Fred Sanders

Fred began his healthcare career in hospital operations – first in Food and Nutrition Management and then in Nursing Operations focused on patient flow & throughput. That operational experience was an asset as he transitioned into progressively more senior planning roles for two health systems in North Carolina.

At Ascendient, Fred leverages his diverse healthcare background, combined with primary and secondary data analysis, to understand why things are the way they are and how they can be enhanced to address the needs of the future.

Fred believes that a high-quality healthcare system offering access and care to all is one of the foundations of a functioning society, and he hopes that his work is contributing to that ideal.

In addition to a BS and MBA, Fred holds a Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Management from East Carolina University, and he earned his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in 2023. He is a member of the Project Management Institute, The Southeast Society for Hospital and Market Development, and Phi Kappa Phi.

Outside of work, Fred enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, hiking, singing, and spending time with family and friends. He is also considered a repository of useless facts, making him a strong contender in any trivia match.

2026 Final Four picks:

• Michigan
• High Point
• Michigan State (winner)
• Troy

I decided to use the Medicare Advantage penetration by state as the deciding factor for my Tournament picks. Using the 3/2026 Medicare Advantage Penetration by State/County file from CMS, each entrant’s home state was found and the state with the higher percentage of eligibles enrolled in MA was the winner. In the few instances where the competitors were from the same home state, the home county’s MA penetration was used. Since Michigan has the highest MA penetration of any state at 63.8%, the championship game is predicted by me to be between Michigan State and Michigan.  Michigan State’s home county of Ingham has 66.8% of eligible resident enrolled in Medicare Advantage, but the University of Michigan’s home county of Washtenaw has only 59.6% enrolled, so Michigan State is the winner.

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“Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”

– Mike Tyson