09/04/2026

CASA Annual Business Meeting Highlights

CASA - Centers of Excellence Awards - 2027 Board Elections

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 making a connection 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

Congratulations again to the 16 ASCs who received the CASA Award for ASC Excellence. 

Would you like your center to be included among the award winners next year?  Now is the perfect time to prepare and begin organizing.   Let CASA know your intent to be part of this journey by emailing CASA Executive Director Karen Reiter at kreiter@casurgery.org.  Get a head start by watching the ASC Excellence video.  We look forward to honoring your center and staff’s incredible work next year

2027 CASA Newly Elected or Newly Re-Elected Board Members

The Board elections were also held on September 3rd, and we are pleased to announce your newly elected CASA Board Members to 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