A Medical Device Daily

On behalf of the board of directors of National Surgical Care (NSC; Chicago), John Carlyle reported that Timothy Geary, a co-founder of the company and its chairman, president and CEO, died on July 16 following a brief illness. He was 55.

“We are deeply saddened by Tim's untimely death and join the company's management and employees in expressing our sympathy to his family,” Carlyle said. “Tim was a true visionary in the surgery center industry and an outstanding leader. While we mourn his passing, we are fortunate to have known him as a friend and business colleague, and we are grateful for all his contributions.”

Geary had more than 20 years of senior-level experience in the outpatient surgery center industry. In 2002, he and longtime associate Richard Pence founded National Surgical Care. Prior to NSC, Geary was chairman and CEO of National Surgery Centers until its sale in 1998. At that time, National Surgery Centers was the nation's largest publicly traded surgery center company, operating 42 surgery centers in 14 states.

He was an alumnus of the University of Chicago, where he received both undergraduate and graduate degrees.

NSC's board of directors has approved two changes to the company's management and governance structure. Carlyle becomes non-executive chairman of the board of directors. Pence, who is chief operating officer, will assume the added responsibilities for day-to-day operations of the company, which operates a network of 20 surgery centers.