Leadership Team

Dr. William Hedden

Chief Medical Officer

Dr. William J. Hedden, Chief Medical Officer at Ascend Aesthetic Partners, utilizes his sculpting background and extensive expertise in aesthetic surgery to enhance both outer beauty and inner happiness. With a compassionate approach akin to family, he ensures optimal outcomes through continuous education and adherence to rigorous standards. Educated at Broward Community College, the University of Florida, and the University of South Florida, with residencies at LSU Medical Center and UAB, Dr. Hedden pioneers innovation in aesthetics and plastic surgery. Alongside the CEO, he oversees Ascend Aesthetic Partners' premier network of plastic surgeons and aesthetic centers, exemplifying excellence in patient care and industry leadership.

David Cutter

Chief Operating Officer

David Cutter joined Ascend Aesthetic Partners in February of 2025, bringing more than 20 years of experience in healthcare operations and management with a strong focus on surgical practices and operating room efficiency.
Throughout his career, David has held key leadership positions, including serving as the Group Vice President of Operations at SCA Health, where he oversaw the management of 27 ambulatory surgery centers and SCA Health’s Pivotal Healthcare Partners cardiovascular platform, leading to significant improvements in patient outcomes and operational performance. More recently he has served as the US Division COO for Praesentia Healthcare, where he implemented strategic initiatives that enhanced surgeon engagement, reduced cost, and improved operating margins.
David holds a master’s degree in Health Administration, a master’s degree in Public Health, both from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and a bachelor of science in Chemistry from Millsaps College.

Neil Harber

Chief Financial Officer

As the Chief Financial Officer, Neil is responsible for overseeing the financial management and strategy for Ascend Aesthetic Partners, to include financial planning and analysis, treasury, tax, accounting, budgeting, and investor relations. Neil most recently served as the CFO for Advanced Care Partners (ACP), a home healthcare provider for the medically fragile. Prior to ACP, he served in various healthcare leadership roles at US Radiology Specialists and McKesson and non-healthcare leadership roles at Worthington Industries and the US Army. Neil earned his bachelor's degree from the United States Military Academy and his MBA from Emory University.

Dawn Crawford

Vice President, People and Culture

Dawn Crawford joined Ascend Aesthetic Partners as the Vice President of People and Culture in March of 2025. Dawn brings over 15 years of rich experience in human resources, cultural transformation, and process optimization, with a keen specialization in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) integration.

Most recently, Dawn served as Head of HR Integrations at EyeSouth Partners, where she successfully led human resources operations across 300 doctors and 3,000 corporate employees, focusing on streamlining acquisition integrations and standardizing HR processes. Her exceptional ability to manage complex HR integrations has been evident through her effective management of due diligence, benefits transitions, and cultural alignment for acquired practices.

Prior to her role at EyeSouth, Dawn held the position of Director of People Operations at IO Education, where she skillfully navigated through a complex 5-way merger in the education technology sector. Her background also includes impactful roles in human resources and operations at Veredus Corporation, further showcasing her extensive expertise in building robust HR policies and managing large-scale staffing needs.

Dawn's remarkable track record in fostering integrated, efficient, and people-focused operations makes her an invaluable addition to the Ascend support services teams, helping drive our continued commitment to creating a unified corporate culture and enhancing our HR functions to support Ascend's growth and strategic vision.

JP Yarid

Vice President, Partnerships and Business Development

JP Yarid has extensive healthcare M&A experience from previous private equity corporate development roles at United Musculoskeletal Partners and United Digestive, both leading MSO platforms in musculoskeletal and gastroenterology services. At Ascend Aesthetic Partners, JP leads all inorganic growth strategies. His journey is marked by values of integrity, collaboration, and strategic vision, highlighting his dedication to advancing the organization's mission in the healthcare landscape. With a commitment to innovation and excellence in patient care, JP strives to make a significant impact within the industry and community. JP holds a degree in Finance from The University of Georgia.