James J. Lynch, MD, FACS, FAANS
Dr. James Lynch is the Chairman, President, and Founder of Swift Institute — a multidisciplinary private practice that provides value-based specialty care and services for its patients. In addition to his leadership roles, he maintains a busy spine neurosurgery practice focused on minimally invasive spine techniques. Dr. Lynch is a board-certified spinal neurosurgeon with 30 years of experience who specializes in complex spine surgery, cervical disorders, degenerative spine, spinal deformities, trauma, tumor infection, and minimally invasive spine surgery. He was the first neurosurgeon in Reno to perform MIS TLIF and MAS PLIF procedures, as well as the first to perform both cervical and lumbar artificial disc replacements. Dr. Lynch performs over 500 spine surgeries annually in hospital and outpatient centers. He is recognized as an expert in cervical spine disorders and performs over 200 cervical spine fusions annually. Dr. Lynch founded Spine Nevada in 2004, and later, in 2022, Spine Nevada, in partnership with HOPCo, acquired Tahoe Fracture. The practice became known as Swift Institute and has grown to be one of Nevada’s largest and most respected specialty practices.
Jake Hargis, MPH
Jake Hargis is a Northern Nevada native who attended the University of Nevada Reno and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Health Ecology. He completed a Master of Public Health in Public Health Practice from the University of Nevada Reno. Since joining the team in 2017, Jake has been one of the driving forces behind the company’s strategic and operational success.
Prior to his current role as Chief Executive Officer, Jake served as Vice President of Operations and Director of Clinical and Ancillary Operations with Spine Nevada. Other professional experience includes acting as Regional Director of Practice Management and business operations consultant. During this period, Jake directly oversaw clinical and business operations, business optimizations, corporate financial analysis and planning, and strategic management and direction of eight specialty physicians’ practices while also providing business operation and optimization consulting for multiple other private practice physician groups. Jake provides strong leadership and accountability for the operational excellence of our business through consistent implementation of the tools and processes necessary to ensure operational efficiency and effectiveness.
Emil Yankov, MBA
Emil Yankov serves as the Chief Operating Officer​ for Swift Institute. Within his role, Emil is actively involved in leadership of clinical support staff and ensuring safety of the healthcare facilities, in addition to other responsibilities. He’s a highly skilled professional with a focus on data and quality outcomes. Emil has over 10 years of experience in demonstrating consistent achievement of financial objectives and is also experienced in implementing operational policy and procedures. Furthermore, he has extensive knowledge in maximization of workforce productivity and strategic planning. Emil is viewed as an excellent team builder, communicator and servant leader with a focus on improving overall company efficiency in order to drive revenue and improve patient and provider relations. Emil earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Nevada, Reno. He completed his Masters of Business Administration from Grand Canyon University.
Christina Ghiggeri
Christina Ghiggeri holds the role of Director of Human Resources and Community Engagement at Swift Institute, bringing her expertise to the organization. A proud third-generation Nevadan, she earned a dual major in Health Ecology and Communications from the University of Nevada Reno.
In addition to her professional endeavors, Christina is currently pursuing a Master’s degree, balancing academic pursuits with her commitment to fostering efficient communication and well-being within Swift. Her dedication extends beyond the workplace, as she actively supports various boards in Northern Nevada, including the Executives Association of Reno, Soulful Seeds, and the Hashimoto Widows and Orphans Foundation.
Amid her busy schedule, Christina values family time and finds fulfillment in diverse hobbies such as golfing, water sports, snow skiing, and hiking with her dog. These activities showcase her well-rounded interests and highlight her dedication to maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
Bill Daley
Bill Daley is a seasoned professional with a background in healthcare and business management. He currently serves as the Director of Business Development at Swift Institute, where he has been responsible for driving growth and identifying new opportunities for the organization. Prior to this role, Bill worked as a Physician Liaison at Spine Nevada Minimally Invasive Spine Institute, where he cultivated relationships with key stakeholders in the healthcare industry. Bill has also held leadership positions at Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care, AccentCare, and Apria Healthcare. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from the University of Redlands. Bill is skilled in business development, healthcare management, and logistics management. In his free time, Bill enjoys road cycling, mountain biking, and running.
Lonna Scott
Lonna Scott serves as Clinic Operations Manager and oversees the scheduling departments and electronic medical records for Swift Institute. A native of Nevada, she joined the team in 2016. As a critical link between administrative and clinical operations, she provides professionalism as a skilled leader. Lonna thrives under pressure and is an experienced problem solver. With previous experience in office management in private practice, she is familiar with process improvement, conflict resolution, and agenda algorithms. Lonna naturally grew into leadership roles through hard work and an ability to outperform expectations. Currently working on her Bachelor of Science in Business Management, she will continue to expand her knowledge base and excel in the workforce.
Dustin DeBard
