A diamond in the rough! Dan Fox turned fifty this past April and is one of HFMA’s newest members that could be classified as a gem. His first Institute was the 2001 Savannah meeting and he has been on the go ever since. Somehow at that first institute, he managed to be a participant in Dr. Lynn Hill’s session, get injured by a vicious hotel chair and have the first winning ticket on Monte Carlo night, not a bad start for a brand new member. When the “Call for Teams” went out, Dan was one of the first individuals to fax back the sign up sheet for 2002-2003 Councils, Committees and Standing Committees to volunteer. He was called immediately by Carmen Sessions and placed on the Public Relations Team. We don’t know if this is a good fit as Dan thinks he’s kind of shy….NOT!

Dan joined the Air Force in 1971 and spent twenty-one years traveling all over the world. The first four years were spent as a Security Policeman with assignments to Charleston AFB--SC., DaNang AB--Vietnam, Nellis AFB--NV and March AFB--CA. In 1975, Dan cross-trained into the Air Traffic Control career field and spent seventeen years separating planes. His assignments during these years were Keesler AFB--MS, Lowry AFB--CO, Zaragoza AB--Spain, Sheppard AFB--TX, Howard AFB--Panama, Soto Cano (Palmerola) AB--Honduras and Eaker AFB--AR. Dan retired from the Air Force in January 1992 and went to work as an Account Executive for Countrywide Home Loans. He spent the next ten years in mortgage banking working up to a branch manager position. He was transferred to Atlanta in 1996 to open an office in Marietta. In August of 2001, Dan started working for Southeast Reimbursement Group LLC. (SRG), headquartered in Kennesaw, as the Manager for Business Development. Founded in 1999, SRG has rapidly grown into the largest Georgia-based consulting firm specializing in third party reimbursement. SRG has a staff of twelve experienced professionals and offices in six states. Working for SRG has brought a whole new light to Dan’s career. Dan states, “I have worked with numerous people and organizations, but the people in Healthcare Management are one of a kind, especially the Georgia Chapter of HFMA. They are among the friendliest, familiest (is that a word?) and most hard-working individuals I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.”

Dan was born in Chandler, AZ to Air Force parents and spent his childhood traveling around the world also. He married his wife, Lori twenty-seven years ago and has two daughters, Danielle (21) and Courtney (11). He graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1981 with a Bachelors Degree of Science in Aeronautics. While he was in the Air Force, Dan participated in numerous squadron and base sports activities to include, softball (fast & slow pitch), flag football, volleyball, road rallies and golf. Since his retirement from the Air Force, Dan has only had a chance at golf on a few occasions due to his heavy workload.

Dan feels very strongly about the opportunities afforded by the Georgia Chapter of HFMA for professional development and believes that all members old and new should take every advantage of them. “I have only been working in the Healthcare industry since August of last year, but since I have attended three institutes, I have picked up invaluable information that I would never have been able to if I hadn’t joined the chapter,” said Dan. The past eight months has proven to be a priceless experience for him. Not only has Dan made many contacts within HFMA to assist him in his job, he has found a whole new set of people he is proud to call friends and co-workers. There is a closeness of everyone despite the competition within related work groups that just amazes him. The theme seems to be….let’s get the work done and the knowledge passed out to everyone. In this day and age, that is a very refreshing moral value.

Dan’s free time is mostly spent gardening and doing yard work. He also manages to get together with his neighbors to have some fun and relaxation.