Our Story
PaladinMDs was founded by Jennifer Martucci, Dr. Michael Richman, with contribution from Dr. Herman Williams. Michael, is a distinguished double board certified cardiothoracic and general surgeon and noted expert in cholesterol management.
Michael has always been a fierce medical advocate for his patients, friends, and family in order to ensure that they were always receiving outstanding healthcare. He had recently suffered a career ending injury and while he was unable to continue as a practicing surgeon, he was determined to continue to hold other physicians accountable for their decisions and treatment plans. Herman, a fellow physician, motivational coach, noted author, and health care executive had suffered a cardiac arrest while playing basketball prior to starting his orthopedic surgery residency. His experience as a medical executive offered Herman a unique perspective on the deepening complexities facing today's healthcare system. Jennifer, is a seasoned entrepreneur with a proven track record of success and innovation in the start-up technology space. Having been awarded 26 technology and 3 method patents, Jennifer has led her companies from consumer product acceptance in 27 countries to acquisition by a Fortune 50 company.
Together they created PaladinMDs to empower, and serve patients in a healthcare ecosystem that grows more convoluted and less patient-centric everyday. PaladinMDs are champions for our clients — no agenda, no bias — a medical advocate that always has your back. Our only goal is to empower you with objective, expert guidance and access to the best health care.
Meet Dr. Michael Richman
Founder and Chief Clinical Officer
Diplomate, American Boards of Surgery and Thoracic Surgery
My journey in medicine began in eighth grade when I read “The Living Heart” by Drs. Michael Debakey and Antonio Gotto and I subsequently gave an oral presentation to my science class on Mitral Stenosis. It was at that time, during middle school, that it became clear to me that nothing would stop me from realizing my dream of becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon. My dad always used to tell me that I should shoot for the stars, and if I fell short, at least I knew that I tried and did not let the fear of failure hamper my ability achieve any of my dreams.
After high school, I attended Georgetown University for both college and medical school. I then interviewed at many surgical training programs and ultimately ranked the USC general surgery residency program as my first choice, and after being accepted, spent five very difficult and rewarding years of my life under the tutelage of the world’s authority on Esophageal Surgery, Dr. Tom Demeester. During my residency, I published papers in surgical journals and wrote a textbook chapter with Dr. Robert Beart on the Cardiopulmonary Effects of Laparoscopy. After my general surgery training was completed, I was given an academic appointment as a “Clinical Instructor of Surgery” in the division of Hepatobiliary Surgery at the USC School of Medicine. I had the opportunity to operate with the residents and teach the medical students in the year prior to starting my two year cardiothoracic residency at the University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital. I was lucky enough to be able to do over ten heart transplants during my training. After completing my training, I moved to the eastern Kentucky to start my private practice. Shortly thereafter, I was recruited to start a new cardiothoracic surgery program at a hospital in Northern California and was the youngest chief of cardiothoracic surgery in the state of California. I did the first bloodless coronary artery bypass in a Jehovah’s Witness in a three county area.
Prior to my arrival, this most challenging group of patients had to travel a considerable distance from their home to receive life saving surgery. In addition, I have performed over 1000 coronary artery bypass procedures in my career and was recognized as having the lowest mortality of any hospital in California by CMS in 2002. After several years, I moved back to my home in Los Angeles. In early 2005, I started a lipid clinic called The Center for Cholesterol Management. I became a recognized international authority on lipid disorders and cholesterol management. I wrote a book on Lipoprotein Disorders with two well known academicians and lectured nationally. I still serve on the editorial board of the only peer-reviewed lipid journal called The Journal of Clinical Lipidology. In late 2005, I founded a vein center called The Elite Laser Vein Center. I was recognized for excellence in the minimally invasive treatment of venous disease by my peers. I published several papers and did a two year IRB approved clinical trial attempting to understand the prevalence of the MTHFR gene polymorphism in venous disease with or without venous thrombosis. In addition, I continued to have a busy non-cardiac thoracic surgery practice.
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Sadly, I suffered an injury that abruptly ended my career as a practicing cardiothoracic and general surgeon. After multiple surgeries and a long rehabilitation, the realization that my childhood dream of being a cardiothoracic surgeon would come to an end has been devastating to say the least. It has not been easy to digest that I could no longer save lives, cure disease, and end human suffering in the same way I have done over the past 20 years. Being able to physically touch the human heart on a daily basis was an amazing privilege, but I am fortunate that I still can touch the heart in so many different ways.
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While I never anticipated my career ending so abruptly, the opportunities for me in the future seem infinite. The training and experience that I have had as a practicing cardiothoracic and general surgeon combined with the knowledge I obtained by earning a Masters in Medical Management from USC Marshall School of Business will allow me to leave an indelible mark on the transformation of healthcare into the future. The ability to advocate for excellent patient care and at the same time understand the business of medicine provides me with the tools needed to be a leader in the healthcare field.
Meet Dr. Herman Williams
Contributor, Author, Healthcare Consultant and Executive Coach
My journey to becoming a physician was crystalized when I became a medical explorer in high school and volunteered at a local hospital after school. I always wanted to help people but realized in my senior year of high school that I could fulfill that dream best, as a doctor. I was fortunate to get into Amherst College and had access to some of the top science professors in the nation. My parents always told me that I could do anything I put my mind to and was successful in getting into Boston University School of Medicine. I quickly became fascinated with Orthopedic Surgery and partnered with my hero and Mentor, Gus White at Harvard University to learn as much about the specialty as I could. I took a year off to get a Master's in Public Health at Harvard University and ultimately co-authored an article published in the Peer Reviewed journal, SPINE with Dr. White. His support and guidance helped me land a position at University of Washington’s Orthopedic Surgery Residency in Seattle, Washington. With all those incredible accomplishments behind me, it was a traumatic event on April 28, 1991 when I suffered a cardiac arrest and died on a basketball court in front of my fiancé and 9 physician resident colleagues.
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The trauma and depression from this event was overwhelming. However, I refused to give up and slowly began getting back in touch with that original innocent dream to help others. I took time off to heal physically and also expanded my knowledge base by going back to business school at the University of Washington in Seattle.
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After graduation, I embarked on a career as a healthcare consultant for seven years and eventually found myself hired by a client. This was the beginning of an 18-year career as a hospital physician executive.
Most recently, I have transitioned to lead the Nashville Healthcare Practice for BDO, USA and recently published my autobiography: CLEAR! Living The Life You Didn’t Dream Of, to help people develop a plan when they find themselves facing a Life-Threatening illness or event. I have pledged my life to help others and volunteering for Paladin to provide healthcare advocacy for patients helps me to continue making a difference in the lives of other patients.
Meet Jennifer Martucci
Co-Founder
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A seasoned entrepreneur, Jennifer served as a strategic consultant to Pfizer Corporation from 2006 to 2008. Ms. Martucci was the Founder and served as Chief Executive Officer of GPSTracks, LLC from 2001 to 2006. GPSTracks, a technology start-up that invented and manufactured a satellite tracking device for pets, was successfully acquired by a Fortune 50 company. She led the company from the invention phase through strategic exit in seven years.
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Ms. Martucci is the CEO & Founder of Incentient, LLC. Jennifer headed product direction from application design through final production of Beta software and hardware platforms. Also directing marketing efforts and sales, Ms. Martucci's vision carried the company through from product inception to client acceptance in 27 countries and solution partnership with Apple.
Jennifer was awarded 26 technology patents and 3 method patents. Ms. Martucci consults with Entrepreneurs specializing in go to market strategies for startups, product roadmaps and grass roots visionaries.
Advisory Board
Jeff Leonard
Jeff Leonard currently serves as CEO of several high profile companies including Classic Industries, a worldwide leader in automotive parts and accessories. Jeff, a Detroit native, migrated to Palm Springs, California in the mid-1970s and started a small automotive company at the early age of 20.
His prior experience working in a mail-order business part-time while attending school in Detroit gave him the foundation for pursuing a career in mail order. His flagship company, Classic Industries, manufactures and distributes automotive restoration parts for classic car market worldwide. His businesses currently employ hundreds of people in the Southern California area and overseas. He currently resides the Newport Beach where he leads a quiet life with his family and friends.
Located in Huntington Beach, California, Classic Industries is recognized as the undisputed leader of the Restoration Parts industry and is one of the largest and respected distributors of reproduction, performance and original GM and MOPAR parts and accessories in the industry. Classic Industries has provided over 1,000,000 customers with parts and accessories they've needed to restore their vehicles for over four decades.
Dave Logan, Ph.D.
Dave Logan is Chief Executive Officer of CMA’s wellness program, a joint effort of the California Medical Association and Stanford University. Wellness focuses on ending the epidemic of physician burnout in the United States through programs that promote personal resilience, organizational transformation, and creating cultures of wellness.
Dave is also on the faculty at University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business in the Management & Organization department. His work focuses on organizational alignment, culture, strategy, leadership, and organizational design. From 2001-2004, he served as Associate Dean and Executive Director of Executive Education. In that role, he oversaw all non-degree offerings at Marshall and started two degrees (Master of Management and Master of Medical Management).
Prior to joining Wellness, Dave served as Chief Innovation Officer and Chief Transformation Officer of P3 Health Partners, where he focused on physician engagement and practice transformation.
He is co-founder of CultureSync, a management consulting firm focused on the intersection of strategy and culture. CultureSync has consulted dozens of Fortune 500 companies, major nonprofits, and governments around the world. In 2018, he sold most of his equity in CultureSync to devote his time to fixing healthcare.
He is also on the faculty of the American Association of Physician Executives (formerly American College of Physician Executives), has taught in dozens of corporate university programs and guest lectured at universities around the world.
Dave authored or co-authored six books, including the New York Times #1 bestseller Tribal Leadership (HarperCollins, 2008 and 2011), and the international bestseller The Three Laws of Performance (Jossey-Bass, 2009), which was endorsed by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Desmond Tutu. In 2014, co-authored The Best Medicine: A Physician’s Guide to Effective Leadership (Springer) with Cedars-Sinai Surgeon-In-Chief Bruce Gewertz, which explores how physician leadership changes as a function of managerial level. His other titles include The Coaching Revolution and Re-Inventing Your Career.
Dave is often interviewed by the major television networks, and has been a commentator on National Public Radio’s “Marketplace.” His TED Talk has been seen by over two million viewers.
Dave has a Ph.D. in Organizational Communication from the Annenberg School at USC.
John M. Quaranta, Esq.
John is a trial lawyer for businesspeople, focusing his trial practice on complex commercial, consumer class-action, and securities litigation. Since 2002, he has been rated AV Preeminent™ (Highest Competency and Ethics Rating from Martindale-Hubbell). He has been recognized by his peers as a member of the Florida Legal Elite™, Best Lawyers in America™ and SuperLawyers™ for commercial litigation. In 2017, John attained membership into The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers.
In John’s 28 years of practice, he has tried cases in federal and state courts throughout Florida, as well as before the NASD, FINRA, and American Arbitration Association. His clients have ranged from Fortune 500 companies and their officer and directors to small business owners. He has been general counsel to two U.S. defense contractors.
John received his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1991) where he was awarded the Thomas P. McDougall Full Academic Scholarship. He was elected by his fellow classmates as member of the University of Miami Honor Council and was a member of the University of Miami Law Review.
He received his undergraduate degree in Economics from Georgetown University (B.A., 1987). John is a four-year varsity letter winner at Georgetown where he played both football and baseball. He is a retired little league coach and is a member of the Knights of Columbus. John served as past Chairman to Florida Bar Grievance Committee 11-F. He is a resident of Coral Gables, Florida, where he lives with his wife and two teenage sons.
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Ashleigh Rodriguez, MSN, MMM, APRN, FNP-C
Ashleigh Rodriguez is an accomplished clinician and senior healthcare leader in California who partners with CEO’s, executives and organizations to deliver the Quadruple Aim: better health outcomes, improved patient and clinician experiences, and affordable care. Ashleigh knows what truly achieves these outcomes – and it’s not mastering fee-for-service productivity. It’s transitioning the industry to value-based care driven by population health and creating cultures of wellness.
She brings over a decade of population health experience to her role as Director of Health Education and Population Health at Heritage Provider Network, a large managed care organization of over 700,000 members in Southern California. Prior to joining Heritage, she served as the Director of Population Health management at P3 Health Partners in her hometown of Tucson, Arizona.
Ashleigh’s passion for cultures of wellness and clinician leadership is lived through her partnership with the California Medical Association’s Wellness team by designing and delivering meaningful support to clinicians. Ashleigh was a key collaborator in Care 4 Caregivers Now, a peer coaching support program for clinicians facing distress during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was spotlighted by multiple national news syndicates. She is a contributor and facilitator in Wellness programs that elevate leadership skills, enhance professional fulfillment, and minimize burnout. Ashleigh also serves as a financial consultant for Wellness, conducting detailed financial analyses and developing strategies to lead the organization to success.
She co-authored multiple articles on physician wellness (in-press) with faculty from leading academic institutions and serves as a guest lecturer at University of Southern California’s Price School of Public Policy.
Ashleigh is a masters prepared nurse practitioner with years of experience treating patients with severe heart and lung disease. She is the first and only non-physician candidate to complete a Master of Medical Management from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business, where she graduated with honors and was unanimously selected by her classmates to deliver the 2020 commencement speech.
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