Eleanor deGolian Kasper – Hero Practice Services

Eleanor deGolian Kasper is the general counsel and chief compliance officer at Hero Practice Services, a healthcare management organization that focuses uniquely on pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, and vision services for children in underserved communities. With practices in seven states and the District of Columbia, Hero Practice Services provides access to quality care in areas where children often face barriers to treatment. The organization’s mission revolves around making healthcare accessible, efficient, and compassionate, placing children’s well-being at the center of its services.

Eleanor deGolian Kasper | Hero Practice Services | General Counsel and CCO

Colorado Springs, Colorado-based Hero Practice Services operates with an emphasis on values such as integrity, teamwork and accountability, working tirelessly to bring impactful healthcare to those who need it most. The company’s innovative model integrates dental and vision services under one roof, allowing children to receive holistic care in a family-friendly, efficient setting.

“Hero’s commitment to community outreach programs and strong partnerships with government healthcare initiatives underscores its mission to bridge the gap in healthcare access for children from low-income households,” Kasper says.

Leading legal oversight in nationwide expansion

As the general counsel and CCO of a mission-driven organization, Kasper is crucial in ensuring the company’s operations are legally compliant and ethically sound. She and her team oversee all legal matters for Hero Practice Services, including corporate governance, contract negotiations, risk management, and compliance with state and federal regulations. In addition to these legal duties, Kasper’s work as CCO places her at the forefront of ensuring the company adheres to its ethical commitments, leading compliance initiatives that ensure Hero’s practices align with the highest standards of care and legal integrity.

Kasper’s role is vital to safeguarding the company’s reputation and ensuring its practices remain in full regulatory compliance while advancing its goal of expanding into new regions. She handles matters ranging from employment law to partnership agreements, and her influence reaches every corner of the business, where legal insight is required to navigate the complexities of the healthcare industry. Kasper’s efforts enable Hero Practice Services to maintain operational excellence and deliver top-tier healthcare to those most in need.

One of Kasper’s key areas of involvement is partnering with the leadership team to manage Hero’s ongoing expansion projects. Hero Practice Services continues to grow across the U.S., opening new offices and expanding its footprint in underserved regions. Kasper plays an instrumental role in overseeing the legal aspects of these projects, ensuring that the company complies with local laws and healthcare regulations as it evaluates new markets.

“My team and I are involved in everything from negotiating real estate contracts for new offices to reviewing the regulatory requirements for each location, ensuring that Hero’s mission of providing accessible care is executed without legal or operational hindrance,” Kasper explains.

Driving community outreach

Kasper works closely with the operations team, including on various community outreach projects that form the cornerstone of Hero’s service model. These projects include partnerships with schools, community organizations, and public health programs, which aim to bring dental and vision care to children who might otherwise lack access. In these ventures, Kasper’s legal guidance is crucial to navigating the often-complex regulatory landscape surrounding healthcare outreach, from liability concerns to compliance with privacy laws under HIPAA.

Another significant part of Kasper’s role involves leadership, recruitment, and retention, particularly in a healthcare setting where maintaining a qualified and motivated workforce is essential to the business’s success. Kasper collaborates closely with the People Services department to ensure that Hero hires skilled professionals and retains top talent in a competitive healthcare market. Her input in contract negotiations, employment law, and compliance plays a pivotal role in shaping the company’s approach to recruiting and retaining leaders who align with Hero’s mission of accessible care.

Kasper’s legal and compliance expertise is essential in maintaining the high standards required of healthcare providers, particularly in an era of increasing regulatory scrutiny and evolving healthcare laws. She ensures that the company’s hiring practices are aligned with industry best practices, helping to foster a workplace culture rooted in compliance, integrity, and a commitment to patient care.

“Every child deserves access to quality healthcare, and a crucial part of our model is building and retaining a dedicated team who shares this vision, ensuring we maintain the highest standards of care in an ever-evolving healthcare landscape,” Kasper says.

From passion to practice

Kasper’s interest in law began during her childhood on the Georgia coast, where her grandfather’s law practice sparked her passion for justice. She pursued a degree in peace, war and defense at UNC-Chapel Hill, focusing her honors thesis on child soldiers in Africa. After graduating, she took a year off to travel abroad and work for a low-income medical practice before attending Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law, from which she graduated cum laude. Following law school, a judicial clerkship for the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Georgia helped her solidify her love of law, contracts and advocacy.

After completing her federal clerkship, Kasper briefly considered a career in diplomatic security but decided she was not ready to give up her legal career. She continued her legal career as an associate at Alston & Bird, spending over four years there before moving to Hogan Lovells. During this time, she developed expertise in employment law but was drawn to in-house opportunities where she could make a direct impact and apply her years of advisory work as part of an executive team.

In 2020, after becoming a mom, Kasper sought a better work-life balance. She joined Hero Practice Services in February 2022 as Legal Counsel, inspired by the company’s mission to help children in low-income areas. Soon after, she identified and worked to resolve gaps within the organization and was promoted to general counsel and CCO. Much of her time at Hero has centered on recreating a culture of compliance so teammates trust and proactively use her department as a partner and resource.

Kasper values that her role at Hero allows her to pursue her career ambitions while also spending time with her son and husband, George, in the Colorado mountains. When she is not working, Kasper can be found traveling with her family, cooking, snow skiing, mountain biking, and hiking. Kasper is proud of her accomplishments and values Hero for allowing her to lead without compromising her identity.

“Leveraging my years of legal practice to support kids around the country allows me to use my background for something bigger than myself, and I’m grateful to Hero for trusting me to drive change in such an important way,” she says.