The Team Behind the Care: Epic Cardiovascular Services Client Services
At Epic Cardiovascular Services, our Client Services team is more than a point of contact. We work with hospitals facing real operational risk, from fragile perfusion coverage to rising labor costs and inconsistent program performance. We’re a strategic extension of your cardiovascular program. Our team understands what happens when one perfusionist calls out, when ECMO demand increases, or when leadership is asked to do more with less. Made up of experienced leaders and specialists, our team combines clinical insight with business expertise to deliver solutions that truly support patient care. From the first conversation to a long-term partnership, we focus on understanding your needs and helping you operate with confidence.
Providing Comprehensive Cardiovascular Solutions
Our team connects healthcare facilities with a full spectrum of services designed to strengthen cardiovascular programs, including:
- Long-term & short-term perfusion support (adult and pediatric)
- ECMO staffing, program management, and education
- Biologics support, including PRP and bone marrow aspirate
- Organ procurement support (DCD & NRP)
But these services are not deployed in isolation. They are designed to solve specific operational challenges, from coverage gaps and burnout risk to cost unpredictability and program expansion barriers.
These services are not one-size-fits-all. We tailor every solution to align with your clinical, operational, and financial goals.
Epic Cardiovascular Services: A True Partner in Program Success
Our Client Services team acts as an extension of your team and a trusted advisor at every stage. Many of the hospitals we partner with come to us after experiencing canceled cases, inconsistent coverage, or internal strain on small, highly specialized teams. We take the time to understand not just your immediate needs, but the bigger picture – your program goals, challenges, and long-term vision.
By working closely with hospital leadership and clinical teams, we:
- Assess workflows and staffing models in depth to uncover inefficiencies, coverage gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
- Identify challenges before they become problems, offering proactive, scalable solutions that support both clinical outcomes and operational performance.
- Deliver ongoing support and communication, staying engaged with your team to adapt as your needs evolve.
This is where we differentiate. We are not reacting to open shifts. We’re helping you reduce risk, stabilize operations, and plan ahead.
We also recognize that no two programs are the same. Whether you’re navigating staffing shortages, expanding services, or optimizing an existing program, our approach is always tailored, collaborative, and forward-thinking.
From urgent coverage needs to long-term program development, our team is committed to helping you build stability, improve efficiency, and deliver consistent, high-quality patient care every step of the way.
Built on Clinical Expertise
What sets Epic Cardiovascular Services apart is our strong clinical foundation. Many members of our team are practicing clinicians or bring decades of hands-on experience in perfusion, ECMO, and blood management, giving us a deep, real-world understanding of the environments you operate in.
We understand what it means when coverage is “fragile,” when protocols vary by provider, or when surgeons lose confidence in consistency.
That expertise allows us to go beyond surface-level solutions. We understand the nuances behind each request and ask the right questions to ensure the right fit, whether that means specific clinical experience, specialized skills, or program-specific support.
Just as importantly, we bridge the gap between clinical teams and hospital leadership, translating complex needs into clear, effective solutions. The result is support that’s not only operationally sound, but grounded in delivering safe, high-quality patient care.
A Relationship-First Approach to Cardiovascular Care
Strong partnerships are at the core of everything we do, and we don’t take that lightly. We know that in healthcare, trust isn’t given; it’s earned through consistency, responsiveness, and results over time. That’s why our team is committed to being present, accessible, and fully invested in your success, not just when there’s an immediate need, but long before and after.
We prioritize:
- Transparency and trust in every interaction, from initial conversations to long-term agreements.
- Consistent communication and accessibility, so you always have a reliable point of contact.
- Proactive support, anticipating needs, and helping you plan ahead with confidence.
Hospitals don’t need more vendors. They need partners who take ownership of outcomes, not just coverage.
Our approach is simple: show up, follow through, and add value at every step. Whether it’s regular check-ins, helping you prepare for upcoming staffing changes, or offering insight based on what we’re seeing across the industry, we aim to be a resource you can count on.
Epic Cardiovascular Services: Where Clinical Expertise Meets Real Partnership
With over 25 years of experience, Epic Cardiovascular Services brings together a nationwide network of highly skilled clinicians and a Client Services team grounded in real-world clinical expertise. Our clinician-led model means every solution is shaped by people who understand the realities of patient care, ensuring the support you receive is both practical and high-performing.
We help hospitals move from reactive coverage to structured, predictable program support.
But expertise alone isn’t enough. We pair our clinical strength with a consultative, business-minded approach – aligning our solutions with your operational goals, financial considerations, and long-term strategy. From customized staffing models to fully managed service lines, we focus on delivering solutions that work seamlessly within your organization.
What truly sets us apart is our commitment to partnership. We’re not here for one-time placements. We’re here to help you build stability, improve outcomes, and plan for what’s next. With Epic Cardiovascular Services, you gain a responsive, reliable partner who is invested in your success today and into the future.
Ready to strengthen your cardiovascular program with a partner who truly understands your needs? Connect with Epic Cardiovascular Services to talk through your current coverage model, risks, and goals, and identify where we can create stability and predictability.
Meet the Epic Cardiovascular Services Client Services Team
Carla Maul
Vice President, Cardiovascular Services
Carla has spent the past 25+ years as a clinical perfusionist. She has held positions with hospitals, industry manufacturers, and staffing companies. She has served as a past President of AmSECT and has received the AmSECT Perfusionist of the Year award. When she is not assisting hospital partners with staffing needs or launching ECMO programs, you can find her in New Orleans, LA, spending time with way too many dogs, working on the Sanibel Symposium, and perfecting her gumbo recipes.
Connect with Carla at [email protected] or (504) 444-6951.
Chris Odom
Vice President, Business Development
With over 20+ years of experience in commercial leadership, business strategy, and partnerships in the Medical Field, Chris is a results-driven leader passionate about driving growth and fostering strategic relationships. As VP of Business Development, Chris oversees the company’s business expansion initiatives, identifies new market opportunities, and forges key alliances that align with the organization’s long-term vision.
Known for his collaborative approach and innovative thinking, Chris is committed to leading teams that create value and generate impactful results. In his free time, he enjoys mentoring young professionals and contributing to the next generation of leaders in business development through publications, teaching opportunities, and conferences.
Connect with Chris at [email protected] or (865) 599-7515.
Brian D. Osswald
Business Development
Brian Osswald is part of the Business Development team at Epic Cardiovascular Services, where he helps hospitals implement advanced solutions like NRP and DCD to strengthen their transplant and perfusion programs.
Connect with Brian at [email protected] or (317) 908-0047.
Chip Dahl
Business Development Manager
Chip brings more than 25 years of sales and leadership experience in the healthcare and cardiopulmonary business to his new role as Business Development Manager, focusing on developing new partnerships and alliances with hospitals and health systems in the Western US.
Prior to joining the Epic Cardiovascular Services team, Chip held various sales, business development and management positions withing the healthcare and cardiac surgery space. Chip prides himself in delivering results with a consultative and collaborative approach, helping both hospitals and perfusionists improve staffing conditions, while enhancing efficiency and work-life balance.
In his spare time, Chip enjoys golfing, snow skiing, mountain biking, and spending time with friends and family.
Connect with Chip at [email protected] or (916) 799-0262.
Matt Ehman
Business Development Manager
Matt Ehman is a member of the Business Development team at Epic Cardiovascular Services. Since 2021, he has focused on supporting hospitals and healthcare leaders by listening closely to their needs and helping connect them with the right clinical staffing and program support solutions. He is especially passionate about ECMO program development and education and has also supported the development of simulation resources at Curtis Life Research.
Matt is inspired by his wife, an RN and ECMO Specialist, whose frontline perspective helps keep him grounded in what clinicians truly need and value. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling with his wife and exploring the mountains of Colorado. This year, they will both be embarking on a new adventure as they welcome their first child this August.
Connect with Matt at [email protected], (800) 928-1124, or (317) 764-1047.
Torrie Pare
Business Development Manager
With 11 years of experience in the operating room, Torrie brings a wealth of expertise to her work. Originally from Houston, TX, she began her career as a sales representative specializing in spine and biologics. In 2021, she relocated to Denver, CO, to join the Epic Specialty Services Blood Management Team.
Torrie seamlessly combines her clinical OR knowledge with her sales expertise, building and nurturing strong, lasting relationships with customers. Her background allows her to understand both the clinical and business sides of healthcare, making her a trusted partner to the teams she serves.
Outside of work, Torrie enjoys staying active, whether playing volleyball or exploring all that Colorado’s outdoors has to offer, with her husband and their dog, Breck.
Connect with Torrie at [email protected] or (936) 346-3765.
Victoria Mercado
Business Development Specialist
Victoria Mercado is a Business Development Specialist at Epic Cardiovascular Services. With a background in Communication and Journalism and a Master’s in Marketing and Sales, Victoria has built her career around one guiding belief: every story matters.
She is passionate about connecting people, ideas, and opportunities, not just to meet goals, but to build meaningful relationships that drive lasting impact. For Victoria, success comes from listening deeply, communicating clearly, and helping teams move forward with confidence. Because when we honor the story behind the work, we create results that truly matter.
Connect with Victoria at [email protected], (954) 821-1105 or (305) 614-5064.
Susan Wickersham
Business Development Specialist
With over 30 years of experience in the medical field, including dialysis, apheresis, and autotransfusion, Susan brings extensive clinical and industry experience to the Business Development team. For the last 20+ years, she has advocated for the advancement and utilization of autotransfusion as an integral and critical piece to a comprehensive blood management strategy. She is especially proud of the relationships built over these decades, and the opportunity to teach at perfusion and anesthesia tech schools. Susan has also had the privilege of speaking at many conferences over the years. She holds a degree in Medical Technology and Perioperative Patient Blood Management Specialist certification.
Susan enjoys volunteering and supporting local animal shelters and benefits for our veterans and Wounded Warrior Project, gardening, and is a voracious reader. She most enjoys spending time with her husband, and the resident furry members of the family at their recently acquired little piece of property in the woods near the Hocking Hills in SE Ohio.
Connect with Susan at [email protected] or 614-286-4086.
