Richard C. “Chad” Mather III, MD, MBA, is the Medical Director of Optum Specialty Practices and Specialist Engagement at Optimal Care and Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Duke University School of Medicine with faculty appointments in the Department of Population Health Sciences and Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy. He is focused on transforming how we care for patients organizationally, financially, and technologically to improve the value of healthcare and its experience. Prior to joining Optum he was the Vice-Chairman of Practice Transformation in the Duke Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. He is a past president of the North Carolina Orthopaedic Association and past health policy fellow with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He earned an undergraduate degree in economics from Miami University and a medical doctorate and masters in business administration from Duke, where he also completed residency training in orthopaedic surgery. His clinical practice is focused on hip arthroscopy/preservation and is engaged in national and international leadership roles in this field.