as Medical Travel Professional
DENVER, Co. –June 4, 2008 –When Stephanie Sulger, then a registered nurse specializing in operating room nursing and staff management in the New York City metropolitan area, took fledgling steps into the world of medical tourism, she never envisioned becoming vice president of the nation’s leading medical travel company. Her first experiences as an entrepreneur and president of Medical Tours International (MTI), a medical tourism company she founded in 2002, prepared Sulger for her current role as vice president of the Consumer Division at BridgeHealth International, Inc., where she continues to break new ground in this fast-growth field.
“The medical travel industry was in its earliest stages when I first traveled abroad to undergo major surgery,” Sulger recalls, citing her initial experience with facial reconstructive surgery in Costa Rica. “Now, I travel out of the country for relatively minor procedures, including routine check-ups. A ‘trip’ to the dentist has taken on a whole new meaning for me.”
After suffering multiple injuries to her face during a car accident, Sulger faced $50,000 in medical expenses, with insurance covering just about half the cost. Under the advice of a physician friend, Sulger flew to Costa Rica to undergo extensive surgery and medical procedures. Somewhat surprised and yet extremely satisfied by the quality of care she received, as well as by the number of U.S. citizens she met who were also undergoing surgery in Costa Rica, Sulger decided to bring home the message of medical tourism. MTI was born as a cottage industry, and Sulger quickly developed an important international presence as an industry pioneer.
“Stephanie brings significant industry and clinical knowledge to BridgeHealth,” says Victor Lazzaro, Jr., CEO of BridgeHealth. “As a medical travel consumer herself, she understands the challenges as well as the opportunities. Her background and experience have prepared her to be a good judge of the quality of care available abroad and ways to access services.”
Over the years, Sulger has helped thousands of clients arrange medical and travel accommodations spanning destinations worldwide. Today, she oversees the coordination of services for BridgeHealth patients traveling to such countries as Brazil, China, India, Mexico, South Korea, Thailand, and Turkey.
Currently, Sulger serves on the board of advisors of Consumer Health World and actively manages BridgeHealth International’s Consumer Division. A graduate of the Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing, Troy, NY, Sulger holds a B.S. from Iona College, New Rochelle, NY, and an M.S. from Long Island University at West Point, New York.
About BridgeHealth International, Inc.
Founded in 2007 and positioned as a leader in the medical tourism industry, BridgeHealth International, Inc. maintains a worldwide network of physicians and accredited hospitals, offering priority customer service, significant savings on high-value medical procedures, and outcome-based measurement systems. BridgeHealth primarily serves health plans, insurance carriers, employers, third party administrators, and individuals accessing benefits via voluntary benefits plans, health card programs, or Consumer Directed HealthCare Plans (CDHP), as well as consumers seeking medical travel options. Visit www.bridgehealthinternational.com or www.medicaltoursinternational.com.
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