About Us
Vitalize Consulting Solutions, Inc. (VCS) provides a wide variety of clinical, business and IT
solutions for healthcare enterprises across the country. Our comprehensive range of programs and
services includes system implementation, optimization, custom reporting, technology and integration,
education and knowledge transfer in the Cerner®, Siemens®, Epic®, Eclipsys®, MEDITECH® and McKesson®
solutions. Our project management portfolio not only includes PMP-certified healthcare professionals
but also a robust web-based implementation methodology tools, JumpStart Program for project management
office set up and our WebShare repository of information.
Founded in 2002, Vitalize Consulting Solutions, Inc. has quickly become known by their tagline,
"Strengthen Your Team With Ours". VCS was recapitalized just before the acquisition of Lucida
Healthcare IT on December 21, 2007 and is now backed by SV Life Sciences, Ferrer Freeman and Company
and Bank of America. The senior executives at VCS each bring an average of over 23 years of practical
healthcare and IT experience to add to the total delivery package. The key to our profitable growth
is our integrity, knowledge and belief that if VCS provides a positive environment in which our
almost 200 employees can contribute and grow, that the quality of work delivered to our customers
will exceed their expectations.
Our consultants, most with certifications, professional clinical backgrounds and advanced degrees
bring hundreds of years of healthcare industry experience to the table with an average of over 15
years in their respective practice specialty. Experience makes us uniquely aware of the human
dynamics of each project. We become part of your team, and together through a blend of professional
services and packaged solutions, we seek to provide positive outcomes, based on agreed upon goals all
for a predictable cost. Experience VCS. IT's what differentiates us.
Meet Our Team
Bruce A. Cerullo, Chief Executive Officer
Bruce Cerullo came to VCS with the acquisition of Lucida Staffing Group, where he served as the
chairman of the nationwide healthcare staffing organization. He also serves as a Venture Partner
with SV Life Sciences (SVLS), a Boston-based private equity firm. Prior to joining SVLS, Bruce was
the Chairman of the Board of Cross Country, Inc. (NASDAQ: CCRN), a leading provider of healthcare
staffing. Before that, he was the CEO of TravCorps, which merged with Cross Country in 1999. He has
also held leadership positions with Fitcorp Healthcare Centers, SportsMedicine Systems and North
Suburban Health Systems. He is a board member and fund raiser with Wide Horizons for Children
(www.whfc.org, international adoption), the YMCA and numerous
other non-profits. Bruce received his MS from Pennsylvania State University, and his BS from the
University of New Hampshire.
Mary Pat Fralick, Chief Operating Officer
Mary Pat Fralick has over 19 years experience in the healthcare information technology (“IT”)
consulting services industry. From 1985 through 1989, Mary Pat performed in an installation capacity
for dozens of hospitals throughout the country installing Siemens clinical and patient management
applications. In 1989, Mary Pat became the second employee and an equity partner in DARCA, a
healthcare consulting services firm that became well-known for exceptional service through its
commitment to quality and employee satisfaction. In September 1997, DARCA acquired Exemplar Systems,
a healthcare IT consulting company, creating Elumen Solutions. In 1999, CTG purchased Elumen and Mary
Pat was retained as a Managing Director of CTG Healthcare Solutions. After a brief hiatus, Mary Pat
and Danny determined that there were new challenges in Healthcare that together they could help
resolve. Mary Pat earned a B.A. from Rutgers University in 1985 and an MBA from St. Joseph's
University in 1991.
Karla T. Mount, Chief Financial Officer
Karla Mount brings over 20 years of business experience to VCS, including extensive experience in
the technology, staffing and healthcare services sectors. Previously, Karla served as founder and
CFO of Lucida Staffing Group and, before that, TravCorps, where she played an instrumental role in
growing both companies. In addition to her finance responsibilities, Karla oversaw all of the key
“shared service” functions including housing, insurance/risk management, information technology and
human resources. Prior to joining TravCorps, Karla was VP of Finance with TheraTx, a publicly-traded
healthcare services company, where her responsibilities included M&A activities and investor
relations, as well as all finance and accounting functions. Karla also has held senior financial
positions with a publicly-traded software company and an Internet startup. Karla began her career as
a CPA with Arthur Andersen & Co. She received her Bachelors of Business in Administration, Summa Cum
Laude from Southern Methodist University.
Eric J. Egnet, Chief Information Officer
Eric Egnet came to VCS with the acquisition of Lucida Staffing Group, where he served as
co-founder, CIO and VP of Healthcare IT and Clinical Informatics. From May of 2004 to May of 2006,
Eric was CEO and co-founder of a healthcare media and consulting company, Gente Media. Previously,
Eric served as Interim CIO for an innovative company, Millennium Pharmacy Systems, offering an
integrated CPOE, EMR and Automated Robotic Pharmacy solution. From 1993 to 2004, Eric held increasing
levels of responsibility with TravCorps Corporation and Cross Country Travcorps including Systems and
Programming Manager, Director of Information Systems and Chief Technology Officer. In his last 5
years at Cross Country Healthcare, Eric served as CIO and Executive Senior Manager positioning the
company as the industry's technology leader with the introduction of first of their kind nursing and
hospital portals and a powerful vendor management solution. He also acted as founder and executive
consultant at Healthe Consulting, ExperNet expert at Giga Information Group, Chairman of Artificial
Life Advisory Board and founder of HealthSeek.com. Eric received degrees from University of
Massachusetts at Lowell and Northern Essex Community College.
Danny W. Arnold, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Danny Arnold has over 25 years experience in the healthcare IT consulting services industry. From
1980 through 1986, Danny worked as a project manager for a large healthcare organization in Albany,
NY implementing advanced clinical technology to accomplish the organization's IT objectives. In 1986
through 1994, Danny worked for CTG and successfully developed a practice in the healthcare market
segment for the corporation. In 1994, Danny joined DARCA as the Executive Vice President of Business
Development and was a major contributor in the DARCA/Elumen Solutions success story. Most recently,
Danny was instrumental in the successful implementation of multiple Siemens applications at a large
IDN in Albany, NY. Danny earned a B.S. from SUNY, Albany in 1982.
John Smaling, Executive Vice President of Strategic Business Development
John Smaling has over 19 years experience in the healthcare IT industry. From 1985-1987, John
served as the IT Director for Paoli Memorial Hospital, and as the technical lead in Main Line
Health's IT consolidation efforts in 1987. John moved on to form Synexus Incorporated, a healthcare
technology consultancy and served as its President from 1988 through 1998, when it merged with Daou
Systems, Inc. During his six years at Daou, John served in a variety of senior management capacities,
principally as Daou's national Vice President and General Manager of Infrastructure Services. He has
spoken at many healthcare events such as HIMSS, CHIME, and CIO Forums across the country. He has also
been published numerous times in healthcare publications on such topics as mobile health, wireless
infrastructure, medication administration, RHIOs, and management tools. John earned a B.S.B.A. from
Shippensburg University in 1984.