To maintain his passion for leading BayCare Clinic, Ashwani Bhatia, MD, MBA, continually reminds himself of the organization’s mission: to provide the highest quality patient care while improving the overall health of the community. “I stay engaged by regularly connecting with our physicians, staff, and patients to understand their experiences and challenges,” said Bhatia, a two-time Titan 100. “This hands-on approach keeps me grounded in the day-to-day realities of our work while inspiring new ideas to improve our services.”
BayCare Clinic is the largest physician-owned specialty-care clinic in Northeastern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, BayCare Clinic offers expertise in more than 20 specialties, with more than 250 providers serving in 16 area communities. BayCare Clinic is a joint partner/owner in Aurora BayCare Medical Center, a 167-bed, full-service Level II Trauma hospital.
Under Bhatia’s leadership, over the past three years, BayCare Clinic has experienced significant growth both financially and operationally. A key driver has been its ownership in a hospital, which has allowed the healthcare company to spearhead several expansion projects, including launching a TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) program, expanding its orthopedic offerings into two new markets, and acquiring a large parcel of land for future clinic expansions.
On the operational side, BayCare Clinic implemented new HR software to streamline workforce management and conducted an audit of cybersecurity threats to strengthen its network infrastructure. The organization has added 25 new physicians across multiple specialties, bolstering its capacity to meet the growing healthcare needs of the community. Furthermore, through a $500K pledge for mental health awareness and community programs like the BayCare century bike ride, the clinic has strengthened its engagement with the community.
As a result, BayCare Clinic achieved one of the most successful operating profits in the company’s history. “This financial milestone was a testament to our strategic initiatives, operational excellence and the unwavering commitment of my team,” said Bhatia. Additionally, the company was recognized as one of America’s greatest workplaces for women in 2024 by Newsweek.
One of the greatest leadership lessons Bhatia learned in the last year is that the journey of learning never truly ends. “As a leader, you will inevitably face setbacks and challenges that test your resolve and decision-making abilities; yet, within these experiences lies the opportunity for growth, innovation and deeper understanding,” he said. “It’s during these challenges that you must cultivate resilience and remain open to new ideas, perspectives and approaches.”