Leadership
Business Team
James Grant, MD
Chief Executive Officer
James Grant, MD
Chief Executive OfficerJames Grant is the CEO of Align ENT+Allergy. James has spent the last 20 years of his career working with physicians to build and improve healthcare businesses. He has extensive experience in building high-performing teams and is an expert in healthcare strategy, operations, corporate development, and post-merger integration.
Prior to Align, James served as the CEO of Pinnacle GI Partners, Division President of Ophthalmology at EyeCare Partners, and led the US Healthcare Value Creation team at Partners Group, a global private equity firm.
Earlier in his career, James served as a Regional VP for Surgical Care Affiliates (SCA), an ASC management company, until its acquisition by Optum. He was also a Principal/Partner at The Boston Consulting Group where he focused on Strategy, M&A, and post-merger integration for national and global healthcare services, medical device, and pharmaceutical manufacturers.
James received his MD, MBA, and BSE in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University where he was a Fulbright Scholar. He is originally from Fayetteville, NC and has lived in Hamburg, Germany, Zurich, Switzerland, Ames, IA, Durham, NC, Minneapolis, MN, and Birmingham, MI. James and his wife have 3 children and enjoy hiking, mountain biking, swimming, tennis and making maple syrup each spring in Minnesota.
Chris Maher
Chief Development Officer
Chris Maher
Chief Development OfficerChris brings over 20 years of experience in business development and investment banking experience to Align. Prior to joining Align, Chris was the Chief Development Officer at OMS360, a leading oral surgery platform based in Atlanta, Georgia and backed by Shore Capital.
Before joining OMS360, Chris spent seven years at DaVita Dialysis focused on mergers and acquisitions of dialysis clinics. Earlier in his career, Chris spent 10+ years in investment banking at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey (now Truist Securities) advising clients in the retail and consumer sectors.
Chris has a BS from the University of Rochester and an MBA from Emory University. He is originally from Massachusetts and now resides in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife and two teenage boys. Chris enjoys spending time with family, watching his children play sports, running, hiking and travel.
Nicholas Roberts, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Nicholas Roberts, CPA
Chief Financial OfficerNick has an extensive background in both public and private industry accounting. In the public space, he was an auditor for seven years with PricewaterhouseCoopers and served various flagship clients in the Philadelphia area.
Before joining Align in April of 2023, Nick was the Chief Financial Officer at Collage Rehabilitation Partners, a premier network of brain injury rehabilitation providers. During his tenure at Collage, Nick was extensively involved in M&A, assisting with the growth and expansion from four States to Eleven States, in addition to supporting the financial operations of the company.
Throughout his career, Nick has focused on leveraging technology efficiently and building, or revamping, financial processes which are streamlined and scalable. He holds a Bachelor of Science, Accounting degree from Penn State and is a licensed CPA in Pennsylvania.
Nick enjoys spending time with his wife and two children in various capacities, notably hiking, playing video games, and building Legos.
Diana Shupp
VP of Operations and Integration
Diana Shupp
VP of Operations and IntegrationWith 16 years of experience as a licensed nurse, Diana brings a wealth of expertise to the healthcare field. She earned her BS in Business Administration and Organizational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University, complementing her healthcare background with a strong foundation in business.
Diana is currently pursuing a dual MBA/MHA from Southern New Hampshire University and anticipated to complete her degrees in 2025. She is dedicated to enhancing her leadership skills to better contribute to the dynamic healthcare landscape.
In her previous role as Operations Director at Davita Dialysis, she provided crucial support to markets in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and State College. Prior to that, Diana served as an Operations Executive at JEA Senior Living, overseeing the opening and management of specialized dementia care communities in PA and NJ. As the Operations Director at Salisbury Health, she led teams in Philadelphia, Lehigh Valley, and the Pocono Mountains.
Diana has a passion for building collaborative teams that strive for operational excellence. She believes that these elements are integral to delivering high-quality patient care. Outside of work, she finds joy in spending time with her husband and children, engaging in activities such as playing video games, baking, reading, and exploring new destinations through travel.
Greg Finn
Director of Financial Planning & Analysis
Greg Finn
Director of Financial Planning & AnalysisGreg brings over 10 years of experience in private industry accounting and finance to Align. He began his career in internal audit of a global integrated automotive services group before shifting into financial operations. After six years, he switched industries to join a multi-site healthcare practice management organization backed by private equity.
Prior to Align, Greg led the Physician Compensation function at Axia Women’s Health and aided in integration and forecasting as they expanded from two to five states, growing providers by over 90% and increasing revenue by over 100%.
Greg is a licensed CPA in Florida and has a BS in Accounting and Finance, respectively. He prides himself on continual improvement with a focus on creating efficient, streamlined, and scalable processes utilizing technology and cross-functional team collaboration.
Outside of the office Greg enjoys traveling with his wife, exploring new restaurants near and far, and crafting new recipes at home.
Jackie Clemens
Director of Operations
Jackie Clemens
Director of OperationsJackie Clemens is the Director of Operations at Align ENT + Allergy. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration from Purdue University, graduating Summa Cum Laude, and is currently pursuing her MBA at Purdue as well. With over a decade of dedicated service in the healthcare field, Jackie has excelled in various aspects of healthcare management. She has a passion for organizational leadership and finds great satisfaction in leading and nurturing her team to achieve their best. Jackie loves optimizing operational processes and finding innovative ways to enhance efficiencies.
Before her current role, Jackie was the practice manager for one of the Pinnacle ENT practices for 11 years. Prior to that, she worked in provider relations with Main Line Healthcare, gaining valuable experience in coordinating and enhancing healthcare services.
Outside of work, she enjoys quality time with her husband, two kids, and their two French Bulldogs. She also enjoys traveling and exploring new destinations with her family.
David Saling
Director of Revenue Cycle Management
David Saling
Director of Revenue Cycle Management
Mark Drahn
Director of Ancillary Services
Mark Drahn
Director of Ancillary ServicesMark Drahn is a seasoned executive with 16 years of experience in hearing care and a distinguished career spanning multiple industries, marked by his exceptional leadership and revenue enhancement capabilities. With a proven track record in driving operational excellence and business integration, Mark has excelled in leading cross-functional teams to achieve remarkable performance outcomes.
Before joining Align ENT + Allergy, Mark held leadership and retail operation roles at Earlens Hearing Centers, Beltone, and Audigy, as well as Operations and Business Development roles in multi-national manufacturing companies United Plastics and Puget Plastics.
Mark has also explored his entrepreneurial side, starting and operating companies as varied as product development, personal training, business consulting and real estate/hospitality.
In his spare time, Mark loves working out, fine dining, and traveling with his wife, Karen.
Michael Shofner
Director of Physician & APP Recruitment
Michael Shofner
Director of Physician & APP RecruitmentMichael comes to Align with a diverse professional background that spans various fields. After earning a BS in Education from Union University, he served as a teacher for eight years and a principal for an additional three.
Transitioning to the healthcare sector, Michael served as the Physician Recruiting Manager for Kettering Health, where he successfully recruited professionals across various specialties for eight hospitals in Southwest Ohio. Michael then used his passion for supporting healthcare professionals to found Shofner Consulting, a venture focused on aiding physicians in negotiating more favorable contracts.
Prior to joining Align, Michael served as the Director of Physician Recruitment at Gastro Care Partners, a private-equity backed gastrointestinal group in Colorado and Wyoming. There, he developed a successful physician recruiting department.
Michael has a wife and two children. His free time is often dedicated traveling with his family and maintaining an active lifestyle. He also enjoying playing chess, participating in trivia nights, and reading.
Physician Executive Committee
Michael J. Ward, MD
Pinnacle ENTEducation, Training & Certifications:
- Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
- Residency: Naval Hospital, University of Virginia Health System
- Fellowship: University of Washington Hospital and Clinics
- American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Affiliations:
- Chester County Hospital
- The Surgicenter of Chester County
- Turk’s Head Surgery Center
Awards:
- Main Line Today Top Doctor (2000-2023)
Locations:
- Kennett Square, PA
- West Chester, PA
- West Grove, PA
Marc A. Stiefel, MD
Pinnacle ENTEducation, Training & Certifications:
- Medical School: New York Medical College
- Residency: New York Eye and Ear Infirmary
- American Academy of Otolaryngology Board Certified
Awards & Affiliations:
- Affiliate of Penn Medicine Ear, Nose and Throat
- Director of the Surgical Service Line for Doylestown Hospital
- Castle Connolly Top Doctor (2021-2023)
- Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctor (2023)
Location:
- Doylestown, PA
John M. Feehery, MD
Providence ENTEducation, Training & Certifications:
- Medical School: Jefferson Medical College
- Residency: Thomas Jefferson University
- American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
- Pennsylvania Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Awards & Affiliations:
- Pennsylvania Medical Society
- Delaware County Medical Society
- Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Medical Society
- Hobart Amory Hare Medical Honor Society
- Tau Sigma Delta Architectural Honor Society
- Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society
- Main Line Today Top Doctor (2006 – 2023)
- Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctor (2011 – 2023)
Locations:
- Glen Mills, PA
- Media, PA
- Chester, PA
Donald M. Sesso, DO
Berger Henry ENTEducation, Training & Certifications:
- Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Residency: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Fellowship: Stanford University Medical Center
- American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine
- American Osteopathic Association
- American Osteopathic College of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Affiliations:
- Abington Surgical Center
- Blue Bell Surgical Center
- Chestnut Hill
- Einstein Medical Center Montgomery
- Mercy Suburban
- Roxborough Memorial Hospital
Locations:
- Lansdale, PA
- Norriton, PA
- Willow Grove, PA
- Oaks, PA
- Philadelphia, PA
Audiology Council
Nicole Balliet
AuD, CCC-A
Pinnacle ENT
Nicole Balliet
AuD, CCC-A
Pinnacle ENT - Doctor of Audiology, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
- Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- Fellow member of the Pennsylvania Academy of Audiology
Location:
- Limerick
Alexandra Cortese
AuD, FAAA
Pinnacle ENT
Alexandra Cortese
AuD, FAAA
Pinnacle ENT Education & Certifications:
- Doctor of Audiology, Central Michigan University
- Fellow Member of the American Academy of Audiology
Locations:
- West Chester
- Exton
Lauren Doolittle
AuD, CCC-A
Pinnacle ENT
Lauren Doolittle
AuD, CCC-A
Pinnacle ENT - Doctor of Audiology, University at Buffalo
- Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Location:
- West Grove
- West Chester
- Kennett Square
- Exton
Madelyn Gubernick
AuD, CCC-A, FAAA
Providence ENT
Madelyn Gubernick
AuD, CCC-A, FAAA
Providence ENT Education & Certifications:
- Doctor of Audiology, Rush University
- Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- Fellow Member of the American Academy of Audiology
Locations:
- Chester
- Glen Mills
- Media