Richard C. Edlow, OD.

BALTIMORE, Md.—EyeCare Services Partners Holdings LLC (ESP), one of the nation’s largest vertically integrated ophthalmologic and optometric services practices, announced the addition of two new senior executives to the company’s management team: David L. Thomas will become president and chief operating officer; and Christopher R. Fusco will become vice president of business development. The company also announced that Richard C. Edlow, OD, who served as ESP’s president, will be elevated to the role of executive chairman.

EyeCare Services Partners Holdings was formed in May 2014, as reported by VMail when Varsity Healthcare Partners (VHP), a health care services-focused private equity firm, announced that in partnership with management, it had acquired Maryland-based Katzen Eye Group.

“We could not be more pleased with the addition of Dave and Chris to our team,” said Michael T. Fricke, CEO of EyeCare Services Partners. “Our ability to bring in seasoned professionals of their caliber is a testament not only to the growth we have experienced over the last year, but more importantly to the enormous potential our business model represents. I expect both of them to have an immediate and positive impact on our company.”

Fricke added, “Additionally, in remaining a truly physician-led company, Richard’s new role as executive chairman will focus heavily on physician relations. He, along with Dr. Brett W. Katzen, our chief medical officer, will be instrumental to our growth as we continue to integrate targeted, independent ophthalmologic and optometric practices onto our platform. Having an individual work directly with this community and who intimately understands both the medicine and the underlying business issues these practices deal with on a daily basis is critical.”

Before joining EyeCare Services Partners, Thomas was a managing partner and board director at Alva Labs. In this role, he was part of a team of West Point graduates acquiring technology patents. Prior to that, Thomas was co-CEO at LCA Vision, which was the largest publicly traded retail health care provider of lasik and cataract services.

Thomas also served as the COO of Boston Market Corp.as well as senior management positions at McDonalds. Thomas earned his M.S. in business leadership at Northeastern University, a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from West Point and held the rank of Captain as a combat arms veteran in the U.S. Army.

Prior to joining EyeCare Services Partners, Fusco led business development for Dermatology Solutions Group, a dermatology practice consolidator sponsored by Cressey and Company. Before that, he served as director of business development for Urgent Team Holdings Inc., an urgent care consolidator. In this role, he led the acquisition of 16 primary care or urgent care clinics and led the development of eight de novo urgent care clinics.

Previously, Fusco was a member of the health care services investment team at SV Life Sciences where he worked with Urgent Team’s founder prior to formation. Fusco began his career as an investment banker with MTS Health Partners. Fusco earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from Gettysburg College.

EyeCare Services Partners Holdings LLC consolidates locally dominant, clinically differentiated eyecare services practices and affiliated surgical centers in selected geographies.