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.
Haley Schools
Chief Development Officer
Haley Schools
Chief Development OfficerHaley joined Align in November 2022 as Chief Development Officer. In this role, Haley leads Align’s partnerships with physician groups, health systems, and payors.
Haley has dedicated her career to healthcare and advocating for physicians. Most recently, Haley was the Chief Development Officer of Axia Women’s Health, a leading provider of women’s healthcare services including OB/GYN, fertility, mammography, lab, and other women’s health services. In this role, Haley guided over 20 physician groups in joining Axia, more than doubling Axia’s size in less than four years. She also oversaw a newly formed clinical research division. Furthermore, Haley spearheaded Axia’s expansion outside Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and entry into a new subspecialty, urogynecology.
Before joining Axia at its founding in 2017, Haley was a healthcare investment banker in New York. She has a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School and a B.A. in Criminology from the University of Pennsylvania.
Haley and her husband Ben live in Philadelphia with their two cats (Archimedes and Artemis). Haley and Ben love to travel – highlights include the Great Barrier Reef and the Galapagos.
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.
Robert Connelly
VP of Support Services
Robert Connelly
VP of Support ServicesRobert (Bob) Connelly is the Vice President of Operations Support Services. Originally from New Jersey, Bob is a graduate of Temple University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and human resources. Previously, he was the CEO of Pinnacle ENT Associates for 17 years where he oversaw all mergers & acquisitions, physician recruitment, IT management, compliance management, practice operations, directed practice growth and development, finances, marketing, retirement plan and benefit planning, patient engagement, business metrics and oversaw the entire RCM process.
Prior to joining Pinnacle ENT, from 2000 to 2005, Bob served as the Director of Billing, Operations and Human Resources at Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia (CCP), the largest independent cardiology practice in the country. At CCP Bob oversaw the implementation of a new PM/EMR system, establishing a documentation and chart audit compliance program, building nuclear stress labs, practice site renovations, RCM process, and day-to-day practice operations.
From 1995 to 2000 Bob was a healthcare consultant with The Healthcare Group. Bob provided office management and operation evaluations to medical practices for developing best practices for clients across the country. Bob also served as Executive Director for several medical practices in his consulting assignments. Bob was a recognized expert on RCM, business planning and office operations. Bob was a frequent author and lecturer on various management and operational issues of medical practices.
In his spare time, he enjoys staying active and spending time with his family and his 2 dogs.
Lauren Mattaliano
Director of Business Development
Lauren Mattaliano
Director of Business DevelopmentLauren joined Align in December 2023 and serves as the Director of Business Development. She has over 20 years of sales, marketing, and business development experience in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. She has spent much of her career guiding physicians’ professional growth from both clinical and business standpoints. She is a dedicated thought-leader and creative entrepreneur.
Lauren has an extensive network in various healthcare sectors. She has worked at both large corporations and small startups, bringing innovations to high growth areas such as the cardiology, vascular, and endovascular markets. Prior to joining Align, Lauren spent 5 years in the otolaryngology space at Intersect ENT and Medtronic.
Lauren holds a BA in Psychology from New York University and has a passion for working with people and building meaningful relationships. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two children. Her family is her greatest success. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, doing Pilates, and spending time with friends and family. She currently sits on the Board of Trustees of the Fairfield Education Foundation.
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.
David Saling
Director of Revenue Cycle Management
David Saling
Director of Revenue Cycle Management
Michael Shofner
Director of Physician and APP Recruitment
Michael Shofner
Director of Physician and 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