Meet Our Team
John O’Connell
Employee Benefits Advisor
John O’Connell, CEBS, CLU, CPBS is an employee benefits advisor who specializes in the hospital and health care sector. With over 40 years of experience, John brings a strategic perspective and unique expertise to the Healthcare Liability Team. John is also a founding partner of Alera Group.
Dean Schink, CIC, LIC
Senior Vice President
Specialization: Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Physician Groups, Other Professionals
Dean has dedicated his career in the area of professional liability and business insurance for physicians, dentists and attorneys since 1989. Dean manages the team in our MI office and regularly consults on medical professional liability insurance for several local healthcare systems and physician organizations.
Sapan Shah, MD, JD
Partner
Specialization: Physician Groups, Private Equity Firms, Collaborative Organizations
Sapan is a physician, attorney and insurance expert. Sapan’s medical and legal backgrounds give him unique insight into the legal issues facing healthcare practices. Based in Chicago, he provides expert, trustworthy representation and advocacy for hundreds of clients around the country. For private equity clients focused on healthcare firms, Sapan implements innovative programs that dramatically increase accretive value and coverage without sacrificing the service that the portfolio companies need.
Jason Shah, MD
Managing Partner
Specialization: Hospitals/Health Systems, Physician Groups
As head of Alera Group's Healthcare Liability team, Jason has helped develop the company's healthcare practice into a national leader. With a background in medicine, information technology and business development, Jason utilizes his physician experience and insurance expertise to develop risk management and insurance programs for hospitals, health systems, physician groups and other healthcare practices around the country.
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Property and Casualty
Unlocking Our 2026 P&C Market Outlook: High Level & Field Level Insights for Clients
Join EVP and Property and Casualty Practice Leader Justin Foa for an informative conversation on key findings and takeaways from Alera Group's annual flagship 2026 Property and Casualty Market Outlook Report.
January 20, 2026 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Foundations – Understanding the Multigenerational Workforce
In our three-part webinar series, Designing Benefits That Work – A Data-Driven, Multigenerational Focus, we’ll explore multigenerational workforce insights, debunk generational myths, share early- and late-career planning strategies, review legal and compliance trends and provide actionable tools and resources.
January 21, 2026 at 10:00 am CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
The 2026 Market Reality: Why Costs Feel Uncontrollable — and Where Leaders Still Have Leverage
A clear map of where leaders can act in 2026 and how to prioritize decisions that move cost and outcomes.
January 22, 2026 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Property and Casualty
Are you prepared for 2026? Property and Casualty Trends Uncovered
The sixth annual Property and Casualty Market Outlook from Alera Group sets the stage for how organizations can recalibrate their risk strategies in 2026. Built on thousands of data points — including a nationwide survey of insurance company partners and wholesale intermediaries — this report delivers actionable insights for insurance buyers, risk managers and business leaders.
December 17, 2025
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Property and Casualty
Top 5 Insurance Surprises Businesses Face in Q4 — and How to Prevent Them
As year-end approaches, many organizations focus on closing out financials and planning for the year ahead. It’s also the time when insurance programs often reveal unexpected challenges, some avoidable, others the result of shifting market conditions or overlooked details.
October 30, 2025
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Alera Group’s 2025 Property and Casualty Market Update
Alera Group’s 2025 Property and Casualty Market Update, designed as a bridge between Alera Group’s annual Market Outlooks — provides insight into pricing, coverage availability, market capacity and underwriting trends for the balance of 2025.
August 1, 2025
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Severe Weather Is Getting Worse. Is Your Business Interruption Insurance Keeping Up?
The increasing frequency and severity of weather- and climate-related events such as catastrophic storms, floods and wildfires make business continuity planning more important than ever. Part of your plan should include reviewing your organization's Business Interruption Insurance coverage.
May 5, 2025
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