Cooperative of American Physicians CEO and leadership

Sarah E. Scher, JD, RN is the chief executive officer of the Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc. (CAP) and the Mutual Protection Trust (MPT). In this role, she draws on her extensive leadership background in healthcare, law, patient safety, risk management, captive insurance, and medical professional liability to direct CAP’s core businesses - MPT and the CAPAssurance Risk Purchasing Group, which provide access to superior medical professional liability protection, patient safety education, and risk management services.

Prior to joining CAP, Ms. Scher was corporate vice president of risk management and insurance, president of the Advocate Physician Partners Risk Purchasing Group, and chair of Advocate Insurance SPC for Chicago-based Advocate Health Care, Illinois’ largest health system.

During her tenure at Advocate Health Care, Ms. Scher was responsible for developing, implementing, and directing the system-wide insurance, risk financing, risk management, and claims management programs to ensure a consistent and optimal approach to minimizing liability and risk exposure. Under her leadership and through her vigilant governance of litigation, utilization of risk financing alternatives, and fostering of strategic insurance partner relationships, the organization built a multi-million dollar reserve and significantly reduced expenses.

Early in her career, Ms. Scher worked as a trauma nurse at a level I emergency department and as a prosecutor in the criminal division of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

She was also an adjunct associate professor at Valparaiso University in Indiana, an expert speaker on clinical-legal issues to physicians and nurses, and lobbyist on behalf of the insurance and healthcare industries before the U.S. Congress.

A Nursing graduate of Purdue University School Calumet, Ms. Scher earned her Juris Doctor degree (Summa Cum Laude) from DePaul University College of Law with a Certificate in Health Law. Ms. Scher currently serves on the board of the California Hospital Medical Center Foundation, the U.S. Bank Advisory Board, the Los Angeles County Bar Association Healthcare Law Executive Committee, and the National Insurance Industry Council.

Alyson Lewis is CAP's Senior Vice President and Chief Underwriting Officer. She oversees the underwriting functions of the entire CAP enterprise and has executive responsibility for all CAPAssurance business development. She is President and Chief Operating Officer of the Cooperative of American Physicians Insurance Company, Inc. (CAPIC), a Hawaii-domiciled subsidiary of CAP.

Ms. Lewis joined CAP in 2016. She has 30 years of industry experience and has held leadership and senior underwriting positions in the healthcare practices of large global insurance companies. Ms. Lewis earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern California and her Juris Doctor degree from Concord Law School.

Hammon Acuna is CAP’s Chief Operating Officer.

Along with responsibility for the company’s Risk Management and Patient Safety Department, Mr. Acuna manages all CAP business development and membership services, a function he has performed since 2015.

With more than 30 years of experience in the medical professional liability industry that has incorporated a wide range of expertise in marketing, sales, retention, and customer/member service, Mr. Acuna joined CAP in 2007. Prior to joining CAP, he worked for 18 years at SCPIE Holdings, Inc., (later acquired by the Doctors Company}, where he served as Vice President of Marketing. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and studied in the MBA program at California State University, Northridge.

Muzzammeel (Muz) Bhattha is Chief Financial Officer of the Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc. Mr. Bhattha is a fellow member of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants and a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the state of California.

As CFO, Mr. Bhattha directs all of CAP’s financial functions, including planning and reporting; accounting practices and treasury functions; and managing relationships with external auditors, actuaries, and rating and regulatory agencies.

Before joining CAP, Mr. Bhattha was a senior manager with Ernst & Young LLP. He specialized in the audits of property and casualty insurance companies for seven years in the United States and five years with KPMG LLP in United Arab Emirates and Pakistan. He also helped clients navigate through various acquisitions and debt offerings. Mr. Bhattha is also a past board member of the Insurance Accounting & Systems Association Southern California Chapter.

Muzzammeel (Muz) Bhattha is Chief Financial Officer of the Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc. Mr. Bhattha is a fellow member of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants and a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the state of California.

As CFO, Mr. Bhattha directs all of CAP’s financial functions, including planning and reporting; accounting practices and treasury functions; and managing relationships with external auditors, actuaries, and rating and regulatory agencies.

Before joining CAP, Mr. Bhattha was a senior manager with Ernst & Young LLP. He specialized in the audits of property and casualty insurance companies for seven years in the United States and five years with KPMG LLP in United Arab Emirates and Pakistan. He also helped clients navigate through various acquisitions and debt offerings. Mr. Bhattha is also a past board member of the Insurance Accounting & Systems Association Southern California Chapter.