOE is a tremendous asset to its membership and provides access to networking, data and information that can benefit all and that it is a unique organization that a lot of other specialties do not have.  In his free time, Terry is an avid golfer and enjoys spending time with his wife, Susan, and their two children, a son, Taylor, and a daughter, Marissa.

Paul Bruning, DHA
President Elect

Organization: Duke University
Location: Durham, North Carolina
Group Size: 100 Physicians, 75 Surgeons, 85 Providers
Undergraduate degree: BA, Gustavus Adolphus College
Graduate degree: MA, Minnesota State - Mankato
Doctoral degree: DHA, University of Phoenix

Dr. Bruning is the Division Administrative Director for Sports Medicine, Hand, and the Sports Sciences Institute, Department of Orthopedics, Duke University School of Medicine. He has been within the orthopedic field for over 35 years. Dr. Bruning has served on the Board of Directors for the AAOE, ATPPS, BONES of Florida, and been the Advocacy Council Chair for AAOE.

Andrea Nelson, MBA, LAT
Past President 

Practice Name: Heartland Orthopedic Specialists - A Service of Alomere Health
Location: Alexandria, Minnesota
Group Size: 6 Orthopedic Surgeons, 1 Neurosurgeon, 1 Podiatrist, 1 PM&R, 1 Sports Med Family Physician, 10 Mid-Levels
Undergraduate Degree: BA, Athletic Training, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN
Graduate Degree: MBA, Health Care, University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis, MN

Andrea Nelson is the Director Orthopedic Care Services for Heartland Orthopedic Specialists – A Service of Alomere Health, located in west-central Minnesota. She has been with the group for 20years. She oversees the operations of all clinic sites, orthopedic physical therapy, and sports medicine program that provides care to over 12 area high schools, 2 area colleges, and area youth sports associations.

Andrea started her career with the group as an Athletic Trainer working with area high schools in addition to clinical roles of casting/brace fittings, post-op visits, DME management, and physician extender before transitioning into her current leadership role. Andrea is an avid golfer and enjoys outdoor activities, lake time, sports, and time with family and friends.

Ross Rigdon
Treasurer

Practice Name: Raleigh Orthopaedic Clinic
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Group Size: 28 Surgeons, One Non-Operative Podiatrist, 27 Advance Practice Providers
Undergraduate degree: Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, University of North Carolina, Wilmington, NC
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-Basic), Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington, NC

Ross Rigdon is the Chief Operations Officer at Raleigh Orthopaedic Clinic, overseeing operations across six clinic locations, 11 physical therapy sites, and two ambulatory surgery centers. His journey in healthcare began as a medical scribe, and through dedication and continuous learning, he steadily advanced to leadership roles in orthopaedic administration. Ross applies his diverse experience to optimize operational efficiency, enhance patient care, and ensure regulatory compliance, with a particular interest in healthcare technology integration. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time at the beach, hiking with his two dogs, and attending live music events.

Alissa Ashley-High, MHA, CMPE, BS, LPN

Practice Name: Orthopaedic Associates of Marlborough, PC
Location: Marlborough, MA
Group Size: 4 Physicians, 3 Surgeons, 1 Physician Assistant
Undergraduate Degree: BS Biochemistry, Roanoke College, Salem, VA
Graduate Degree: LPN, Medical Careers Institute, Richmond, VA
Graduate Degree: MHA, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Worcester, MA

Alissa Ashley-High, LPN, MHA, is the Practice Administrator at Orthopaedic Associates of Marlborough, where she has served for over nine years. In her role within a small but dynamic practice, she is deeply engaged in all facets of operations—from frontline clinical and administrative workflows to overseeing revenue cycle performance behind the scenes. Her hands-on leadership style reflects a comprehensive understanding of the patient and staff experience alike.

A dedicated member of the American Alliance of Orthopaedic Executives (AAOE) since 2017, Alissa has actively contributed to the organization through service on multiple councils, including Young and New Professionals, Membership, Advocacy, Education, and the Annual Conference. In her current role, she brings a strong commitment to member engagement and advocacy, including participating in AAOE’s Capitol Hill Day in Washington, D.C., where she has represented the interests of orthopaedic practices at the national level.

Alissa has been a presenter at industry conferences, sharing insights on topics such as work-life balance, women in medical practice management, maximizing the value of AAOE membership, volunteering, and effective negotiation strategies.

Outside of her professional work, Alissa enjoys spending time with her family. She is married to an emergency medicine physician and is a proud mother of two school-aged daughters. She is actively involved in her children’s PTO and their sports teams. In her free time, Alissa enjoys traveling—especially cruising and visiting the beaches of Cape Cod and Virginia Beach—and embraces winter with family ski trips and snowy adventures.

Joseph Mathews, PT, DPT

Practice Name:  Advanced Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, a Division of OrthoLonestar
Location: Houston, TX
Group Size: 15 Orthopedic Surgeons, 3 Pain Management physicians, 1 PM&R, 1 Sports Med Family Physician, 1 Rheumatologist, 9 Mid-Levels, 27 Therapy providers
Undergraduate Degree: BA in Science of Physical Therapy, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
Graduate Degree: Master in Science of Physical Therapy, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Texas
Doctoral Degree: Physical Therapy, University of St. Augustine, Florida

Joseph is the Chief Executive Officer at Advanced Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Northwest Houston. His curious nature always questions the status quo and looks for ways to improve existing processes through automation and building efficiencies through cost-effective technology. While his education is primarily clinical (physical therapy); he believes in a data-informed culture at work and relies heavily on metrics developed to benchmark his practice internally and to national data when available.

Joseph has been an active member of the Advocacy Council at the American Alliance of Orthopaedics since 2011 and has also served on the Advocacy Council at OrthoForum. He currently serves as Vice President of the Texas Orthopaedic Administrators Society (T-Bones) and takes great pride in building bridges within the orthopaedic community to strengthen patient advocacy.

Megan O'Hara
 
Practice Name:  Robert V Moriarty MD PC
Location: Huntington, NY
Group Size: 10 Physicians; 1 Surgeon

Megan is the Practice Manager for Robert V Moriarty MD PC in Huntington, NY, where she successfully manages a private solo orthopedic practice in conjunction with a separate IME business. She has served 22 years as an administrator in the healthcare environment.

Megan started her career in an entry level position, and has a unique perspective of all aspects of the day to day operations of a medical group practice with an emphasis in orthopedics. Her experience ranges from front office reception to all facets of billing including insurance contract negotiation, durable medical equipment, physical therapy, and practice management.

Brittany Powers

Practice Name: Orthopaedic Center of the Virginias
Location: Princeton, WV
Group Size: 3 Surgeons, 3 Mid-levels
Undergraduate Degree: BA, History and Education, Concord University

Brittany is the Practice Manager for the Orthopaedic Center of the Virginias. She has been with the practice for over 25 years and managing for the past 10 years. She manages day to day operations, the physicians’ personal and professional lives and all other aspects of the practice.

Brittany has lived the ‘American Dream’ at her practice. She started her career with the Orthopaedic Center at 17 years of age in an entry level position. From there, she started to move upward, attending college and obtaining her degree. As Brittany’s career path emerged, she has taken every opportunity to grow in her professional development, leading the way to her becoming the practice manager.  

She joined AAOE in 2016 and immediately sought out volunteer opportunities, becoming a member of the Membership Council in 2017. Her passion to enhance the member experience led her to chair this Council for the past 2 years and then seek a seat on the AAOE Board of Directors. Brittany is a strong advocate for AAOE, having traveled to Washington, DC twice to lobby on Capitol Hill with her fellow members. 

Brittany enjoys spending time with her husband, Adam, and her three children, Tanner, Madison, and Paislee. In her free time, she loves to cook, read, and travel.

Lisa Warren, CPAR, CPC

Practice Name: Andrews Sports Medicine
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Group Size:14 surgeons, 10 non-operative sports medicine, 1 PMNR, 6 Surgical Fellows, 4 Non-surgical fellows, 10 PAs, 5 OTs-Hand
Undergraduate Degree: BBA, Economics, James Madison University
Graduate Degree: MBA/MSHA, University of Alabama Birmingham


Lisa Warren has been the Chief Executive Officer of Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, AL and AAOE since 2011. She is the president of the Alabama Chapter of Orthopedic Excecutives. Lisa served as a physician practice management consultant with Warren, Averett for 10 years. Other work experiences include management of Brookwood Hospital’s primary care physician network and MedPartners, a physician practice management company. She has been a Member of the Board of Trustees for the Healthcare Worker’s Compensation Fund since 2014.

Samantha L. Ziolkowski, MS-HSA

Practice Name: Vero Orthopaedics
Location: Vero Beach, Florida
Group Size: 11 Surgeons, 5 Physicians
Undergraduate Degree: BS Athletic Training, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida
Graduate Degree: MS, Health Services Administration, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

Samantha currently serves as the Chief Finance and Strategy Officer at Vero Orthopaedics. She has 16 years of orthopedic experience and previously served as the Chief Financial Officer at Orlando Orthopaedic Center. She has experience overseeing marketing, business development, accounts receivable and payable, and multiple ancillary services (DME, pharmacy, and physician expert testimony services).


Samantha was the chair of the AAOE Young and New Professionals Council from 2021 through 2025 and is also a member of the Benchmarking Council. In her free time, she enjoys being active, spending time outside, and spending time with her husband.

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