About Apogee Behavioral Medicine

Dr. Michael Gregory received his medical degree from the University of Texas and completed his general surgery residency at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

During his third year of surgery residency, Dr. Gregory founded American Physicians, Inc. (API), which, under his leadership, grew into the largest Hospitalist group in Arizona.

In 2002, Dr. Gregory founded Apogee Medical Group, Inc. (d/b/a Apogee Physicians) based on the vision of, “What’s best for the Patient is best for the Practice.”™. “It wasn’t until we, the physicians, were in control of the practice that I felt our vision could become a reality.”

Apogee’s original business plan ended with 22 doctors in 2 local hospitals. Now, 13 years later, more than 750 physicians and nurse practitioners nationwide call Apogee home. When asked what has fueled Apogee’s explosive growth, Dr. Gregory replies, “Our growth has never been driven by a desire to be bigger. It has been driven by the understanding that if we do not create opportunities for our star talent, our competition will. Growth creates opportunity, and great people crave opportunity.”

“Growth creates opportunity, and great people crave opportunity.”

Throughout his life, Dr. Gregory has maintained an impassioned commitment not only to the health care industry but also to social issues and philanthropic efforts. In 2007, in an effort to give back to the profession that has given Dr. Gregory so much, Apogee granted the first and only full-ride scholarships in Arizona history to allow worthy students to attend medical school. Also, Apogee currently provides millions of dollars a year in free health care to underprivileged patients.

George is a results-oriented executive with a unique combination of investment banking, entrepreneurial, and healthcare experience. After a 17-year career in investment banking advising both private and public companies in corporate finance and mergers & acquisitions, George pursued the entrepreneurial path and co-founded two successful healthcare companies, one which was private equity funded and gainfully monetized. For the last eight years he has been Executive Vice President of Corporate Development for Apogee Physicians.

George holds a Bachelor of Science in Math – Applied Science (Economics) from UCLA and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.

Dr. Dennis Klein currently serves as Apogee Physicians’ Division 1 President. He received his medical degree from Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center, Des Moines, IA. After graduation, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy and completed his Internship and Residency in Family Medicine at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, Camp Pendleton, CA. Dr. Klein served on Active Duty as part of the US Navy Medical Corp in Washington, North Carolina, and California, along with several overseas deployments including a tour in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following his military service, Dr. Klein went into private practice in Jefferson City, TN. He remained in private practice until joining Apogee Physicians in December 2010 as Hospitalist Program Director at Lakeway Regional Hospital in Morristown, TN. He enjoyed family time with his wife and children skiing on the lakes and camping in the mountains of East Tennessee.

While at Lakeway, he earned the distinction of Apogee’s Program Director of the Year in 2011 before transitioning into his role as Apogee Physicians’ Division 1 President in September 2013. In this role, he provides operational oversight to 46 Apogee Hospitalist programs in 13 states. Dr. Klein currently resides in Coeur d’Alene, ID with his wife and three children.

Dr. Derek Ayers has extensive experience in healthcare administration and hospital-based psychiatric services as both a clinician and market physician lead. He has a clinical interest in addiction medicine, with prior experience operating a detox and rehabilitation facility along with building and running an addiction medicine clinic. He has a passion for teaching and building up future clinicians to meet the growing needs and challenges faced in today’s healthcare landscape. Derek also has a strong focus on operational efficiencies for hospital-based care delivery models.

Dr. Ayers obtained his medical degree from Lincoln Memorial University and completed his residency in general psychiatry at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where he obtained his board certification in both General Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine.

As Chief Operating Officer, Dustin Harris drives Apogee Behavioral Medicine’s mission to elevate the level of behavioral healthcare to hospitals and outpatient clinics across the country while keeping the patient in mind. Dustin is committed to ensuring that patients in all communities have equitable access to behavioral health resources. He helps Apogee Behavioral Medicine’s partners see measurable improvements in patient outcomes, quality metrics, and financial sustainability. Dustin has 10 years of progressive experience within healthcare operations, where he developed a 12-hospital Tele-Psychiatry division. This led to his passion within Telehealth Operations and behavioral health.

Dustin holds a Master of Management in Clinical Informatics from Duke University, a Master of Health Administration from Pfeiffer University, and a Bachelor of Science in Research Biology from Queens University of Charlotte.