Walcker Named President of Cardinal’s The Specialty Alliance, With Strengths in GI, Urology

Cardinal Health today is naming Nathan H. Walcker, MBA, president of The Specialty Alliance, a physician-led management services organization (MSO) with concentrations in urology and gastroenterology that has grown through recent acquisitions.

Walcker served 5 years as CEO for Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS), one of the nation’s largest oncology practices, before McKesson acquired a controlling interest a year ago for $2.49 billion.¹ Walcker exited FCS after the transaction closed in June 2025.

“We are thrilled to welcome Nate to The Specialty Alliance,” James Weber, MD, CEO, The Specialty Alliance, said in a statement shared with The American Journal of Managed Care^® (AJMC^®). “Nate has a proven track record of operational excellence in specialty health care, and I am confident that his deep experience spanning finance and scaled operating management will position The Specialty Alliance for continued growth and value creation for our physician practices and their patients.”

Walcker’s appointment as president begins August 3, 2026, according to the statement.

“I am honored to join The Specialty Alliance and partner with Dr Weber and the entire team,” Walcker said in the statement. “The Specialty Alliance has built a powerful platform dedicated to empowering independent physicians. I welcome the opportunity to build upon this strong foundation, driving strategic growth and operational excellence that will further enhance our ability to support our member practices and the patients they serve.”

Second Recent Hire From Community Oncology

This is Cardinal’s second recent MSO hire involving a well-known executive from community oncology; on April 13, 2026, Lalan Wilfong, MD, joined Navista, Cardinal’s oncology alliance, as chief medical officer.² Community oncology practices have been a focal point for MSOs, which offer technology, financial, marketing, genomic testing, and other services at scale for medical practices that wish to stay independent.

The Specialty Alliance includes the GI Alliance, covering more than 900 physicians, which expanded in 2024 through Cardinal’s stake in GIA.³ It also includes the Urology Alliance, which comprises the 750 physicians who came to Cardinal in August 2025 through the acquisition of Solaris Health for $1.9 billion.⁴

Cardinal’s competitors with footholds in both oncology and urology include OneOncology, which acquired United Urology Group in October 2024, and whose former CEO, Ian Wong,⁵ has since been named chief operating officer of OneOncology. Cencora acquired OneOncology earlier this year. According to VMG Health, the connectivity between these specialties has become increasingly important to all parts of drug supply chain due to the high-margin therapies involved.⁶

According to today’s announcement, Weber will continue his role as The Specialty Alliance’s physician leader with a focus on physician practice growth and advocacy for independent specialty practices, while Walcker will lead the overarching enterprise strategy, operational execution, and business growth. This is not unlike the prior structure at FCS, where Walcker spent most of his tenure working alongside President and Managing Physician Lucio N. Gordan, MD, as the oncology practice grew to 250 physicians, 280 advanced practice providers, and 4500 total employees at more than 90 sites.

Walcker Led FCS Through Period of Growth, Change

A former investment banker, Walcker joined FCS in 2019 as chief financial officer and became CEO in August 2020,⁷ at a time of both rapid growth and unprecedented change at the oncology practice. Under Walcker’s predecessor, FCS launched an MSO, the American Oncology Network (AON), with an eye toward bringing the practice’s operational expertise to smaller groups trying to navigate the new world of value-based care.

But AON later separated from FCS, with some leadership moving to the MSO and some staying with the practice.⁸ Walcker took over as CEO in the wake of a settlement with the US Department of Justice that included a $100 million fine over a business arrangement that occurred years before either Gordan or Walcker joined the practice.⁹

FCS turned the page, expanding its research portfolio, recruiting key personnel to lead late-stage trials, and developing Core Ventures,¹⁰ a new MSO, as well as a precision oncology and real-world evidence subsidiary. During Walcker’s tenure, the practice endured 2 major hurricanes, the Change Healthcare cyberattack, and a nationwide chemotherapy shortage. In August 2024, McKesson announced plans to acquire 70% of Core Ventures, with physicians retaining 30% ownership.¹¹

Walcker also spoke with AJMC in 2023 about FCS’ decision to forego joining the Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM) after a successful run in its predecessor, the Oncology Care Model (OCM). He explained that changes under the EOM meant it would cover relatively few patients.

“One of the challenges, particularly when you look at the new EOM, is, with the [limited number of] cancers that are included in that model, it would have severely impacted the number of physicians who would be seeing patients within the EOM and ultimately served from a [value-based care] perspective,” Walcker said.¹²

Today, only 28 of the 44 practices that joined the EOM remain in the model, and even veterans of value-based care have dropped from the model due to questions about its methodology.¹³

References

1. McKesson completes acquisition of Core Ventures. News release. McKesson. June 3, 2025. Accessed June 17, 2026. https://www.mckesson.com/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/2025/mckesson-corporation-completes-acquisition-of-core-ventures/
2. Caffrey M. Wilfong joins Navista as chief medical officer: “We really want to partners with practices”. Am J Manag Care. 2026;32(Spec No. 5):SP186-SP187.
3. GI Alliance partners with Cardinal Health to create multispecialty platform. News release. GI Alliance. November 12, 2024. Accessed June 16, 2026. https://gialliance.com/gastroenterology-blog/gi-alliance-partners-with-cardinal-health-to-create-multi-specialty-platform/
4. Cardinal Health announces the addition of Solaris Health, the country’s leading urology MSO, to The Specialty Alliance. News release. Cardinal Health. August 12, 2025. Accessed June 16, 2026. https://newsroom.cardinalhealth.com/2025-08-12-Cardinal-Health-announces-the-addition-of-Solaris-Health,-the-countrys-leading-urology-MSO,-to-The-Specialty-Alliance
5. Hoffman E. OneOncology names Ian Wong chief operating officer. OneOncology. July 31, 2025. Accessed June 16, 2026. https://www.oneoncology.com/blog/oneoncology-names-ian-wong-chief-operating-officer/
6. Kent T, Tussy J, Rowlinson B. Strategic consolidation in oncology. VMG Health. June 19, 2025. Accessed June 16, 2026. https://vmghealth.com/insights/blog/strategic-consolidation-in-oncology/
7. Brad Prechtl MBA to retire as CEO; Nathan H. Walcker named successor of statewide community oncology practice. News release. Florida Cancer Specialists. July 13, 2020. Accessed June 16, 2026. https://www.flcancer.com/articles/florida-cancer-specialists-appoints-new-chief-executive-officer/
8. Caffrey M. Beyond McKesson and Florida Cancer Specialists, deals are reshaping community oncology. Am J Manag Care. 2024;30(Spec. No. 11):SP870-SP873. doi: 10.37765/ajmc.2024.89692.
9. Leading cancer treatment center admits to antitrust crime and agrees to pay $100 million criminal penalty. News release. US Department of Justice. April 30, 2020. Accessed June 16, 2026. https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/leading-cancer-treatment-center-admits-antitrust-crime-and-agrees-pay-100-million-criminal
10. Financial milestones achieved by innovative management services organization. News release. Florida Cancer Specialists. April 5, 2024. Accessed June 16, 2026. https://www.flcancer.com/articles/core-ventures-early-success/
11. McKesson signs agreement to acquire controlling interest in Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute’s Core Ventures. News release. McKesson. August 26, 2024. Accessed June 16, 2026. https://www.mckesson.com/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/2024/mckesson-signs-agreement-to-acquire-controlling-interest-in-florida-cancer-specialists--research-institutes-core-ventures/
12. Steinzor P, Caffrey M. Perspectives on the EOM: What makes sense going forward. Am J Manag Care. 2023;29(Spec No. 8):SP671.
13. Caffrey M. Special report: The Oncology Care Model, 10 years later. Am J Manag Care. 2026;32(Spec No. 7):SP308.