Co-Founders
We have many years of experience working in the health care industry and have a good idea of how it works and how it's going to change. We build on the foundation of trust, open communication, education, and collaboration as essential components of how we work, and how we live.
Michael Zdychnec - Co-Founder
Michael Zdychnec (pronounced "Signet") has spent over 30 years in the health care industry. Beginning as Manager of Marketing Research at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa (now Wellmark), he has held leadership and management assignments with a broad range of health care organizations across the country including Travelers, Medica, Health Risk Management, Health Fitness Corporation, and UnitedHealth Group. Michael's career has included leadership and management responsibilities in operations, sales, marketing, account services, product development, new business start-ups, teaching and education, and strategic planning. He has worked directly with health plans, employers, specialty companies, provider organizations, and consumers providing a broad perspective of the many issues facing different stakeholders in health care today.
In addition to co-founding Collaboration Health Care in 2006, Michael teaches and serves as the Health Care Management Program Chair for the Minnesota School of Business campuses in Brooklyn Center and Elk River, Minnesota and is focused on improving the educational context and understanding of health care for students and the general public.
Michael received his B.S. from Iowa State University in Economics and Marketing Research and completed graduate courses at Drake University. He is a member of the Minnesota Council on Quality and Minnesota Christian Chamber of Commerce. He is an Advisory Board Member for the Center for Elder Justice and Policy at the William Mitchell College of Law.
He lives in Maple Grove, Minnesota with his wife of 32 years. He has two children, a daughter who is an educational counselor for challenged children and a son who is a United States Marine just returning from Afghanistan. He has self-published his first book (Our Children are My Heroes) about the experience of being a military family in the world today. His current effort (Is My Doctor On Your List?) is a handbook to help the general public better understand the changes taking place in health care and the new roles they will need to play as part of the solution to fix the health care crisis we face.
RT Donahue, DC - Co-Founder
Dr. Donahue received his chiropractic license in Minnesota 35 years ago. Practicing in Little Canada, MN for nearly 20 years, he enjoyed the day-to-day interaction with people. He carries that same passion to his work as a co-founder of Collaboration Health Care, Inc.
During the years in practice, he became active in both his state and national professional chiropractic associations. After serving as President of the Minnesota Chiropractic Association Dr. Donahue became interested in advancing the profession at the national level. He was elected by his peers to five consecutive, 2 year terms to represent Minnesota as the Delegate to the American Chiropractic Association. Dr. Donahue was honored twice by his colleagues, being awarded the Minnesota Doctor of the Year and was inducted as a Fellow in the International College of Chiropractors.
Dr. Donahue served as Chief Clinical Officer for a specialty health care company after its acquisition by Unitedhealth Group in 2001. During his time at UHG Dr. Donahue assumed responsibilities as Vice President of Clinical Affairs reaching out to medical directors and clinical personnel at more than 50 HMO’s throughout the United States. He was also the Chairman of the Quality Improvement Committee addressing both clinical and operational opportunities to improve the delivery of musculoskeletal/physical medicine care.
Dr. Donahue focuses on developing new clinical relationships for Collaboration Health Care and is particularly interested in the development of tools and technology to improve clinical decision-making through new technologies and data-gathering methods. He is a member of the Minnesota Chiropractic Association, America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), Northwestern Health Sciences University Alumni Association, and the Minnesota Council on Quality. Dr. Donahue is a qualified Examiner for the Minnesota Council on Quality trained to use the Malcolm Baldrige Award criteria.
Married for 37 years, he has been a member of St. Pius X parish in White Bear Lake, MN for 30 years. He served as a team member for Worldwide Marriage Encounter for 10 years and has been the coordinator for the Jesuit Retreat House on Lake Demontreville for 35 years.
