Arete Health Appoints Veteran PT Executive Hank Balavender as Independent Board Member

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Arete Health, LLC today announced the appointment of Hank Balavender as an Independent Board Member, advancing the company’s clinician-led strategy to elevate outpatient physical therapy through leadership, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

With more than three decades of leadership experience, Balavender brings a rare blend of clinical expertise, strategic insight, and operational discipline to Arete Health’s board. His career spans high-growth scaling and complex turnarounds across some of the nation’s most recognized outpatient physical therapy and rehabilitation organizations.

A Career Built on Excellence and Transformation

Balavender is a proven healthcare executive and board member with extensive experience building and leading large-scale, industry-defining physical therapy organizations. His leadership is defined by aligning strategy, culture, and performance—helping companies grow stronger from the inside out.

• At Physiotherapy Associates (Exton, PA), he led one of the most successful growth phases in company history—doubling enterprise value from $200 million to over $400 million, driving revenues beyond $300 million, and scaling to 3 million annual patient visits and $32 million EBITDA across 560 facilities in 38 states.

• At St. Vincent’s Hospital (New York, NY), he partnered with Alvarez & Marsal on crisis management and turnaround efforts for Rehabilitation Services, producing ~150% revenue growth within three years.

• At Anderson Orthopedic Clinic (Alexandria, VA), part of a nationally acclaimed 11-surgeon orthopedic group, he built and standardized outpatient PT operations across multiple sites—later acquired by Physiotherapy Associates in 2015.

A licensed physical therapist and graduate of Quinnipiac University, Balavender combines clinical empathy with strategic execution. He’s a trusted leader, mentor, and advocate for clinician-driven organizations.

Aligned with “The Arete Way”

At Arete Health, The Arete Way is about humility, high-performance leadership, and getting 1% better every day.

“Arete Health’s clinician-led model represents the future of outpatient physical therapy,” said Hank Balavender. “It’s an honor to join a team redefining what’s possible in care delivery—grounded in purpose, driven by quality, and united by a culture that empowers clinicians to lead from the front.”

A Shared Vision for the Future

“We’re thrilled to welcome Hank to our Board,” said Eric DeYoung, CEO of Arete Health. “He embodies thoughtful leadership, operational excellence, and the belief that culture drives performance. His insight will be instrumental as we scale a clinician-led organization that delivers exceptional care and sustainable growth.”

Arete Health extends its thanks to Hank for his partnership, vision, and alignment with our purpose—to lead from the front and get 1% better every day.

About Arete Health, LLC

Arete Health is a clinician-led outpatient physical therapy platform backed by MBF Healthcare Partners, headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida. Arete Health is redefining outpatient rehabilitation through clinical excellence, a modern operating system, and growth rooted in people, purpose, and performance. Learn more at aretehealthpt.com.

Meet Us at APTA PPS

Heading to the APTA Private Practice Section (PPS) Annual Conference in Orlando this November? Meet with Board Member Hank Balavender, CEO Eric DeYoung, and Director of M&A Payton Irslinger. To schedule time, email Payton Irslinger at pirslinger@aretehealthpt.com.