From physician-entrepreneur to seasoned administrator, these five leaders represent the range of expertise shaping ASCs in 2026.
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Benjamin Stein, MD. Co-founder and chairman of Capital Surgical Solutions (Germantown, Md.)
Dr. Stein co-founded the surgeon-led, physician-owned Capital Surgical Solutions after witnessing the cultural and operational shifts at a former employer following a corporate acquisition.
“It was an instant ignition for me,” he told Becker’s. “I knew it wasn’t good, and I knew other people felt the same way. So I wanted to create a system that addressed those issues.”
Capital Surgical Solutions is opening in several new markets, including Washington, D.C., Colorado and Oregon, a significant expansion for a company that has kept physician leadership and independence at its core since day one. Dr. Stein has also built a custom analytics tool designed to give individual surgeons case-level cost and utilization data in a format they can act on, addressing what he described as data being “black-boxed to the surgeon utilizers.”
Janet Carlson, RN. Founder and CEO of Vertex Surgical Solutions; former vice president of ASCs at Commonwealth Pain & Spine (Louisville, Ky.)
Ms. Carlson brings more than two decades of ASC leadership to Vertex Surgical Solutions, her consulting firm, founded after she served as executive director and then VP of ASCs at Louisville-based Commonwealth Pain & Spine. She has co-founded and led multiple ASCs nationwide and holds credentials in nursing executive practice, ambulatory surgery administration and healthcare executive leadership.
Shakeel Ahmed, MD. Founder and CEO of Atlas Surgical Group (St. Louis)
Dr. Ahmed has been active in the ASC industry for 25 years and writes a bimonthly column for Becker’s ASC Review. Atlas Surgical Group has grown into one of the Midwest’s largest ASC networks, spanning multiple states. Dr. Ahmed has authored nine books and serves as publisher and editor-in-chief of Surgery Business Magazine.
“I can safely say that ASCs are entering a tighter margin environment now than ever in recent memory,” he wrote. “I have seen labor costs climb to new and unsustainable heights, with many ASCs, including those owned by my group, reporting double-digit annual wage inflation for registered nurses and staff.”
Mark Langston. CEO of Compass Surgical Partners (Raleigh, N.C.)
Mr. Langston became CEO of Compass Surgical Partners on January 5, succeeding DJ Hill, who remains board chair. He previously served as the company’s chief development officer. In a February 2026 interview with Becker’s, he warned that health systems are running out of time to build ambulatory infrastructure, calling the current moment a potential “day of reckoning.” His strategic framework centers on what he calls “disciplined growth.” Compass has active partnerships with Bon Secours Mercy Health and Baptist Health, among others.
“We don’t want to do a joint venture just to do a joint venture,” he told Becker’s. “We want to figure out where and how we can add value to our health system partners.”
Benita Tapia, RN. Administrator and director of nursing at 90210 Surgery Medical Center and Precision Ambulatory Surgery Center (Beverly Hills, Calif.)
Ms. Tapia leads 90210 Surgery Medical Center, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. She has also served as administrator of Precision Ambulatory Surgery Center in Beverly Hills since November 2010. An active member of the California Ambulatory Surgery Association, 90210 Surgery Medical Center received the CASA Award for ASC Excellence and the CASA ASC of the Year award in 2023 — and the center received the 2025 CASA Award for ASC Excellence as well.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.