February 28, 2018 (TAMPA, Fla.) – Laser Spine Institute, the leader in minimally invasive spine surgery, today announced the appointment of Thomas Linton as its first-ever Chief Patient Empowerment Officer. Linton previously served as Vice President of Customer Experience at Assurant, a Fortune 500 insurance company.
“We look forward to leveraging Thomas’ expertise to further facilitate the delivery of exemplary experiences for our patients during every step of their care journey,” said Roger Cary, President and Chief Executive Officer, Laser Spine Institute. “Creating this position and adding someone with Thomas’ track record is a testament to our commitment to patient-centered care.”
As Chief Patient Empowerment Officer, Linton will have oversight of the organization’s patient-facing teammates who serve as the first touch in the patient experience, those who are the patient’s main contact throughout their journey and liaisons with physicians in local markets. Linton will also help identify patients’ interactions, which are critical moments of truth, to improve their overall experience. 
Linton has more than 20 years of experience in marketing, sales and customer experience, with a focus on delivering customer-centered solutions. Prior to joining Laser Spine Institute, Linton also held leadership positions at AT&T, Bank of America and General Electric. Linton’s years of experience have made him known for his effectiveness in driving growth, improving efficiencies and finding customer solutions.
“I’m thrilled to be joining a purpose-driven organization and to play a part in continuing Laser Spine Institute’s mission to provide exceptional patient experiences and care,” Linton said. “We are known as the leader in minimally invasive spine surgery for a reason, and the impact our teammates and innovative medicine plays on our patients’ lives was instrumental in my decision to join the organization.”
Linton received his Master of Business Administration in marketing and strategic planning from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering and a Master of Engineering from the University of Louisville. He serves on the Board of Directors for the George M. Hughes Foundation, which provides college scholarships to deserving high school seniors.
For more information, visit http://news.laserspineinstitute.com/.
Media Contact: Maura Devetski, Edelman
Phone: 404-832-6788
Email: maura.devetski@edelman.com
About Laser Spine Institute
Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, Laser Spine Institute currently operates seven regional surgery centers across the country, in Tampa, Florida; Scottsdale, Arizona; Philadelphia; Oklahoma City; Cleveland, St. Louis and Cincinnati. Laser Spine Institute has helped more than 75,000 patients find relief from debilitating neck and back pain caused by spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, pinched nerves, bone spurs, bulging/herniated discs, sciatica and other chronic conditions. Patients often refer a friend or family member to have surgery at Laser Spine Institute; we have a patient recommendation score of 97 out of 100. Additionally, Laser Spine Institute has been repeatedly recognized for outstanding patient satisfaction and reports an enterprise patient satisfaction score of more than 96.
Laser Spine Institute has been named a top employer by Modern Healthcare, Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Bay Business Journal, Philly.com and okc.BIZ and a Most Admired Company by BestCompaniesAZ. Opening in Tampa in 2005 with one operating room and nine employees, Laser Spine Institute now has nearly 1,000 corporate and health care professionals across the country.