Kathy Bryant, for more than 11 years the face and figurehead of the ambulatory surgery center industry, has decided to depart, the ASC Association announced yesterday afternoon.

Ms. Bryant, 56, will remain with the ASC Association and the Ambulatory Surgery Foundation through Sept. 1, and will attend ASCs 2010, the annual meeting scheduled for May 19-22 in Anaheim, Calif.

Ms. Bryant led FASA from November 1998 until FASA and AAASC merged to form the ASC Association (ASCA) on Jan. 1, 2008. Ms. Bryant was CEO of ASCA, but a noticeable power shift occurred when the ASC Advocacy Committee was formed last year and charged with fixing the ASC industry's so-called "brand-identity crisis."

A replacement for Ms. Bryant will be named, says spokeswoman Kay Tucker. "That will be determined," says Ms. Tucker.

"Bryant's tenure with both organizations has been characterized by numerous achievements for individual ASCs and the organizations she led," says the ASC Association. "These achievements include a dramatic growth in membership, an expanded scope of services for members, enhancement of ASCs' stature on Capitol Hill and much more."

Ms. Bryant often lamented the fact that ASCs were paid considerably less than hospitals for the same surgical procedures. During the past 6 years, Medicare ASC payment rates have dropped as the number of ASCs and the cases they perform continue to grow.

Ms. Bryant was unavailable for comment, but through Ms. Tucker said she felt the time was right to step down. "After a tenure like that, there's never a good time, but she felt like her goals had been accomplished and the path is set," says Ms. Tucker.

Dan O'Connor