Neal Burkhead, President and COO with Dhara Patel, Government Audit Supervisor

Dhara Patel has been named Manager of the Quarter for her leadership in Provider Audit and commitment to employee development. Dhara oversees complex audits of short-term acute care hospitals within Medicare Jurisdiction M. Of the 14 facilities certified as organ transplant centers, she supervised detailed audits of four – nearly 30 percent of this specialized group. Her knowledge helps the team navigate the detailed regulatory requirements involved in this work.

Dhara also makes staff development a priority. She provides clear guidance and takes time to recognize employee contributions. Her support has helped emerging leaders build confidence. Her influence continues even after employees leave her team. When a former employee was recently honored in a new role, the employee dedicated the award to Dhara “for showing me what excellence should be.”

Alongside her Provider Audit responsibilities, Dhara volunteered to serve as her division’s 2026 United Way Champion. In this role, she encourages associates to get involved and support the community. Dhara’s work strengthened the Provider Audit team while helping others grow as leaders. Congratulations to Dhara on being named manager of the Quarter!