Jim Walleshauser (Independent Health) In June 2017, Independent Health (Buffalo, NY) named James Walleshauser president of Evolve Practice Partners, a new company that will help primary care physicians achieve excellence in care and patient outcomes while transitioning to a value-based care model. Evolve Practice Partners will assist practices participating in The Primary Connection, an Independent Health initiative, with managing multi-payer risk contracts, achieving quality and cost-of-care targets, tracking performance, managing population health, and advancing in other areas of practice transformation and optimization. As senior vice president at Independent Health, James was responsible for the coordination and implementation of strategic and operational initiatives for the Health Care Services and Medical Management departments while providing oversight and leadership for The Primary Connection. He received his MBA from the University of Buffalo and bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame.