iPMI Magazine Speaks With Dr. Ameet Deshmukh M.D, Chief Medical Officer, New Frontier Group ^Featured

In this interview, Nicole Bonfiglio, brand ambassador at New Frontier Group, sat down with Dr. Ameet Deshmukh M.D. to discuss his new role as Chief Medical Officer at New Frontier Group.

To start off, please tell me about your medical background and your career journey.

I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and graduated high school at the top of my class. When I was in 11th grade, I was a part of a program in which I shadowed doctors at Washington University in St. Louis, resulting in my love for medicine. I attended medical school at University of Missouri-Kansas City where they have a six-year medical program, meaning I did both my undergraduate and my M.D. in six years rather than the usual eight years. It is very intense, and you only have one month off a year with no other breaks. From day one I was shadowing a doctor during their clinical rounds every week, which gave me a hands-on education. After graduating, I completed a three-year residency in emergency medicine at an inner-city trauma hospital, followed by training in hyperbaric medicine and wound care. I have been a practicing Emergency Medicine Physician for nearly twenty years.

You have just accepted a role as the new Chief Medical Officer for NFG: tell me about what you are hoping to accomplish and contribute to NFG and their clients. What are you most excited about in this new role?

I think I am here to bridge the gap between business and medicine in a way. I will be able to support people in different levels of the organization, like aiding in arranging medical transports, or talking to certain medical providers about patient information that other members of the team might not typically have access. For example, it might be difficult for a client service representative to reach a treating surgeon at a major hospital, but if I call, I should be able to bridge this gap. I also look forward to being a resource for our clients, conversing with their medical team, assisting in providing positive outcomes for their policyholders.

What am I most excited about? The team. That was the most unknown for me, but they are fabulous people, and they are brilliant. I do not think that I have ever met an executive or CEO that is as strong as Gitte Bach. She is so dynamic and can approach anyone. She can be tough, she can be yielding, but she knows this sector inside and out. She really wants to know all the details and who has the best ideas for a better solution. She is accountable to the insurers, her clients, the policyholders, and each member of the NFG staff. I have joined NFG to add a clinical spin to things, and it is very exciting. I love business and business development; I have always had a passion for it.

My mantra is “we put the clients first”, and with a business like NFG, we have lots of different clients, all with very high service expectations. Fulfilling everyone's expectations while providing the best outcomes will help provide quality care, everyone will be happy, and we will develop a good sustainable quality product that NFG can expand.