Healthcare Services

Ben Brown is a Senior Managing Director in Investment Banking at Leerink Partners and leads the Firm’s Pharma Services practice. With over 20 years of Investment Banking and investing experience, he has executed M&A and equity transactions for clients across several verticals, including pharma outsourcing and IT, payor and provider services, healthtech, software, consulting and human capital services.

Ben joined Leerink Partners in 2021 from Baird, where he spent over 15 years, most recently as Managing Director and Head of Global Pharma Services Investment Banking. Prior to Baird, he held Investment Banking and private equity positions with Thomas Weisel Partners, The Halifax Group, Growth Capital Partners and Prudential Capital Group.

He holds a B.B.A. from Southern Methodist University (cum laude) and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management.

Jeff Danesis is a Senior Managing Director of Investment Banking at Leerink Partners and oversees the Firm’s Physician Services Investment Banking franchise.

His career spans over 15 years of healthcare investment banking expertise and over 40 closed transactions. He has extensive deal experience in physician-centric businesses with a particular emphasis on physician practice management and outpatient provider models. Notable recent transactions include advising Waypoint Capital on its acquisition of a majority ownership stake in Allergy Partners, Truvista Ophthalmology Surgical Center and select affiliated physician practices on its sale to Sunvera Group (a Ridgemont Equity Partners portfolio company), Prism Medical Products on its sale to Henry Schein, Green Bay Radiology on its partnership with Lucid Health (an Excellere Partners portfolio company), Austin Radiological Association on its partnership with Radiology Partners; the recapitalization of Dermatologists of Central States by Sheridan Capital Partners; the recapitalization of Charlotte Radiology by Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe to form U.S. Radiology Specialists; the sale of Midwest Center for Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery to an undisclosed financial sponsor-backed buyer; and the sale of Cleveland HeartLab by Quest Diagnostics.

Prior to joining the Firm in 2014, Jeff was a Director in the Healthcare Group at Lazard and a member of the Healthcare Investment Banking Group at Wachovia Securities.

He earned his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago and his B.A. from Northwestern University.

Thad Davis is a Senior Managing Director in Investment Banking at Leerink Partners. With over 20 years of Healthcare Investment Banking experience, he has executed strategic transactions for a variety of public and private companies across all major sectors of healthcare, including healthcare-focused private equity.

Thad shares responsibility for healthcare sector coverage across all sectors within healthcare with a specific focus in the healthcare technology, digital health, and behavioral sub-sectors. Thad also helps leads Leerink’s private capital markets franchise encompassing growth equity and debt financings in addition to advising on special situations and restructurings.

Thad joined the Firm in 2021 from HSBC where he served as Head of U.S. Healthcare Investment Banking and was responsible for healthcare coverage including origination, relationship oversight, team leadership and transaction execution. Prior to HSBC, he was a Managing Director at Jefferies and UBS within their respective global healthcare teams.

Thad earned his Bachelor of Science in Management from Purdue University and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Business and serves on the executive committee of the board of directors at the New York Common Pantry.

Howard Dingle is a Senior Managing Director in Investment Banking at Leerink Partners and is focused on coverage of Healthcare Distribution, Technology and related Services companies. With 12+ years of Healthcare Investment Banking experience, he has worked extensively with both private and publicly listed firms on mergers & acquisitions, equity offerings, acquisition financings and debt financings.
 
Howard joined Leerink Partners in 2021 from RBC Capital Markets, where he had worked since 2013, most recently as Managing Director covering Healthcare Distribution, Technology and related Services verticals. Prior to RBC Capital Markets, he held positions with Credit Suisse and Deloitte.
 
He holds a B.S. (with honors) from Lehigh University and an M.B.A. (with honors) from The University of Chicago, Booth School of Business.

Robert Jackey is a Senior Managing Director in Investment Banking at Leerink Partners and is focused on coverage for Physician Services and Healthcare Provider companies. With over 18 years of Healthcare Investment Banking experience, he has led efforts to execute strategic transactions for a variety of public and private companies. Bob’s advisory and execution experience spans the spectrum of traditional provider organizations through high-growth healthcare disruptors, including domestic and multinational corporations.

Robert joined Leerink Partners in 2021 from Citigroup, where he spent over 16 years, most recently as Managing Director, covering the alternate site / sub-acute, behavioral, clinical staffing / outsourcing, dental, hospital / acute care, patient transportation, physician organization and veterinary verticals.

He holds a B.S. (summa cum laude) in electrical engineering as well as an M.B.A. from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Toby King is a Senior Managing Director in Investment Banking at Leerink Partners, focused on the Healthcare Provider continuum. With over 20 years of Healthcare Investment Banking experience, he has advised some of the industry’s leading healthcare providers and private equity firms across a wide variety of situations.

Toby joined Leerink Partners in 2021 from Citigroup, where he spent more than a decade, most recently as Managing Director and Head of North America Healthcare leading efforts with individual coverage across hospitals, alternate-site providers, behavioral health, outsourcing and post-acute care. Prior to Citigroup, he spent over ten years in the Healthcare Group at Merrill Lynch. Prior to investment banking, he worked at HCA’s Corporate Finance and Development group.

He holds a B.A. from Bellarmine University and an M.B.A. from The University of Chicago, Booth School of Business.

Whit Mayo is a Senior Managing Director and Senior Research Analyst covering Healthcare Providers & Managed Care at Leerink Partners. He leads Leerink Partners’ research across payors, providers, and health systems and provides strategic guidance and insight for our clients and partners.

Whit joined the Firm in 2021 from UBS, where he most recently served as Managing Director. Prior to that, Whit covered the sector at Baird and Stephens, Inc.

In 2020 he was ranked in Institutional Investor’s All-America Research Team within the Health Care Facilities & Managed Care category.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics at Sewanee, The University of the South.

Michael Cherny is a Senior Managing Director and Senior Research Analyst at Leerink Partners covering Healthcare Technology and Distribution.

Prior to joining the Firm in 2023, Michael’s most recent role was at Bank of America Merrill Lynch where he was Managing Director / Healthcare Technology & Distribution Analyst. Prior to Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Michael was the Healthcare Technology & Distribution Analyst at UBS Securities and held roles at Evercore ISI and Deutsche Bank within the healthcare and technology sector.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Emory University.

Barry Blake is the Global Co-Head of Investment Banking, and Global Co-Head of Healthcare Investment Banking at Leerink Partners. In this role, he co-leads the Firm’s healthcare investment banking strategy and initiatives, with a focus on Healthcare Services & Technology. With 25 years of experience, he has built extensive relationships and has proven expertise in healthcare services, medical devices and tools/diagnostics, leveraged finance, and with financial sponsors. Leading the Healthcare Services team at Leerink Partners, he has advised on numerous transactions, including the sale of LHC Group to Optum Health, a UnitedHealth Group Company, for $6B.

Barry joined the Firm in 2021 from Guggenheim Securities where he was a Senior Managing Director focused on advising healthcare services companies. While at Guggenheim he advised on many transactions including, but not limited to, the $10B sale of Envision to KKR; the $4B sale of Kindred Healthcare to a consortium comprised of TPG, Welsh Carson and Humana; the $2.4B sale of American Medical Response to KKR and the $1B sale of Almost Family to LHC Group. Prior to this, he was the Head of Global Healthcare Mergers and Acquisitions for Citigroup. While at Citigroup he worked on many transactions including, but not limited to, the $34B acquisition of Medco by Express Scripts. He also worked in the M&A and Healthcare groups at Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan and Lehman Brothers. While at JP Morgan he advised on many transactions including, but not limited to, the $4.8B acquisition of NextRx from Wellpoint by Express Scripts.

Barry earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Hendrix College, and his Masters of Business Administration with high distinction from the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College.

He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees for each of The Hopkins School in New Haven, CT and Hendrix College in Conway, AR.

Caroline Cameron is the Chief Operating Officer of Investment Banking at Leerink Partners.

Prior to joining the Firm in 2024, Caroline was the Chief Operating Officer at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods (KBW, A Stifel Company). Prior to her time at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, she worked in investment banking at Edgeview Partners (acquired by Piper Jaffrey), and as a research analyst at Fox-Pitt, Kelton and Macquarie Capital.

She earned a B.A. in Psychology and Economics from Hamilton College where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa.

Christian Clark is a Director and Business Manager of Investment Banking at Leerink Partners. Mr. Clark is responsible for managing the group’s overall operations including strategic planning, financial and business reporting and analytics, people management and recruiting. He supports Healthcare Services & Technology and MD&D investment banking teams.

Mr. Clark joined the Firm in 2018 as the Business Manager for Equity Research. He was responsible for managing the Equity Research side of client strategy and for leading many key strategic initiatives in product, process and business development. He was promoted to Associate Director of Equity Research during his time in Equity Research.

Prior to Leerink Partners, Mr. Clark worked at Credit Suisse and held a variety of business and strategy positions within the Equities division. Prior to this role, he was a Fixed Income client consultant at Bloomberg LP.

Mr. Clark earned his B.S. in Finance (Summa Cum Laude) from Pennsylvania State University.

Jim Kelly is a Senior Managing Director, Director of Research at Leerink Partners. Mr. Kelly is responsible for product management, analyst development and equity strategy.

Prior to joining Leerink Partners in 2015, Mr. Kelly worked at Credit Suisse, where he served in research management as an Associate Director of Equity Research in New York and was responsible for leading key, strategic initiatives in research product and process development. Prior to his ADOR role at Credit Suisse, Mr. Kelly spent 13 years in Equity Research covering the US Pharmaceuticals industry for Lehman Brothers, Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse First Boston.

Mr. Kelly received his M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University.  Mr. Kelly also serves on the board of the Lehigh Business School Dean’s Advisory Council.

Julia Belladonna is a Managing Director, Associate Director of Research at Leerink Partners.

Julia joined the Firm in 2021 from Credit Suisse where she spent 20+ years in a variety of roles, most recently as the COO of Global Economics for their Institutional client & Private Wealth Management businesses. She brings over two decades of experience in financial markets, business and talent management, international regulatory requirements, and operations. She has excelled in managing complex groups, collaborating across business units, and developing strategies to deliver research to clients. Prior to Credit Suisse, she was an Industry Analyst at Merrill Lynch.

Julia earned a B.A. in Applied Mathematics and History from Williams College and an M.B.A. in Finance from Columbia Business School.