Who We Are
As experienced, innovative, and recognized leaders in their respective fields, our consulting team is comprised of successful executives and accomplished young talent. Each of our consultants brings clinical, business and technology acumen in healthcare, science, technology and management. We invest in our people to obtain and maintain professional certifications recognized in industry and required by our clients.
Frances (Fran) Murphy, MD, MPH – Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Murphy has had a distinguished career which includes 30 years as a physician, educator, researcher, and health care executive.
Dr. Murphy serves as a consultant and subject matter expert on strategic planning, business process redesign, program evaluation, evidence-based medicine, performance measurement and quality management, research management, organizational change and leadership development, policy and data analysis, and health information technology. Dr. Murphy is a member of the Editorial Board for Military Medicine, and the National Academy’s Human Studies Institutional Review Board.
During her over 20 years of career service with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Dr. Murphy served in progressively responsible leadership roles including Acting Under Secretary for Health (2002), and Deputy Under Secretary for Health (1999-2002) and Under Secretary for Health Policy Coordination (2003-2006). As Deputy Under Secretary for Health, she served as the chief operating officer for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the largest integrated health system in the U.S. From 2003-2006, Dr. Murphy served as the Deputy Under Secretary for Health Policy Coordination, leading interagency health policy and program development, and serving as principal liaison between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). She served as a member of the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health and chaired the Veterans Affairs Secretary’s Task Force on Mental Health. Dr. Murphy’s efforts transformed VA mental health care and were recognized by two national awards.
She received her MD degree from Georgetown University and a MPH from USUHS. Dr. Murphy is a board certified neurologist and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force Medical Corps.
Tom Colan, PMP – Vice President of Operations Management
Tom Colan has over fifteen years of strategic and management consulting experience with clients across the healthcare, financial and telecom industries in both the public and private sectors. Mr. Colan’s client service includes the Department of Veterans Affairs, Freddie Mac, Booz Allen Hamilton, Sprint Nextel, ICO Global Communications, and Progress Telecom. Mr. Colan has a professional background which includes time with Arthur Andersen Business Consulting, BearingPoint, Alion Science & Technology and Baker Tilly.
As Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Colan works to improve the operational systems, processes and policies in support of Sigma’s mission. Mr. Colan’s responsibilities include the support of better management reporting, information flow, business process and organizational planning. Mr. Colan’s areas of expertise include systems, process and policy design, implementation and assessment, strategic planning and analysis, project and program management, operational reviews and quality assurance. Mr. Colan holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management from Carnegie Mellon University. Mr. Colan is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).