Seena Salyani, FACHE, continues to practice his passion in his newest appointment.

He’s just been selected as chief executive officer for Gastro Florida, Tampa Bay’s largest gastroenterology practice.

“I found the group very welcoming and interested in my perspective to continue growing,” Salyani said.

As CEO, Salyani will oversee operational and financial affairs, as well as organizational development. The medical group practice includes 40 providers who specialize in gastroenterology with 20 locations across Tampa Bay. It is headquartered in Feather Sound, Clearwater.

Salyani earned two graduate degrees from USF in 2002; a Master of Health Administration degree from the College of Public Health and his Master of Business Administration degree from the Muma College of Business. He catapulted into the world of health management, bridging his expertise of both fields upon graduating, and credits the networking of his COPH faculty advisors, Drs. Barbara Orban and Alan Sear, for a significant part of his career advancement.

Prior to this role, he worked for more than 12 years with USF Health in various management roles. This was an opportunity to be exposed to national healthcare thought leaders such as Dr. Stephen Klasko, Mo Kasti, John Mallia, John Ekarius, and current USF Health Sr. VP Dr. Charles Lockwood – all of whom believe that public health disciplines should be intertwined with medicine to provide optimal healthcare delivery, according to Salyani.

Salyani grew up in North Carolina and Central Florida. Upon graduating with his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in Gainesville, he knew that USF’s COPH would be the gateway to more opportunities.

“At the time I applied to USF, it was the only accredited college of public health in Florida,” Salyani said. “It doesn’t surprise me that they are now nationally ranked in the top 20 and climbing; I knew with the foundation built by Dean Mahan and under the leadership of Dean Petersen that it was only going to be a matter of time.”

“A strong point of my time at the College of Public Health was the relationships I formed and that I continue to have,” Salyani said. He is grateful for the guidance provided by Naval Executive Officer Robert Fry, who was attaining his doctoral degree in COPH while Salyani was studying for his master’s.

“Dr. Fry stressed professionalism and involvement in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE),” Salyani said.

Salyani is now a board certified healthcare executive through ACHE and is an officer for the Western Florida Chapter ACHE Board. Salyani also serves on an advisory committee for the COPH’s MHA program.

Salyani recalls many inspirational faculty members during his time as a student, including Dr. Jay Wolfson, currently Vice President for USF Health and Distinguished Service Professor of Public Health in the COPH.

“I found him to be very inspiring in terms of being able to take complicated public health issues and distill it to understandable terms so that populations and communities can take action upon it,” he said.

Salyani started in his role in September and has since hit the ground running.

“I’m looking forward to helping Gastro Florida be widely known as a quality organization with great service on solid financial ground,” he said.

 

Story by Anna Mayor, USF College of Public Health