Ellen Spake Lecture Series: PTs in Leadership Panel Discussion

Vice President of Strategic Initiatives

Midland Care Connection

 

Jeremy Wiltz received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Rockhurst University in 2011 and began working in home health. After several years of treating patients, he moved into the leadership role of director of clinical services and completed his MBA. Wiltz has also worked as a director of home health for two agencies.

 

Currently Wiltz is the vice president of strategic initiatives for Midland Care Connection in Topeka, Kansas. He serves on the executive team that oversees all of Midland Care’s departments. In his current role, Wiltz is responsible for marketing, communication, fundraising and all new projects. He is currently the point person for two large construction projects in the Kansas City metro area totaling $18 million and for the recent acquisition of VNA of Kansas City. Wiltz currently has 140 employees reporting to him and plays a key role in the management of Midland Care Connections’ $100 million budget.

 

Vice President of Operations

Upstream Rehabilitation

 

Mark Wernsman has been leading outpatient physical therapy clinics for over 20 years. He received his Master of Physical Therapy degree rom the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2001. Following graduation, Wernsman treated patients full time and served as a clinic director at SERC Physical Therapy. He became a partner and opened a new clinic for SERC in 2005. SERC partnered with Upstream Rehabilitation in 2012. Wernsman then moved into a full-time leader of multi-site operations. He also obtained his Doctor of Physical Therapy and his Master of Business Administration during this time.

 

Currently, Wernsman is vice president of operations for 110 clinics with several brands (including SERC Physical Therapy) in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Colorado. The growth over the years has occurred from both start up clinics and acquisitions. His team consists of regional vice presidents, regional directors and area directors. He is involved with all aspects of operations in his clinics including building teams, strategic planning, operational management, outcomes, central scheduling, compliance, hiring, staff development, leadership training, recruiting, finance and budgeting.

 

 

Mark Dwyer, PT, MHA, FACHE has been a physical therapist since 1987 after graduating from The University of Kansas, later earning his Master of Health Services Administration degree in 1997 from KU. Dwyer has been a member of the American Physical Therapist Association (APTA) since 1985 and of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) since 2003, having been conferred Fellow status (FACHE) in 2014. His professional experience includes rehabilitation director for HealthPRO Heritage, area CEO with Encompass Health and BJC HealthCare for St. Louis and Southern Illinois, CEO with Encompass Health and BJC HealthCare for The Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis, director of rehabilitation services and sports medicine for Olathe Health/Olathe Medical Center, director of rehabilitation services for Bethany Medical Center, program coordinator of outpatient therapy services for Bethany Medical Center, and senior/staff physical therapist at Bethany Medical Center. Dwyer has taught as an adjunct instructor in the PT/DPT programs at Rockhurst University, Washington University School of Medicine, University of St. Mary and The University of Kansas Medical Center. Professionally, Mark has served as the chief delegate, president, and secretary of the Kansas Physical Therapy Association (now APTA Kansas).