Digital Debut
Meet the Board
Get to know your officers through these short interviews
INTERVIEWED BY SAHELY MUKERJI | MARCH 11, 2026
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Jessica Rodriguez, CASC
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We are running a series of Q&As with ASCA’s Board of Directors to help our members get to know them better. Meet Jessica Rodriguez, CASC, Board member and executive director of OAM Surgery Center at MidTowne in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Q: How did you get into the ASC space?
Jessica Rodriguez (JR): In a past life, I thought I was going to be a bean counter (accountant) and actually started in the ASC world as one. I very quickly recognized that healthcare was my niche. Once I saw how impactful ASCs could be—and the role they play in the broader healthcare system—I began soaking up everything I could about the industry. That curiosity ultimately shaped my career path.
Quick Facts
Personal:
Age: 42
Place of birth: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Residence: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Family: Children and stepchildren ranging in age from 9 to 17
Education: Bachelor of Business Administration, Davenport University; Master of Business Administration, Davenport University
First job: Junior wrangler at a local YMCA camp. Fun fact: I got separated from the group on my very first trail ride and ended up lost—with a bunch of kids.
One-word description of self: Ambitious
Go-to motto or phrase: If you ask my team, they’ll tell you I say “and whatnot” all the time! A favorite saying of mine—and one I try to live by—is “You promote what you permit.”
Your “superpower”: Juggling work and family and, apparently, doing at least OK at both!
One thing most people at work do not know about you: I have been to 45 of the 50 states and plan to visit all 50 before I am 50 years old.
Q: What are your aspirations for ASCA?
JR: My aspiration for ASCA is to help strengthen its role as both an advocate and a connector—especially as the ASC landscape becomes more complex. I want to support thoughtful growth, policy advocacy and leadership development, so that ASCs of all sizes have a strong voice and the tools they need to remain clinically excellent, financially viable, and physician- and patient-centered.
Q: Who was a great mentor for you?
JR: I have been fortunate to have several incredible mentors, but two stand out. The first is a close friend who consistently pushed me to keep reaching and never settle—professionally or personally. The second is Tina Piotrowski. She saw potential in me long before I fully saw it in myself and continually challenged me to grow, learn and lead with confidence.
Q: What are you most proud of in your ASC work?
JR: I am most proud of the teams I have built, the friends I have made and the relationships I have formed along the way. Strong culture, trust and collaboration do not happen by accident, and seeing people grow into leaders and problem-solvers is incredibly rewarding.
Q: If you could change one thing about the ASC community, what would it be?
JR: I would love to see greater alignment and transparency across the ASC ecosystem—between payers, regulators and operators. ASCs are incredibly efficient and high-quality, yet we often spend too much time fighting for reasonable reimbursement or navigating unnecessary administrative barriers instead of focusing on innovation and patient care.
Q: What excites you most about the future of ASCs?
JR: The expansion of new service lines is incredibly exciting, particularly in cardiovascular care. I believe cardiovascular services represent one of the next major growth opportunities in the ASC space and have the potential to fundamentally reshape how and where high-quality care is delivered.
Q: What legacy do you hope to leave in the ASC space?
JR: I hope to be remembered as a thoughtful steward of the ASC industry—someone who helped move the space forward through collaboration, advocacy and long-term thinking, while never losing sight of the patients and teams at the center of what we do.