09/04/2026
CASA Annual Business Meeting Highlights
CASA - Centers of Excellence Awards - 2027 Board Elections
CASA's 2027 Board was introduced alongside inspiring keynote speakers, leaving attendees inspired and ready to take what they learned back to their ASCs.
The Annual CASA Business Meeting took place on September 3, 2026, and the discussion covered CASA’s membership, financial health, and organizational activities.
CASA has had an incredibly strong year, driving excellence and membership growth. CASA's focus has been on driving.
- Advocacy: Strengthening CASA’s position as the trusted voice for ASCs, ensuring policymakers recognize the value and impact of our field.
- Community: Deepening member engagement by creating more opportunities to connect, learn, and share best practices.
- Visibility: Elevating public awareness of the essential role ASCs play in healthcare—making sure our story is heard not only in Sacramento, but in every community we serve.
Carrie closed the session with a call to action for members: “This is the perfect time to re-engage. Whether it’s joining a committee, mentoring someone new, or simply connecting with someone you haven’t met yet—those relationships are the heartbeat of CASA.
As CASA moves forward, the meeting served as a powerful reminder of the strength of our community and the exciting path ahead.
CASA AWARD FOR ASC EXCELLENCE 2026
CONGRATULATIONS!
Across California, exceptional ambulatory surgery centers are leading the way in delivering outstanding care and creating a culture of excellence. The CASA Award for ASC Excellence celebrates the centers whose dedication, leadership, and commitment to quality set them apart and demonstrate what excellence in ambulatory surgery looks like.
Congratulations to the 2026 CASA Award for ASC Excellence awardees. Their commitment to excellence sets them apart as they continue to raise the bar for ASCs across California and help shape the future of excellence in ambulatory surgery.
ASC EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Surgery Center Fremont
- Spaulding Triangle Surgery Center
- East Bay Endoscopy Center
- Surgery Center San Jose
- Sutter Sierra Surgery Center
- Sutter Samaritan Surgery Center
- Surgery Center Palo Alto
- Sutter Roseville Endoscopy Center
- Surgery Center San Carlos
- Mid-Peninsula Endoscopy Center
- Sutter Elk Grove Surgery Center
- Fort Sutter Surgery Center
- Walnut Creek Endoscopy and Surgery Center
- Sutter Santa Rosa Surgery and Endoscopy Center
2026 ASC OF THE YEAR!
Congratulations to Fort Sutter Surgery Center, our 2026 California ASC of the Year.
Their commitment to exceptional patient care, quality, and teamwork shines through in everything they do. This award recognizes the dedication, hard work, and pursuit of excellence that set them apart.
Could Your Center Be Among Next Year’s Award Winners?
Now is the time to start your journey toward the CASA ASC Excellence Awards. This is an opportunity to showcase the dedication, teamwork, and commitment to excellence happening every day in your center—and to have that work recognized alongside some of California’s outstanding ASCs.
Start preparing now and let CASA know you’re interested in being part of next year’s awards by emailing CASA Executive Director Karen Reiter at kreiter@casurgery.org.
Not sure where to begin? Start by watching our ASC Excellence video to learn more about the program and what makes these centers stand out.
We can’t wait to see what your team is accomplishing—and hopefully celebrate your center next year!
2027 CASA Newly Elected Board Members
The Board elections were also held on September 3rd, and we are pleased to announce your newly elected CASA Board Members, who will begin their Board terms on 1/1/2027.
Michael Stuntz, MD
Dr. Stuntz is a general and oncologic surgeon based in Monterey, California, where he serves as Chairman of the Board for Monterey Peninsula Surgery Centers (MPSC). MPSC is one of the largest independently owned surgery centers in the country, performing more than 1,000 operations each month. He also actively practices at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula and has performed procedures at his ASC for more than 20 years. Dr. Stuntz has been a valued and active CASA Board member for the past eight years and co-chairs CASA’s Advocacy Committee. He has hosted several state and federal legislator facility visits and participated in multiple CASA/ASCA DC “Fly-ins,” advocating on behalf of California ASCs.
Diana De Armas, RN, BSN, CNOR
Diana De Armas, RN, BSN, CNOR is a healthcare executive with more than 15 years of leadership experience in ambulatory surgery and perioperative services. As Market CEO for Surgery Partners, she leads a regional portfolio of ambulatory surgery centers, with responsibility for strategic growth, financial and operational performance, physician partnerships, and leadership development.
Diana brings a unique combination of clinical expertise and business acumen, with a career spanning frontline perioperative care through facility and multi-site executive leadership. She served on the Board of the California Ambulatory Surgery Association as a provisional member and is a member of the Surgery Partners Enterprise Quality Council.
Patrick Haley
Patrick Haley has spent nearly two decades working in healthcare administration, with a particular focus on ambulatory surgery centers and small surgical facilities. His introduction to healthcare began early, working in his mother’s ASC and pain practices in roles ranging from medical assisting and sterile processing to billing, IT, and clinical support.
After earning a degree in Business and Economics from the University of New Hampshire, Patrick moved to California, where he ultimately chose healthcare over a career in finance. He managed a spine surgery practice in Santa Cruz, helping grow the practice and develop its ASC and ancillary services. Since then, he has remained focused on the administrative side of healthcare, gaining experience across nearly every aspect of developing, operating, and sustaining surgical facilities.
Patrick lives in Santa Cruz with his wife and daughter and enjoys the outdoors, live music, cars, and long walks on the beach.
Matt Luke, MBA, MA
Matt Luke is a Regional Vice President with United Surgical Partners International (USPI), where he oversees 13 surgery centers across Southern California. He brings extensive healthcare operations and joint venture governance experience, having previously held regional leadership roles with DaVita and served 10 years as an officer in the United States Marine Corps.
An active CASA member, Matt has contributed to the association’s Veterans programming, spoken at the CASA Annual Meeting, and supported legislative outreach efforts. He is passionate about the ASC model and believes in strong clinical standards, physician leadership, local governance, and sharing best practices to advance high-quality, accessible care across California.
Chuck Meisel
Chuck Meisel is a seasoned healthcare executive with extensive experience in the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) industry, specializing in sales, business development, technology, and healthcare services. He currently serves as Vice President of Sales and Business Development for SIS, working closely with ASCs and leading management organizations nationwide.
Throughout his career, Chuck has held senior leadership roles with Surgical Notes, Poplar Healthcare/GI Pathology, ProVation Medical, and McKesson Medical-Surgical. His experience spans ASC operations and technology, revenue cycle management, pathology, documentation, and strategic business development. Before entering healthcare, Chuck served in the U.S. Army for 8 years. He served around the world as an Infantry Officer and Special Forces Officer.
Chuck brings a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing ASCs, along with extensive relationships throughout the ambulatory surgery community.
Sarah Sterling, MBA, CASC
Sarah Sterling, MBA, CASC, is an experienced healthcare executive with more than 20 years of leadership in ambulatory surgery and healthcare operations. As Executive of Operations for Sutter Health’s Surgery Center Division, she oversees multiple ASCs across the Greater San Francisco region and is responsible for strategic, financial, and operational performance. Sarah has extensive experience in ASC administration, multi-site operations, regulatory compliance, strategic growth, and leadership development. She has served on CASA’s committees and the ASCA Education Committee and is passionate about advancing access to ambulatory surgery, strengthening the ASC leadership pipeline, and improving patient experience