Past IDN Summit Faculty

Use the letters below to skip to the Faculty-member by last name.
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Jean Abraham Ph.D.
Wegmiller Professor
University of Minnesota

Jean Marie Abraham is currently the Wegmiller Professor of Healthcare Administration in the Division of Health Policy and Management located within the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. Prior to joining the University of Minnesota faculty, Dr. Abraham completed her Ph.D. in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University in 2001. Dr. Abraham’s area of expertise is health economics and policy. She has published more than 60 peer-reviewed articles investigating issues including access to and cost of employer-based health insurance, the effectiveness of employer wellness programs, competition in insurance and hospital markets, and the impact of federal health reform on individuals, insurers, employers, and providers. During academic year 2008-2009, Jean served as the senior economist on health issues for the President’s Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) in Washington, D.C. In this non-partisan role, Jean provided technical expertise to White House senior leadership and participated on the Obama Administration’s inter-agency work group to develop policy positions later adopted in the Affordable Care Act. Beginning February 2016, Dr. Abraham assumed the role of Director of the Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) Program, which is currently ranked third nationally by U.S. News and World Report. The Minnesota MHA program has graduated more than 2,500 individuals, many of whom have pursued leadership roles in healthcare delivery and financing organizations. In her position, Jean has responsibility for all aspects of the full-time and executive cohorts (approximately 130 students total), including curriculum, instructional quality, and student performance. 

Sandra Achee, RN, CNOR
Purchasing
Product Analysis,  Ochsner Health System
Sandra Achee, RN, CNOR is the Manager of Purchasing Product Analysis at Ochsner Health System. Sandra has worked at Ochsner for 34 years, the first 25 years in the OR. Part of her OR background was primarily in Ortho and Neuro. She then managed the OR’s Sterile Processing and Material Department before joining Ochsner’s Purchasing Department. She has been in purchasing for 9 years. She is also working on her Certification in Value Analysis.  Sandra attended Charity School of Nursing- Diploma Program and has her degree from University of New York. 

Tim Alba, FACHE

Partner, Caldwell Butler and Associates

Tim Alba is a Partner with Caldwell Butler and Associates (CBA), a leading resource in the strategic application of advance quality methods in healthcare that bolster leadership development and drive margin improvement.  Prior to CBA Tim served as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Business Analytics with Aramark Healthcare where he developed and managed relationships with group purchasing organizations, consulting firms, shared services organizations and leading industry professional associations. His healthcare experience includes management consulting – operational and clinical performance improvement – cost accounting, patient throughput improvement and purchased services contracting. He previously worked at Premier, Inc, and TrecaHealth.  He began his career at SunHealth Alliance providing operational management consulting services in hospitals. Throughout his career, Tim has created partnerships, bringing organizations together with common objectives and aligned incentives. The results are new solutions and services that address unmet needs; identifying and solving for opportunity gaps that others don’t see.  He led the development of new solutions that address operational and clinical quality including an approach named as Honorable Mention for AHA Nova Award. His publications include insights into benchmarking (operational and clinical) and frameworks for managing patient populations across a continuum, such as: Journal for Clinical Engineering, Managed Care Quarterly, Topics in Health Care Financing, Journal of Cardiovascular Management, and Quality Management in Healthcare. His background provides the expertise to rapidly analyze clients’ needs and match them to applicable methods to optimize performance.  He holds degrees in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from Virginia. Tech, has completed the Aramark Strategic Leadership Program (provide by Smeal College of Business at Penn State) and is a certified facilitator for Juran Business Process Quality Management. Tim is a Fellow in the ACHE and a member of HFMA.  Tim lives in Charlotte NC, enjoys outdoor sports with his family and regularly volunteers with community service organizations supporting high school youth.

Debbie Albin

Assistant Director, HC Pharmacy Central, Inc. (HPC)
Debbie Albin is the Assistant Director of HC Pharmacy Central, Inc. (HCP), a UPMC for-profit membership corporation and group purchasing organization that distributes $700 million in pharmaceutical supplies on behalf of its members. Debbie is responsible for the daily operations including warehousing, logistics, data content and analytics, purchasing, systems and customer connection. Debbie is a compassionate, forward thinking, and strategic minded leader with 17 years of supply chain experience and expertise. Prior to joining HCP Debbie worked in supply chain leadership positions at UPMC and Alcoa Inc. She is dedicated to the development of sustainable strategies by integrating people, processes and technologies across the supply chain to achieve cost reductions and optimized process flows.

Debora Alessi, MBA, C.P.M.

Director of Contracting, Surgical and Nursing, Commited Contracting Group (CCG), Premier, Inc

Debora Alessi is the director of contracting for the surgical and nursing service lines for CCG, a Premier member. She is responsible for the negotiation, planning and consensus building for about half of the current CCG contracts.  Throughout her 30-year career in health care supply chain management, she has been called on to led projects involving process improvement, change management and leadership development. During her tenure with CCG, she has driven the process to develop several supply formularies. In addition to CCG, her collaborative experience includes serving on the board of a regional collaborative of 14 competing health care systems.  

She is a lifetime Certified Professional Purchasing Manager and an adjunct professor and lecturer for the College of Business Administration at Niagara University.  She is a past president of ISM-Buffalo and has won numerous awards from that organization

Scott Alexander

Vice President of Sourcing, Innovation and Marketing,

ROi

Scott Alexander is Vice President of Sourcing, Innovation & Marketing for ROi. Scott joined ROi in 2015 with more than a decade of health care experience, having worked for companies like Medtronic/Covidien, Nasolux and The Innovation Factory. His career has spanned roles in marketing, sales, strategy, innovation, and venture capital. Scott is responsible for overseeing ROi’s strategic contracting and sourcing division, which helps health care providers manage the evaluation, selection, contracting, standardization and utilization of all products and services necessary for patient care. Scott and his team work with channel partners, ROi Members and ROi’s other operating units to harvest maximum clinical, operational and financial value from the supply chain. Scott also oversees ROi’s innovation strategy; his team works on identifying, developing, and commercializing innovative solutions to supply chain-related issues that reduce the total cost of care for ROi customers. Scott is the holder of nearly a dozen patent and patent filings. He graduated summa cum laude with honors from the University of Georgia with degrees in Marketing and Management Information Systems. Scott received his MBA, with a concentration in Finance, from Wake Forest University.

Barket Ali

Director, Category Management – SCM Medical Devices, Mayo Clinic
Barket Ali leads the Medical Device Sourcing and Contracting Team serving the 42 Integrated Delivery Networks of the Upper Midwest Consolidated service Center and Mayo Clinic.  Mr. Ali bring with him over 20 years of International Supply Chain management experience, working with health industry executives, physicians leadership and government agencies in India, Pakistan, Kenya and Tanzania. His key strength is in developing strong relationships with hospital administrators and key physician leaders in partnership with strategic suppliers. Barket graduated from the University of Karachi, Pakistan and holds membership in the American Heart Rhythm Society.

Tia Allen

Vice President, Operations, OIG Compliance NOW
Tia is Vice President of Operations for OIG Compliance NOW and provides leadership and oversight of the sanction screening business for all hospital/clinic, government and educational clients. Tia has 15 years’ experience in regulatory compliance and human resources, and she earned a Master’s Degree from Princeton University. Tia is a NYS Licensed Private Investigator and a certified Human Resources professional (PHR). She has worked effectively with many healthcare organizations to assess their compliance risks associated with employees, physicians, and vendors/contactors screening, and to assist them in developing robust exclusion checks programs.
Jun Amora
Vice President, Enterprise Supply Chain Services 
Geisinger Health System
Jun B. Amora is Vice President, Enterprise Supply Chain Services for Geisinger Health. In this role, Jun is responsible for the overall strategy development, administrative oversight, and leadership for Geisinger Health System’s $1.4B supply chain. His strategic priorities at Geisinger include the automation of procurement functions, centralization of materials management and operationalizing a centralized service center, creation of a non-clinical purchased services contracting department, development of integrated partnerships with key suppliers, transformation of clinical value-analysis, development of novel distribution channels for medical supplies to patient homes, enhanced revenue capture for billable supplies and an overall reduction in supply chain spend via the adoption of strategic sourcing, automation, JIT distribution and other cost-containment strategies. Prior to joining Geisinger, Jun was Assistant Vice President of Supply Chain Services driving NYC Health + Hospitals’ supply chain. Jun has spoken at numerous industry conferences on several topics including: The Adoption of GS1 Data Standards in Supply Chain, Supply Chain disaster preparedness during the 2014 Ebola Crisis, and Fast-tracking supply chain business transformation. He also serves as an advisory board member to several industry partners including Medline Industries and Stryker Sustainability Solutions. Prior to joining NYC Health + Hospitals, Jun worked for Cardinal Health to lead logistics and transportation optimization projects for the Cleveland Clinic. Jun started his career at Seattle Children’s Hospital as a research scientist studying DNA-binding proteins that regulate cancer proliferation. Subsequently, Jun became an improvement consultant supporting patient flow optimization projects in Seattle Children’s emergency room. Soon after, Jun helped lead the design and implementation of “Demand Flow” (two-bin kanban system) at Seattle Children’s Hospital which was launched in 2009 - a landmark supply distribution model that was later featured in the New York Times. Jun earned his Bachelor’s degree in Neurobiology from the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle. He also holds a graduate certification in project management from the UW and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt.

Patrick Anderson

Senior Vice President and CIO, Ochsner Health System
Anderson joined Ochsner Health System in April 2014 as the Chief Information Officer. Prior to this recent appointment, Anderson spent over sic years at Sutter Health where he was the Chief Operating Officer, Information Services. Prior to Sutter Health, he was the Chief Information Officer at the Los Angeles County Department of Health. At Ochsner Health System, Anderson is leading transformation and optimization of the IT organization and Ochsner’s clinical and business systems. He is leading infrastructure strategy and driving scalable and high available system to meet the long-term needs of the organization. Anderson drives a service delivery culture of high performance and accountability. Ochsner Health System is growing rapidly and Anderson is poised to deliver advanced technology and integrated solutions for Ochsner Health Systems.
Lori Armstrong DNPc, MSN, RN NEA-BC
Chief Nurse Executive
Kaiser Permanente
A nurse with a track record of excellence in care and leadership, Lori Armstrong serves as Chief Nursing Officer at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center. Armstrong previously served in nursing leadership positions for some of the country’s most renowned women’s and children’s hospitals in the country, including: Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, and Sloane Hospital For Women in New York City. During her time with these hospitals she led system-wide initiatives that increased quality, patient satisfaction, and staff performance and retention. Born in New York, Armstrong started her nursing career caring for some of hospitals’ most-fragile patients: newborns in special Neonatal Intensive Care Units. She was a NICU nurse in Manhasset, New York, then again a few years later at Chicago’s historic Michael Reese Hospital. She became a NICU nurse manager at Chicago’s University of Illinois Hospital, and later, became Director of Neonatal Services at the Carolinas HealthCare System in Charlotte, North Carolina. Armstrong is not only a nurse leader, but also an innovator. In the late 1990’s she and a team re-designed a standard the “headwall” of a neonatal intensive care unit. In a modern hospital, the headwall is where oxygen lines, electrical outlets, and monitoring equipment is organized at head of the bed. Armstrong’s design standardized a similar arrangement for the isolettes used in the NICU. Armstrong came to Stanford in 2001, serving seven years in nursing and neonatal intensive care. Armstrong has a 25-year-old son and a Boston terrier named “Joey”. She has a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degrees in Nursing.
Jeffrey Ashkenase MPA
Executive Vice President
Acurity, Inc. 

Jeff Ashkenase oversees the Value Analysis, Sterile Processing, and Workforce Solutions services at Nexera. He has worked in the healthcare industry for more than 20 years in the nonprofit, managed care, group purchasing, and government settings. Throughout his career, he has been responsible for managing costs, implementing systems, optimizing the supply chain, and improving decision support and the budgeting process through the use of technology. Jeff has a track record of managing change effectively and improving the financial performance of both his clients and his company. Jeff also serves as Executive Vice President of Acurity, Nexera’s sister group purchasing organization, where he oversees the Business Solutions, Strategic Contracting Services, Project Management, Technology, and Analytics divisions. Jeff is a seasoned speaker and educator. He has given presentations at national healthcare conferences, such as the Becker’s Hospital Review Annual Meeting, the Premier Annual Breakthroughs Conference and Exhibition, AHRMM Conference and Exhibition, IDN Summit and Reverse Exposition, PeopleSoft’s HEUG Conference, and the Puerto Rico Hospital Association Annual Meeting. He has served on Premier’s Strategic Advisory Committee, the Global Healthcare Exchange Product Council, the Coalition of Healthcare eStandards, the Federation of American Hospitals Exposition Advisory Committee, and the Healthcare Supply Chain Association Exposition Steering Committee in addition to various Premier technology committees. He has also served as an adjunct professor for Long Island University’s Master of Public Administration program. Before joining the Greater New York Hospital Association family of businesses, he was Associate Vice President of Finance at Maimonides Medical Center, where his responsibilities included overseeing the budget, decision support department and materials management, and business information systems. Jeff earned his Bachelor of Arts from SUNY Albany and his Master of Public Administration from NYU Wagner.

Ann Ashley
Vice President of Talent and Organizational Development
Biltmore Center for Professional Development
For over 30 years, Ann Ashley has watched Biltmore Estate grow from a small, family-owned business to a major attraction with 2,400+ employees that welcomes 1.5 million visitors annually. With a background in education and a proven track record building interpersonal relationships, Ashley rose through the ranks from restaurant server to Visitor Center Manager of the Biltmore Estate Winery to Guest Relations Manager of the Estate to become a Vice President with The Biltmore Company. Ashley’s commitment to Biltmore has been an integral part of a success story that continues today. Ashley’s leadership in business units and human resources has helped create positive results in team building and internal/external customer service. She encourages personal and professional employee development, monitors employee morale, and focuses on improving guest satisfaction and increasing profit. 
Winna Asuming PharmD
Pharmacy Operations Manager
Providence St. Joseph Health
Winna Ama Asuming, PharmD has proudly served in the dynamic field of pharmacy for over a decade. Her career in the field of pharmacy originated from the whimsical notion of “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” and an avid desire to improve lives through healthcare. Winna pursued and obtained her Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of California, San Francisco in 2006 and subsequently began her career in the field of pharmacy with St. Joseph Health, St. Mary. Some of her achievements include, a publication in the medication resource “Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation,” and oversight of the pharmacy as the Pharmacy Operations Manager at St. Joseph Health, St. Mary. As part of her desire to give back to the community, Winna has dedicated a portion of her time to teaching weekly finance/debt elimination lessons to members of her Church as a component of their Empowerment Classes, as well as volunteering as a Wish Granter with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, enhancing the lives of children with terminal conditions. In her spare time, Winna enjoys communing with loved ones, exercising, and indulging in educational materials surrounding finances as she acknowledges “wisdom is the principle thing, therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
Rob Austin
Director
Navigant Consulting

As part of Navigant’s Healthcare performance excellence practice, Rob Austin works with health systems on rapid improvement of the supply chain, focusing on reducing cost and improving quality. Prior to Navigant, Rob worked at Allegheny Health Network, a seven-hospital system based in Pittsburgh. At Allegheny Health Network, he held various leadership roles including director of supply chain and director of business development. Rob also helped grow Provider Supply Chain Partners, a regionally- focused group purchasing organization, from 12 hospital members to 74 members during a three year period. This regional GPO managed over $1.3 billion in clinical and nonclinical spend. Previously, Rob worked for the supply chain consulting firm, The Denali Group. Rob also served in various supply chain delivery, sales, and leadership roles at SAP Ariba. Rob received his BA from Stanford University and his MBA from Case Western Reserve University.

Jeromie Atkinson

Senior Director - Pharmacy Sourcing, Pensiamo

Jeromie Atkinson is a Sr. Director – Pharmacy Sourcing for Pensiamo. His areas of responsibility include planning, designing, and implementing supply chain strategy in support of UPMC, HC Pharmacy and Pensiamo’s customer base. Additionally, he has responsibility for facilitating Pensiamo’s strategic supplier relationships within the pharmacy operations.  Jeromie began working for Pensiamo in 2017 but has had a 20+ year career in various disciplines within the industry of supply chain, working for small retail organizations to large publicly traded companies. In addition to his career at Intermountain Healthcare, Jeromie currently holds adjunct faculty positions and teaches undergraduate Global Supply Chain Management in the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah, and graduate Healthcare Supply Chain Management in the Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions at Weber State University.  Jeromie received a B.S. in Business Administration and a Master’s of Healthcare Administration from Weber State University, as well as a Master’s of Business Administration-Supply Chain from Arizona State University.
Richard Bagley
Senior Vice President, Chief Supply Chain Officer,
PennState Health
 
As SVP and Chief Supply Chain Officer for PennState Health, Richard leads the PennState supply chain to deliver best in class solutions to the customers and patients we serve in central Pennsylvania. Richard is actively engaged in transforming the existing materials function. PennState health is a $2.5B IDN anchored by the PennState Milton Hershey Medical Center. Prior to his current role, Richard led the sourcing and contracting team at Intermountain. Richard has worked for 3M Health Information Systems in development of their electronic medical records. Richard has also worked for Siemens developing commercial IT products. Richard is a graduate from the University of Utah with a degree in computer science and also has a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix where he has taught 17 years.

Gennifer Baker

Director, Nursing Practice, Huntsville Hospital
Gennifer Baker is a certified adult health/critical care clinical nurse specialist. She currently serves in the director of nursing practice role for Huntsville Hospital. Gennifer has a 13-year history in the profession of nursing. Prior to her current role, Gennifer was employed at Huntsville Hospital as a clinical nurse specialist. Her previous work history includes creating all acute care senior level courses for a newly established Baccalaureate program at Martin Methodist College in Pulaski, TN. She enjoys speaking on the topic of acute care and traveled nationwide lecturing on patient emergencies. Gennifer received her Associate Degree in nursing from Wallace State in her hometown of Hanceville, AL and her Bachelors and Masters in nursing as well as a certificate in nursing education from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in Huntsville, AL. She is currently enrolled in the Doctorate of Nursing Practice Program.
Karla Kay Barber RN BSN, CVAHP
System Director of Clinical Resource Operations
Centura Health
Karla works in the supply chain department for Centura Health in Denver, Colorado as a system director of clinical resource operations developing a mature value analytics program. She has her BSN and a certification in value analytics from the American Hospital Association. She is also a member of Sigma Theta Tau, AVHAP and AHRMM. In ten plus years in clinical value analytics for Centura Health she has partnered with and educated senior leaders, physicians and fellow nurses on the value of research and evidenced-based decision-making. Some recent examples are development of physician lead groups for Orthopedics and Spine that have secured >$5.5 million is cost reductions for FY 2017. Karla firmly believes that the greatest accomplishment we can provide our patients is to share the knowledge learned through these processes with peers and healthcare leaders across the country.
Alister Barrow
Value-based Healthcare Consultant
CMR Institute
Healthcare reform has created many issues for medical device and pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, IDN’s and GPO’s. It has contributed to the current climate of consolidation throughout the healthcare industry. Alister has studied the rules of engagement and helps companies navigate these challenging waters and create training programs that make a difference. Alister has held positions of increasing responsibility at Boston Scientific and then J&J where he performed multiple leadership roles in Peripheral Vascular, Cardiovascular and Orthopedics. While at J&J, Alister also was WW Learning & Development Manager, where he had global responsibility. Along with his world-wide responsibility, Alister assisted in creating and launching the Corporate Career Development Plan and all Resource Guides for the career advancement of Sales Reps, Regional Managers and Sales Directors. He also served as Senior Director, National Contracts, at Osprey Medical, Inc. Alister is a University of New Hampshire grad who received his undergraduate degree in Health Management & Policy and a Master’s Degree in Health Administration (MHA). Alister also has an MBA Fellowship in Healthcare Policy from Rutgers University and is expert in his understanding of the 2010 Affordable Care Act. Alister utilized his knowledge of healthcare policy to become a ACA liaison between Government Affairs and the organizations he has represented. He was Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the African American Leadership Council while at DePuy Synthes and in his community, he volunteers with at risk youths in the inner cities of Maryland.
 
John Bass
Founder & CEO
Hashed Health

John Bass is the Founder and CEO of Hashed Health, a healthcare blockchain innovation firm focused on building new digital infrastructure for healthcare. John has over 23 years of experience in healthcare technology with expertise in shared operating systems that build trust, transparency, and incentives across health value chains. Since 2015 John has been a leading voice in the development of the global healthcare blockchain market. At Hashed Health, John’s team focuses on community development, enterprise services, and blockchain solutions development. John is an internationally recognized speaker on value-based care, blockchain and decentralized healthcare technology. Prior to Hashed Health, John was CEO at InVivoLink, a care management start-up which sold to HCA in 2015. John’s experience also includes healthcare B2B startup empactHealth.com which was acquired by Medibuy/Global Healthcare Exchange. John is a native of Nashville and has a Chemistry degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Jeremy Belinski

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Intalere
As EVP and COO, Jeremy S. Belinski assumes overall strategic and operational responsibility for Intalere’s products, services and customer delivery. He also is responsible for ensuring the sales and marketing activities align and function in conjunction with the rest of the operation. Belinski’s background includes extensive expertise in consulting strategy and execution, healthcare information products and services, operations management, business development and corporate strategy. Belinski has led process redesign and efficiency effort using Lean Six Sigma, developed internal and commercially viable software products, and created the strategy and operations execution for multiple government agencies and private organizations across the United States, Canada and Europe. Prior to joining Intalere, Belinski served as senior vice president and GM, Population Health Management, for MedAssets. Previous roles include senior vice president for Aspen Healthcare Metrics a MedAssets Company, and associate with Booz Allen Hamilton, a management and technology consulting firm. Belinski is a graduate of the University of Utah.
Tony Benedict
Partner
Omicron Partners, LLC
Tony Benedict is a CEO / COO steeped in Operations, having led step-change results in manufacturing based companies in industries ranging from healthcare to pharmaceuticals, to semiconductors. He is well known for his ability to apply strategic principles and quickly grasp entirely new industries. He has guided Global Fortune 50 companies such as GlaxoSmithKline and Intel. Today, he is a Partner with Omicron Partners, LLC, a Strategy and Operations advisory firm. Most recently, Benedict was recruited to HonorHealth as the top Procurement and Supply Chain

Laura Berberian

Vice President, Corporate Accounts, Premier Member Field Services
Ms. Berberian joined Premier in 2015 with more than 25 years of progressive business experience, including strategic planning, business development, operations, and designing and implementing health information technology (“HIT”) solutions for ACOs, clinically integrated organizations, and medical homes. Ms. Berberian has a strong clinical background and specializes in clinical integration and transformation, patient care models, and regulatory and quality programs.  She has served as an experienced leader in the hospital and ambulatory care environment as well as the medical device and pharmaceutical industries.  Prior to joining Premier, Ms. Berberian served as a Vice President at GE The Camden Group in the Population Health Practice where she specialized in developing and designing clinical integration strategies, medical management programs, and value-based care delivery and payment models.  A graduate of Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Ms. Berberian earned her master’s degree in Nursing from Rush University and her MBA in Finance and Health System Management from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.  Ms. Berberian is a Registered Nurse and was a Commonwealth Fund Executive Nurse Fellow. 

Eric Berger

Vice President, Supply Chain, Lahey Health
Eric has been the Vice President, Supply Chain for Lahey Health since June 2012. Prior to that position, he served as the Director, Materials Management, for Northeast Health System, for 6 years. His previous experience includes two and a half years as the Director of Materials Management for Brockton Hospital. Previous supply chain experience includes work with Partners Healthcare System, serving as an Operations Manager and participating in the implementation of PeopleSoft. Eric took that experience and worked for Computer Science Corporation (CSC), implementing PeopleSoft at Alabama Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas, and OhioHealth in Columbus, Ohio. He has also had experience working on the vendor side, as a Service Excellence Manager for Cardinal Health, where he spent two years implementing value added services for customers in the Northeast Region.

Derrick Billups

Director of Value Analysis
UC Health

Derrick Billups, MSM, FACHE, Director of Value Analysis for UC Health including the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, West Chester Hospital and the Daniel Drake Center. As system Director for Value Analysis, he has accountability for working collectively with the medical staff investigating products and processes that will improve operational or clinical efficiency, increase the quality of patient care and reduce supply expense. Duties include the management of the Value Analysis committee structure and process within UC Health supporting financial savings and efficiency targets. Process efforts include the evaluation of products / technologies to support opportunities related to utilization, standardization and cost reductions. Value Analysis structure committees include but are not limited to the service lines of Surgery, Nursing, Cardiovascular, Anesthesia, Wound Care, Critical Care, Orthopedic, Respiratory and Spine. Derrick has been at UC Health for 2 years. He previous work experience in the same field include Coastal Carolinas Health Alliance, Illucient Purchasing Alliance and Charleston Area Medical Center. He is board certified in healthcare management by the American College of Healthcare Executives. 

Ali Birjandi MBA, MHA, CPHIMS, SSBB
Regional VP of Performance Improvement
CHRISTUS Health
 

Ali Birjandi has over 25 years of experience in healthcare performance optimization, and implementation of turn-around plans. Ali is nationally recognized as an expert in the design and deployment of system-wide Performance Improvement (PI) functions in major healthcare systems. He is an expert at developing corporate PI strategies, Six Sigma training programs, PMO development, and CQI expense reduction programs. Prior to joining CHRISTUS Health, Ali worked for Tenet Health System and ProMedica Health System as the VP of operational efficiency. Ali earned his BS degree in Operations Management along with MBA and MHA degrees from the University of Florida. Ali is certified as a Six Sigma Master Black Belt through ASQ and is a Certified Professional in Health Information Management Systems through HIMSS. Ali has been published numerous articles in national journals. Ali also co-authored the Discharge Planning Handbook for Healthcare, Productivity Press, New York 2008. 

Jesse Bland
Principal
Heritage Group
Jesse Bland is a Principal of Heritage Group, where he is responsible for multiple aspects of the healthcare-focused growth equity firm’s operations. Prior to joining Heritage Group, Jesse was an associate at Nashville Capital Network, where he focused on early-stage investments in healthcare and technology-driven businesses. Prior to that, he worked for Governor Sonny Perdue at the Commission for a New Georgia (CNG), a non-profit, non-partisan council created to engage Georgia’s top-level business and professional executives in helping bring innovation to state government. Among other CNG initiatives, Jesse worked alongside leaders from the Kauffman Foundation for Entrepreneurship in developing a model for commercializing intellectual property within the university system into the marketplace. 
Jesse graduated summa cum laude with a B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Georgia and a J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School. He resides in Nashville with his wife and daughter.
Hector Boirie
SVP, Chief Resource Officer
Providence St. Joseph Health
Hector Boirie is senior vice president of The Resource, Engineering & Hospitality Group for Providence St. Joseph Health, the third largest health system in the United States. With 50 hospitals, 829 clinics, senior services, and supportive housing, the health system serves communities across seven states – Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington. At Providence St. Joseph Health, Boirie is transforming how the health system provides clinical and non-clinical supplies, engineering and hospitality services to each and every location throughout the system. He leads nearly six thousand caregivers engaged in sourcing, production and delivery of clinical and non-clinical supplies, food and nutrition, engineering, and environmental services comprising a multi-billion dollar budget. At Sisters of Mercy Health System, he helped develop and implement Resource Optimization & Innovation. Known as ROi, this vertically integrated supply chain model delivered more than $1 billion in savings, and now serves providers across the country.
Vinny Boles 
Major General US Army (Ret.)
 

Gen. Vincent Boles is a career Army officer with over 35 years of experience. Highlights include managing the nation’s $27 billion ammunition account, assuming command of the Army’s War Reserve equipment six weeks before the attacks of 9-11, and flexing into operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and other locations, as well as deployment to Kuwait in preparation for the invasion of Iraq with 142 personnel, growing to a force of 8,000 soldiers, civilians and contractors in 90 days. From Kuwait, the General was forward deployed into Iraq where he assumed command of the 16,000 personnel responsible for providing all logistical support and services to the 150,000 members of the coalition. Following redeployment from combat operations, Gen. Boles led the training of 120,000 soldiers before his final Army assignment, serving as the Army’s Chief Operating Officer for Logistics Operations, overseeing the logistics strategy for the 1.1 million soldier Army. Today, Gen. Boles is president of Vincent E. Boles Inc., a leadership and logistics consulting service. 

Marianne Bondanza

Managing Consultant, Berkeley Research Group
Marianne Bondanza, RN, CLNC, CCRP is currently working as Managing Consultant with Berkeley Research Group; responsible for clinical effectiveness with evidence based supply cost reduction and improvement enhanced with improved cost per case. Marianne has more that 30 years in clinical, leadership, legal, clinical research and supply cost management experience. During her career in healthcare, she has worked in academic Level 1Trauma Centers, Outpatient Surgical Centers and Community hospitals. Marianne has worked as a Clinical Resource Director in Supply Chain Services for HCA providing leadership in value analysis, vendor negotiations and identification and implementation of cost saving initiatives. She has supported consulting engagements around supply and clinical improvements in the areas of the Operating Room, Nursing Services, Cath Lab and Materials Management and is currently on the Board of Directors with Sun Coast AHRMM in Tampa. She earned her nursing degree from The University of the State of New York.

Leann Born

VP, Supply Chain, Fairview Health Services
LeAnn Born serves as vice president of supply chain for Fairview Health Services.  In this role, she has responsibility for the centralized administration of the sourcing, contracting, value analysis, logistics, procure-to-pay, instrument sterilization, vendor management and business enterprise system (PeopleSoft) support teams.  Born joined Fairview in 2010 with more than 16 years of experience in health care operations and supply chain leadership roles.  Most recently, Born served as vice president of custom contracting services for Novation, the contracting services company of University HealthSystem Consortium, VHA and Provista. Prior to joining Novation, Born held several leadership positions during her 12 years of service at Allina Hospitals & Clinics in Minneapolis, including interim vice president of supply chain.  Born holds a master of healthcare administration degree from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and a bachelor of business administration degree in marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Suzette Maria Bouchard-Isackson MSN, RN, NEA-BC
System Director, Perioperative Services, and Transformation Team Officer
Trinity Health
Suzette is the Trinity Health, System Director, Perioperative Services, & Transformation Team Officer. Her current work involves transforming care across the Perioperative Departments. There are over 60 hospitals and 650+ operating rooms within Trinity Health that provide care to surgical patients. Prior to this role, she served as Vice President, Surgical Services for St Joseph Mercy Hospitals-Ann Arbor & Livingston. An experienced leader, she has worked as staff nurse, manager, director of surgical services, vice president, as well as interim CNO. She has extensive background in leading perioperative clinical areas including health technology planning and implementation. She is a member of AORN and Sigma Theta Tau. Suzette graduated from Northern Michigan University and completed a graduate degree at Madonna University. She is Nurse Executive Advanced-Board Certified.
Doug Bowen
VP Supply Chain 
Banner Health
Doug joined Banner Health in 2002 as Vice President of Supply Chain. Prior to joining Banner, he served 17 years in Healthcare Supply Chain Leadership positions with HCA in Utah, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas. His focus is on supply chain cost discipline, utilization improvement, multi-facility operations, and value analysis. His goal is to optimize network value for patients, payers, providers, and suppliers. Banner’s Supply Chain achieves high scores in the triple aim of Cost, Quality, and Outcomes: 

• SC cost is less than 1% of all corporate overhead
• SC quality is ranked #5 among US Hospital Systems by Gartner
• SC outcomes of $50M+ each year in savings to the bottom line with an 8.1 Return on Investment (ROI)

Doug has successfully transitioned the delivery and management of the supply chain from a multi-individual hospital perspective to a centralized, high-performance corporate supply chain service center for 29 hospitals. Doug holds his BS, MBA, and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB) and is a member of AHRMM. He has published articles in Modern Healthcare, Journal of Healthcare Contracting, COO Magazine, HFMA, Healthcare Finance News, Supply Chain World, and was recognized in The Journal of Healthcare Contracting’s Top People to Watch.

Laura Bozell

Senior Vice President, Cornerstone Government Affairs;

Former Staff Member; United States Ways and Means Committee's Health Subcommittee
Laura Bozell brings over a decade of legislative and health care policy experience in the U. S. House of Representatives to her position at Cornerstone Government Affairs.  For the last five and a half years, Laura served as Professional Staff on the Ways and Means Committee’s Health Subcommittee. In this capacity, Laura was responsible for the Medicare Part A portfolio, providing policy direction for the Committee and advising Chairman Dave Camp and other Committee Members on issues affecting the nation’s 6,000 hospitals, home health providers, skilled nursing facilities and all other post-acute care providers. Additionally, her legislative portfolio included health information technology, high deductible health plans and health savings accounts, flexible spending arrangements, Medicare secondary payer issues, and the health coverage tax credit given to unemployed workers through the Trade Adjustment Assistance program.

Ron Brady

Vice President of Accounts Management, Committed Contracting Group (CCG), Premier, Inc.
Ron Brady is vice president of Accounts Management with Premier.  In this capacity, he is responsible for the management of a highly committed contracting program providing cost savings and supply chain improvements to the CCG, a 7-member affinity group with Premier, representing $6 billion in annual purchasing volume.  Prior to joining Premier, Brady served as vice president of Materiel Management for Bon Secours Health System, Inc., located in Marriottsville, MD.  During his 40-year career, he has held a variety of supply chain-related positions in both single and multi-facility health care organizations.  He received a B.A. in Business Administration from the College of Notre Dame Baltimore, MD and a M.B.A. in Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.

Adam Brand

Associate Director, Protiviti
Adam Brand is an Associate Director with Protiviti’s Security and Privacy practice. He has over 14 years of experience in information technology and security, in areas ranging from compliance to incident response. Adam has spoken at several conferences on the topic of medical device security and consults with healthcare organizations that would like to improve their information security posture. He is also a core member of a group of security professionals called I Am The Cavalry that is focused on addressing security vulnerabilities in technology that has the potential to affect human life and safety.
Mary Beth Briscoe

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, University of Miami-UHealth System and Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
 
Ms. Mary Beth Briscoe received her B.S. in Accounting from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Before joining the University of Miami, Ms. Briscoe served as the Chief Financial Officer of UAB University Hospital and UAB Medicine Clinical Operations. Prior to her role at UAB, Ms. Briscoe served as Chief Financial Officer for Eastern Health System, Inc. in Birmingham, Alabama. Ms. Briscoe is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Fellow of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (FHFMA), and a Fellow of The American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). Ms. Briscoe has also served HFMA in national and state roles including National Chairman. Ms. Briscoe presently serves as National Chair- AMC-CFO Council, a member of the National Thought Leadership initiative. Mary Beth authors articles for various industry periodicals and is an invited speaker by healthcare constituents across the country. Mary Beth has recently been elected to the National Board of AHRMM-the Association for Healthcare Resource and Material Management.

John Brindley

Former President & CEO, SETON Family of Hospitals

John has recently retired as President of the Seton Family of Hospitals in Austin, Tx. He has over 36 years of executive leadership experience in operations and complex systems management. He has been a consistent contributor to quality, physician alignment, strategy, employee engagement, efficiency, productivity, and market growth. He has delivered results in progressively challenging roles and rapidly changing environments by effectively teaming with governing boards, management, and clinical staff to identify and implement solutions to diverse business challenges.  John received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and his Masters in Healthcare Administration from The George Washington University.

Deborah Brown RN, BSN, MBA
Consultant
Navigant Consulting

Deborah Brown is an Associate Director in the Healthcare practice of Navigant Consulting. She is an experienced strategic healthcare executive in hospital operations, clinical practice and supply chain. Most recently, she supported a large supply network with their activities towards Clinical to Supply Integration and their efforts to transform to value-based healthcare. Prior to her supply chain leadership experience, she was a Chief Nursing Officer for a top 100 hospital, where she was able to lead with “Quality as a Business Strategy.” She has been noted for innovation, adaptability and resilience. Deborah’s successful healthcare career has delivered large multimillion dollar savings and strong operational efficiencies. Deborah has a unique skill that allows for cross functional integration that is essential in reducing the cost of healthcare. 

Tim Bugg CMRP
 
President & CEO, Capstone Health Alliance
Tim Bugg has served as the President & CEO of Capstone Health Alliance since 2013, and is one of the pioneers that founded the program in 2000. Tim’s primary expertise is in supply chain, group purchasing, operations, process efficiencies, strategic planning, and leadership. Tim brings 25+ years of experience in the supply chain field and 20+ years in healthcare. Tim graduated Magna Cum Laude from Montreat College, is a Certified Materials and Resource Professional, a member of the Council of Supply Chain Executives, the HSCA Board of Directors, the Advisory Board for the IDN Summit, the Vistage CEO Group, and Montreat College’s President’s Advisory Council. Tim served 8 years on the NCAHRMM Board of Directors serving as President in 2005 & 2006, has served on several Premier sourcing committees and currently is a member of the Premier Continuum of Care Oversight Council. Tim has been published and quoted in several industry articles.
Gerald Evans Buller DPh., MMHC
Director, Specialty Pharmacy Services
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Jerry Buller, DPh., is the Director of Specialty Pharmacy Services at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. In this position, Jerry is responsible for planning, implementing, and overseeing specialty pharmacy services at a four‐hospital academic medical center. Previous work experience includes five years as the pharmacy director at Metro Medical Supply and Bellwether Oncology Alliance where he operated an oncology and dialysis specialty pharmacy licensed in 50 states. While at Metro Medical, Jerry opened and managed physician-owned pharmacies serving large oncology and rheumatology practices based throughout the U.S. For over 9 years Jerry worked at Georgia Cancer Specialists, PC in Atlanta where he served as the Director of Pharmacy and Business Services. Jerry received his A.A. in Political Science from Macon College and his B.S. in Pharmacy from NOVA University in North Miami Beach, FL. He has also completed his Masters in Management of Healthcare from Vanderbilt’s Owen School of Management.
Craig Burton
 
Vice President, Policy, Association for Accessible Medicines
Craig Burton is Vice President of Policy for the Association for Accessible Medicines, formerly the Generic Pharmaceutical Association, where he leads policy development. With nearly 20 years of Federal health policy experience, Craig has served in key roles at the center of a range of pressing health care debates. Prior to joining AAM, Craig was a Director at Avalere Health, where he helped clients anticipate and plan for the impact of change stemming from legislative, regulatory, or other market dynamics, with particular attention to crafting policy options that are closely tied to a client’s specific business needs and strategy. Craig also established and directed the health policy and government relations efforts for two biopharmaceutical companies. Craig served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Legislation in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In this role, he advised the Secretary, senior Department leaders and White House officials on legislative strategy to achieve key priorities. Craig also served in the Senate, where he was Health Policy Advisor to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, M.D. and professional staff on the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

Michelle Bush

Resource Utilization Manager, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System (FMOL HS)
Michelle Bush is a Registered Nurse who is certified in the Operating Room and has worked for the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System for over 25 years. She began her career in the Surgical Services Division at Out Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center as a staff nurse and progressed into the nurse Manager role. In that role, she supervised several outpatient surgical specialties, including adult and pediatric populations. Michelle then transitioned to the role of Resource Utilization Manager for the Materials Management corporate office of FMOLHS where she supports the Health System Value Analysis teams for both Surgery/Endoscopy and Pharmacy. She has led the product formulary management initiative by working with the Chief Medical Officer to develop a Physician led Supply Chain Medical Executive Committee which meets monthly to review all new product/technology requests.
Bruce Carlson
Health Care Resource, Supply Chain, Materials Management, and Interim Staffing
R B Carlson and Associates, LLC

Bruce provides interim staffing to health care providers in the area of supply chain and materials management. Interim staffing assignments include seeking opportunities to identify substantial, long term savings and efficiencies for the health care provider. Bruce has over 30 years of progressively complex healthcare supply chain management experience in materials management, purchasing, logistics, supply chain, self-warehousing, performance improvement and performance measurement areas. These experiences have been earned by serving health care systems including: Tenant Healthcare Corporation, University of Indiana Medical Center, Ascension Health, and Valley Health System. Bruce earned his Master’s degree in management from Indiana Wesleyan University and his Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Central Methodist University.

Kathy Chauvin

Health System Director, Resource Utilization & Value Analysis, FMOL Health System
Kathy Chauvin, RN, serves as the Health System Director of Resource Utilization and Value Analysis for the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System in Louisiana. FMOLHS is a non-profit mission-focused Catholic healthcare ministry that includes 5 acute care hospitals and several affiliates throughout the Gulf Coast region. Kathy leads a highly diverse team of Clinical Resource Utilization Managers and Purchasing and Administrative Professionals integrated into every aspect of the both clinical care and Supply Chain.  Primarily comprised of Product Assessment Committees (PACs) in Surgery, Cardiology, Core Nursing/Women’s Health, Radiology, Lab/Respiratory, and Ortho/Neuro, her team is the Health System’s conduit for new product and technology reviews using evidence-based methodology, clinical value analysis, sourcing, and contract implementation and management.  Kathy has been a registered nurse over 30 years with a focus in critical care and surgery and has spent the last 10 years in Supply Chain Management. 
Melissa Cheeseman Rogers MD
Physician
Veterans Administration Hospital
Melissa Cheeseman Rogers, MD is an Emergency Medicine physician in Lexington, KY. She completed Medical School at the University of KY, Surgical Internship at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Emergency Medicine Residency at the University of KY. After spending 15years in the public sector, she is currently a full time physician with the Veterans Administration Hospital and an Independent Contractor with TeamHealth, both in Lexington, KY. She is aware that the frontlines of healthcare (Emergency Rooms and Primary Care Practices) have a significant role to play in addressing the escalating prescription opioid abuse problem in our country and knows that very few families remain untouched by the problem. She is an advocate for helping find multifaceted solutions to this epidemic.

Blair Childs

Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Premier, Inc.
Blair Childs is a Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for Premier, leading the Advocacy, Communications, Safety and thought leadership units and serving on the company’s executive team. He works with Congress, White House, and other policymakers involved in health policy. Childs has been at the center of policy issues for more than two decades, playing a leading role on issues impacting medical devices, pharmaceuticals, insurers, and hospitals. Childs has held senior management positions in professional, trade, and advocacy associations and a Fortune 25 company.

Sihyun Choi

Senior Director, Advisory Board
Sihyun is a Senior Director of Advisory Board’s strategy consulting practice. In this role, he spends much of his time advising providers, payers, retailers and other industry participants on critical issues such as retail business development, care delivery redesign, provider network construction, partnership and affiliation models, patient access, and spend management. He is one of the firm’s leading experts on health system margin improvement.  Prior to his current role, Sihyun led the firm's practice focused on supply chain transformation. In this capacity, he impacted over $2.5B in annual expenses and led 70+ commercial transactions for health system management teams.  Before joining Advisory Board, Sihyun was an associate with Oliver Wyman, where he advised large US and international airlines on topics such as revenue growth, partnership strategy, capital negotiations, and change management.  Sihyun also served as an associate with Censeo Consulting Group, where he assisted federal agencies with enterprise-wide acquisition strategies and workforce process improvements. Sihyun has a bachelor’s degree in Commerce with concentrations in finance and management from University of Virginia.

Cindy Christofanelli

Director, Supply Chain Management, SSM Healthcare
Cindy has been a nurse for over 35 years. She has served as a Medical Surgical Clinical Nurse Specialist and adjunct faculty member for Medical Surgical Nursing. Cindy transitioned to Supply Chain and has held a variety of leadership positions in supply chain and value analysis over the past twenty-one years. She is on e of 35 people nationally to achieve Certification as a Value Analysis Healthcare Professional (CVAHP) from the Association of Health Care Value Analysis (AHVAP). Her expertise includes expense management in the clinical and physician preference areas as well as Capital and Purchased Services product lines. She has contributed to and authored several articles on Healthcare Value Analysis. She has been a frequent speaker at the national level on topics related to healthcare expense management. She is a member of AHRMM Education Committee, Past President of AHVAP, former Central Director for AHVAP and has served as the Co-Chair of the Certification Committee that was instrumental in the development of the AHVAP certification exam. She has also served as the chai of the Premier Value Analysis Advisory Council.
Frank Cirillo
Vice President
Acurity, Inc.

Frank Cirillo is vice president, business strategy, Acurity, Inc. His main duties at Acurity are to bring value to health systems’ supply chain operations through group purchasing program participation and process improvement. Additionally, Frank provides consulting services to health systems with Acurity’s consulting arm Nexera. For the previous 25 years, Mr. Cirillo held several senior management positions at HHC. During the latter two years of his tenure, Mr. Cirillo, HHC’s first chief restructuring officer, led HHC’s priority project—the restructuring of HHC’s clinical and operational programs—yielding HHC an implementation change roadmap resulting in savings and additional revenues of over $300 million annually. For the prior 13 years, Frank was HHC’s chief operating officer responsible for a far-reaching span of control, including, but not limited to, supply chain operations and all contracting. Frank received his undergraduate degree from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, graduate training from St. John’s University, and holds certification from the “Top 40” executive management program administered by Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He is also president/CEO of the Cirillo Consulting Group.

Armin Cline

President, Health Systems, Covidien

Armin Cline has 35 years of experience working for companies that supply healthcare providers with products and services. He joined Medtronic in early 2002 where he is currently President of Health Systems, responsible for Medtronic, Covidien Group commercial contracting activity with aggregate healthcare provider organizations including Group Purchasing Organizations (GPO’s), Purchasing Coalitions, the Federal Government and select integrated delivery networks. Prior to joining Medtronic, Armin spent 18 years with the American Hospital Supply and Baxter in sales, sales and marketing management and corporate sales positions. He has been responsible for contracting activity with aggregated provider purchasing organizations, including national GPOs and regional coalitions, since 1985. Armin was also with Bergen Brunswig for three years where he was Executive Vice President of Corporate Sales, and worked for Neoforma in 2000 as Vice President Supplier Relations. Armin graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Whitman College. He and his family live in the Boston area.

Ruben Colon
 
Executive Director, Strategic Sourcing, 
AdventHealth
Ruben Colon is Executive Director of Sourcing, Supply Chain. Mr. Colon provides leadership and strategic direction for the clinical and non-clinical sourcing and contract administration supply chain teams. Mr. Colon represents AdventHealth on the GPO Surgical Services and Performance Group Leadership committees as well as participates in several Supplier Advisory Councils. Mr. Colon started his service with AdventHealth in 2009 as a Supply Chain Contract Manager and was promoted to Director of Strategic Sourcing and Value Analysis in 2013. Mr. Colon has also served as Advent Health’s Corporate Headquarters Spiritual Ambassador Leader and is currently on the AdventHealth Campus Ministries Leadership team. Prior to joining AdventHealth, Mr. Colon was the Assistant Vice President of Supply Chain for Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) in New Brunswick, NJ. RWJUH is a Level 1 trauma center and the teaching university hospital of the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Mr. Colon received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the Rutgers University School of Business and his Masters in Healthcare Administration from Seton Hall University.

Joseph Colonna

Vice President of Supply Chain, Piedmont Healthcare
Joe Colonna serves in the role of Vice President of Supply Chain for Piedmont Healthcare, an 11 hospital healthcare system in Atlanta, GA. At Piedmont, the Supply Chain Team works closely with Piedmont’s executives, clinician and business partners to ensure they are supporting the organization’s goals of Quality, Safety and Service, aligned with Stewardship of their resources. Joe is proud of the fact that the Supply Chain Team plays a significant role in the strategic plans of the organization and is seen as a valued partner by their customers. Piedmont’s Supply Chain has been recognized nationally for the Team’s role in supporting Piedmont’s mission, including being named the 2018 Supply Chain of the Year by Healthcare Purchasing News. Joe started his Supply Chain career with United States Air Force in 1985 and his unique blend of healthcare experience comes from working for over 30 years in different aspects of the healthcare supply chain industry, including roles in provider, consulting, distribution and group purchasing organizations.
Alexandria Combs MSHS
Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer
NGA Healthcare Consulting

Alexandria Combs is a healthcare catalyst passionate about defining strategies that create new value by working at the intersection of tough healthcare business challenges with operational limitations in dynamic environments. Leveraging her experience in leadership of academic medical centers, healthcare consulting, and large-scale program growth and development, Alexandria consults on strategy and clinical transformation as well as with start-ups and companies focused on new market segments; Oregon Health & Science University, Stanford Health Care, and Kaiser Permanente are all recent/current clients. She is adept at establishing rapport and credibility with diverse groups ranging from clinical to technical teams. Alexandria has a history of consistently surpassing organizational performance goals by growing clinical business, maintaining strong financial performance, and enhancing the patient experience and employee engagement. Alexandria also has a strong commitment to improving health and health care systems globally, particularly focusing on countries with lean economies. She actively volunteers in medical missions in Africa and Asia, assisting with strategic planning, fundraising, and operational execution of the missions. Alexandria earned both her Masters of Science degree in Health Systems/Industrial Engineering and bachelor’s degree with honors in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech with a certificate in Organizational Psychology. Alexandria was selected as a fellow in the California Health Leadership College, participating in a year-long program dedicated to the development of “Next Generation CEOs”. She also holds a certificate in LEAN performance improvement training from BMGI and Joan Wellman Associates. 

Rick Conlin

Partner, The Advisory Board Company
Rick is a partner and part of the leadership team for the Advisory Board’s Spend Performance Solutions team. He oversees all of the firm’s purchased service offerings, which he has developed and directed from their launch in 2012. Rick is an expert on services contracting and specialized in the negotiation of fixed-price, performance-based arrangements. His collective acquisition experience and mastery of contracting detail covers nearly every commodity or service purchased. Currently, Rick dedicates much of his time to working with health system boards and executive teams to implement large-scale procurement strategies. Rick has led hundreds of sourcing projects and more than 10 where the total spend sourced was over $1B. In total, his work has yielded $300M in realized savings. Prior to joining the Advisory Board, Rick was the youngest member of the executive team that started Censeo Consulting, a top-ranked firm focused on sourcing and supply chain strategy. During his tenure, Rick generated $150M+ in savings for clients across a range of industries, including health care.

James Connor, MBA, CPHM

Vice President, Supply Chain Operations, Westchester Medical Center
Mr. Connor has more than 20 years’ experience in healthcare operations.  His expertise is in the areas of finance, billing, reimbursement, management, materials management and software implementation and development.  Mr. Connor has held many management positions within healthcare and manufacturing with titles including Director with a focus in Materials, Finance and Surgical Services, Director of Operations Sterile Processing, Software Implementation Specialist/Inventory Control and Master Production Scheduler.   He also served in the United States Air Force in Charleston, South Carolina as a Flight Crew Chief and overseas in the Air Force Reserves.  Mr. Connor is an active member of several Boards, including the Spend Management Board, the Strategic Information Board and the Council of Supply Chain Executives.  Mr. Connor has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Eckerd College in Florida and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of South Florida. 
Emily Cook
 
Partner, McDermott Will & Emery
Emily J. Cook provides counsel to health care providers on complex regulatory and reimbursement matters. Emily's regulatory experience includes fee-for-service Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, billing and coding, licensure, survey/certification and accreditation, and compliance with Medicare and state fraud and abuse requirements. Emily also has significant experience counseling health care providers and other stakeholder entities on issues related to 340B drug pricing program implementation, compliance and advocacy.

Sara Cosgrove

Associate Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University

Sara E. Cosgrove, MD, MS, is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Disease at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and has a joint appointment in the Department of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She serves as the Director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program and the Associate Hospital Epidemiologist at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Cosgrove currently serves as President-Elect on the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America’s Board of Directors and was the previous Chair of its Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee. She is Assistant Deputy Editor of Clinical Infectious Diseases. She was a member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology Working Group on Antimicrobial Resistance and was recently appointed as a voting member to the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria. 

Terry K. Cox MA, MS, FAHRMM
Director, Supply Chain Services
Yuma Regional Medical Center
Terry has done numerous interim leadership assignments the past two years at PIH in California, Dartmouth Hitchcock in New Hampshire and Yuma Regional Medical Center. Terry was the first ever HonorHealth Director of Supply Chain Operations. SLHN is a 10,000 plus employee, 3,700 affiliated physicians, five acute care hospital network. Prior to SLHN he was one of a handful of MedAssets executive leaders specializing in senior leadership interim supply chain roles. He served as the Director of Supply Chain Management at Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, Texas, the largest Pediatric institution in the United States. He served as the Corporate Assistant Vice President for Supply Chain Pharmacy Operations for the largest for-profit healthcare system in the country. He was responsible for a $1 billion corporate wide supply chain initiative for over 160 hospitals. Savings estimates were projected at $30 million per year. Prior to that position, he served as the Regional Vice President of Material and Contract Management for a six-facility healthcare system. In less than one year he saved over $3M, primarily thru contract negotiations and maximization, standardization, optimization and system leveraged volumes. 
Georgiana D'Alessandro Esq.
Senior Project Manager - Supply Chain
The University of Vermont Health Network
Georgiana reports to the Chief Supply Chain Officer for the University of Vermont Health Network to support high-risk, complex, enterprise and cross-departmental projects within the network. UVM Health Network is a 1,325-licensed bed not-for-profit health system located in Vermont and northern New York with 6-hospitals, and the largest being an academic medical center in Burlington VT. Georgiana works alongside project leaders from clinical and administrative departments to plan and implement projects; analyze and improve organizational systems processes; and manage corporate-wide contracts for products, equipment and services. Georgiana is an attorney admitted to practice law in California and Vermont. Other work experience includes Director of Sourcing for custom contracting within Vizient (f/n/a Novation), and an associate attorney at a private law firm in San Diego, CA, where she litigated contract law principles and represented employees and unions in civil and administrative proceedings. Georgiana received her undergraduate degree at the University of Vermont and her Juris Doctor from the California Western School of Law. In her free time, she volunteers as a youth lacrosse coach, is an avid foodie and cook, and spends time with her corgi dog.
Dennis Daar
Managing Partner
Medical Strategies International
Dennis Daar has been in the medical supply and device industry for over 38 years. For the past 19 years he has been the Managing Partner for Medical Strategies International, (MSI). MSI is an outsource corporate accounts firm that helps clients develop their National Accounts strategy, then works toward gaining and implementing agreements with GPO’s, IDN’s, RPC’s, Equipment Planners, and Government Sales. Prior, he held senior management positions at Stryker, SSI/ Hill-Rom, Inc., STERIS/Hausted, and Skytron. His diverse responsibilities range from developing and implementing National Accounts, Equipment Planning Relationships, Government Contracts, Sales Management Strategies, and International Operations. Dennis is a past Chairperson of the Federation of American Hospitals Exposition Advisory Committee for over 29 years. He has been part of Association of National Accounts Advisory Committee (ANAE), and Past Chairperson of HSCA/HISCI/HIDA, and of HISCI’s Educational Committee. Dennis has been both a speaker and has appeared in print on various topics including: healthcare, government sales, sales management, national accounts, and international issues.

Deborah Dahl

Vice President, Patient Care Innovation, Banner Health

Deborah Dahl is the Vice President, Patient Care Innovation, at Banner Health. Debora’s significant introductions to Banner include iCare, an extensive acute care Telemedicine program including Tele-ICU, MED/Surg, eConsult and Primary Care for patients with chronic diseases. The eICU provides physicians and nurses to Banner ICUs and the iCare Med Surg monitors Med Surg patients 24/7 and is the beta for the eHospital concept. Prior to this, she was an Administrator for Banner Desert Medical Center, one of the largest and most comprehensive hospitals in Arizona. Deborah has also served as the Vice President of Technology and Materials, where she led the Technology Management and materials and Purchasing Services. She began her career with Samaritan Health System (prior to its merger, becoming Banner Health) in bioengineering and has held various engineering and management positions since. Deborah holds a BSE and an MBA from Arizona State University.

Pam Daigle

Vice President, Strategic Sourcing and Performance Groups, Premier Inc.
Pam Daigle is a Vice President, Strategic Sourcing and Performance Groups at Premier and has over 25 years of experience in healthcare specifically Supply Chain and Surgical Services. Prior to Premier, Pam was the Administrative Director, Surgical Services for Children’s Hospital of Atlanta for 6 years with corporate responsibility for Surgical Services areas including Operating Room, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Same Day Surgery, Anesthesia, Sterile Processing, GI Lab and Special Procedures. Prior to that Pam has held Supply Chain leadership positions in large IDNs including two academic medical centers. She grew the highly committed ADCEND program from $100M in total purchasing volume to $13.5B in five years and created the PACER program, a series of high touch outcomes based physician led comparative effectiveness initiatives for select members. Pam obtained her B.S.  in Business Administration from Western Governor’s University. She is also an active member of AHRMM, HFMA, NAPW, and Professional Women in Healthcare.

Teresa Dail

Chief Supply Chain Officer, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

 

Teresa Dail’s healthcare career began in clinical ICU nursing where she held various leadership roles, followed by a role in clinical practice administration for private practice group. Her exposure to vendor/physician relationships led to various supply chain positions spanning from a clinical resource nurse, to a corporate director of materials management fro a 7-hospital system to her current role as Chief Supply Chain Officer at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. While at Vanderbilt, she also led the Perioperative team as the Administrative Director for Clinical Operations for almost a year. Currently, she oversees all areas of operations related to supply chain, including a strong self-contracting model and a purchasing collaborative for non-owned participants, procurement, GPO oversight, capital acquisition and database development. She is also responsible for supply chain activities at a 50,000-square-foot off-site case cart operation center, which handles case picks for Vanderbilt’s adult hospital, logistics and distribution for the entire clinical enterprise, linen services, clinical engineering, and retail operations.
Jessica Daley
Vice President Health Care Pharmacy
UPMC
Dr. Jessica Daley is the Vice President of HC Pharmacy and Supply Chain Commercial Services at UPMC. Jessica oversees the group purchasing, warehousing, and distribution functions of HC Pharmacy Central, Inc., a for-profit membership corporation that annually distributes more than $1.3 billion in pharmaceuticals on behalf of its members. Jessica connects supply chain efficiency and clinical practice needs between HC Pharmacy and UPMC, and has led the pharmacy supply chain response to drug shortages. Jessica also leads the design and development of the augmented intelligence pharmacy supply chain optimization engine, CognitiveRxTM. Prior to joining UPMC, Jessica worked for Merck & Co. Inc. in various leadership roles in sales, marketing, population health management, and medical affairs. Jessica holds a B.S. in Molecular Biology from the University of Pittsburgh, an M.A. in Applied Health Care Economics and Outcomes Management from Washington and Jefferson College, and a PharmD from Duquesne University.
Michael Dankwerth
Executive Director
AllSpire Health GPO, LLC
Mr. Dankwerth has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare and life sciences industries with expertise in strategy & performance improvement consulting, clinical supply chain management, business transformation, and strategy development. Currently, Michael serves as Vice President, GPO Operations for HealthTrust and as Executive Director of the AllSpire Health GPO, LLC, a regional group purchasing organization that is comprised of five IDNs representing 38 acute care facilities and over 1,300 non-acute facilities, located in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Prior to joining HealthTrust and AllSpire Health GPO, LLC, he was responsible for client C-Suite Relationship Management and delivery of enterprise-wide performance improvement advisory services with MedAssets/Vizient. Previous experience includes roles in general management, finance, enterprise sales & marketing, strategy, and supply chain/clinical cost management consulting with Capgemini Consulting, Owens & Minor, Allegiance Healthcare, Baxter Healthcare, and American Hospital Supply Corporation. Michael holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Kansas, and an M.B.A. in Strategy & Marketing Management, with a concentration in Health Enterprise Management, from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Jim Dausch

Principal, NCI Consulting Group, LLC
Jim Dausch has more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. At NCI, Jim oversees operations, including strategic direction of the firm. His background includes: Bio Medical Engineering, Materials Management, Group Purchasing, International Consulting, Manufacturing, Corporate Accounts, Sales and Marketing and Sales Management. At NCI, Jim is responsible for the leadership and direction of key business partner engagements, business development, and strategic planning. He works as a business development partner to medical products, services and technology companies, distributors, group purchasing organizations, and integrated delivery networks. With expertise in corporate development and the cultivation of industry relationships, he generates unique opportunities for suppler clients in the healthcare arena. Jim is the sole owner of NCI Consulting Group and the primary contributor to NCI’s national recognition as the leading consulting firm in business development of market solicitation and penetration solutions.

Suzette Dimascio

President/Chief Executive Officer, CSI Specialty Group
Suzette DiMasccio, CHE, CMCE, CPC is President/CEO of the CSI Specialty Group, a globally recognized; WBE Certified Leadership Consulting Firm helping clients drive sustainable, accelerated growth. Under Suzette’s leadership, The CSI Specialty Group has become known as the Industry’s Most Influential Leader in Specialty Pharmacy Consulting and Talent Acquisition, and most recently was awarded Consulting Magazine’s Fastest Growing Firms, ranking 5th out of 50. CSI is dedicated to providing solutions to continually elevate the Specialty Pharmacy industry, exemplified by the 2016 launch of CSI University and the Industry’s first, dedicated Podcast for Specialty Pharmacy. Prior to starting CSI in 2002, Suzette held senior leadership roles within the Specialty Pharmacy & Biotech industry, with NMC Home Infusion, Pfizer and Nestle Clinical Nutrition. She brings particular expertise in Managed Care & Payor Strategies, Sales Leadership, Reimbursement, Human Resources, Startups and Overall Specialty Pharmacy Market Strategy. Suzette is also a pioneer in the Disease Management and Tele-Health undustry – and also holds a patent in this arena. Suxette is a Certified Managed Care Executive (CMCE) certified through American’s Health Insurance Plans, and a Certified Healthcare Executive (CHE) through the American College of Healthcare Executives.  
Mark Dixon
President
The Mark Dixon Group, LLC
Mark D. Dixon, R.Ph, M.H.A., FACHE, leads the Mark Dixon Group, LLC which provides medical suppliers and Integrated Delivery Networks (IDNs) consultative assistance in successfully navigating the changes in healthcare. He specializes in providing C-Suite level services to increase medical supplier relevancy/performance in an era of health reform and value creation, implement an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) strategy, create durable physician clinical integration network strategies, and develop and implement improved IDN triple aim results. He speaks regularly at national meetings to bring the voice of the IDN C-Suite to a wide variety of organizations and professional associations. Dixon brings 30+ years of healthcare leadership experience with a proven record of results in developing and sustaining market-leading organizations. Dixon was Regional President for Fairview Health Services where they developed and implemented an ACO strategy. Prior to joining Fairview, Mark was President/CEO of Community Hospitals of Indiana, Inc. in Indianapolis for 6 years and was with Allina Health for 17 years at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis as the chief executive. 
Dee Donatelli
Principal 
Dee Donatelli Consulting, LLC
Dee Donatelli, is an experienced healthcare professional and nationally recognized speaker with nearly 40 years in the industry. Donatelli has advised some of the country’s leading healthcare organizations on cost reduction based upon a clinically integrated value analysis process. With a background as a nurse and over 25 years of healthcare consulting experience focused on large scale supply chain operations improvement, she specializes in providing and executing on plans for supply chain to collaborate with physicians, while focusing on clinical evidence and protocols to reduce variation in practice and products. Dee has held a number of leadership roles at high profile organizations including, Cap Gemini Ernst and Young, Owens & Minor, VHA, Hayes, Inc. and Navigant Consulting. She is a former president of the Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals (AHVAP) where she helped to facilitate the creation of Value Analysis Certification. Dee has been involved with the Association for Healthcare Resource and Materials Management (AHRMM), serving at the state-level for Kansas and on the national board. She holds certifications with both national organizations as well as Fellow Status. In October of 2015 Dee was inducted in to the Bellwether League and currently serves on the Bellwether League Board of Directors. This is in recognition of exemplary contributions to Healthcare Supply Chain Management; recognizing individuals for their development, growth, innovation and leadership. Dee has established her own LLC and is exploring independent consulting opportunities. Most recently Dee served as the President and CEO of Mid-America Service Solutions, a Vizient Member Business Ventures network representing over 250 acute care and 1200 non-acute care facilities in a ten-state region. 
Andrew Donnelly PharmD, MBA, FASHP
 
Director of Pharmacy, University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System
Dr. Andrew Donnelly received his Doctor of Pharmacy and Masters of Business Administration degrees from the University of Illinois. He is currently Director of Pharmacy Services at the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System as well as Clinical Professor and Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy. In his current position, Dr. Donnelly is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the activities of the pharmacy department. He oversees a staff of approximately 180 pharmacists, technicians and ancillary personnel. The majority of Dr. Donnelly’s clinical practice has been concentrated in the areas of operating room (OR) pharmacy and anesthesiology. His areas of interest include pharmacy administration, technology and automation as it relates to the medication use process, and anesthesiology/OR pharmacy. He has published and lectured extensively in these areas. Dr. Donnelly is a Fellow of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and a past president of the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists.

Beth Eckle

Director, Environmental Purchasing Program, Practice Greenhealth
Beth provides consulting, education and training services on environmental purchasing to purchasers in health care systems and Group Purchasing Organizations. Beth has over 20 years of environmental purchasing experience both as a consultant, leading implementation of purchasing strategies with over a dozen government agencies, and as a manager of one of the earliest programs in the country to include environmental criteria in the supply chain process for Alameda County’s General Services Agency in Oakland, California. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies focusing on Energy, Environmental Science and Policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dave Edwards

Vice President, Supplier Relations and Business Development, Premier, Inc.

With nearly 30 years of experience in healthcare sales, marketing, and management, Dave Edwards is an enthusiastic champion of creating win/win scenarios through collaboration, particularly between healthcare providers and suppliers. He is an energetic leader with a proven record of sales success with a Fortune 50 company, a start-up-device company and as a partner in a small medical manufacturer. 

Now an executive with the Premier healthcare alliance, his talents for motivating people, synthesizing complex ideas and building strong relationships across the healthcare supply chain, along with his engaging personality, make Dave one of the industry’s authorities on driving strategy, collaboration and organizational improvements. During his 16-year tenure with Premier, he has been the principal architect of Premier’s field force strategy and has been instrumental in propelling the alliance’s purchasing volume from $12 to $44 billion. 
Craig Else RPh, PharmD, MHSA
Director of Innovation and Integration for Shared Clinical Services
Fairview Health Services
Craig Else is the Director of Innovation and Integration for Shared Clinical Services and Chief Operating Officer for IntegraDose at Fairview Health Services in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He received a B.S. in Pharmacy in 1991 from North Dakota State University, Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Minnesota in 2004, and a Masters in Health Service Administration from the University of St. Francis in 2010. Craig has held various pharmacy staff, clinical and leadership roles, has managed a large physician practice, and is currently working on a number of health-system business development projects.
Chester Elton
 
Best Selling Author, Leadership Expert
 
One of today’s most influential voices in workplace trends, Chester Elton has spent two decades helping
clients engage their employees to execute on strategy, vision, and values. In his provocative, inspiring and always entertaining talks, #1 bestselling leadership author Chester Elton provides real solutions to leaders looking to manage change, drive innovation, and lead a multi-generational workforce. Elton’s work is supported by research with more than 850,000 working adults, revealing the proven secrets behind high-performance cultures and teams.
 
He has been called the “apostle of appreciation” by Canada’s Globe and Mail, “creative and refreshing‚” by the New York Times, and a “must read for modern managers” by CNN. Elton is co-author of the multiple award-winning New York Times and #1 USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling leadership book, All In, The Carrot Principle, and The Best Team Wins. His books have been translated in more than 30 languages and have sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide.
 
Elton is often quoted in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Fast Company and the New York Times. He has appeared on NBC’s Today, CNN, ABC, MSNBC, National Public Radio and CBS’s 60 Minutes. In 2018 Global Gurus research organization ranked him as #13 in the world’s top leadership experts and #5 in the world’s top organizational culture experts; and he is a member of Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches pay it forward project. Elton is the co-founder of The Culture Works, a global training company and a board member of Camp Corral, a non-profit for the children of wounded and fallen military heroes.

Anthony Elwood

CEO, OIG Compliance NOW
Tony was the founder of Evolution Consulting LLC in 1994 as a specialty drug screening and background investigation firm. He founded OIG Compliance NOW as a separate organization to meet the growing demand to prevent fraud, waste and abuse by identifying sanctioned and excluded individuals for federal/state healthcare programs. Tony is a NYS Licensed Private Investigator with over thirty years of experience in law enforcement, including serving as an office and drug recognition expert with the New York State police. Tony has multiple certifications including Drug Recognition Expert, Drug Evaluation & Classification, Breathalyzer Operator/Instructor, Breath Alcohol Technician (DI,DII), and 49 CFR Part 40 Procedures. Tony works as a resource and advisor to OIGCN clients during the discovery, validation and management of identified exclusions.

Jim Eppel

President & CEO, UCare

Jim Eppel is President and Chief Executive Officer of UCare. Before joining UCare in June 2015, he was Senior Vice President of OptumInsight, a division of UnitedHealth Group. As such, Eppel provided internal and external consulting services in a variety of areas, including health insurance exchanges, patient engagement, and the assumption and management of health care services rick by provider entities. Prior to his work at Optum, Eppel was Chief Operating Officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota after serving five years in executive leadership roles for the health plan’s commercial markets, health management, revenue management for Allina Health, UnitedHealth Group, Medica, and MedCenters Healthcare. He began his career with KPMG Peat Marwick.

Donna Lynn Fahy
Director of Purchased Services
Cape Fear Valley Health
Donna Fahy has more than 25 years of experience in leading high performing supply chain organizations. As Purchased Services Director, Donna is recognized for her expertise in strategy formulation and execution, total cost of ownership, process management, shared services, and operations. Her initial introduction to health care began at Cape Fear Valley Health System in1997 in the finance division. Donna served in various Analytical and Cost Management roles before moving into Supply Chain Operations. She has used that experience to develop the data driven strategies that were key to the successful creation of the Purchased Services Team. By connecting the financial component to the supply chain strategy, her team has extracted millions of dollars in savings and is recognized as an integral component of the overall corporate goal of making healthcare affordable. Her team drives the enterprise-wide strategy, contracting and supplier relationship management for all Purchased Services. She also serves on the Premier Strategic Sourcing Purchased Services Committee and co- chairs the Capstone Health Alliance Purchased Services Oversight Committee.
Stephanie Falconer
Contract Portfolio Director, Perioperative Services
Beaumont Health
Stephanie Falconer is the Contract Portfolio Director for Perioperative Services at Beaumont Health, the largest health care system in Michigan, based on inpatient admission and net revenue. She has over 20 years of operational and leadership experience in perioperative services and clinical value analysis teams. As the Contract Portfolio Director, she is responsible for product lines for 8 hospital campuses with over 129,000 surgical cases per year. Prior to joining supply chain, she served as the Director of Perioperative Services at Beaumont Health’s Royal Oak Campus, one of the nation’s highest volume operating rooms-performing over 52,000 surgeries in 2016. She has also served as a clinical nurse and Administrative Manager at Beaumont, Royal Oak and Director of Surgery as part of Adventist Health System in Florida prior to returning to Beaumont.
Sean P Farley MBA, CMRP
Director, Organizational Procurement
Virginia Mason Medical Center/HRS
Sean Farley is the Director of Organizational Procurement at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle. In his role he is responsible for supply contracting, purchased services contracting, value analysis, sourcing and purchasing teams. Sean brings experience in contract quality assurance practices in addition to a decade of standardization analysis and evaluation. Sean is merging 19 years of military medical logistics experience with the lean principles that are practiced at Virginia Mason to maximize savings opportunities and practice proactive supply chain planning. Prior to joining Virginia Mason Medical Center, Sean was a Medical Logistics Officer for 19 years in the Military Health System supporting military medical beneficiaries, Department of Defense Hospitals and deployable forces. Sean currently serves as the President of the Western States Material Management Association and is the AHRMM liaison for chapters in Colorado, Minnesota, and the Great Plains. He earned his Masters of Business Administration at Colorado Technical University and is a Certified Material Resource Planner.
Jessica Farrell PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist/Associate Professor
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences & The Center for Rheumatology

Dr. Farrell is currently employed as an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Her practice site is The Center for Rheumatology in Albany, NY where she provides a variety of clinical pharmacy services including pharmacotherapy consult services, self-injection counseling visits, off-label insurance approval service, and adverse event monitoring and reporting. She also serves as an associate medical officer for the Steffens Scleroderma Center. Dr. Farrell presents nationally and internationally on numerous rheumatic conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, scleroderma, pregnancy and lactation in rheumatic disease. She is affiliated with several professional organizations, including the American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (ACR/ARHP), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), and previously held officer positions for the New York State Council of Health-System Pharmacists (NYSCHP)-Northeastern Chapter. Dr. Farrell received her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Albany, NY. 

Jeffrey Feit, MD

Vice President, Population Health; Chief Operating Officer, Valley Physician Enterprise
Jeffrey M. Feit, MD, is Valley Health Vice President of Population Health and Chief Operating Officer of Valley Physician Enterprise. He joined the System administrative team in 2012 after six years as Vice President of Medical Affairs at Page Memorial Hospital (PMH), where he championed initiatives in performance improvement, Lean engineering and the electronic medical record.  He previously practiced family medicine in Luray and Fairfax, Va., and has held appointments on the faculty of VCU and UVA departments of Family Medicine.  Dr. Feit earned his medical degree and completed a residency in Family Medicine at the UVA School of Medicine. He has a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs and Public Policy from Princeton University and a Master’s of Science in Health Care Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Ann Marie Ferguson, MPA

Associate Director, Supply Chain Operations, NYU Langone Health System
Ann Marie Ferguson is responsible for providing operations support and leadership to the NYU Langone Supply Chain Management team by overseeing operations across the supply chain management organization. She manages all areas of the e-Procurement system in addition to supporting hospital-wide initiatives as they relate to supply chain management.  Ms. Ferguson manages process improvement initiatives and provides guidance on organizational changes, including the integration of new technologies and control systems into existing processes.  She ensures supply chain management policies and procedures are current and accurate.  She also leads and manages teams to project completion and oversees the recall management system for the organization. Ms. Ferguson brings over 26 years of healthcare experience, 24 years in supply chain management with cross-functional expertise in procurement, and nine years of analytical skills.  She has made significant achievements in diverse roles including efficiency and effectiveness, process improvement, change management, policy and procedure development, compliance, human resource management, and project implementation. She is a results oriented professional with proven track record of quality outcomes. Ms. Ferguson received her Bachelor of Business Administration from Monroe College and her Master of Public Administration at the Metropolitan College of New York.
Rex Fieck
Supply Chain Strategy
Nick Gaich and Associates
As Chief Supply Chain Strategy Officer at Nick Gaich and Associates, Rex Fieck has facilitated large healthcare system’s supply chain assessments while developing and implementing strategies that enable institutions to maximize their supply chain performance. He has performed as interim supply chain leadership and has advised and collaborated with industry suppliers to support the greater enhancement of the entire healthcare supply chain. Rex spent 24 years at Stanford University Medical Center, the last eight serving as the administrative director of Supply Chain Services, providing expertise and leadership for the entire supply chain at both Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital. The role included responsibility for both Procurement Services and Logistics & Operations. Rex successfully developed and implemented strategic initiatives that include medical/surgical JIT programs, on-site and off-site vendor supported distribution activities, the creation of a contract administration division, a Value Analysis Department and the Surgical Materials Department, which was responsible for the entire surgical supply chain. Rex is adept in both LEAN Six Sigma process improvement and quality management.
David Finley
Vice President of Strategic Supplier Engagement and Business Development
Premier, Inc.
David E. Finley leads the Strategic Supplier Engagement team for Premier Inc, a leading provider-driven healthcare performance-improvement company. In this capacity, Finley and team support Premier’s mission to transform healthcare by engineering and facilitating collaboration between the supplier community and Premier members. The team provides leadership for Supply Chain Services service lines and focus on driving penetration for contracted suppliers. The team supports the Premier field team in this endeavor by driving cost-saving and quality improvement opportunities for members. The team is integral to the support of existing members and successful onboarding of new members. Previously, Finley held leadership positions in specialty distribution, medsurg distribution, and manufacturing with supply chain experience in high-tech, automotive and government defense. He later transitioned to healthcare as a sales representative for Kimberly-Clark, now Halyard Health/O&M. He was later promoted to National Accounts Manager, District Sales Manager and Regional Vice President of Sales. Finley also spearheaded a sales force automation program and served on the management team that helped grow Kimberly-Clark from a $50M company in 1990 to a $1.5B multi-divisional enterprise in 2000 that included Safeskin Corporation, Tecnol Medical Products and Ballard Medical. In 2000, Finley was recruited as Director of Sales for start-up Qwest Cyber Solutions (QCS), a joint venture between Qwest Telecommunications and KPMG. QCS provided hosted and managed support (“cloud” services) for Tier 1 ERP applications including SAP, Oracle, Sieble, Ariba and PeopleSoft. Finley was later given added responsibility for channel development and marketing. The company was sold to Corio in 2002 and then acquired by IBM in 2005. In 2002, Finley joined the leadership team of Professional Hospital Supply (PHS), a regional med/surg distributor and national custom tray supplier. As Vice President of Sales, Finley led the restructure and strategy that expanded the PHS footprint from $268MM in 2002 to over $1B when acquired by Medline Industries Inc in 2014. In 2006, Finley joined the leadership team of Tri-anim Health Services, Inc., a national specialty dealer for anesthesia and respiratory products to lead their acute care division where he helped grow sales from $126MM to $168MM. Finley led the effort in evolving the “Prime” program for strategic suppliers. Tri-anim was acquired by Private equity firm Water Street Healthcare Partners and merged along with Bound Tree Medical under Sarnova in 2007. Finley earned his undergraduate from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. He has been recognized for his work both within and outside of healthcare, as he is actively engaged in multiple philanthropic endeavors, holding board appointments and supporting charitable activities in Charlotte and the surrounding area. 

Greg Firestone

Vice President of Strategic Customer Relations
TELA Bio
Greg Firestone possesses more than 25 years of experience in the IDN, health systems, and GPO market segments. Prior to joining TELA Bio, Greg served as vice president of strategic customer relations at ROi, where he led a team of co-workers responsible for provider customer recruitment and support, focusing on supply chain services, operational infrastructure, and financial health of providers’ supply chains. Greg also served as regional vice president of MedSpeed, founder and CEO of Dermal Life, LLC, co-founder and president of Mossberg Labs, and owner and CEO of NCI – supply chain consulting and education company. While at NCI, Greg authored "Swimming with the Supertankers," a book written to assist supplier sales and marketing professionals.
Jay Scott Fligstein
Senior Vice President, Business Solutions
Acurity, Inc.
Jay Fligstein joined Acurity in 2005 and now serves as the Senior Vice President of Business Solutions. Throughout the years, Mr. Fligstein has worked with member hospitals to review the Acurity contract portfolio and outline and develop supply chain projects and savings plans. He has also assisted with projects that join GNYHA Services/Premier technologies with materials management information systems, to bring full automation and integration to the contracting and ordering processes to help members manage and reduce supply costs. Prior to joining Acurity, Mr. Fligstein worked as a materials executive where he had operations responsibility for supply chain management. He led an enterprise-wide MMIS deployment, point-of-use technology implementation, and supply chain automation as well as multi-million dollar cost savings plans. Mr. Fligstein earned his BS in Health Care Administration from SUNY at Old Westbury.

Mark French

VP, Vendor Management, 
Ochsner Health System
Mark is the Vice President of Vendor Management at Ochsner Health System.  Mark is responsible for the strategic vision, long term planning, direction and overall accountability for system-wide functions; communicates and interprets organizational and departmental mission goals and objectives to all areas of responsibility; and provides leadership and direction in the planning, implementation, and evaluation activities of all areas of responsibility.  Upon completion of his BS in Exercise Physiology at UC Davis,  Mark served as the co-administrator at an Alzheimer’s residential care facility and then went on to a staff supervisor role in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the UC Davis Medical Center.  Mark entered graduate school at Tulane University in 1996, and upon completion of his MHA in 1998 he proceeded on to an administrative fellowship at Henry Ford Health System.  Mark joined Ochsner in January of 2000 and initially held leadership responsibilities for the Department of Renal Services.  In January of 2002, Mark accepted the role as Director over Cardiovascular Services.  Prior to Mark’s new role as the Vice President of Vendor Services, he served as the COO of Ochsner’s flagship hospital.

Burton Fuller

Senior Manager, Deloitte Consulting
Burton has over 10 years of hospital consulting experience and has led clients through large scale non-labor supply chain expense reduction efforts, post-merger integrations of the sourcing and procurement function, and supply chain transformations that centralize contracting and establish governance for system level decision making. His client base spans large academic medical centers and both regional and multi-state health systems. An issue inherent to many of his engagements is how best to impact purchased services spend- an expense category that he has seen grow for many of his clients over the past decade. He leverages a data-driven approach that supports collaboration between supply chain leadership and key stakeholders to find unique solutions to the benchmarking and evaluation of “make-vs-buy” paradigms for outsourced services.
Nick A Gaich BBA
CEO
Nick Gaich and Associates
Nick Gaich is the founder and CEO of Nick Gaich and Associates, a firm dedicated to providing executive coaching, leadership development, strategic planning, and operational performance. Nick retired in 2012 as assistant dean of clinical and translational research operations, Stanford Center for Clinical and Translational Research and Education at Stanford University School of Medicine. Previously Nick was vice president of customer service and materials management and service line administrator for the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Stanford University Medical Center. During his tenure, his department received the Stanford Hospital Malinda Mitchell Service Quality Department of the Year Award and Stanford Hospital Outstanding Contribution and Achievement Award, and became the first and only non-clinical department to earn such recognition. Nick also served three years as partner and chief strategy officer of Appleseed Healthcare Resources, a firm dedicated to providing senior operations leadership personnel and education to the healthcare industry.
Scott Gasiorek
Director of Supply Chain Informatics 
Trinity Health

Scott Gasiorek is the director of supply chain informatics at Trinity Health. His current role includes reference data management, supply chain systems administration and business intelligence. He has over 15 years of experience in healthcare systems management with large IDN's and as a consultant. Scott graduated with a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Miami and a Master's of Accountancy from Arizona State University. 

Nila Getter

Strategic Sourcing Manager, Kettering Health Network

Nila has worked at Kettering Health Network for over 30 years and has held her current role as the Strategic Sourcing Manager for the past 15 years. She has responsibility for value analysis and contracting for multiple clinical areas and facilitates several VA teams. Nila began her career at KHN as a staff nurse, moving into the role of Clinical Nurse Manger with a background in ICU and ED nursing. Nila is very active in the Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals (AHVAP) and is a past president of the organization. She participated on the committee that coordinated the implementation of the AVAHP certification exam. She has spoken on both clinical and value analysis topics at state and national meetings, including the Ohio Hospital Association, the IDN Summit, The Association of Healthcare Value Analysis annual conference and Premier Breakthroughs. Nila earned her BSN from Miami University of Ohio and her Master’s degree from Andrews University in Michigan. She is one of first 35 people nationally to hold a certification in value analysis, the CVAHP.

Ritika Ghose

Senior Consultant, Nexera, Inc.
Ritika Ghose is responsible for developing financial improvement strategies that support leading academic health systems and acute care institutions. Her expertise includes maximizing cost reduction, post-merger support, and the implementation of new services within the areas of clinical and purchased services. She has worked on various cost reduction projects, delivering over $50 million dollars in savings to acute care facilities. Most recently, she led a post-merger assessment that identified savings by aligning disparate pricing, standardizing product, and aggregating spend opportunities. Ms. Ghose creates strategies and executes project plans that help facilities implement process, contract, and operational alignment effectively in a post-merger environment. Prior to joining Nexera, she worked in hospital operations and managed care establishments. In hospital operations, she specifically focused on improving patient throughput and overall length of stay. Ms. Ghose received her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Rutgers University. 

Vincent Giambanco

Associate Director of Pharmacy, 
NYCHHC
Vincent Giambanco is the Associate Director of Pharmacy at New York City Health & Hospitals Corporation.  In this role, he is responsible for Operations and Procurement.  Previously he has served as Pharmacy Director, Procurement Services and Contracts at NYCHHC where he oversaw the management of Operational Contracts and Procurement for 22 facilities.  Prior to joining NYCHHC, he was the Director of Pharmacy at Southampton Hospital.  He holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and an M.S. in Hospital Pharmacy Administration.   He is a member of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists and the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists.  He is a past Board Member of the New York State Council of Hospital Pharmacists.
David Gilfillan
VP, Supply Chain
IASIS Healthcare
David Gilfillan has been Vice President of Supply Chain for IASIS Healthcare, located in Franklin, Tennessee since 2001. IASIS owns and operates 18 acute care hospitals throughout six states, one behavioral health hospital, several outpatient service facilities, more than 140 physician clinics, and Medicaid and Medicare managed health plans in Arizona and Utah that serve more than 665,000 members. With more than 3700 licensed beds, Gilfillan has responsibility for ~$350M in annual supply spend in addition to oversight of $250M in capital spend. Mr. Gilfillan came to IASIS Healthcare from HCA Medical City Dallas Hospital where he served as Supply Chain Director for the 699-bed hospital for three years. Prior to that, he was Director of Materials Management for LaGrange Memorial Hospital in LaGrange, Ill., and Assistant Division Director for Columbia/HCA’s Chicago Division. Earlier in his career, he served in various materials management leadership positions with Quorum Health Group. Mr. Gilfillan holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Middle Tennessee State University.
Trisha Gillum MBA, FACHE
Network Director of Supply Chain & Purchasing
Kettering Health Network 
Trisha Gillum is Director of Supply Chain Management & Purchasing within the Kettering Health Network in southwest Ohio. She has extensive experience in health care finance and operations, having worked in a variety of roles from general accounting, decision support, third party contract management, revenue cycle management and perioperative operations management. Trisha holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Accounting and Finance from Wright State University, and an MBA in Health Care Management and Management Information Systems from Wright State University. She is a fellow in ACHE and actively involved in their local leadership.
Douglas Goldfarb
Regional Vice President
DLG Consulting
Douglas Goldfarb has over 25 years healthcare experience in both finance and operations for hospitals and surgery center management. He is currently Regional Vice President of the consulting firm DLG Consulting, based in the highly competitive market of Southern California. His experience includes revenue cycle collection improvement for distressed hospitals; managed care contracting for physician groups and surgery centers, including carve-outs and bundled payments; and medical group operations, including capitation arrangements and physician group acquisition/merger strategy to support local hospitals. Recent projects include Interim CFO of a district non-urban hospital in Northern California, development and negotiation of hospital line of credit, merger of 2 surgery centers including 26 new surgeons, and Interim Financial Director for rural health centers (FQHC) for hospital partner.

Elizabeth Goodman-Bacon

Director, Spend Performance Solutions Division, The Advisory Board Company

As a Director with the Advisory Board’s Spend Performance Solutions division, Elizabeth Goodman-Bacon focuses primarily on clinical supply sourcing. Most recently, Elizabeth has led sourcing projects at major health systems across the country including MetroHealth, Intermountain Healthcare, Legacy Health, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Hurley Medical Center. In addition to her project-based work, Elizabeth currently serves as the lead strategic partner for all supply chain related work with the Advisory Board’s largest portfolio client. Previously, Elizabeth worked in Legislative Affairs & Strategic Management developing and executing strategic project related to state and federal reform implementation. Prior to her work within healthcare systems, Elizabeth had worked in the Research & Insight division of the Advisory Board Company, specifically focusing on service line strategy and new clinical technologies.

Thomas L. Grace RN, PhD
Vice President Emergency Preparedness
Hospital and Healthsystem Association of PA
Tom Grace has been the VP Emergency Preparedness of the Hospital and Health System Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) since 2012. His current responsibilities include leadership for the HAP/PADOH HPP partnership. He serves as: Team Leader/Founder of Southeastern Pennsylvania - Surge Medical Assistance Response Team, and Team Commander, US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Disaster Medical System, and Disaster Medical Assistance Team PA-4. In his career, Tom has served as a Volunteer Fire/EMS Paramedic; Emergency/flight nurse (Pittsburgh Life Flight in 1981 -85; then flight programs in Fairfax, VA and Philadelphia, PA (85-93); PA Health System Administrator for Support Services (Facilities, Utilities, Construction; Safety, Security, Emergency Mgmt, Med Equipment, Food Services, Housekeeping 1994-2006); HAP VP for Preparedness, Philadelphia Region 2006-2012 and is a US ARMY Veteran (1973-76) with "The Old Guard" Washington, DC. He has his Nursing Diploma from Sewickley Valley Hospital, his BSN from LaRoche College, a Master’s in Public Management from Carnegie Mellon University, and a PhD in Administration from Cambridge State University. 
Gloria Graham DNP, RN, CVAHP
Immediate Past President
AHVAP
Gloria Graham DNP, RN, CVAHP is the Immediate Past-President of the Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals (AHVAP) with 28 years’ experience, which has included positions in neuroscience, emergency medicine, forensic medicine and supply chain. Dr. Graham has expertise in product and device review, project management, shared governance, patient safety & value analysis. Currently, she is the Clinical Materials Specialist within the division of Contracts & Value Analysis for Supply Chain Management at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She is responsible for the clinical value analysis process and other supply chain activities related to patient care, quality and safety. As an internal liaison to both clinical and non-clinical staff, Dr. Graham has been able to share how clinicians and supply chain partner with each other for improved patient care and safety. She holds a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Healthcare Leadership from Mt. St. Joseph University, a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Xavier University and a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from Berea College. 

Brandi Greenberg

Managing Director, Advisory Board
For the past twelve years, Brandi has co-led the Advisory Board Company’s membership program for companies offering supplies and services to health care provider organizations.  Brandi’s research aims to bridge the divide between providers and suppliers – focusing on innovative provider-supplier partnerships, provider purchasing trends, implications of health system consolidation, and risk-sharing contracts between providers and suppliers.  Prior to assuming her current role, Brandi was a Practice Manager with the Boston Consulting Group. The majority of her work supported clients in the biopharmaceutical, medical device, and health care delivery sectors. She has led major organizational redesign efforts to improve drug commercialization, clinical trials management, and operating room throughput.  Brandi received her MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she graduated as an Arjay Miller scholar. She also holds an MA in Rhetoric from Duke University and an AB with honors in English and American Studies from Stanford University.

Mark Growcott

Ochsner Health System

Mark Growcott is the Manager of Supply Chain Finance and Strategy at Ochsner Health System. In this role, he leads all aspects of the Supply Chain Division medical supply metrics and variance analysis, financial reporting and analysis, budgets and projections, and the Ochsner Physician Partner supply distribution program. Mark holds a PhD in Global Leadership, and an MBA and BA from LSU.
Mohamed Guiro M.S., M.P.H
Senior Manager, Supply Chain Solutions
Intermountain Healthcare
Mohamed H. Guiro is the Senior Manager for Supply Chain Solutions at Intermountain Healthcare. His main category is pharmacy. Some of his responsibilities include: developing key relationships with Intermountain’s Pharmacy leadership team, and providing progressive strategies for managing Intermountain’s largest category spend portfolio. As a seasoned supply chain leader, Mohamed possesses a myriad of experience working in the pharmaceutical industry including: auditing, inventory management, sourcing, and standardization. Mohamed joined Intermountain in July of 2017 from Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) where he managed the pharmacy supply chain for all of CTCA’s five regional hospitals. Prior to CTCA, Mohamed worked at CVS Pharmacy Headquarters’ in pharmacy auditing and merchandizing. Mohamed earned his Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He also has a Master of Science in Pharmacy Administration and a Master of Public Health, which he earned from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.

David Habib

Associate Chief Medical Officer, Supply Chain, Medical University of South Carolina

 

David M. Habib, M.D. is the Associate Chief Medical Officer, Supply Chain, Medical University of South Carolina. His major clinical interest and responsibilities include ongoing management of all Pediatric Critical Care patients, Pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (EMCO) and daily rounds and lectures to Pediatric residents and medical students. David finished his undergrad at the Catholic University of America and received his doctorate from the Bowman Gray School of Medicine. He received a Presidential Citation from the Society of Critical Care Medicine in 2011, which is given to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions of time, energy and resources to the SCCM. 
Maria Hames
Partner
HealthCare Links
 
Maria Hames joined HealthCare Links in March 1991. She has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare market. Her background includes working with companies in senior management roles in the arena of healthcare corporate development and national sales management. Ms. Hames has been involved in start-up and acquisition, operational/sales management, strategic planning, accreditation, practice management, managed care contracting and risk contracting. As a partner in HealthCare Links, her responsibilities include IDN sales and contract implementation on behalf of HealthCare Links’ clients. She simplifies very complex sales processes at some of the largest healthcare organizations in the country. More importantly, her relationships are built on trust with a sincere desire to see all parties benefit. Her educational experience includes a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Michigan and a Master’s Degree in business management from Pepperdine University. 

Philip Hampton

AVP Materials Management and Contracting, Lovelace Health System
Philip Hampton currently serves as the AVP of Materials Management and Contracting for Lovelace Health System.  Lovelace Health System is located in New Mexico with the primary hospitals and clinics located in Albuquerque.  Philip has been with Lovelace and in Healthcare for 9 years.  Prior to getting into Healthcare Philip worked in the restaurant and hospitality industry for the Hyatt, Hilton, & PF Changs.  When Philip is not at work he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters doing weekend projects and watching movies.  Philip currently resides in Peralta, NM.
Nancy P Hanrahan PHD, RN, FAAN
Executive Director and Associate Dean of Innovation & Entrepreneurship for Bouve' Health Science College
Northeastern University
Dr. Nancy Hanrahan assumed the position of Executive Director and Associate Dean of Innovation & Entrepreneurship for Bouvé College of Health Sciences effective March 2018. She is the former dean of Northeastern University School of Nursing and known for her research documenting innovative models of care. Dr. Hanrahan leads the Innovation, Entrepreneurship Program at Northeastern University Bouve’ College of Health Sciences. This program empowers nurses and other health providers to lead innovation that transforms health systems using big data, device inventions, robotics, and innovation of the experience of healthcare by patients and families. She’s received national and international awards for development of innovative inventions.
Ed Hardin
Vice President & Chief Supply Chain Officer
Froedtert Health
Ed Hardin leads a supply chain organization of more than 150 personnel managing $600m in non-labor spend. Before joining Froedtert Health, Ed served as senior vice president Supply Chain Management at Beaumont Health, Michigan’s largest health care system. In this role, Hardin oversaw a team of nearly 450 personnel responsible for sourcing, contracting, purchasing, value analysis, inventory management, distribution, transportation, records management, supply chain informatics and mail services. In all, his team managed $1.4 billion in non-labor spending. Prior to joining Beaumont Health, he served in a similar capacity at CHRISTUS Health, a faith-based, international health care provider with locations in the United States and Latin America. Prior to CHRISTUS Health, he served at Resource Optimization & Innovation, the supply chain division of Mercy in St. Louis, MO. His more than 25-year career in supply chain performance and management solutions also includes consulting positions at Alvarez & Marsal, Deloitte & Touche and Ernst & Young.  Ed is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a Certified Materials & Resource Professional for the Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management. He was elected to the national board of AHRMM to begin a three-year term in January 2017. A strong advocate of his profession, he serves or has served on several industry advisory boards including the IDN Summit, Wayne State University Global Supply Chain Program, Stryker, Amazon Health, McKesson and Health Connect Partners. He earned his master’s degree in health care administration from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and his bachelor’s degree from Westminster College in Fulton, MO.
David Hargraves
Senior Vice President of Supply Chain
Premier, Inc. 

As senior vice president of supply chain, David A. Hargraves leads Premier’s core supply chain business, including sourcing, contract management, operations and business analytics. Hargraves joined Premier in 2015 to lead the negotiation teams responsible for developing contracts within Premier’s $50 billion portfolio. He was promoted to group vice president of strategic sourcing in 2016 assuming responsibility for all of Premier’s strategic sourcing initiatives. Hargraves has over 25 years of leadership experience, including more than 15 years in supply chain. Before joining Premier, Hargraves worked at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) for nine years as vice president of clinical supply chain. Hargraves served as adjunct professor of sustainable supply chain management at Chatham University and held supply chain leadership roles with Alcoa and Ariba. He was also a hospital corpsman and biomedical equipment technician for the U.S. Navy. Hargraves received his MBA with a concentration in healthcare finance from Waynesburg University and his BS from Duquesne University. He also has an AS in biomedical engineering technology from Penn State University.

Dave Harlow BS, Pharm D.
AVP, Professional Services, Clinical Pharmacy, Clinical Laboratory and Disease Management
Martin Health System
Dr. Harlow received his BS Pharm in 1992 from the Medical College of Virginia and completed his Doctoral work at the University of Florida

Professionally, Dr Harlow is the Assistant Vice President for Professional Services at Cleveland Clinic – Martin Health System in Stuart Florida with responsibility for Pharmacy, Laboratory and Chronic Care Management. Dr. Harlow joined the Martin Health System as the Chief Pharmacy Officer coming from Carilion Clinic’s ACO as the Regional Director of Pharmacy Operations for Southwestern Virginia. Additionally, Dr. Harlow was previously the executive officer of PharmaDym PA, a clinical pharmacy consulting firm. His experience has also included Retail Pharmacy ownership, Home Infusion as well as Pharmacy Benefit Management.

Currently, Dr. Harlow serves as the Chair of the Florida Society of Health System Pharmacists Legislative and Regulatory Committee and has been a legislative resource for ASHP and has either been quoted or contributed to a variety of publications.

Recent accomplishments include:

Guest Speaker for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals National Sales Meeting 2019 on Drug Shortages
Featured in Forbes Magazine May 2018 – commentary on Drug Shortages 
Janssen Pharmaceuticals - Health Systems Advisory Board - 2016
Project Designer of Martin Health Systems Comprehensive Health Management Program – ChaMPs 2014 – Research Publication Pending
CoAuthor of (IHARP) Improving Health of At Risk Rural Patient – A CMS Innovations center granted project ($4.6 million).- 2012
Contributor to: Supporting Health Care Reform through Advanced Pharmacy Practice – A Report the Surgeon General 2012


Currently, Dr. Harlow serves as the Chair of the Florida Society of Health System Pharmacists and has been a legislative resource for ASHP and has either been quoted or contributed to a variety of publications

Kimberly Hartsfield

Senior Manager, ECG
Kimberly specializes in healthcare payment transformation with a focus on designing and implementing Medicare, Medicaid, commercial, and direct-to-employer BP programs. With more than 22 years of experience in both the payor and provider arenas, Kimberly is uniquely qualified to help organizations achieve operational and financial success with BP solutions that are mutually beneficial to all parties at the table. Prior to ECG, Kimberly was a Vice President in the BP practice at The Camden Group, working with clients to implement successful BP arrangements. She spent 20 years with Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, serving most recently as Director of Enterprise Business Intelligence – Medical Informatics. She was responsible for designing and implementing the Arkansas Health Care Payment Improvement Initiative, a statewide, multi-payor BP program that has generated significant savings while eliminating waste and improving the quality of care delivered to Arkansans. Before that, Kimberly was the Director of Provider Relations at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where she created strategic and long-rang plans for the management and further development of the participating provider network.

Randy Hayas, CMRP

Chief Supply Chain Officer, Orlando Health
Randy Hayas is the Chief Supply Chain Officer at Orlando Health an eight-hospital integrated health care delivery network in Orlando, Florida with more than $2.7Billion in Net patient Revenue.  Mr. Hayas joined the organization in 2007 and has over 30 years’ experience in supply chain, healthcare administration and consulting ranging from small community hospitals to large academic medical centers and integrated delivery networks.   Mr. Hayas has a Bachelor in Business Administration degree majoring in Finance and Economics and is a Certified Materials & Resource Professional through the American Hospital Association.  In addition, Mr. Hayas is a Board Member of IDignity, Inc., a non-profit organization helping the disadvantaged in Central Florida through the complex steps of getting personal identification.
Wini Hayes PhD
CEO
Hayes, Inc.
Winifred S. Hayes, MS, PhD, RN, ANP, President and CEO, founded Hayes, Inc. in 1989 in response to a growing need in the healthcare industry for evidence-based assessments of health technologies. Under her leadership, Hayes, Inc. has become an industry leader in providing unbiased, timely, clinically focused, evidence-based research and analysis to health plans, hospitals, managed care organizations, government agencies, and healthcare systems. In June 1999, in response to the public outcry for independent, external medical review within the healthcare industry, Dr. Hayes formed Hayes Plus, a national Independent Review Organization (doing business now as IMEDICS). She sold the company in October 2005 after it was firmly established in the marketplace. Dr. Hayes was a founding member and the first President of the National Association of Independent Review Organizations (NAIRO). She currently serves on the Board of Directors for URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization that is a leader in promoting healthcare quality through its accreditation and education programs.
Jim Hayman MS, MBA, FASHP
Chief Pharmacy Officer
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Jim Hayman’s career has included leadership positions at several levels including Director of Pharmacy, Corporate Director of Pharmacy, Vice President, Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at a variety of health systems including private non-profits, public healthcare systems & academic medical centers. Jim is a Fellow of the American Society of Health-system Pharmacists (ASHP) and serves as Chair of McKesson’s Pharmacy Executive Alliance, a group which advises McKesson on patient safety, clinical & regulatory issues and operational trends in Pharmacy practice. Jim received his Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy and Master’s Degree in Hospital Pharmacy from the University of Mississippi. He completed a residency in Hospital Pharmacy at the Medical University of South Carolina and received an MBA in Health Systems Management from the University of Dallas.
Sara Henderson MBA
Vice President, Supply Chain, Avera Health
 
Sara Henderson is the Vice President of Supply Chain at Avera Health, located in Sioux Falls, SD. She has over 15 years of experience in finance, supply chain and healthcare. Her healthcare leadership career began at the University of Utah Medical Group and led to increasing responsibilities and leadership roles within Avera Health. She is best known for ability to oversee and lead large scope initiatives such as item master standardization, integration of revenue cycle with supply chain operations, and the restructure of the supply value analysis process into clinical integration. Sara has her Economics B.S. degree and MBA from University of South Dakota.
Erich Heneke
Director - Supply Chain Management
Mayo Clinic
Erich Heneke is currently Director of Business Integrity & Continuity in Mayo Clinic’s Supply Chain Management (SCM). His financial emphasis is in Supplier Risk Management, Audit/Controls, Business Continuity and Financial Planning & Analysis. Erich has worked in Mayo SCM for 9 years, focusing his efforts on sound SCM controls, fraud prevention/detection, accuracy of balance sheet accounting and other controls related work, including Mayo’s voluntary Sox compliance. Erich graduated with honors from Wartburg College and earned his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Minnesota. He has his Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Financial Manager (CFM), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) certifications, Certified Third Party Risk Professional (CTPRP) and is a Fellow for the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). Erich is currently completing his doctoral degree in Business Management. In his spare time, Erich enjoys watching Seinfeld re-runs, managing his side consulting business, participating in a variety of sports and is a competitive tri-athlete (swim/bike/run). Erich, his wife, Kate, 4 year old daughter, Ryan, and Golden Retriever, Riley, reside in southern Rochester, MN.

Malcolm Henoch, MD

SVP and Associate Chief Medical Officer, Beaumont Health

Malcolm Henoch, M.D. is senior vice president and associate chief medical officer, acute care at Beaumont Health.  In this role, Dr. Henoch is responsible for promoting excellence in clinical care at all Beaumont Health acute care hospitals.  He comes to Beaumont Health from Oakwood, where he served as senior vice president and chief medical officer.  He has provided executive leadership in clinical and medical staff affairs, graduate medical education, clinical strategic direction, and physician leadership development.  He has also been chairman of Oakwood Physicians, providing leadership in the governance of that physician group practice.  He is a member of the Beaumont Health board and is chairman of Oakwood Assurance Corporation.  Prior to his position with Oakwood, Dr. Henoch served as president and CEO of University Mednet, a large multi-specialty physician group operating as a unit of University Hospitals Health System in Cleveland, OH.  Board certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine, Dr. Henoch holds a Master of Business Administration from Case Western Reserve University and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Maryland.

George Hersch

Vice President, Materiel Management, Norton Healthcare
George Y. Hersch joined Norton Healthcare in October 2000 as vice president of materiel management.  He has system-wide responsibility for supply chain management including purchasing, distribution, the materiel management information system and technology assessment.  Hersch has 40 years of experience in health care materiel management.  Before joining Norton Healthcare, he was responsible for supply chain operations at UCLA Healthcare, Los Angeles, and at the Franciscan Health System, Philadelphia.  In 1998 during his tenure at UCLA, he developed a physician-peer review process to evaluate emerging medical technologies that remains a model program to this day.  He replicated the process at Norton Healthcare, legitimizing technology assessment as an important clinical/business process in both the academic medical center and community hospital environment.  Hersch holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University and a master’s degree in management (health care administration) from Central Michigan University.    Hersch is currently serving on the boards of: Central State Hospital and Wesley Manor. He is also the incoming chair of Premier’s Strategic Advisory Committee.

Rodney Hicks

Vice President, Strategic Consult – Supply Chain & IT, Team Strategies LLC

Dr. Hicks is effectively moving forward organizations’ strategies in end-to-end supply chain. Recently, Dr. Hicks led and implemented supply chain operations for two new hospital builds/openings – improving operations efficiency and service quality for its members. He is a supply chain executive with almost 20 years of progressive experience with engineering, operations, and global supply chains. Dr. Hicks has held leadership roles with Fortune 500 companies such as Kaiser Permanente, Nike, FedEx and Hewlett Packard covering Healthcare/Biotechnology Logistics, Systems Engineering, and Global Supply Chain Excellence. He has led supply chain improvements initiatives within large and mid-sized organizations for decision/outcome based excellence by enabling people, systems, and process integrations. Dr. Hicks holds a PhD with discipline and dissertation focused on Lean and Six Sigma in Healthcare to remove waste (all non-value added activities). His dissertations is published through UMI ProQuest, and Dr. Hicks continually focuses on improving organizations and teams within.

Kevin Hines

Assistant Vice President, Network Materials Management, St. Luke’s University Health Network
Kevin Hines is the Assistant Vice President, Network Materials Management, St. Luke’s University Health Network. Prior to coming to St. Luke’s, Kevin worked in a variety of health care settings. For the past three years he has served in an interim director role at Ingalls Health System, Harvey, IL and St. Anthony’s Medical Center, St. Louis, MO. He also led an orthopedic implant initiative for New York Health and Hospital Corporation. He has also served as Vice President, Corporate Materials Management for McLean Health Care, a fully integrated regional health care system in Michigan. Previously, he was the Administrative Director for Trinity Lutheran Hospital, responsible for all financial activities, reimbursement, marketing, performance improvement, clinical operations, physician recruitment, and contract negotiations for a multispecialty health center and outpatient surgery center and two primary care practices. Kevin has also served as the Corporate Director at Health Midwest, with responsibility for corporate product standardization and GPO contract compliance for 12 affiliate hospitals. Kevin holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Kansas and an MBA from Avila University.

Michael Hinojosa

Director, Contracting & Resource Utilization – Purchased Services, CHRISTUS Health

Michael joined CHRISTUS Health in August 1994, after serving in the United States Marine Corps. His supply chain journey began at CHRISTUS Spohn region (Corpus Christi, TX) for 8 years. He then transferred to the CHRISTUS Gulf Coast region (Houston, TX) for 10 years, and has been with Corporate Supply Chain for the past 4 years. During his career his experiences include procurement, contracting, inventory management and MM operations and logistics. In his current role he managers over $364 Million in annual spend related to purchased services. The Contracting Purchased Service Lines are all purchased services related but not limited to Facilities Management, Clinical Engineering, Housekeeping, and Food Service. Other top services include Managed Print Services, Integrated Waste Management, Dialysis Service, Linen and Laundry, Blood Management, and Elevator Services.

Edward Hisscock
SVP, Supply Chain Management,
Trinity Health
Ed Hisscock is a Healthcare Supply Chain Practitioner. Ed has spent over 25 years serving in the supply chain and IT disciplines with fortune 50 companies, healthcare supplier and healthcare provider organizations. Ed has founded two healthcare companies and personally served over 100 healthcare provider organizations in the US and Europe. Ed is the Senior Vice President of Supply Chain at Trinity Health, a leading catholic healthcare ministry. Ed holds an Engineering degree in Electronics, a Bachelors degree in Behavioral Science, and a Master's degree in Supply Chain from Michigan State University.

Michelle Hollingshead

Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, Corporate Culture Change

Michelle Hollingshead is committed to helping individuals and organizations leave a meaningful imprint on our world. She designs and delivers leadership development programs to corporations and is a strategist on large-scale organizational change initiative. Michelle facilitates corporate transformation, where she bridges gaps between people from diverse backgrounds and cross-functional teams. Michelle began her career in multicultural education before transitioning to coaching, consulting, and entrepreneurship. Michelle is a member of the faculty network for Axialent, the global leader in conscious business transformation.
Chris Holt
Leader, Global Healthcare
Amazon Business
Chris Holt is the Leader, Global Healthcare for Amazon Business. Amazon Business is innovating how healthcare organizations source and purchase products to improve supply chain efficiency, simplify contract administration, and make comparison shopping easy. Healthcare organizations have access to hundreds of millions of products – everything from IT products and medical equipment to janitorial/sanitation and food service supplies. Chris Holt brings more than 25 years of global healthcare supply chain innovation to the Amazon team. He began his career in supply chain strategy consulting with Ernst & Young. He then joined UPS where he helped establish the company’s healthcare vertical. Chris has extensive international experience in healthcare having led the China business for Cardinal Health and subsequently served as CEO of Chinese medical product supplier Tiger Medical. Most recently, he led Business Ventures for Vizient, the US' largest healthcare group purchasing organization. Chris has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in Logistics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Chris and his wife and their three children reside in Seattle, WA. 
Steven W Huckabaa
VP, Supply Chain
Avera Health
Steve Huckabaa joined Avera Health in August 2012 as System Vice President for Supply Chain Management. His current role covers Sourcing, Centralized Purchasing, MMIS, Hospital Materials Management Operations, Avera Distribution Center, Print Management Services, System-wide Courier Services, Collaboration Services, PACE (Avera GPO Services) and a few other responsibilities. During his 24 years in the healthcare industry Steve has held various executive positions on the provider side, trade association side, and group purchasing side in sales management. Besides his supply chain experience on the provider side he also has experience in corporate development, long-term pharmacy, retail pharmacy with concierge service to bedside, durable medical equipment ownership with concierge service to bed side, and medical research (neuroscience, pharmaceutical, and medical device). He also has consultant experience in pharmacy wholesaler, closed-door pharmacy, regional medical distribution, and state-run diversity programs. Prior to entering the healthcare industry Steve spent 20 years in the United States Air Force. Steve and Sheree have been married 41 years. He holds a Master’s of Science in Health Care Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Theological Studies with a minor in business management.

Kim Hull

Director of Finance/Supply Chain, Novant Health
Kim Hull is the Director of Finance for Supply Chain at Novant Health based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She has been in the healthcare finance arena for sixteen years with previous roles as Finance Manager for the Greater Winston Salem Market and Clinical Sourcing Manager for the system. In her current role, Kim is responsible for the data integrity and business intelligence for Supply Chain analytics. Kim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte as well as a Masters of Business Administration from Gardner-Webb University.

David Hunter

Vice President, Supply Chain Management, Engineering & Hospitality, Providence Health & Services
Dave Hunter is currently the Vice President, Supply Chain Management, Engineering & Hospitality, Providence Health & Services. He has been in the healthcare supply chain for 30+ years. Dave served in hospital supply chain management positions for his first ten years with Providence in Olympia and Yakima, Washington, as well as with Carondelet Healthcare in Tucson Arizona. Since 1993 he has worked fro PH&S in system or regional supply chain management positions. Since 2003 he has lead all supply chain activities within Providence Health & Services, a $15 billion per year organization. This includes strategic and capital sourcing, procumbent, value analysis, and operations & logistics in the 33-hospital system stretching from California to Alaska. Total supply and purchased services spend for Providence exceeds $2.25 billion annually. Dave also oversees a $140 million per year self-distribution center that services three western states within the Providence service areas. He has recently assumed responsibility for Clinical Engineering, Facility Engineering, Nutritional Services, and Environmental Services for Providence Health & Services.
James Hutchinson CPM
Senior Director Supply Chain Information Systems
Banner Health
James Hutchinson is senior director of supply chain information systems and analytics for Banner Health. His responsibility includes strategy, planning and development of information systems infrastructure and analytics supporting effective decision-making and predictive performance outcomes. James is a finance graduate of Arizona State University WP Carey School of Business and holds a CPM designation from the Institute of Supply Management.

Joseph Jackson

Managing Director, Strategic Healthcare Services, LLC

Mr. Jackson has spent 16 years in various healthcare leadership roles including operations, supply chain, and finance. He has worked with hospitals in New York, Illinois, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, New Jersey, Georgia, North Carolina, and Alabama on projects such as, Physician Preferred Item utilization and cost    analysis, Strategic Supply Chain planning, supply expense reduction, financial system implementation, payroll and labor productivity analysis, and inventory and distribution management. Mr. Jackson began his healthcare career with Ernst & Young implementing large ERP supply chain and financial software systems for hospitals. He then moved to First Consulting Group advising hospitals on issues such as strategic supply chain management, supply expense cost reduction, and labor productivity analysis. Joe has spent the last eleven years focusing on reducing hospital costs for total joint, spine, trauma, and cardiac implantable devices. He has worked with numerous surgeons and manufacturers to achieve and sustain implant cost reductions. 

Valerie Jensen, R.Ph.
Associate Director, CDER Drug Shortage Staff
FDA
CAPT Valerie Jensen is Associate Director of the Drug Shortage Program at the Food and Drug Administration. She received a B.S. degree in Pharmacy from the University of Iowa in 1990. She completed an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Specialized Residency in Ambulatory Care at the White River Indian Health Service hospital in White River, Arizona in 1991. She worked as a clinical pharmacist for Indian Health Service hospitals in Arizona and New Mexico for nine years before joining FDA. She has been with the Drug Shortage Program at FDA for the past seventeen years.

Rita Jew

Director of Pharmacy, UCSF Medical Center
Rita K. Jew, Pharm.D. MBA, FASHP received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), completed an ASHP-Accredited Residency in Clinical Pharmacy at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and received her Master of Business Administration degree from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She is Director of Pharmacy at UCSF Medical Center, Mission Bay campus where she oversees the robotic production facility and all clinical and operational activities of Pediatric Pharmacy Services at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. Prior to this, Dr. Jew spent 22 years serving in various leadership positions at two Children’s Hospitals. Her areas of expertise include neonatal drug therapy, drug use during ECMO, immunizations, extemporaneous compounding, medication safety, technology and automation and lean and its application in healthcare.

Brent Johnson

Retired - Vice President Supply Chain
Intermountain Healthcare

Brent Johnson has been one of the most successful and recognized supply chain leaders in healthcare in the last 13 years.   He has over 30 years of experience developing supply chain strategies for major companies in three industries.  Brent has a passion for supply chain best practices and wants to help the healthcare industry recognize the value of managing supply chain more strategically. He has spoken over 100 times at major conferences, written many articles, received key industry awards and served on the board of directors of some of the leading industry organizations.  From 2005 to 2015 Brent was Vice-President of Supply Chain at Intermountain Healthcare, creating an industry “Top 25 Gartner” Supply Chain Organization (#1 in 2016 & 2015) that achieved over $500 million in savings over ten years. In 2012, Intermountain Healthcare opened a new $40M, 325,000 sq. ft. Supply Chain Center considered one of the best in the industry.  In 2014 Brent was inducted into the Bellweather League, which is a Hall of Fame for Healthcare Supply Chain Leadership. In August, 2015 AHRMM named Brent the recipient of the 2015 George R. Gossett Leadership Award.  He has served on the boards of the Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM) 2012-2015 and Strategic Marketplace Initiative (SMI) 2011-2015).  Before retiring Brent served one year as the President and CEO of Intalere when Intermountain Healthcare completed the purchase of Amerinet.  Upon retiring in July, 2016, Brent and his wife spent 18 months in Oaxaca, Mexico as service missionaries for the Mormon (LDS) church.  He has an MBA from the University of Utah.  He resides in Centerville, UT and has four children and eighteen grandchildren. 

Lori Johnson

Senior Director, Implementation, Novant Health Shared Services

Lori is responsible for the implementation of all supply chain savings opportunities for Shared Services partners. This includes working with partners to analyze, identify and track supply chain savings. Lori is also instrumental in managing and leveraging vendor relationships for the benefit of our partners. Since joining Novant in 1997, Lori has held several positions within corporate finance, most recently as the director of finance within supply chain. She led the supply chain integration for all mergers of new facilities. She was also responsible for strategic sourcing implementation, supply chain information services and purchasing functions. Lori is currently a member of the NCACPA and AICPA, having served in the past as a board member of the local NCACPA chapter. She has served as treasurer for several community associations. She is a member of the United Way Women’s Leadership Council and volunteers within Forsyth County Public Schools. 

Sherry Johnson MBA,MHA
Manager, Strategic Sourcing
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Sherry Johnson is a seasoned supply chain leader with over 32 years’ experience in the areas of healthcare operations, sourcing, value analysis, contract negotiations, risk management and insurance programs. Sherry has been at Children’s for 32 years. Prior to joining the Strategic Sourcing Team, Sherry served as the Director of Risk Management at Children’s Scottish Rite Hospital. As Manager of Strategic Sourcing, she oversees the capital, consumable, purchase services and applicable service agreements for Children’s. As the Strategic Sourcing Manager, she oversees the Strategic Sourcing Team which manages over $160+ million in contracting/acquisitions/services which incorporate capital, IST, Group Purchasing Organization and local consumable agreements. In addition, the Sourcing team assists the Value Analysis process, sourcing of master facility projects, system wide purchase services, and process improvement efforts in the organization as it relates to the Sourcing function. In addition to providing direction for these functions, Sherry provides input on integral to strategic system projects. Sherry is happily married with a daughter attending college.
Tony Johnson
Chief Operating Officer, Novant Health Shared Services; Chief Supply Chain Officer, Novant Health
Tony joined Novant Health in October 2003. During his tenure, he has developed an integrated supply chain that supports 13 Novant Health hospitals, 6 surgery centers, 71 imaging centers, and 356 physician practices in NC, SC, GA, and VA. He has also developed a strategic sourcing organization that has reduced Novant Health supply chain cost by over $250 million in the last 5 years, lowering Novant’s supply cost as a percent of net patient revenue from 19.5% to 14.3%. Tony also leads a clinical engineering organization that self maintains over 75,000 pieces of medical equipment to include over 200 CT’s and MRI’s. His supply chain and clinical engineering organizations have been benchmarked as a top performer in the country. Tony has an exceptional understanding of the healthcare supply chain, physician partnerships ad optimizing costs for all non-labor expenses. As COO for Shared Services, Tony is responsible for operational improvements for 9 additional affiliated and managed hospitals. Prior to joining Novant, Mr. Johns served as Vice President of General Services for the Grady Health System in Atlanta, GA. He is also a retired army lieutenant colonel.

Christopher Jones

Director, Division of Science Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluations, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

The Division of Science Policy serves as the ASPE lead on public health and biomedical science issues and initiatives, including programmatic and policy areas that involve complex or rapidly evolving science and technology. The Division is responsible for policy coordination; long-range planning; legislative development; economic, program, and regulatory analysis; and evaluation focused on the HHS science agencies – the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). Dr. Jones previously served as senior advisor in the Office of Public Health Strategy and Analysis in the Office of the Commissioner at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Prior to CDC, he completed a one-year detail to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) as Senior Public Health Advisor.

James A. Jorgenson, RPh, MS, FASHP

Chief Executive Officer, Visante, Inc. & Visante Ltd.
James Jorgenson is Visante's Chief Executive Officer where he leads national and international programs for medicines management improvement. His more than 30-year career includes pharmacy oversight of very large health systems and their network associations as well as academic leadership in graduate pharmacy education. He is credited with more than 50 articles published in the professional literature and has been a sought after speaker, giving in excess of 200 presentations to academic and professional groups in the U.S., Sweden, Australia, Japan, Spain, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  Previous to joining Visante, James was Vice President, Chief Pharmacy Officer for Indiana University Health (IU Health), the largest and most comprehensive state-based healthcare system in Indiana. In this position he was responsible for the design and operation of the system's pharmacy services supporting IU Health's integrated delivery network which included the IU Health hospitals, retail pharmacy operations, IU Health insurance programs, and IU Health medical staff through their accountable care organization/ medical home infrastructures.  Previous to joining Indiana University Health, James was Administrative Director of Pharmacy Services for the University of Utah Health Care and Associate Dean for Pharmacy at the University of Utah College of Pharmacy in Salt Lake City. In these positions he was in charge of all pharmaceutical care for the University Health Care system and for experiential education design at the college.  He also directed pharmacy services for the 2002 Winter Olympic games in Salt Lake City.  Jim's leadership has also extended to professional organizations and societies where he has served on numerous councils and committees and is the current President for the Specialty Healthcare Benefits Council.  He is also a member of the ASHP Foundation’s Pharmacy Leadership Academy faculty where he provides graduate level instruction to students from around the world.  In 2008 he received the ASHP Award for Distinguished Leadership of Health-Systems Pharmacy Practice.  James Jorgenson received a BS in Pharmacy with High Distinction and a MS in Hospital Pharmacy Administration both from the University of Minnesota and completed a residency in Hospital Pharmacy Administration at United & Children’s Hospitals in St. Paul, MN. He was also a Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School Executive Management Program. He resides in Sandy, Utah.

Jim Joyce

Specialist Leader, Manufacturing, Strategy and Operations, Deloitte
Mr. Joyce is a leader in Deloitte’s Manufacturing Strategy and Operations practice and has 20+ years of experience in Operations Management, Lean Manufacturing and Advanced Manufacturing. He has led multiple operations transformation initiatives that have delivered significant and operational results. His extensive industry and consulting experience includes a wide variety of products, industries and spans work in multiple countries. He leads Deloitt’s Additive Manufacturing Practice. Jim has Expertise in manufacturing and supply chain strategy, operations improvement, advanced manufacturing, supplier cost reduction and development, and retail and distribution.

Annette Karageanes

Assistant Director, Pharmacy Supply Chain, Beaumont Health System

Annette Karageanes, MS, RPh, is currently the assistant Director of Pharmacy Supply Chain for Beaumont Health System in Royal Oak, MI. She has held both hospital – and corporate – level leadership positions in pharmacy at multiple institutions. She has significant experience in pharmacy operations and supply chain management and was instrumental in developing the specialty pharmacy program at Beaumont. Karageanes received her bachelors of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Michigan and her Masters of Science in Health-System Pharmacy Management from Wayne State University.

John K. Kautzer
System Director, Contracting
Hospital Sisters Health System
John is a supply chain veteran with over 40 years of experience. His provider experience includes health systems in WI and TX. John’s GPO background includes Diversified Health Services, Consorta, and Med Assets. Most recently, John was the Executive Director of Support Services and Distribution for Resource Optimization and Innovation (ROi) in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition, he spent time working with Healthcare Links providing national accounts support to a number of their clients. In his current role at HSHS, John oversees system and local contracting activity and is the system’s representative on the HealthTrust Supply Chain Board.

Jim Kelly

Pro Football Hall of Fame Quarterback for the Buffalo Bills

Considered one of the elite quarterbacks in the history of the National Football League, Jim Kelly led the Buffalo Bills to the playoffs eight times and to four consecutive Super Bowls from 1991-1994. Jim shared his story of perseverance and overcoming obstacles including his insights on teamwork, leadership, having a special needs child, and fighting cancer.

Kelley Kieffer, RN, BSN, MSN-L, CNML

Chief Nursing Officer, Banner Baywood Medical Center and Banner Heart Hospital
Kelley Kieffer, RN, BSN, MSN-L, CNML is the Chief Nursing Officer for Banner Baywood Medical Center and Banner Heart Hospital. Kieffer brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her executive leadership position. Currently, she spearheads a nursing staff of approximately 1000 employees across two operating facilities; a 388 bed medical center with ACS State Trauma level III designation and a 111 bed cardiovascular specialty hospital. Throughout her tenure at Banner Health, Kieffer has served in various officer, director and managerial nursing positions. Her journey began as a Clinical Nurse in Labor and Delivery at Banner Desert Medical Center, in Mesa, Arizona where she quickly expanded her role into the Senior Clinical Manager for Women and Infant Service line. As her journey continued, Kieffer transitioned to the newly opened Banner Gateway Medical Center in Gilbert, Arizona in the capacity of Director of Women and Infant Services. She fulfilled this role and moved into the Director of Perioperative Services.  Kelley is a member of American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), American Nurses Association (ANA) and the Arizona Nurses Association (AzNA). She has demonstrated excellence in nursing leadership with many accomplishments and credits her success to collaboration, partnership and open communication with multidiscipline team members that strengthen and enhance quality care and service to those served within the healthcare entity. Education Grand Canyon University, Glendale, Arizona - Masters of Nursing – Leadership (MSN –L) - February, 2012
Stephen Kiewiet
Chief Commercial Officer
Intalere
As Chief Commercial Officer, Steve Kiewiet is responsible for ensuring the integrated commercial success of Intalere through business and market share growth with direct oversight of the Sales, Marketing and Customer Service departments. Kiewiet has a strategic and diverse perspective of the healthcare industry supported by more than 12 years of direct patient care combined with over 18 years in product management, business development, medical products/devices distribution, strategic sourcing and large academic healthcare system/IDN supply chain management. He is a nationally-recognized leader and innovator in healthcare supply chain management, leadership development and operational efficiency, and was featured in The Journal of Healthcare Contracting as one of the “Top 10 People to Watch in Healthcare Contracting.” Prior to joining Intalere, Kiewiet served as Vice President, Supply Chain, with BJC Healthcare in St. Louis, providing multi-site operations and inventory management with a $30 million budget, more than $1 billion in total supply spend and 210 full time employees at 15 hospitals. He played an instrumental role in positioning the company as an industry leader in driving supply chain visibility, including implementing one of the industry’s first health system based medical device self-distribution models, which delivered more than $2 million in annual savings. His experience also includes progressive leadership positions with Cardinal Health, including Director of Operations, where he served as general manager of a large medical supply distribution center serving acute and non-acute customers in Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois, as well as providing wound closure product solutions for customers throughout the United States. Kiewiet is Lean Six Sigma trained and certified, and a member of the American College of Healthcare Executive (ACHE) as well as a Fellow and Board Member of the Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM). Kiewiet earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, Fla., and an MBA from the University of Tulsa. He has also completed Advanced Management training at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. He is a veteran of the United States Navy.
Troy Kirchenbauer
Vice President & General Manager, Advanced Analytics & Data Integrity, Vizient
Troy Kirchenbauer leads a team of data scientists and data quality engineers focused on enabling insights that drive market-leading value to Vizient’s members and suppliers. 

Kirchenbauer is passionate about bringing innovative new approaches to the health care industry, and using new technology-based approaches to increase efficiency and reduce cost at hospitals nationwide. Over the past two decades, he has led the development of key strategies that have resulted in advances in e-commerce, GPO contract management and analytics. 

Over his 20 plus years with Vizient he served in numerous roles focused on leveraging data and technology to assist hospitals in maximizing the value of supply chain contracts. Prior to his current role, Kirchenbauer served as the founding general manager of aptitude, the first direct contracting marketplace in healthcare, focused on advancing committed supply relationships between providers and suppliers. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Vizient, aptitude met a strategic need within the industry that is unmet by the traditional contracting model. In prior roles within Vizient, provided leadership and direction for Vizient’s master data management area, led product development efforts for various analytics and contract management solutions including the development of Vizient’s contract management and e-commerce platform.

Since 2011, Kirchenbauer has been an active fundraiser, volunteer and member of the advisory board for Integrity Mentors, a non-profit, 501(c)3 charity dedicated to improving the lives of young men and women who live in challenging socioeconomic conditions.

Kirchenbauer received a Masters of Business Administration with a focus on business strategy and leadership from the University of Dallas, and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management from Texas A&M University at Commerce.
Jay M. Kirkpatrick
CEO, Western Region
HealthTrust 
Jay Kirkpatrick has 29 years of healthcare supply chain experience and currently is the Western Region CEO for HealthTrust. In his role, Jay has account management leadership responsibility for HealthTrust Purchasing Group members and sales leadership responsibilities for HealthTrust GPO and service line offerings. Jay served on the AHRMM Board of Directors from 2005-2010 and was the President of AHRMM in 2009. Jay was awarded the George R. Gossett Leadership Award in 2013 by AHRMM and in 2014 he received the Supply Chain Leadership Award from GHX.
Bonnie Kirschenbaum MS, FASHP, FCSHP
Consultant, Columnist
Freelance
Bonnie Kirschenbaum is a Health Care Consultant with many years of senior management experience in the Pharmacy sector. Bonnie has a particular interest in reimbursement issues and specialty pharmacy and consults and has spoken extensively on these. Bonnie writes monthly columns on finance and reimbursement for 2 publications that have a positive influence on pharmacy practice nationally and currently is authoring a Reimbursement Toolkit in biweekly modules. Bonnie received the Latiolias Leadership Award from The Ohio State University in 2015. She shares her time between Boulder and Breckenridge, CO.

Jennifer Kleabir

Director, Logistic Service Agreements, Supply Chain Management, Strategic Sourcing, Trinity Health
Jennifer is the Director of Strategic Sourcing overseeing the logistic service agreements pertaining to the Distribution center. This effort includes building a strategic partnership with suppliers based upon best practice and innovative supply chain solutions to maximize value and drive efficiencies.  Prior to Trinity Health, Jen led the deployment of Value Analysis at Oakwood Hospital focusing on cross-functional team collaboration and product specification as drivers. This program helped to increase profitability as well as bring speed to market.  Jen brings an extensive  background in medical device manufacturing, global sourcing and value analysis, which she acquired from her previous roles at Danaher Corporation's Metrex Research and TRW Automotive.

Susan Knapp, RN, MS, CVAHP

Value Analysis Nurse, Highland Hospital - University of Rochester

Susan has been the Value Analysis nurse for University of Rochester - Highland Hospital since the position was introduced over 10 years ago.  Prior to that she was an emergency nurse for over 26 years which included nurse manager for the Emergency Department.  Over time she has also added emergency preparedness to her duties.  She has worked to create and constantly enhance a comprehensive value analysis program for her facility and share that with other professionals. She is 2017 President of the Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals (AHVAP) and active participant on the AHVAP Annual Conference and Supplier Showcase.
Kreg M. Koford MBA, CPSM
Senior Vice President of Supply Chain and Sustaining Care Services, Memorial Sloan Kettering
Kreg Koford is the Senior Vice President of Supply Chain and Sustaining Care Services at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). He has significant experience in strategic sourcing, category management, asset management, supplier collaboration, and supply chain operations. His commitment to transforming the healthcare supply chain industry has resulted in enhancing effectiveness and efficiencies across a wide array of activities and initiatives. Prior to MSKCC, Kreg was responsible for managing more than $2.2 billion of nonlabor spending at Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City, where he served as Assistant Vice President, Strategic Sourcing and Solutions. In that role, he helped lead the Intermountain supply chain organization to the number-one spot on the Gartner Healthcare Supply Chain Top 25 ranking in both 2016 and 2017. He also managed Intermountain’s key customer and supplier relationships, with a focus on identifying new sources of value that went beyond traditional price decreases and margin-shifting activities. Kreg earned his bachelor’s degree and his master’s in business administration from Brigham Young University. Most recently, he received certifications from Intermountain Healthcare’s Advanced Leadership Program and Michigan State University’s Executive Program, in addition to becoming a Certified Professional in Supply Management. He previously earned certifications from the Association for Health Care Resource and Materials Management’s Supply Chain Leadership Institute and IPS Project Management Advanced Training.

Kyle Kramer

Director, Strategy and Operations, Pinnacle Healthcare Consulting
As a program and practice executive, Kyle Kramer has over twenty years of experience in the healthcare administrative field with a noted focus on cardiovascular practices and services. He is recognized nationally as a leader in the areas of strategic relationship development, practice management, billing and reimbursement, program development, and health care services and facilities marketing/positioning. Kyle has served as Vice President, Clinical Operations, for Main Line Health in Philadelphia, PA., and was responsible for the development and advancement of a comprehensive, multi-hospital integrated cardiovascular program, which included physician practices and physical plant development/operations. Prior to his arrival at Main Line Health, Kyle served as Executive Director, Cardiovascular Services and Clinical Operations, for the Yale-New Haven Hospital and Health System. Kyle has also served in executive/departmental leadership roles with The Penn State Geisinger Health System – Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center.

Ken Kuiper

Partner, Medical Strategies International, LLC

Ken has been in the Healthcare Industry, including medical imaging distribution and capital equipment, physician distribution and imaging startup, for over 33 years. Ken has held VP level positions in sales, national accounts and marketing for major companies like Picker International and PSS/World Medical Diagnostic Imaging Division as well as Riverain Medical. He has been successful in developing and implementing strategic plans for distribution channel strategy as well as national and federal accounts. Ken has a Business Administration Degree from Jacksonville University.

Ed Kuklenski
Co-Founder
Insurance Point 
Ed Kuklenski has over 33 years of experience in the health care industry. In 1980, he began his career with American Hospital Supply, subsequently Baxter, Inc., where he served in various sales, operations and sales management positions. In 1989, he joined Child Health Corporation of America (CHCA)where he served as the Senior Vice President of Shareholder Services. During his tenure with CHCA, he was responsible for overseeing CHCA’s group purchasing, business development and insurance operations. In 2006, Ed joined Suture Express where he served as President, CEO and Executive Chairman until July, 2013. Currently, Ed is a Principal and Board Member of Insurance Point. Ed also serves on the Board of Directors of Accuhealth, BloxR, Medspeed, PT-Solutions and StatLab.

Raji Kumar

Regional CEO, Dallas Medical Center & Dallas Regional Medical Center

Raji Kumar is the current CEO of Dallas Medical Center and most recently, Dallas Regional Medical Center, both part of Prime Healthcare and recognized as a Top 15 Healthcare System in the nation by Truven Health Analytics. Under Raji’s leadership, the hospital has gone from performing about 60 surgeries a month to over 400 surgeries a month, monthly revenue collections have more than tripled, average daily census has more than doubled and she has recruited over 150 new physicians on staff. Raji has been named by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of the “Top 500 Hospital and Health System Leaders to Know: for 2014. Raji won “Business Woman of the Year in 2013” for The City of Farmers Branch. Raji has just been named one of Becker’s “Top 25 Under 40”

Rob Kurtz

Sourcing Manager, 
Intermountain Healthcare

Rob Kurtz is a Sourcing Manager at Intermountain Healthcare. He has 15 years of supply chain experience, including 10 years in the health care field that includes hospital and supply chain operations. In his current role, Rob provides his stakeholders with supply chain analytical support specific to the perioperative service lines.  Rob earned his undergraduate degree in Business Management from Utah Valley University and an MBA with emphasis in hospital administration from Western Governors University. Rob holds a CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management) certification from the Institute for Supply Management.   Rob makes his home in Lehi, Utah with his wife Dani and their two children Bronson and Alaina. In addition to spending time with family, he enjoys spending time in the many beautiful landscapes that Utah provides. 

 

Sharat Kusuma, MD, FAAOS, MBA

Engagement Manager, McKinsey & Company
Sharat Kusuma is a board certified and fellowship trained orthopaedic hip and knee surgeon as well as an engagement manager at McKinsey & Company in the healthcare provider, payor, pharma, and medtech space.  He has had the opportunity to work deeply in nearly all areas of healthcare (payors, providers, pharma and medtech vendors, and academia).  He has been involved in academic orthopaedic surgery for 14 years, and has had the opportunity to participate in clinical areas such FDA IDE studies, implant design, clinical protocol development, and clinical research.  Additionally, he has worked closely as a surgeon consultant with several major orthopaedic implant manufacturers on sales, marketing, surgeon training, and implant development.  Previously he was a clinical and research director of a large total joint replacement service at a 700 bed hospital, running an active clinical practice of 400+ surgeries per year.  He studied medicine and business at Vanderbilt University, and completed orthopaedic surgery training at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, and Queens Medical Centre in the United Kingdom.
David A Kvancz MS, RPh FASHP
Senior Vice President, Strategic Client Relationships
Visante, Inc.
David A. Kvancz is Senior Vice President, Strategic Client Relationships at Visante, an established healthcare consulting firm with a focus on medication use and system optimization. Prior to joining Visante, David served as Vice President, National Pharmacy Programs and Services, for Kaiser Permanente. Previously, David served as Director of Pharmacy and Chief Pharmacy Officer for the Cleveland Clinic Health System, Associate Director of Clinical Pharmacy Services at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, and Assistant Director of Pharmacy at Tucson Medical Center. David has served in multiple leadership positions, delivered numerous presentations and published several articles for local, state and national health system pharmacy organizations. He has also held adjunct and associate faculty positions and served on the Dean’s Advisory Councils at several colleges of pharmacy. He earned his B.S. degree from the Albany College of Pharmacy in Albany, New York, and a master's degree in clinical hospital pharmacy from the Ohio State University. He completed his ASHP-accredited residency at Mount Carmel Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. 
Robin L. Lane MBA, BSN, RN, CVAHP
President
AHVAP
Robin Lane has been a healthcare professional for more than 30 years. In her current position as Senior Manager of Value Analysis, she helped to create and implement a system wide Value Analysis Program for the UPMC Health System, developing approximately 35 system value analysis teams, a technology review committee and implementing a product recall system. Prior to her career in Supply Chain, Robin led the surgical services department of a system hospital managing four integrated departments and services. Robin is one of the inaugural recipients of certification (CVAHP) from AHVAP in October 2015, and currently serves as the AHVAP President.
Mary Beth Lang
Facilitator, Freelance
Prior to founding Pensiamo, Dr. Mary Beth Lang was Vice President of HC Pharmacy Central, Inc., and Supply Chain Management (SCM) Commercial Services at UPMC. Prior to joining UPMC, Dr. Lang was President of Diagnostix at Amerinet and a Pharmacy Manager for UPMC. Dr. Lang's experience includes providing leadership as a member of the board of directors or committee member for many industry organizations, including: AHRMM (current: 2013-2017, Chair 2016); McKesson Pharmacy Executive Alliance (current); HPN Editorial Advisory Board (current); Federation of American Hospitals Pharmacy and Marketing Committees (current); Strategic Marketing Initiative Advisory Committee (current); and GS1 US Board of Governors (current); Committee GS1 US Healthcare. She regularly authors or contributes to industry articles covering topics on materials management, spend analytics, data standards in healthcare and benchmarking. Dr. Lang frequently speaks at industry conferences and symposia. She has served as adjunct faculty and guest lecturer at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. 
Michael Langlois
Healthcare Supply Chain Resource
Langlois & Associates, LLC
Michael T. Langlois recently left his post as senior vice president of supply chain at Beaumont Health System, a three-hospital Health System located in the metropolitan-Detroit area with over 1,750 licensed beds and over $2B in total revenue. Before assuming this role in November 2010, Mr. Langlois served Resurrection Health Care (Chicago) as its interim vice president of material management; as senior vice president for Daudlin, DeBeaupre and Company; and as senior vice president and chief supply chain officer with Ascension Health. Prior to joining Ascension Health in 2001, he was employed for almost 25 years by St. John Health, an eight-hospital system within the Ascension Health organization. Mr. Langlois earned a Master’s of Science Degree in health services administration from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration from Wayne State University in Detroit.

Chuck Lauer

(1930-2017)

Healthcare Advisor and Policy Expert
Chuck Lauer was the publisher of Modern Healthcare for more than 25 years, taking it from a monthly money-losing proposition when Crain Communications purchased the magazine in 1976 to the nation’s leading healthcare new weekly. Additionally, he was corporate vice president of Crain Communications, editorial and publishing director of Modern Healthcare. Known throughout the healthcare industry and beyond as a leader, Chuck Lauer was an author, public speaker, career coach and award-winning businessman who delivered motivational messages to top companies nationwide.
Roger Harrison Larkin CMRP
Administrative Director Supply Chain
Maury Regional Health

Roger Larkin is the Director Supply Chain for Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC) in Columbia, TN. Roger joined MRMC in July 2011 and has over 25 years’ experience in Healthcare Supply Chain. Roger has responsibility for Contracting, Purchasing, Operations, Logistics, MMIS, and Value Analysis for MRMC's three hospitals, three ASC’s, five clinics and twenty-two physician’s offices. During his career, Roger has planned, procured, implemented and relocated two acute care hospitals and has installed two multi-hospital ERP systems. He graduated in 1988 from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Economics and Business Administration. He is a Certified Materials & Resource Professional (CMRP) and is a member of the Association of Healthcare Resource and Materials Management (AHRMM) and the Tennessee Association of Healthcare Resource and Materials Management (TAHRMM). Roger is Lean Certified from the Lean Healthcare Certificate Program Series at the Jack C. Massey Graduate School of Business at Belmont University, in conjunction with Healthcare Performance Partners. He also teaches Basic and Advanced Lean Classes at MRMC. Roger excels in pursuing, negotiating, implementing, driving compliance and standardization to produce cost savings throughout the system.

Todd Larkin
Vice President, Contracting 
Intalere

Todd Larkin provides leadership to the Intalere contracting division in the development and enhancement of the Intalere portfolio of contracts and total cost reduction solutions. With more than 20 years’ experience in contracting, procurement and supply chain management, Larkin brings his expertise to Intalere to ensure members are receiving the best portfolio offerings to enhance operations and reduce costs. Prior to joining Intalere, Larkin was the senior director for Corporate Procurement at Express Scripts and was responsible for leading a 50+ person organization managing $2B in annual indirect spend. Prior to Express Scripts, Larkin spent five years at MasterCard Worldwide, leading a global team focused on improving systems, processes and governance of the procurement function. Prior to MasterCard, Larkin held a number of progressively challenging positions with global responsibilities over 10 years in IBM’s Integrated Supply Chain organization. Larkin received his MBA from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and also holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, both from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Larkin is also a Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM). 

Kelle Laws

Executive Director, Medical Products and Devices, ROi
Kelle Laws is Executive Director of Medical Products and Devices for ROi’s Integrated Sourcing Solutions team, Kelle is responsible for the strategic development of ROi’s medical surgical products and devices contract portfolio. In her role, Kelle supports health care providers with contracting and clinical guidance for a wide range of products from traditional nursing care items to physician preference items such as cardiovascular, orthopedic and neurosurgery implants. Kelle previously served as director of patient care services at ROi, where she led the clinical contracting efforts for all medical and surgical product selection and utilization projects. She has more than 19 years of experience in the health care supply standardization and process improvement consulting. Kelle received her nursing diploma from the Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College, her undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and her graduate degree in nursing from the University of Phoenix.
Nattie D Leger MSN RN LSSBB
Assistant Vice President Supply Chain Nursing, Ochsner Health System
 
Nattie Leger is Assistant Vice President of Supply Chain Nursing at Ochsner Health System in New Orleans, Louisiana. Nattie joined Ochsner in April 1987. Nattie is a member of Louisiana Organization of Nurse Executives and Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals. She is recognized as an experienced Nurse Leader and has received the American Hospital Association Most Wired Award for innovation and LA Great 100 Nurses Award for outstanding Nursing Services to the state. Past experiences include: Vice President of Nursing, Assistant Vice President of Emergency Services, and various Nursing Leadership roles. Nattie has a Master of Science in Nursing with a Nurse Executive focus from the University of South Alabama. She earned her LEAN Six Sigma Black Belt Certification from Kent State.

Robert Lerman

Vice President, Supply Chain and Clinical Services, Dignity Health
Robert Lerman, M.D. is a native of Los Angeles, California and completed his undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences at Stanford University. He earned his medical degree at Albany Medical College and completed a residency in internal medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, followed by fellowships in Cardiovascular Disease and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Lerman practiced clinical cardiac electrophysiology for 18 years in Southern California where he was medical director of Cardiac Electrophysiology at Dignity Health St. Bernadine Medical Center in San Bernardino. He also served as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine for the UCLA School of Medicine. Dr. Lerman joined Dignity Health in 2012 as VP and Medical Director of Physician Integration. With the launch of SharedClarity in 2013, Dr. Lerman assumed the lead clinical role for Dignity Health, focusing on making sourcing decision based on comparative clinic evidence. He transitioned into a formal leadership position within the Dignity Health Supply & Service Resource Management (SSRM) team in 2015 as Vice President, Supply Chain Clinical Services. Dr. Lerman is passionate about working with physicians to improve clinical outcomes and provides the overall clinical direction and leadership for Dignity Health SSRM.

Joanne Levy

Vice President, Supply Chain Operations, ROi

JoAnne Levy is Vice President of Supply Chain Operations for ROi. JoAnne is responsible for all hospital-to-patient supply chain operations in Mercy’s many acute and non-acute healthcare facilities across a four-state region, helping drive ROi’s accountable supply chain organizational model. She also leads ROi’s transportation function for its customers, including a wide variety of over-the-road, courier and backhaul services, as well as its Integrated Services team, which provides customer service, purchasing and item master management for multiple customers. JoAnne also serves as ROi’s legal and regulatory liaison. Prior to serving in current role, Joanne led ROi’s Integrated Sourcing Solutions (ISS) team and was responsible for ROi’s distribution and warehousing operations. Before joining ROi about five years ago, JoAnne was Vice President of Global Logistics with Covidien/Mallinckrodt in St. Louis. She managed the customer service, distribution, transportation, compliance and planning functions for the $2 billion global pharmaceuticals/imaging business. Before moving into Covidien/Mallinckrodt management, JoAnne served in various legal roles focused on controlled substance, environmental, and safety and health law. JoAnne received her undergraduate, law and masters of business administration degrees, all with honors, from Washington University in St. Louis.

 

Robin Lincoln
Senior Vice President, Contracting Operations
Capstone Health Alliance
Robin Lincoln, Senior Vice President, Contracting Operations, of Capstone Health Alliance, has been with Capstone since 2009. Robin’s responsibilities include the development, implementation, and ongoing process improvement for contracting strategies and operations for the Alliance. Robin works closely with the Capstone contracting team in contract negotiations, and also leads the development of effective implementation strategies designed to provide timely and relevant information to the Capstone membership and create maximum opportunity for Capstone’s supplier partners. Robin previously served as the Director of Synergy Health Group, a regional aggregation group based out of Johnson City, TN and owned by Mountain States Health Alliance. Prior to joining Synergy, Robin was Vice President and COO of Wilson Pharmacy and PNS Institutional, a regional privately-owned closed-door, retail, and compounding pharmacy chain. Before transitioning to healthcare, Robin served as Vice President and General Manager of The Faneuil Group, an international research and marketing company based out of Boston, MA, where she held various leadership, account management, and operations roles over the course of ten years. Robin holds a BS degree in Computer Science from East Tennessee State University.
Jerry Linenger
United States Navy Flight Surgeon and NASA Astronaut (Ret.)
Captain Jerry Linenger is a retired United States Navy flight surgeon and NASA astronaut. A Naval Academy graduate, he holds doctorates in both medicine and research methodology, as well as dual master's degrees in Policy and Systems Management. He has also been awarded three honorary doctorate degrees in science. Linenger was awarded the 2013 “Trailblazer Award” from WSU School of Medicine for his lifelong contributions to medical research and to the advancement of medicine. During what has been reported to be one of the most dangerous and dramatic missions in space history, Linenger spent nearly five months aboard the Russian space station Mir. He faced numerous life-threatening events, including repeated failure of critical life-support systems, a near-collision between the space station and an incoming re-supply spacecraft and computer failures that sent the space station tumbling uncontrollably through space. As if these problems were not enough, he narrowly survived a raging out-of-control fire that was later described as the most severe fire ever aboard an orbiting spacecraft. In spite of these challenges, Linenger and his two Russian crewmates accomplished all mission goals: shuttle docking, space walking, a Soyuz fly around and all 120 of the science experiments. In completing the mission, he logged 50 million miles, the equivalent distance of over 110 round trips to the moon, traveling at a speed of nearly 18,000 miles per hour. He was the first American ever to undock from a space station in a Russian Soyuz capsule and the first American to do a spacewalk in a Russian spacesuit. At mission completion, Linenger held the endurance record for the longest time in space for an American man. In 2008, NASA awarded Linenger the Distinguished Service Medal, the highest award conferred by NASA, citing his courage and outstanding service to our country. Linenger is author of the books Off the Planet, which chronicles his time in space; and Letters from Mir: An Astronaut's Letters to His Son. He collaborated with National Geographic Explorer on The Angel Effect, a documentary revealing how he was able to endure the solitary conditions of his mission and the science behind the "Third Man Factor." He is a founding board member of the global freshwater think tank Circle of Blue and has been awarded the 2012 Royal Canadian Geographical Society's Gold Medal in recognition of his remarkable achievements in space. He has appeared in numerous documentaries seen on Discovery, Nova, History Channel, PBS and National Geographic Television. As a space analyst, Linenger is seen frequently on NBC's Today, Nightly News, as well as on various CBS, CNN, PBS and FOX news shows. He has also worked behind the scenes as scientific advisor to various futuristic voyages to Mars films. In 2016, Linenger was prominently featured in Discovery’s eight-part series, Secret Space Escapes, and is presently narrating a National Geographic program focusing on Planet Earth. A full-feature movie based on his book and his life is also currently being filmed. In his free time, Linenger enjoys bicycling, ice hockey, swimming, and stand-up paddle-boarding. He now lives back on the planet in northern Michigan with his wife, Kathryn, and their four children.

Chris Little, PHARM.D., BCPS

Executive Director, Clinical Contracting
ROi
Chris Little is the Executive Director of Clinical Contracting for ROi.  Chris holds leadership responsibility for ROi’s contracting and utilization programs in Pharmacy.  Chris is a graduate of Drake University with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency (PGY1) at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital and a specialized residency in Health System Pharmacy Practice Administration (PGY2) at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.  Chris brings experience to ROi in leading pharmacy services while working as a Clinical Coordinator, Pharmacy Director and Associate Chief of Pharmacy Services in the community and federal sectors.
Michael Louviere MBA, PD
Supply Chain, Internal Consultant,
Ochsner Health System
Michael Louviere is System VP Supply Chain at Ochsner Health System in New Orleans, Louisiana. Michael joined Ochsner in April 2012. Michael is a past president of AHRMM and maintains Fellow status. He is also a member of the Bellwether League’s Class of 2010 and received the ASHMM Leadership Award in 1995. He is a recognized international speaker and author in the field of healthcare supply chain and pharmacy. Past experience includes: Pediatric Pharmacist, Material Manager, COO, and VP Supply Chain. Michael has a BS in Pharmacy, MS in Hospital Pharmacy Administration and an MBA from LSU.
Thomas Lubotsky MHA; FACHE
Chief Supply Chain Officer
Advocate Health Care
Mr. Lubotsky serves as the Chief Supply Chain Officer at Advocate Health Care. In this role, he is responsible for the overall leadership of Advocate Health Care’s supply chain operations including sourcing, clinical resource management, procurement, logistics and operations, business intelligence/performance management and technology development. Mr. Lubotsky’s experience also includes seven years in account management and operating roles at Premier, Inc., a leading healthcare group purchasing alliance whose core business purpose centers on accelerating clinical improvement and supply chain performance. Mr. Lubotsky was responsible for the overall field leadership/general management of strategy and goal deployment, performance management, supply chain improvement planning, field operations, customer relationship management and business partner relationship support. Mr. Lubotsky is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), a professional member of the Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM) and serves as a board member of the Strategic Marketplace Initiative (SMI), a professional forum of leading healthcare systems and suppliers working collaborative toward addressing supply chain related issues and challenges.

Michael Maguire

Vice President of Strategic Sourcing, 
Premier, Inc.

Michael Maguire is a vice president of strategic sourcing at Premier, with over 20 years of experience in healthcare supply chain and consulting. He leads the clinical sourcing teams' contract strategy execution. Possessing an uncanny ability to flex and pivot with changing marketplace dynamics, he has guided the expansion of our national purchased services program and works closely with Premier members to meet their special contracting needs. Prior to his current role, he led the sourcing operations of CCG and grew the contract portfolio by 300 percent over a four-year period.  Before joining Premier, he served on the Corporate Operations team at MedStar Health, where he developed the Supply Chain Global Measures Program while also providing operation assessment of clinical services to ensure financial viability. He worked collaboratively with leading pharmaceutical companies to provide needed medicines for 1.5 million Central American children during his tenure with the Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB).

Marty Makary

Leading Healthcare Expert + Renowned Johns Hopkins Surgeon

New York Times best-selling author and gastrointestinal surgeon, researcher and associate professor of health policy & management at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Marty Makary is leading healthcare expert. Join him as he discusses common-sense reforms for healthcare and transparency of medical information, as well as his book Unaccountable.

Myla E. Maloney MBA
VP Strategic Accounts, Premier, Inc.
Myla Maloney is the Vice President of Strategic Accounts for Premier Applied Sciences with 17 years of experience in strategic account management, healthcare sales, marketing, customer segment strategy, sales leadership and pharmaceuticals. Maloney supports Premier’s mission to transform healthcare by leading the Premier Life Sciences Business Development group’s efforts to collaborate with Life Science Organizations on Population Health Improvement initiatives to improve the quality of patient care. Prior to this position, Maloney was the Vice President of Strategic Supplier Engagement for Premier where she worked with biopharmaceutical and IT organizations. Maloney received her B.S. in business administration and MBA from East Carolina University.

Dan Maloy

Founder, The Maloy Group LLC

Dan Maloy is the Founder of The Maloy Group, an independent Marketing and Sales firm with clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies, to start-up ventures. He has held leadership positions with public and private organizations ranging from large companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Owens & Minor and McKesson, to development stage enterprises. Dan has provided expert opinion, industry guidance and service to companies, governments, and investment management firms. He has addressed domestic and international audiences, and served as an Adjunct Faculty member at the University of Alabama Birmingham. Dan received his MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, and his BA from Allegheny College.

Timothy Marlette
Chief Purchasing Officer 
Community Health Systems 
In the role of Sr. Vice President - Chief Purchasing Officer, Mr. Marlette is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Materials Management and Supply Chain functions within Community Health Systems. Tim has been with Community Health Systems since July 1998. With over 37 years of healthcare experience, Tim's career includes positions at both hospitals and hospital company corporate offices, teaching hospitals, and Group Purchasing Organizations. Prior to joining CHS, Tim was the Vice President of National Contracts for MedEcon Services, Inc. Before that position, Mr. Marlette spent 18 years with Humana and Columbia HCA in various Management roles, including Division Director of Materials Management, Corporate Materials Manager, Director of Support Services, Director of Materials Management, and Accountant. In the past, Mr. Marlette served on the Board of Directors of the Louisville Medical Center Federal Credit Union and was a member of the faculty of Northwood College, where he taught classes in Business, Accounting, and Economics. Tim currently serves on the Advisory Board of Tennessee State University's Supply Chain Management Program. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Accounting and Economics, from McKendree College.

Santalynda Marreo

Diversity and Inclusion, Intercultural Communication Leadership, Retreat/Team Facilitation, Training & Development Expert CEO, SM Consulting Associates
A dynamic organization consultant, executive coach, facilitator, trainer, and thought leader Dr. Santalynda Marrero draws on her expertise as a counseling psychologist and 30+ years of experience in helping individuals, teams and organizations to propel their careers to the next level. Her belief in story as “data with a soul” that engages mutual regard and leverages talent led her to co-author the book: The Diversity Calling: Building Community One Story at a Time. Prior to launching SM Consulting in 1998 in California, Santalynda held several internal positions: Director of Staff Development at Stanford  Hospital and Medical Center; Manager of Training and Leadership Development, Avantek/Hewlett Packard; Recruiter and College Relations, Human Resources, Bell Laboratories; and Rutgers University where she received her doctorate in Conseling Psychology while working as a counselor and academic advisor. For further details please visit her website and blog writing with an emphasis on engagement and coaching for women – Fire Breathing Women/Mujeres Que Respiran Fuego.

Timothy Martin

Manager, Procurement, Suppler Diversity Coordinator, CHRISTUS Health

Currently serves as Procurement Manager and Supplier Diversity Coordinator for the CHRISTUS Health System. In this role, his responsibilities include management of centralized procurement operations for the western regions of CHRISTUS Health as well as lead the supplier diversity efforts system-wide. Having spent over 20 years serving healthcare provider organizations focused in Supply Chain, he is well diversified in all aspects of Supply Chain Management. He has a proven track record of being a strong leader, accountable, dependable and results driven. He is a certified Materials & Resource Professional, an active member of the North Texas chapter of AHRMM and is currently pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Masters of Business Administration from Western Governors University.

William James Martin Pharm.D.
Vice President Sourcing, Purchasing and Value Analysis
Beaumont Health
For the past several years, Bill has served as the Vice President of Sourcing, Purchasing and Value Analysis for Beaumont Health. Prior to joining Beaumont in late 2008, Bill served as the Vice President of Contracting and Value Analysis for Ascension Health’s Supply Chain program. Bill has served in multiple leadership roles in academic, clinical, and administrative pharmacy practice as an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy at the University of Houston, a Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator at Harper Hospital and Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, and the Director of Pharmacy at St. John Hospital in Detroit, MI, and at Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center/Sunrise Children’s Hospital in Las Vegas, NV. He earned both his Doctorate Degree in Pharmacy and Bachelor’s Degree in Science from Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, and has been licensed as a registered pharmacist in the states of Michigan, Texas, and Nevada. Bill has presented at multiple international, national and state professional symposia, and is a published author in several peer-reviewed medical and pharmacy journals, as well as, NASA periodicals related to his work in support of the International Space Station program. 
Chris Maslin
Senior Director, Talent & Organizational Development
Biltmore Center for Professional Development
Chris is the Senior Director of Talent & Organizational Development for The Biltmore Company in Asheville, NC, and also serves as the Director of the Biltmore Center for Professional Development. His work includes oversight of recruitment, hiring, training, talent management, and strategic planning. Additionally, he provides overall direction and guidance for the professional development of Biltmore’s 2,400 employees, with the objective of maximizing growth and profitability as well as day-to-day leadership and management. Chris is well suited to successfully position any company in these fast-paced, highly competitive times. Over the past 15+ years, he has created and implemented modern training programs for a variety of age groups and learning styles. Chris excels in both leadership development and strategic/long-term planning. He also provides informative and entertaining facilitation in both individual and group settings with an audience that ranges from front-line staff to CEOs. Chris brings a fresh perspective to each group with whom he works, customizing programs to suit specific outcomes, helping clients drive results. Using a combination of e-learning and traditional methods, he has streamlined Biltmore’s internal education programs as well as its talent management and employee engagement strategies. Chris has delivered programs to numerous Fortune 500 companies, providing actionable take-aways for cultural transformation. Chris holds BS and MBA degrees with Beta Gamma Sigma distinction. He also holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources certification from the HR Certification Institute. Chris is a member of the Association for Talent Development and The Society for Human Resource Management. He has served on the North Carolina Travel Industry Association Education Task Force and was recognized as one of Asheville’s “40 Under 40” emerging business leaders by Mountaineer Publishing. He currently serves on the North Carolina Chamber HR/Employment Committee, Chief Learning Officer Business Intelligence Board, the Western Carolina University Hospitality & Tourism Advisory Board, as well as a number of non-profit boards in the Asheville area.

John Mateka

System Executive Director, Supply Chain Management/Chief Procurement Official, Greenville Health System

John Mateka currently serves as the System Executive Director of Supply Chain Services and Chief Procurement Official for Greenville Health System in Greenville, South Carolina, with system-wide supply chain responsibilities, including recent deployment of the Recent Distribution Center. Previously, Mateka served as the Regional Vice President of Supply Chain for Catholic Health East-Southeast Division. Throughout his career, he has held senior leadership positions for Materials Management and Purchasing for multi-state healthcare systems in the North and Southeast. He earned an MBA degree from Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio; a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Northeast Illinois University, Chicago; and completed the Executive Program in Healthcare Administration at Ohio State. He is a former member of the board of Directors for the Association for Healthcare Materials/Resource Management (AHRMM); chaired numerous committees there; and served as the organization’s president in 2004. Mateka was awarded AHRMM’s 2007 George R. Gossett Leadership Award. His supply chain operation at GHS has won several awards and recognitions, including most recently in 2013, the prestigious ‘Healthcare Development of the Year’ award by Healthcare Purchasing News.

Vincent Matozzo MBA, LSSBB
Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing 
NYU Langone Health System
Vin Matozzo is the Senior Director of NYU Langone's Strategic Sourcing, Procurement and Value Analysis teams. Vin has innovated and challenged supply chain assumptions for over 15 years in healthcare's IDN, GPO, consulting, Value Analysis and data transformation verticals. Vin has been an early adopter and proponent of forming collaborative alliances between executives, clinicians, and supplier partners. Vin has a passion for forging data driven outcomes that create value and clinical efficiency while never losing focus on the patent experience. Vin has lead regional purchasing and clinical collaboratives across the Mid-Atlantic region and consulted in multiple IDNs with supply chain transformation as well as aggregation and merger activities. Vin has a passion for adapting early technologies and applying a LEAN pragmatic approach to integrating and challenging what is operationally possible. With managing over $3B in spend across the healthcare continuum he is a passionate leader that focuses on enabling and aligning teams to drive bottom line results in procurement operations, maximizing potential in strategic partnerships and interpreting complex data results to fuel tomorrow's clinically integrated vision.
Gary M. May MBA
Vice President Managed Care & Payer Relations
Stanford Health Care/Stanford Children's Health
Gary M. May is the Vice President Managed Care and Payer Relations for Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children’s Health. He is responsible for all managed care contracting for three hospitals (Stanford Hospital, Stanford ValleyCare Hospital and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital), the adult and pediatric faculty practices, and the systems’ physician Foundations University Healthcare Alliance (UHA) and Packard Children’s Health Alliance (PCHA). Prior to joining Stanford he held several senior executive positions including Vice President of Managed Care for the Franciscan Health System of the Ohio Valley in Cincinnati, OH and Senior Director Managed Care and Business Development at Foothill Presbyterian Hospital in Glendora, CA. Gary has an MBA from California State Polytechnic University. 
William Mayfield MD FACS
Chief Surgical Officer, Wellstar Health System
Dr. Mayfield is a practicing Thoracic Surgeon at WellStar Health System in the metro Atlanta area. He co-founded the STAT Clinic at WellStar in 2008 as a Multi-disciplinary Thoracic Oncology Clinic. Over the next 10 years the concept has become five Multi-disciplinary Thoracic Clinics in four regional hospitals, and has grown to include Prostate, Neuro-oncology, Breast, and Aortic Disease. In 2009 he founded the WellStar Lung Screening Program with Vickie Beckler, RN as one of the IELCAP sites. The program is now an independent screening program with 11 sites and accrues a thousand new subjects a year. Dr. Mayfield's clinical focus is on Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Mayfield serves as the Chief Surgical Officer of WellStar Health System and Chairs the Service Line Executive Committee. Dr. Mayfield is Chair of the Georgia Lung Cancer Round Table (in partnership with the American Cancer Society and the Georgia Cancer Care Committee), and is a member of the Appropriateness of Care Committee of the National Lung Cancer Round Table. Dr. Mayfield is a Clinical Professor of Surgery at the Medical College of Georgia.

David McCombs

Vice President, Enterprise Resource Planning/Supply Chain Operations, Bon Secours Health System, Inc.

David McCombs is Vice President of Enterprise Resource Planning/Supply Chain Operations for the Bon Secours Health System, a $3.5 billion not-for-profit Catholic health system operating 19 hospitals and integrated community health programs in the Mid-Atlantic.  McCombs is responsible for directing the Bon Secours Supply Chain operations and leading system-wide standardization and cost savings initiatives for Supplies, purchased services and capital.  A 38-year veteran of health care operations, McCombs has served as administrator and chief operating officer for several not-for profit hospital Systems in the Southeast and Mid Atlantic regions, including a 150 bed rural facility, a 300 bed community hospital and a 550-bed community teaching hospital. McCombs received a bachelor of science degree from Wake Forest University, in Winston-Salem, N.C., and a master's degree in hospital health services administration from Duke University.

Chris McDown

Senior Vice President, Sourcing Operations,
 Vizient
Chris McDown is senior vice president of Sourcing Operations for Vizient™.  In this role, McDown provides oversight and strategic direction for many of the company’s Sourcing Operations activities.  Within that capacity, McDown has leadership responsibility for the pharmacy program, custom sourcing solutions, support and purchased services, IT & business technology and supplier/client relations business units with estimated annual purchases/spend in excess of $30B.  Prior to this role, McDown served as vice president of Novation’s custom sourcing solutions  where he oversaw the contracting activities for the VHA Supply Networks, regional purchasing collaboratives, and integrated delivery networks that helped member hospital systems realize more than $500M in savings. McDown also led the sourcing activities in support of the implementation of the Children’s Hospital Association, Cleveland Clinic, and Excelerate Strategic Health Sourcing.  McDown joined Novation in September 2010 with more than 15 years of experience in health care, where he served in a number of strategic marketing, operational and business development roles for leading global medical device companies.
Megan McIntyre PharmD MHA
Vice President, Pharmacy, Virginia Mason Medical Center/HRS
Megan McIntyre PharmD, MHA, CPHQ is currently the Vice President of Pharmacy for Health Resource Services, providing oversight and expertise to the Pharmacy Solutions portfolio for a large group purchasing membership base. In her previous roles within Virginia Mason, she has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, Medication Use Quality Manager and Director of Pharmacy Residency programs and as a Sensei for the Virginia Mason Institute. Megan has in-depth knowledge of medication use processes, health benefit design and operations, medication quality and safety, lean process improvement and regulatory compliance. Megan has led diverse teams and projects in medication utilization, product procurement and inventory and contracting. Megan is an active contributor in several interdisciplinary committees and oversight boards.

George McNellage
Vice President, Enterprise Solutions
Intalere

George McNellage provides strategic oversight and direction for a team of regional vice presidents who are responsible for cultivating and developing new customer enterprise opportunities for Intalere. McNellage has extensive knowledge and sales leadership capabilities related to IDNs and C-Suite decision-makers. Previously, within the company, McNellage held the position of vice president, Strategic Accounts, in which he was responsible for new business development and account management of the strategic segments of the company’s acute care business. Prior to joining Intalere, he served as vice president, Sales and Marketing, for Navix Diagnostix, a privately-held vascular services company. During his tenure there, McNellage grew new sales revenues by 92 percent and implemented a GPO and IDN growth strategy. Before Navix, he served as the senior vice president of Sales and Marketing at start-up healthcare services company Xanitos. McNellage has also held sales leadership positions including vice president, Corporate Sales at Covidien, National Accounts and Sales & Field Operations at Tyco Healthcare and Mallinckrodt. McNellage earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of South Alabama.

Greg Meier

Vice President, Finance, ROi

Greg is responsible for ROi’s financial operations, corporate development, strategic planning and strategic relationships. Greg joined ROi as a proven senior financial and operations executive with 25 years of experience in health care and finance at companies such as Express Scripts, Inc., Valitas Health Service, Inc., and Ernst & Young. His background includes extensive experience in supply chain, pharmacy, primary care behavioral services, network development and underwriting. Greg is a member of HFMA, the American Institute of CPAs, the Missouri Society of CPAs, Financial Executives International and the Association for Corporate Growth. He is a Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Global Management Accountant and hold bachelor’s degrees in accounting and finance from Truman State University.

 

Stephanie Meier

Administrative Director, of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Winthrop-University Hospital
Stephanie Meier is the Administrative Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Winthrop-University Hospital. Winthrop is a 591-bed academic medical center serving Long Island and Queens. Stephanie provides leadership for the 140-member department’s overall strategic direction, oversees a $20 million dollar budget and daily operations to support nearly 5,000 deliveries annually. In addition to faculty practice development and strategic planning, she leads various initiatives to build and enhance women’s health service for both physicians and the local community. Stephanie is responsible for OBGYN generalist, maternal-fetal medicine, and urogynecology faculty practices, Women’s Wellness clinic, and hospitalist service. Throughout her experience in the healthcare field, Stephanie has demonstrated a professional an personal commitment to helping others. She serves on the board of directors as President-Elect for HLNY. Mrs. Meier was one of the recipients of the Long Island Business News’ Top 40 Under 40 and Becker’s Hospital Review’s 25 Rising Stars under 40 in 2014.
Matthew T Mentel MHA, MBA, CRMP
System Executive Director- Business Integration, Mercy
As the System Executive Director - Business Integration, Matt is responsible for collaborating with the ministry wide Boards of Directors, business operations, and clinical, medical and quality senior leadership to establish and ensure strategic alignment and operational excellence across all verticals, capitalize on industry best practice and create the model and strategy for the execution of healthcare redesign throughout the ministry by leveraging strong cross functional relationships, matrixed leadership, process reengineering and extensive operational and execution expertise. In his role, Matt works to continually improve upon Mercy’s Five Dimensions of Excellence and the Quadruple Aim through structure, people, process and solutions all focused on the redesign of healthcare and enrichment of the Mercy experience for caregivers and patients. Matt has more than 28 years of experience in health care, including 23 years in finance, operations, supply chain, project management and information technology. Matt is the leader of the Healthcare Transformation Group (HTG), a member of the Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM) and Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). Matt received a bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems with a Certificate in Health Information Management, a Master of Health Administration, and a Master of Business Administration from St. Louis University.
Sandi Michel MPM, ITIL, CLSSBB
Director of Supply Chain Systems & Quality
FMOL Health System
Sandi Michel is the Director of Systems & Quality with Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System in Baton Rouge, Louisiana reporting directly to the Vice President of Materials Management. In her current role, Sandi is the leader of Materials Management Information Systems responsible for the designing, implementing, maintaining, supporting and training of the Materials Management systems and applications, as well as leading the implementation of GS1 US Data Standards and Interoperability, most recently integrating Global Location Numbers (GLN) and Global Trade Identification Numbers (GTIN) into Supply Chain processes and systems, and the “Touchless Order” with seven pilot manufacturers, implementing DSCSA compliance procedures within the System’s pharmacies, implementing Unique Device Identifier capture, track and trace, and Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) implementation. Sandi serves on a number of Healthcare Industry Committees such as the 2015-2016 AHRMM Issues and Legislative Committee, 2015-2016 GS1 Healthcare US Executive Leadership Committee, Co-chairs the 2015-2016 GS1 Technical Advisory Committee (TSC), Tri-Chairs the Global GDSN Pharma Implementation Committee, 2015-2016 GS1 Provider Advisory Group, 2015-2016 HC Industry Sponsor Group, and the 2015-2016 GHX Global Data Standards Users Group. Sandi earned a Master’s Certification in Project Management through Steven’s Institute of Technology and AT&T Bell Laboratories, Information Technology Infrastructure Library Certification, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. She held senior level leadership positions as Vice President of Technology and Operations and Director for US Voice & Data Network Services for two of the largest Communications Companies in the US. Sandi also held Sr. Business Consultant positions across multiple industries after bringing 30 years’ experience in operations and technology with AT&T.

Angela Miller

Executive Director, Medical Contracting,
ROi

Angela Miller is Executive Director of Medical Contracting for ROi. Angela oversees ROi’s entire portfolio of medical products and devices, along with ROi’s Lab contracting team. She works closely with industry suppliers to develop contracting opportunities which focus on improving the clinical, operational and financial outcomes for ROi Members. Angela has more than 25 years of experience in the health care supply chain industry. She spent 9 years in the U.S. Air Force as a medical logistics manager for several Air Force medical centers before moving into management positions with several industry Group Purchasing Organizations dedicated to providing cost savings opportunities to both acute and non-acute facility types. Angela is a member of the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses and the Association of Healthcare Resource and Material Management.

Melanie Miller

Healthcare Value Analysis Consultant, 

AHVAP

Melanie Miller is a highly motivated, team oriented nursing professional,  with experience in direct patient care, peri-operative care management and materials management with strong focus on sterile processing production and value analysis.  Her strengths include supply chain management and sterile processing to achieve gold standard performance ensuring patient safety, surgeon and staff satisfaction and regulatory compliance.  Previously she served as the Manager, Supply Chain Management for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA where she was responsible for Sterile Processing, the VIP Uniform Program, Value Analysis, and Central Distribution and Supply.
Susan G Miller RN, MN, CMRP, CVAHP
President, AHVAP
Senior Director, Enterprise Value Analysis, Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health
Susan Miller is the Senior Director, Enterprise Value Analysis for Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health in Philadelphia. In this role, she facilitates and leads clinicians and multi‐disciplinary teams to ensure optimal patient outcomes through clinical efficacy of healthcare products and services for the greatest financial value and serves as the lead facilitator of the enterprise value analysis process, committees, policy and procedure. She is the liaison between Supply Chain Management, Administration and the clinical and physician communities, to ensure cost effective utilization of supplies, medical devices, services and processes. She assists the organization in making objective decisions about products based on evidence of improved outcomes, identifies opportunities for supply cost reduction related to improved standardization/utilization and assists clinical departments in optimizing value through implementation of best practices with a focus on cost effective utilization and quality outcomes.

Ms. Miller joined Jefferson in 2010 as the organizations first Director, Value Analysis. Prior to this, she worked for VHA (now Vizient) for 11 years, first as a Supply Chain Utilization Manager in VHA’s Performance Consulting Division, then as an Account Executive in the Supply Chain Services division. In these roles she managed the supply chain relationship with multiple member organizations including academic medical centers, integrated delivery networks and community hospitals. Ms. Miller provided individualized support to assist members in achieving their supply chain goals by implementing member specific strategies including managing cost reduction efforts, analyzing and synthesizing data, developing and implementing savings tracking mechanisms and developing, implementing and supporting Value Analysis efforts.

A seasoned healthcare professional, Ms. Miller has been a Registered Nurse for more than 40 years. She started her career in tertiary pediatrics where she held a variety of staff and management positions at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Penn State Medical Center and St Christopher’s Hospital for Children. Her current position serves as a return to Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals where she worked for 10 years, first as Manager, Nursing Staff Development and Continuing Education and then as Director of the Executive Redesign Implementation Team. She holds both BSN and Master of Nursing degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, and is both Certified Materials Resource Professional (CMRP) and a Certified Value Analysis Healthcare professional (CVAHP). 

Ms. Miller has been an active member of the Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals (AHVAP) since 2010, chairing the organization’s Membership Committee for the past several years. She has served on the AHVAP Board of Directors as President Elect and, is its 2019 President.

Timothy T Miller CMRP, MBA
Vice President Supply Chain Shared Services
HonorHealth

Tim is currently the Vice President of Procurement and Supply Chain for HonorHealth in Scottsdale, Arizona and also serves as their Sustainability Officer. His work includes the direction and guidance of 160 FTEs within Supply Chain Shared Services, Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, Logistics, Supply Chain Informatics, and Healthcare Technology Management/Biomedical Engineering. Tim has brought a fresh perspective to HonorHealth and has helped the organization identify and implement over $30M in annualized cost reduction in supplies and services in the last 18 months while redesigning and delivering a sustainable and efficient Supply Chain operation with a clear strategic direction. Prior to HonorHealth, Tim spent over 25 years at Banner Health in Supply Chain operations and logistics where he helped to create and implement best practices including the development of a consolidated service center, internal custom pack operation, and a successful global sourcing program. His educational background includes a Master’s Degree in Business Administration along with his CMRP Certification.

Greg Milton

Director of Project Management for Supply Chain, Piedmont Healthcare

Greg Milton is Director of Project Management for Supply Chain at Piedmont Healthcare. Greg leads the project management team dedicated to value analysis (STARS) process at Piedmont Healthcare. As part supply chain he has directly managed a number of strategic initiatives for Piedmont including, Alternate Site Distribution and Standardization, Outsourced Hemodialysis agreement, IV Pump Standardization, and new facility integration. Greg Currently is leading the initiatives to reduce clinical lab test utilization and blood utilization.

Michael Molby PharmD
Pharmacy Manager, Atrium Health
 
Michael Molby currently serves as Pharmacy Manager of Atrium Health’s CMC-Enterprise Pharmacy. Michael is a health system pharmacy leader who specializes in turning around under-performing health system business units – with a focus on patient safety technology, fiscal responsibility, and drug supply chain management strategies. With more than 20 years in inpatient health system, ambulatory, and retail pharmacy, Michael believes the patient must be at the center of everything a successful health system does. Michael is known as a strong negotiator who understands the business of health care and is always looking for ways to leverage the business to positively impact patients. CMC-Enterprise Pharmacy is a business and logistics pharmacy designed to support Atrium’s acute care pharmacies and physician practices through various services that include: Supply chain management, DSCSA compliance (Track & Trace), Pharmacy charge master, and Centralized drug shortage management. Michael holds a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from Purdue University. Michael and his wife Connie have been blessed with three daughters. They live in the piedmont region of North Carolina which is close enough to the beach to be fun, yet close enough to the mountains to be beautiful.
Tracey P Moffatt MHA, BSN, RN
System Chief Nursing Officer & Vice President of Quality
Ochsner Health System
Tracey Moffatt, MHA, BSN is the System Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) and Vice President for Quality at Ochsner Health System (OHS) headquartered in New Orleans, LA. As the System CNO, Tracey provides guidance to nursing leaders across the system to advance quality, nursing professional practice, safety and initiatives to make care affordable. She collaborates with OHS leaders in designing, providing and evaluating patient care and services; develops and manages the nursing and clinical operations’ portion of the budget; and exercises final approval and authority over all system nursing policies, procedures and standards of care. As the System Vice President for Quality, in partnership with the Chief Quality Officer, Tracey leads the quality initiatives including setting the vision and strategy for clinical care services and system-wide quality outcomes, performance improvement and accreditation functions. Tracey has more than 25 years of progressive healthcare leadership experience in nursing, operations and quality. Most recently, she has served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Wellmont Health System in Tennessee. Tracey holds a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Louisiana State University Medical Center. Tracey currently serves as the New Orleans District representative on the Louisiana Organization of Nurse Executives Board of Directors and is a member of the Women’s Healthcare Executive Network, Inc. In January of 2018 Tracey was appointed by the Governor of Louisiana to the Louisiana State Board of Nursing. 
Neeta Moonka M.D.
Physician Advisor, Supply Chain
Virginia Mason Medical Center
Dr. Moonka received her medical degree from Temple University and went on to complete residencies in both anesthesia and pediatrics at New York University Medical Center. After practicing medicine for over 25 years within the hospital and surgery center environments, she joined Virginia Mason as the supply chain Physician Advisor in 2012. Dr. Moonka currently provides expertise and experience in the following areas:
• Physician engagement to implement PPI (physician preference item) supply standardization
• Supplier PPI negotiations
• Implementing and maintaining a value analysis process as well as new technology analysis.
• Understanding of system-based thinking as well as the Virginia Mason Production System (VMPS); the Toyota Production System based process improvement program.
Kelley Moore
Vice President, Sourcing
Dignity Health
Kelley Moore is the Vice President of Supply Chain Sourcing at Dignity Health. In this role, she leads a centrally-managed team of 32 resources who are dedicated to provide innovative and cost-effective products and services necessary to deliver outstanding patient care. Dignity Health supply chain has exceeded annual savings targets for more than 10 years, by focusing on streamlining sourcing processes, fostering direct relationships with key vendors, and growing Dignity Health’s owned GPO, named Dignity Health Purchasing Network (DHPN). Kelley is currently involved in a clinical supply chain transformation effort designed to enhance front line engagement and more formally bring clinicians to the table to evaluate supply initiatives. Kelley has over 20 years of progressive healthcare leadership experience in consulting, information technology, and supply chain. She holds a B.S in Mathematics from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and a M.A. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Maryland.

Dave Morgan

Assistant Vice President, Strategic Sourcing, HealthTrust

Dave Morgan has serviced the healthcare industry over the past 15 years in multiple capacities, including the last 10 years at HealthTrust and today as an AVP for Strategic Sourcing. During his tenure at HealthTrust, Davie has negotiated a multitude of agreements ranging from clinical supplies and equipment to software licenses to non-clinical commercial products and services including oversight of the Food, Facility Infrastructure and Information Technology portfolios. Prior to joining HealthTrust, Dave worked at Ernst & Young in their Technology Security and Risk Services group assisting both healthcare and non-healthcare companies. He began his career at Medifax EDI (now Emdeon) as a project manager handling healthcare eligibility transactions for 20+ state programs. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in Accounting and a Masters in Accountancy and Information Systems information from Arizona State University.

Jeffrey Moser

Vice President, Sg2
As Vice President at Sg2, Jeff provides thought leadership by preparing clients for the shift to value-based care through understanding the implications of both macro-and micro-level emerging trends impacting healthcare. He plays a key role in supporting the development of Sg2 Intelligence resources and educational offerings. Jeff is a frequent presenter and educator on multiple topics, including health care reform; consumerism and patient engagement, accountability, ambulatory strategy and leading practices in care redesign. Before joining Sg2, he served as the Vice President of Assessments at Cardinal Health in Dublin, OH. In addition to directing Cardinal Health projects, Jeff identified opportunities for improvement and recommended specific strategies to client organizations. He led health care consulting projects focused on improving profitability, quality and service for both specific departments and entire organizations. Prior to his work at Cardinal Health, he served as Project Director for West Hudson, Inc. (now part of Cardinal Health). Jeff received an MS in organization psychology from Springfield College in Massachusetts and a BS in both economics and psychology from Texas Christian University.
Bill Mosser
Vice President Materials Management
FMOL Health System
Moderator
Bill Mosser is vice president materials management at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, in Baton Rouge, LA. FMOLHS is comprised of five hospitals and many non-acute care entities with $250 million in annual supply spend. Bill is also president and lead consultant for KTM Consulting, LLC, a supply chain and information systems project management consulting firm. KTM's clients have included a multi-billion dollar international manufacturing company and a ‘dotcom’ company developing a web portal designed to provide multi-hospital healthcare clients with comprehensive procurement solutions for medical/surgical supplies & equipment and pharmaceuticals. Prior to founding KTM Consulting, LLC, William spent more than 30 years in various supply chain management and information systems leadership roles in the healthcare and automotive industries. Most recently he served as the senior executive for supply chain services at a major university-based urban health system.

Dennis Mullins, MBA, CMRP

Vice President of Supply Chain Management, Indiana University Health

Dennis Mullins, MBA, CMRP, joined Indiana University Health as Senior Vice President, Supply Chain Operations in May of 2015. Prior to IU Health, Dennis was at Baylor Scott and White Health in Dallas, Texas, where he led a large supply chain team as their Corporate Director of Supply Chain Integration. He also previously served in Supply Chain roles at Shands at The University of Florida and HCA Healthcare, among other organizations. Additionally, he honorably served in the United States Air Force for 10 years as a medical materials specialist.  Dennis is a seasoned healthcare professional with more than 30 years of supply chain experience as an effective leader along with a proven ability to meet and exceed strategic supply chain goals. He holds an MBA from Amberton University and he is a candidate for a doctorate in business administration from Grand Canyon University.

Ken Murawski

President, HealthCare Links

Ken founded HealthCare Links in June of 1993 with a simple mission: to become a sales/marketing resource focused on Corporate Accounts – matching companies with quality and cost effective products and services to major Healthcare Systems, Alliances, Integrated Delivery Networks and Group Purchasing Organizations. An industry veteran since 1975, Ken was with Kendall Healthcare for 16 years handling a variety of products throughout the acute and alternate care markets including OR, Critical Care, Anesthesia, Urological, and Wound Care. As Director of National Accounts for the last three yeast at Kendall, Ken had Profit and Sales responsibility for over 25 national and regional buying groups and $300 million in group sales. Since then, he has helped clients grow their sales through relationships and strategic approach. With expertise in sales, sales management, sales training, executive sales training/coaching, marketing promotion and contract implementation, Ken is seen as a strategic partner of the clients he serves.

Timothy Nedley

Vice President, Materials Management, UPMC
Tim Nedley is the Vice President, Materials Management for UPMC in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 27 years; experience, he directs in excess of 400 employees performing distribution, logistics, replenishment, transportation, freight and fleet management to support UPMC’s 22 hospitals and various offsite facilities. Tim specializes in change management, operational enhancements and other projects that have proven effective with regard to minimizing the costs associate with distribution-related services. Prior to joining UPMC in2008, Tim worked at Owens & Minor for 18 years, where he held many positions, including 9 years as a General Manager. Tim earned a BS in Human Resources from Geneva College.

Michael Neely

Director Supply Chain, Southcoast Health
Mike has extensive leadership experience and a comprehensive background in supply chain management, healthcare consulting, and implementation of best practices. He is a frequent speaker on supply chain and professional development topics and is often quoted in journals on a variety of topics. Prior to joining Southcoast Health, Mike was Vice President Operations and Optime’Supply Chain. He previously held roles in senior management at a number of organizations, including KPMG, McFaul & Lyons and Johnson & Johnson as well as his own private consultancy practice, Perimeter Solutions Group. Mike is a former President of AHRMM as well as CMRP and Fellow in AHRMM. He was Director of National Affairs for the Institute for Supply Chain Management, where he holds the status of Lifetime Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) Mike also compiled an manages updates to the on-line Supply Chain Lexicon for AHRMM and previously conducted a national activity based costing study of the procurement process within hospitals for the Health Industry Distributors Association.

Casey Nelson, PHARM.D.

CEO, Ideal Therapeutics and Ideal Health Strategies
Mr. Nelson serves as Ideal Therapeutics CEO and is responsible for providing strategic leadership for the company.   He started Ideal Therapeutics, LLC., in 2010 to help 340B covered entities improve 340B compliance and maximize their 340B status. Currently, Ideal Therapeutics services include Ideal 340B Audits™ services and Ideal 340B Management™ which provides 340B covered entities experienced 340B pharmacists to manage their 340B program (i.e. contracted 340B manger/coordinator).  Mr. Nelson also serves as Ideal Health Strategies (IHS) CEO which provides Ideal 340B™ full-service 340B administrative and management software solutions. IHS also provides a host of additional solutions to health systems including pharmacy benefit management.  Mr. Nelson previously served as the Director of Pharmacy Programs at Integrated Health System where he was responsible for the staff which designed, developed and managed the 340B program.  He has participated live in HRSA 340B audits which have produced no negative findings for the covered entities.  Mr. Nelson received his Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and completed a post-doctorate fellowship training in Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research.  His career includes administrative positions in health insurance, pharmacy benefit management (PBM) and hospitals.
Kelly Nelson MBA
Officer, Supply Chain Hospitals and Logistics
Avera Health

 
Kelly Nelson is a Supply Chain Officer for Avera Health in Sioux Falls, SD. In this role she leads the hospital operations teams for the system. Additionally, she has accountability for the Avera distribution center as well as courier services. Prior to this role at Fairview Kelly has held many different Supply Chain operations roles in 13 years at Fairview, including building the site operations project team and leading the Value Analysis program that was accountable for annual savings of over $8 million. Additionally, she was responsible for the Premier innovation award winning mobile medical equipment management program for the system as well as leading the patient move portion of the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s hospital’s relocation to a new facility. Prior to joining Fairview she was a materials Manager for PurNet, a purchasing network for clinics and surgery centers across the country. Kelly completed her undergraduate degree in Agricultural Business Management from South Dakota State University, in Brookings, SD, and her MBA from Concordia University, St. Paul, MN.
Michelle O'Connor M.Ed
President and CEO
CMR Institute

Michelle O’Connor is President and CEO of CMR Institute. For the last 24 years she has increased the Institute’s ability to provide education needed in a rapidly evolving healthcare market. From new hire, leadership, sales, market access, to managed markets, Michelle ensures that CMR Institute creates resources that improve the performance and effectiveness of commercial sales teams. Michelle has a strong interest in and passion for working with organizations to develop and implement innovative learning and development initiatives that increase ROI. CMR Institute is sought after by life sciences companies to increase sales and market share through our applicable blended learning resources. Over the past 50+ years, the company has provided expert training for more than 150,000 biopharmaceutical, medical device, and other life science professionals worldwide. These training resources are created in partnership with industry experts, assuring the content is relevant and actionable. 

Eric O'Daffer
Research
Vice President, Supply Chain
Gartner
Eric O’Daffer is Research Vice President for the Gartner Healthcare Supply Chain Group. He brings over 20 years of experience in medical product manufacturing, sourcing, distribution, contracting, strategic marketing and sales channel development to his role. Eric works with executives across the healthcare value chain, advising them on business strategy and supply chain best practices. Prior to joining Gartner, Eric led the focus on early-stage healthcare businesses for OneAccord Partners. He was also CEO of Esurg Corporation, a supply chain start-up leveraging technology to combine the best of distribution, manufacturing and group purchasing contracts into an integrated program for the clinic and physician market. He has an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Business and an undergraduate degree in English Literature from the University of Illinois.

Jim Oliver

CEO, Yankee Alliance

Jim Oliver has been with Yankee Alliance since 1989, joining the organization as its 5th employee serving as the Director of Materiel and Distribution Services.  Jim served in a number of positions becoming the President and CEO in 2008.  He has overseen the organization as it has grown to 14,500 members located in all 50 states.  Yankee Alliance members buy $3.5 billion in products and services through the Yankee contract portfolio.  Jim began his healthcare career as a Management Engineer with the Massachusetts Hospital Association.  Prior to joining Yankee he was the Director of Materiel Management at University Hospital in Boston and Miriam hospital in Providence, RI.  Jim has an MBA from Suffolk University in Boston.  He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Engineering from the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston.  Jim has served on numerous committees assisting in developing strategies and services for Premier, Inc.  During his time with Premier, he has served as Chairman of the Laboratory Committee and the Strategic Advisory Committee.  He currently serves on the Member Value Improvement Committee for Premier.

James Carl Olsen MBA
SVP and CPO
Atrium Health
Jim Olsen is Senior Vice President of Materials Resource Management for Atrium Health in Charlotte, NC. He is responsible for all aspects of the supply chain, including contracting, distribution, value analysis, transportation, linen, international medical outreach and Carolinas Shared Services, a regional group purchasing organization. Atrium Health is the second largest public healthcare system in the nation. It owns, leases or manages 42 hospitals, nursing homes, physician practices and other healthcare-related operations. These operations comprise more than 2,500 employed physicians, 8,000 licensed beds and over 60,000 teammates. Jim received his undergraduate degree in economics from UCLA, and an MBA from Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY. Jim also serves on the Board of Directors of The Heineman Foundation of Charlotte and is Past Chair of Premier’s Strategic Advisory Committee. In 2015, he was named to the Bellwether League Hall of Fame. Prior to joining Carolinas HealthCare System Jim was the Vice President of Materials Management at Humana Inc., Galen Inc., and Columbia and Columbia / HCA. 
Paul Oppat
Executive Director, Supply Chain Services
Banner Health
Paul has over 25 years of progressive healthcare supply chain leadership experience, joining the Banner Health team in 2008. Embracing a servant leadership style, he has a passion for empowering others to reach their full potential. In his current role, Paul oversees both corporate and facility-based supply chain operations throughout the Banner Health system, which includes 28 hospitals and a network of non-acute health centers and clinics in 6 western states. He has also served in facility-based roles in both Supply Chain and Administration. Prior to joining Banner Health, Paul served as Sun Health’s Purchasing and Materials Management Director, supporting multi-facility acute care operations in Sun City and Sun City West Arizona. Paul’s education includes a BS in Business Administration and a MS in Leadership. He has a Certificate in Professional Purchasing and is a Hudson Certified Internal Coach.

Dennis Orthman

Senior Director, Strategic Marketplace Initiative

Dennis is Senior Director for SMI, a non-profit industry organization dedicated to advancing the future of healthcare supply chain. Dennis has over 30 years of healthcare supply chain management experience, having worked in purchasing, central sterile processing, distribution, OR supply, value analysis, and logistics at integrated provider organizations including Boston City Hospital, Partners Healthcare in Boston, and Caritas Christi Health System in Boston. As a consultant, he has successfully worked for BD Healthcare Consulting and VHA Improvement Services. Dennis is active in AHRMM and Supporter of the data standards movement, serving as a member of the GS1 Healthcare US Leadership Team for the last seven years.

David Osborn
Senior Vice President, Strategic Accounts and Advisory Services
HealthTrust
David Osborn serves as the Senior Vice President of Strategic Accounts and Advisory Services for HealthTrust. In this role, he has responsibility for HealthTrust’s relationships with its Members that represent over 1600 hospitals across the country. He also directs HealthTrust’s advisory services and consulting practices, including its offerings in Total Spend Management, Supply Chain Management, Workforce and Labor Management, and Clinical Performance. David has over 30 years of experience consulting with healthcare clients in the areas of business strategy, operations, innovation and technology. David has spent much of his career providing advisory services to healthcare companies in the Provider, Payer and Life Sciences sectors of the healthcare industry in the U.S., Europe and Asia. His experience has been primarily in the areas of formulating and executing business strategy, as well as designing and managing innovative change initiatives. He has served as a Partner and held leadership positions in global consulting firms, including Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) and KPMG. He has worked with clients to help them innovate and adjust their business models, strategies and technology platforms to be successful in an environment of significant reform and regulatory change, with a focus on improving efficiencies, reducing costs, improving quality and enhancing the patient experience. David spent several years as the Founding Executive Director of the Health Care Solutions Group, a think tank and consulting group focused on transformational change in healthcare. David has served as executive advisor to CEOs and other senior leaders of several large healthcare enterprises, including hospital systems and national health insurance organizations. David also served on the faculty of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine where he founded and directed the Vanderbilt Center for Better Health, and led the Leadership Institute for the Association of Academic Health Centers. David has served as a frequent speaker at national and international healthcare conferences and industry gatherings, including HIMSS, AAHC, AHRMM, the International Healthcare Forum, and various medical and healthcare associations. For several years he appeared regularly on television and radio programs of the BBC America to discuss healthcare policy and reform. David has authored numerous published articles and white papers on various healthcare topics. David serves as the Chair of the Board for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Middle Tennessee, and serves on the Advisory Boards for the American Heart Association and the Mercy Children’s Clinic. He is actively involved with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and other not-for-profit organizations. He is also a musician who plays semi-regularly with a band on lower Broadway in downtown Nashville. 

Ali Pabrai, MSEE, CISSP (ISSAP, ISSMP)

Chief Executive Officer, 
ecfirst

Ali Pabrai, MSEE, CISSP (ISSAP, ISSMP), Security+, a cyber security & compliance expert, is the chief executive of ecfirst. A highly sought after professional, he has successfully delivered solutions to U.S. government agencies, IT firms, healthcare systems, legal and other organizations worldwide. Mr. Pabrai served as an Interim CISO for a health system with 40+ locations in USA. Mr. Pabrai has led numerous engagements worldwide for ISO 27001, PCI DSS, NIST & HIPAA/HITECH security assessments. ecfirst is an approved HITRUST CSF assessor, a PCI Qualified Security Assessor, and a Konica Minolta Partner in the areas of cyber security & compliance.

Mr. Pabrai has presented passionate briefs to tens of thousands globally, including the USA, United Kingdom, France, Taiwan, Singapore, Canada, India, UAE, Bahrain, Africa, Saudi Arabia, Philippines, Japan & others. Mr. Pabrai is the author of several published works and is a proud member of the InfraGard (FBI).

Chris Paddison

Partner, Healthcare Practice, A.T. Kearney, Inc.
Chris Paddison is a Partner at A.T. Kearney’s Health practice. With over 25 years in consulting and executive leadership positions, he has worked extensively with Manufacturers and Health Systems on a variety of strategic, clinical and supply chain issues. Mr. Paddison is one of the authors of the disrupters research with emphasis on the shift in power from manufacturers to the large IDNs. Prior to joining A.T. Kearney, he was involved COO of Sound Physicians, a National Hospitalist Organization focused on improving the quality of patient care and President of Essilor Laboratories, the leading U.S. Independent Optical Distributor.
Dan Pak MHA
Vice President, Supply Chain - Procure to Pay, Hartford Healthcare
Dan Pak is a highly accomplished supply chain professional with more than 25 years’ experience. Mr. Pak currently serves as Assistant Vice President at Nexera, where he is responsible for outsourced services under Workforce Solutions. Mr. Pak most recently served as System Director of Supply Chain Decision Support and Strategic Sourcing at Legacy Health, a community-centered health system across the Portland-Vancouver area. His other positions in healthcare include time at Virginia Mason Medical Center and Vizient (formerly Novation). Prior to making the transition to healthcare, Mr. Pak spent over 15 years in the technology industry, where he designed and co-created several innovative products and applications. Mr. Pak earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and his Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Washington. He also completed the University of Washington Project Management Program and completed the Michigan State University International Business Management Certificate Program.
William Matthew Parker PharmD, MHA, BCPS
Manager, Consolidated Pharmacy Services
Greenville Health System
Matt Parker is the Manager of Consolidated Pharmacy Services for Greenville Health System. Matt is an experienced health system pharmacy leader, whose focus is on revolutionizing the pharmacy supply chain (Look out Amazon!) within his growing integrated delivery network. Matt completed his PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Greenville Health System and is a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist. Matt holds a Doctorate of Pharmacy degree from the South Carolina College of Pharmacy -USC Campus and a Master of Health Administration degree from the Medical University of South Carolina.

Ryan Parker

Chief Diversity Officer, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

Ryan P. Parker is the Chief Diversity Officer for Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJ). Ryan is responsible for building a strategy that enhances RWJ’s vision to be a nationally distinguished academic medical center and benchmark hospital for diversity and inclusion – while aligning this critical business component with RWJ’s strategic business objectives. In this position, he reports directly to the President and Chief Executive Officer of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Robert Wood Johnson Health System. Ryan is a member of the RWJ Community Relations Board Committee. Ryan joined RWJ in 2013 as Director of Diversity and Inclusion and was appointed to Chief Diversity Officer in 2014. In 2014, Ryan was acknowledged by The Network Journal and Becker’s Hospital Review as one of the nation’s leading healthcare leaders under age of forty. Ryan received a BS degree in Psychology from Jacksonville State University and is currently pursuing graduate studies in hospital administration.

Matthew Partsch
Director of Strategic Sourcing, UPMC
Matthew T. Partsch, AHSP, MBA is the Director of Strategic Sourcing at UPMC. Matthew works closely with UPMC Health Plan, Chartwell Specialty Pharmacy, and Hillman Cancer Center while managing the contracting for 41 hospitals and $1.2 billion in pharmacy spend. Prior to joining UPMC, Matthew spent 14 years at UPC Health Network, NEIGHBOR CARE and West Penn Allegheny Health System before working at Premier Inc for 10 years. With experience on both sides of the healthcare spectrum, Matthew is an expert in managing billions in pharmacy spend and continues as an advisor to ProvidGx, Premier’s drug shortage solution. Matthew is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh before receiving a Master’s in Business from Waynesburg College.
Debi Pasley MS, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE
System Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer
CHRISTUS Health
Debi Pasley is the System Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for CHRISTUS Health. She is a visionary healthcare leader with 20+ years of experience improving quality of care, reducing costs, and improving revenue potential for nationally and internationally recognized organizations. Deb has demonstrated clinical and administrative accomplishments in community and academic medical systems leading multiple clinical disciplines. Her successes include the recovery of struggling hospitals and services, and achievement of regulatory and professional accreditation. Debi Pasley is a certified nurse executive (NEA-BC) and healthcare executive (FACHE). She has a strong background in creation of new services and reorganization of existing services. She has led a successful Magnet® journey and served in multiple Magnet® hospitals. Her leadership of multiple clinical disciplines has resulted in team successes which support employee engagement and improved operations.
Curtis L. Passafume Jr. MBA, RPh
System Vice President Pharmacy Services
OhioHealth
Over a 37 year career that began with his graduation from the Purdue University School of Pharmacy and Pharmacal Sciences along with obtaining an MBA in Healthcare Management from Indiana Wesleyan University, Curt has focused his practice in the areas of fiscal management, professional development, strategic planning and leadership. He has held professional leadership roles at a number of Fortune 100 organizations and now serves as the chief pharmacy officer for OhioHealth in Columbus Ohio and surrounding regions. His professional affiliations include ASHP, ACHE, OSHP (a prior Timothy Moore Management awardee), COSHP and OPA. He is a current member of the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy and NABP where he currently chairs the statewide oversight committee for the developing medical marijuana program. He is an active member of a number of national pharmacy advisory boards and holds an adjunct faculty appointment with the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy where he teaches health system pharmacy finance, budgeting and fiscal management within the HSPA residency program. He is the current RPD for both ASHP accredited HSPA residency programs based at OhioHealth.

Allen Passerallo

Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing, Cleveland Clinic
Allen has served as the Sr. Director of Sourcing/Purchasing since July 2013. Previously, he served as the Director of Sourcing and Contracting for the surgery category within Cleveland Clinic Supply Chain. He was responsible for identifying, sourcing and negotiating cost savings and utilization opportunities for all surgical subspecialties with the exception of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. In his current role he is responsible for all sourcing and purchasing transactions for clinical, non-clinical and capital acquisitions. In addition, he oversees the sourcing and contracting for Excelerate, co-owned healthcare GPO between Cleveland Clinic and VHA. Prior to Allen’s position(s) in Supply Chain, he first joined the Clinic in 1995 as a Certified Athletic Trainer. He was responsible for the management, supervision and growth of a single physician practice and 3 outpatient physical therapy facilities. Included in his responsibilities was the development of private pay programs to assist in revenue generation.

Rishi Patel, PHARM.D., MBA, AAHIVP

Chief Pharmacy Officer, Community AiDS Network

Rishi Patel is a highly academically prepared and entrepreneurial pharmaceutical professional holding a Doctorate of Pharmacy, a Masters Degree in Business Administration, and a Bachelors Degree in Microbiology with 15 years of experience and expertise in pharmacy services management. He is accomplished and experienced in cultivating a flourishing multi-million dollar business start-up, maintaining excellent customer relations, and implementing staff training.   His leadership includes organizational acumen and team building strengths.  He has a proven history of creating new market management strategies and retains a loyal customer base. He is proven successful in planning, executing, and directing operations while holding total responsibility for outcome. Rishi is proficient in the 340B Drug Discount Program and certified as a HIV Pharmacist through the American Academy of HIV Medicine.

Steve Patton, MA, CMRP

Interim AVP of Supply Operations, Medstar Washington Hospital Center (Vizient, Inc. Contractor)
Steve Patton is the Interim AVP of Supply Operations at Medstar Washington Hospital Center.  Steve has more than 25 years’ progressive supply chain and operations leadership experience directing strategic process improvements and project management for multi-unit healthcare organizations.  He is an expert in the delivery of innovative business improvements and in transitioning organizations to current systems and technologies.  Prior to joining Medstar Washington, he was the Director of Supply Chain at Lakeland Regional Healthcare System.  Steve has an M.S. in Health Services Management from Webster University in St. Louis, MO and a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Southern Colorado.  He is the President of the SunCoast Chapter of AHRMM in Florida.

Brian Pellegrini

Managing Director, The Advisory Board Company
Brian is a managing director with the Advisory Board’s Spend Performance Solutions team. In this role, Brian leads all of the firm’s sourcing work, which is dedicated to identifying significant savings opportunities and driving increased value in hospital hand health system non-core spend. A veteran procurement and operations improvement executive, Brian has a strong track record of managing change and delivering significant year-over-year results for his clients. He has deep sourcing expertise across multiple contexts; with extensive experience serving hospitals and health systems across the U.S. Brian has an extensive background in leveraging massive data sets to drive results. Prior to joining the Advisory Board, Brian was the vice president of enterprise procurement for Ameriprise Financial. In addition, he served as vice president and general manager at the Broadlane Group, where he managed a $1.3B portfolio of cardiology, radiology, and support services contracts and led the implementation with one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit hospital systems.
Tiffany Perry RN, BSN, MBA
Director of Contracts, WellStar Health System, Inc.
Tiffany serves as the director of contracts for WellStar Health System, Inc. in the Atlanta, GA area. Tiffany leads a team of category managers who actively drive cost reduction for the health system in the following areas: surgical services; cardiology; radiology; pharmacy; lab; patient care services; food and nutrition; EVS; biomed; medical group; and purchased services. Her healthcare supply chain career started in 2013 when Tiffany joined the team as a value analysis facilitator. In 2016 Tiffany was promoted to be the manager of that team. With a proven track record of accomplishments; goals exceeded; and a desire to have a positive impact on even more for the health system, in 2018 Tiffany was promoted to her current position. Over the last year Tiffany has embraced the category management model and developed streamlined processes that have cut the average turnaround time to process a contract through the department by 75%. Prior to her experience in supply chain, Tiffany spent 14 years in nursing as a nurse manager and bedside nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Brent Petty CMRP
Executive Industry Consultant - Healthcare 
Brent Petty is Executive Industry Consultant for Healthcare, at Lexmark International, Inc. Brent joined Lexmark in 2015 after serving 12 years as System Vice President, Supply Chain for Wellmont Health System, Kingsport, TN. In addition to his Lexmark responsibility currently has the distinct honor in being the 2015 Chairman of the Board of the Association for Healthcare Resource Materials Management. (AHRMM). Petty earned his professional designation as a Certified Materials Resource Professional (CMRP) through the AHA Certification Center, a division of the American Hospital Association.
Trac Pham
Corporate Director
Advocate Health Care
Trac Pham is the Director for the Pharmacy Integrated Service Center for Advocate Aurora Health Care. His focus revolves around patient safety, operational improvement and pharmacy supply chain management. Trac has been with Advocate Aurora for 18 years in various leadership positions. Trac obtained his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and a Masters in Pharmacy Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has also completed both an ASHP-accredited General Clinical residency and an Advanced Administrative residency from UW-Madison.

Richard Philbrick

CEO Southwest Region, HealthTrust

Richard Philbrick was named CEO of HealthTrust’s Southwest Region in 2011. He is responsible for business development and HealthTrust member accounts for clients in Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Mexico. In addition, Richard has oversight of HealthTrust’s outsourced supply chain operations in those states with manages over 750 employees and almost $2 billion in annualized supply expense. Previously, Richard served as supply chain CEO for HCA’s Gulf Coast Division where he led all aspects of supply chain services for 13 hospitals, including self-distribution, contracting, purchasing, accounts payable, facility supply management and centralized pharmacy order entry. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of Richmond, Robins School of Business.

Martha Pickens

Healthcare Supply Cost Management Consultant

Martha Pickens is an independent Healthcare Supply Cost Management Consultant. During her progressive career path spanning 30 years in healthcare, Martha has worked closely with many healthcare organizations to meet or exceed their Medical/Surgical, Pharmacy, and Physician Preference Item cost management goals, leveraging her solid clinical background, supply cost leadership, and results-oriented facilitation and negotiation skills. In her recent role as Senior Director for Supply Cost Management at VHA Southeast in Tampa, FL, Martha led a regional committed supply strategy for more than eight years that delivered in excess of $159M in savings and 17:1 ROI, and provided clinical leadership and operations support for a committed supply network for over six years that delivered in excess of $44M in bottom-line value and 9:1 ROI.

Joseph Pinto

Vice President, Network Operations, St. Luke’s Hospital and Health Network

Joseph has over eighteen years of successful experience in initiating and administering business developments and is a proven healthcare executive with strong ties to the community that consistently produces results and maintains corporate focus. As Vice President of Network Operations at St. Luke’s Hospital and health Network, he is responsible for Network operations (6 hospital systems) including the following services; Oncology Service line, Materials Management, Wound Care, Urgent Care, Occupational Management, Pathology, Laboratory Outreach, Accreditations and Standards, Patient Experience, Sterile Processing & Grounds.

 

Mark Pinto MD, MBA
Medical Director of Surgical Services and Orthopedic Service Lines
Trinity Health
Mark Pinto MD, MBA, actively practices orthopedic surgery and subspecializes in sports medicine and shoulder surgery. He received his undergraduate education at Miami University (zoology) and then attended the University of Michigan Medical School. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Michigan followed by a fellowship in sports medicine arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery at the Southern California Orthopedic Institute. He has practiced at St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea Hospital for 18 years and at the Ann Arbor Veteran's Administration Medical Center since then. He is a recent graduate of the Ross Business School (MBA) at the University of Michigan and currently splits his time working at the Trinity Health System Office. Currently, he is both the Medical Director of Surgical Services and the Orthopedic Service Line. Mark is married and has two children. Allison attends MIT and Joey is a junior in high school. In his free time, he pursues hunting, fishing and watersports with his family.
Lori Pilla CPSM, RN, MBA
Senior Vice President, Strategy/Performance Improvement
Kaufman Hall
Lori Pilla is a registered nurse and Senior Vice President with Kaufman Hall’s Strategic and Financial Planning practice. Ms. Pilla has 30 years of experience in healthcare, spanning executive leadership, clinical, operations, business development, and consulting roles. Her areas of expertise include strategic and financial planning, clinical best practices, operations, supply chain management, and data-driven performance improvement. Prior to joining Kaufman Hall, Ms. Pilla was Vice President for Supply Chain Performance Solutions and New Business Development with Intalere GPO, Inc. Ms. Pilla previously served as Director of Clinical Contract Design for Ascension Health System. Her experience also includes serving as Director of Business Development Operations and Surgical Services for St. Anthony’s Medical Center, Director of Clinical Supply Chain Sourcing with MedAssets,LLC, and Clinical Development Director for Surg-Center Development. Ms. Pilla received an M.B.A. from Lindenwood University in St. Louis, a B.S. in Business Management from Maryville University, and an A.A.S. in Nursing from St. Louis Community College. She has authored numerous articles in industry journals, and is Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certified.

Randall Piper

Vice President, Non-acute Contracting, 
Intalere
As vice president of non-acute contracting for Intalere, Randall (Randy) Piper is responsible for more than $3.2 billion of annual contract purchases across supplies, services, software, equipment and distribution. His responsibilities in this role include supplier relationship management, category management, strategic sourcing, contract management, purchasing and program management, and contract marketing. In addition, Piper also serves as vice president of Intalere Choice®, the preferred portfolio subsidiary of Intalere, for which he is responsible for over 150 supplier marketing and sales enhancement programs unique to the Intalere Choice portfolio of services.  Prior to joining Intalere, Piper held marketing and contracting strategy leadership roles at McKesson Medical Surgical, the largest NAC distributors in the industry. Previously, he led regional operations as general manager for Fortune 20 company Owens and Minor.  During his career, Piper has achieved success in many major initiatives. He executed an industry first, exclusive agreement for Intalere with the largest Home Medical Services organization in the United States, as well as initiated strategic contracts with key medicalsurgical distributors to remove cost from mutual member supply chain, introduce new products to market and create new revenue streams. He developed national supplier contracts throughout the United States representing more than $250 million in annual purchases. In addition, Piper successfully implemented low unit-of-measure distribution programs to support a large integrated delivery network in central Kansas, and managed the construction of a new medical-surgical distribution center in the midwest, shipping $100 million in critical supplies to healthcare customers annually.

Sean Poellnitz

Vice President, Supply Chain, Mosaic Life Care
Sean Poellnitz is Vice President Supply Chain at Mosaic Life Care. Sean leads all supply chain functions including materials management, logistics, fleet, sourcing, GPO Affiliate Program and all procurement activities across the regional health system. Formerly Sean was System Senior Director Supply Chain & Ancillary Services at OptumCare (USMD) for three hospitals and over 50 clinics with 20 specialties. Before USMD Sean was System Director, Contracting and Resource Utilization for CHRISTUS Health; which is faith-based, not-for-profit health system comprised of almost 350 services and facilities, including more than 60 hospitals and long-term care facilities. Prior to Sean’s role at CHRISTUS Health, Sean held various leadership positions for CHI Health, Raytheon, Southern California Regional Rail Authority, and Union Pacific Railroad based in Omaha, NE. Sean is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and he served on the National MedAsset GPO Committee Member for Capital and Long-Term Care Service Lines.

Steve Pohlman

Senior Director, Materials Management, Cleveland Clinic
Steve Pohlman is the Sr. Director of Materials Management for the Cleveland Clinic. In his role, Mr. Pohlman is responsible for optimizing materials management operations and transforming inventory management across the enterprise.  Mr. Pohlman has been in the healthcare field since 1997. He joined Cleveland Clinic as part of the Akron General Health System acquisition.  He has a broad background in supply chain management, hospital operations and process improvement. Prior to coming to the Cleveland Clinic, Mr. Pohlman has held many positions with Akron General Health System including Associate Vice President of Service Operations, Director of Materials Management, Director of Linen Services, Manager of Procurement and Purchasing and Manager of Sterile Processing.  Before joining Akron General Health System, Mr. Pohlman work as a Sourcing Manager for Premier Health Partners in Dayton, Ohio.   Mr. Pohlman is a Southwest Ohio native who received his undergraduate degree in industrial engineering from the University of Dayton. He also holds an MBA from Wright State University.  Prior to his career in healthcare, he worked in manufacturing in both the auto and welding industries.

Laura Polson, RN, BSN, CVAHP - AHVAP 

Clinical Quality Value Analysis Facilitator, Baptist Health Floyd Hospital

Laura Polson, RN, BSN, CVAHP - AHVAP Northeast Region Director & Co-Chairperson for the Marketing Committee has held local, regional, and national leadership roles in nursing, supply chain, value analysis, and process improvement for 35 years. Past management roles in multi-hospital groups include education, critical care, recovery, cardiac catheterization, electrophysiology and surgical services. Her nursing expertise spans multiple specialties (CVAHP, ACLS, BCLS INS, CCRN, CVN, RCIS, & RCVT). Pioneered early value analysis roles as one of the first HCA Product Utilization Directors in the early '90s and continues today in her role as Clinical Quality Value Analysis Facilitator at Baptist Health Floyd in New Albany, IN.

Kerry Price

Senior Vice President, Marketing and Management, Federation of American Hospitals

Kerry Price is the Senior Vice President, Marketing and Management, Federation of American Hospitals (FAH). She is responsible for managing the FAH’s annual Public Policy Conference and Business Exposition. Her responsibilities also include membership and supplier relations, marketing and brand awareness fro the FAH and leading the FAH’s Exposition Advisory Committee. Prior to joining FAH, Ms. Price served as Vice President of Strategic Customer Engagement at Amerinet. In this role, she led Amerinet’s strategic engagements and corporate events as they relate to enhancing the image and brand of the company. She also developed strategic initiatives to support the broader short-and long-term marketing strategies that enhanced the overall perception of Amerinet within the industry. She is a past Co-Chair of the Healthcare Supply Association and Steering Committee member for the Health Industry Group Purchasing Association. Ms. Price received a BS in Marketing from Robert Morris University and an AS in Marketing from Allegheny Community College.

Jonathan  Pumphrey

Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer, WellSpan Health
Mr. Pumphrey joined WellSpan in May 2011. He is responsible for the acquisition of all goods and services for the health system. This includes both negotiating and contracting for these services. He also is in charge of all distribution networks throughout WellSpan. Before joining WellSpan, Mr. Pumphrey served as Vice President of Materials Management at Mercy Health System in Baltimore and Corporate Director of Supply Chain at MedStar Health. He received his bachelor’s degree from University of Maryland. 
Joseph Quinones
Director of Facilities and Procurement 
Comunilife
Joseph Quinones is the Director of facilities and procurement for Comunilife. The mission of Comunilife is to improve the quality of life and create a healthier community. Comunilife programs reach NYC's most high-need, high-cost health care consumers, people with histories of repeated emergency room visits, hospital admissions and long-term institutionalizations in the City's psychiatric, correctional, and homeless shelter systems. We operate a range of transitional and permanent housing programs throughout the City that bring stability to some of the hardest to reach New Yorkers.

Mark Richardson

Director, Medical Products and Devices, ROi

Mark Richardson is Director of Medical Products and Devices for ROi. As a member of ROi Integrated Sourcing Solutions Team, Mark serves as a liaison for contract opportunities to ROi customers through specialty Service Line programs for Surgery, Orthopedics, Neurosurgery/Spine, and Cardiology/Interventional Radiology. In addition to obtaining clinical feedback, Mark is also responsible for reporting utilization and contract compliance to the ROi Contract portfolio. In his role, Mark supports the voice of the customer in ROi contracting strategies as well as high compliance commitment to high cost/high preference initiatives. Mark previously served as the Perioperative Business Director at Mercy Hospital St. Louis for 14 years. Additionally, he served at SSM Healthcare in St. Louis for 10 years in a similar role. Mark earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from St. Louis University.

Frank Ripullo

Managing Partner, Essential Healthcare Management, Inc.

Frank Ripullo runs the most respected medical consulting firm in the healthcare sector representing both suppliers and providers. As the Founder and President of Essential Healthcare Management, Inc., Ripullo has managed to turn small to medium suppliers into manufacturing powerhouses. Known for keenly negotiating GPO and IDN agreements that have increased clients’ market share 300% in short time frames, supplier contracting is just the beginning of EHM’s offerings. Mr. Ripullo’s distinctive strength has been the ability to create value for both suppliers and provider in a marketplace dominated by sky rocketing costs. Ripullo’s focus and strategic direction of EHM has been to bring clarity and transparency to the convoluted healthcare market resulting in the creation of strong channels for suppliers to succeed while enabling providers to lower their overall operating costs.

Michael Rivard
Interim President and COO
ROi
Michael Rivard is the Interim CEO/President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) for ROi. Mike is currently leading ROi into a new chapter of growth and service to its Members. His COO role includes oversight of ROi’s information technology, and supply chain operations including manufacturing, distribution, transportation and quality assurance/regulatory affairs. Prior to joining ROi, Michael served as Chief Operating Officer for The International Companies, a leader in the distribution and manufacturing of human, animal and pet food ingredients worldwide. Michael has a proven track record of building and leading teams to deliver outstanding results in both private and public companies. His experience includes C-level and senior leadership roles at Energizer, PlayPower, Inc. and True Fitness. Michael earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Hartford and an MBA from Babson College.
Teresa Elaine Roane PharmD, BCACP
Associate Director; Clinical Assistant Professor
Center for Quality Medication Management at the University of Florida
Dr. Roane began her career in pharmacy in 1988 working as a pharmacy technician for a small independent chain. She graduated from the University of Florida (UF) College of Pharmacy with her PharmD degree in 2006, and earned Board Certification in Ambulatory Care in 2011. She is currently the Director of the Center for Quality Medication Management (CQM) at UF as well as a Clinical Assistant Professor for the UF College of Pharmacy. She is responsible for all aspects of both Center locations (Gainesville and Lake Nona) including operations, client relations and retention, and business development. In addition, she provides education to student pharmacists enrolled in the PharmD program, those assigned to the Center for their APPE rotations, and two PGY-1 pharmacy residents. Prior to joining UF, Dr. Roane worked as a clinical pharmacist at AvMed Health Plans. While at AvMed, she helped create their Medicare Part D formulary and their MTM program. She served as their lead pharmacist, provided direct oversight of the utilization management program, was a resource for both internal and external healthcare professionals, and also educated student pharmacists on their APPE clerkship rotations. She also currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors’ for the Alachua County Association of Pharmacists (ACAP), continues to work as a relief pharmacist at a small community pharmacy chain in her hometown, and is finishing up her master’s degree in business administration. 
Betty Jo Rocchio MS, BSN, CRNA, CENP
Chief Nursing Officer, Mercy
As the System Chief Nursing Optimization Officer, Betty Jo has oversight and leadership accountability for 45 hospitals across 4 states within Mercy. Betty Jo leads the quality, service, and financial initiatives for Nursing, Perioperative Services, Cath and EP Labs, and GI Labs. This includes 4.2 billion in revenue and 800 million in cost. Betty Jo has more than 26 years of experience in health care, including 20 years in Perioperative Services and Procedural Areas in various leadership positions. During her tenure in Mercy, she has been developing the Quadruple Aim for her areas and advancing the three key operating paths - clinical, operational, and financial to help successfully position Mercy for the next phase in healthcare. Betty Jo is a member of the Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses, American Organization of Nurse Executives, the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association, and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.

Kristine Russell

Publisher, Healthcare Purchasing News

Kris Russell is president of KSR Publishing, Inc. and Publisher of Healthcare Purchasing News. In publishing for over 25 years, Ms. Russell was formerly VP of operations and executive publisher of the healthcare division at Nelson Publishing, Inc., overseeing 12 publications in various business-to-business technologies, including: healthcare informatics, clinical lab, corporate IT, product/equipment design, OEM electronic engineering, metalworking and fabrication as well as other manufacturing areas. Kris formed KSR Publishing, Inc. in January 2003 and purchased Healthcare Purchasing News from Nelson Publishing in February 2003. Ms. Russell graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in merchandising and minors in textiles, business and art from Northern Illinois University.  Ms. Russell is also on the advisory board for the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management, and a member of the Associate for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management. 

Joshua Sandler
Vice President, Group Purchasing
Mercy
Josh Sandler is Vice President, Group Purchasing, for ROi. Josh is responsible for overseeing ROi’s strategic contracting and sourcing division, which helps health care providers manage the evaluation, selection, contracting, standardization and utilization of all products and services necessary for patient care. Josh and his team work with channel partners, ROi Members and ROi’s other operating units to deliver maximum clinical, operational and financial value from the supply chain through a committed sourcing model. Josh also oversees ROi’s private label brand of products. Josh has more than a decade of supply chain experience. Prior to joining ROi in 2012, Josh served as a Naval Supply Chain Officer in multiple strategic planning and logistics roles. Josh holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and an MBA from Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis. 

Kenneth Scher, CMRP

Senior Manager, Nexera, Inc.
Kenneth Scher has an extensive background in end-to-end supply chain operations, technology, and perioperative services business operations. He provides strategic supply chain and financial advisory assistance to healthcare organizations aimed at growing business performance, technology utilization, and fiscal stability. Mr. Scher has been involved in multiple client engagements and has built a reputation as an effective, innovative leader. He currently oversees initiatives for Nexera’s performance improvement and technology optimization services, and manages supply chain consulting engagements. In providing advisory services to a wide array of facility types, Mr. Scher has created integrated performance improvement solutions to identify and implement sustainable results as well as comprehensive strategies to increase supply chain efficiency, reduce costs, increase revenue, improve workflow processes, and accelerate cash. Prior to joining Nexera, Mr. Scher worked in non-healthcare-related supply chain businesses. He received his Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain Management and Marketing Management at the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, with a sub-concentration in Public Communication Studies at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications–Syracuse University. He has been published in Becker’s Hospital Review and by the Healthcare Financial Management Association. He is also a Certified Materials and Resource Professional through the American Hospital Association.
Timothy Schloss, MD
Section Chief, Interventional Cardiovascular Medicine, Mercy
Tim Schloss, MD, interventional cardiologist, serves as the Section Chief of Interventional Cardiovascular Medicine for Mercy Heart and Vascular Hospital in St. Louis. In this role, Dr. Schloss is responsible for the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and driving growth in service areas. Dr. Schloss is a physician leader of Mercy Cardiology Procedures and Quality Specialty Councils. He graduated with a medical degree from Saint Louis University School of Medicine, followed by a residency and fellowships at Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Schloss holds certifications including: Board Certified in Adult Cardiology and Interventional Cardiovascular Medicine; Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology; Diplomat of the National Board of Echocardiography; Fellow of the American College of Cardiology; Fellow of the Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions; and Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation. 

Joanne Schlosser, FACHE, SPHR, PCC, MBA

Consultant and Coach, Rising Stars, LLC
Joanne Schlosser is President of Rising Stars, LLC, a management consultant, professional certified coach, and speaker who works with high performing healthcare leaders and physicians that want to grow their careers and organizations. Joanne was Director, Talent and Organizational Effectiveness, for Banner Health, responsible for leadership development, executive coaching, change management, organizational development and facilitation. She served on the Administrative Team for three hospitals.  Joanne's B.S. in Production Operations Management and her M.B.A. were utilized in operations roles in Supply Chain Management.  Joanne wrote “Coaching: An Innovative Approach to Developing Leaders at Banner Health”, for the International Journal of Coaching in Organizations and co-created the Banner coaching program, which received the International Prism Award for coaching excellence in 2012.  Rising Stars served over 200 clients including Tenet Health, Dignity Health, Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, IPC Healthcare, La Paz Regional Hospital & Indian Health Service.

Justin Schneider

Vice President, Clinical Operations, Sinai Health System
Justin Schneider, PharmD, began his career in health care as a Pharmacist with CVS/Pharmacy in Chicago. Following three years in community practice, he transitioned to the hospital setting, joining Sinai Health System in Chicago as a Pharmacy Operations Manager at Mount Sinai Hospital. Shortly thereafter he assumed the role of System Director of Pharmacy, where he transformed the pharmacy team across the system. With a focus on teaching and preceptorship, he initiated a PGY1 residency program, PGY2 Administration residency program and expanded the number of student rotations to over 100 students annually. Outside of pharmacy services Justin developed the Stroke Program at Mount Sinai and is now responsible for the system’s three accredited stroke centers. Justin’s current role is Vice President of Clinical Operations, where his responsibilities include pharmacy service, supply chain, cardiovascular, radiology and neurosciences across Sinai Health System’s four hospitals, medical group and 25 clinic locations in the Chicago area.
Regina Schneider, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CNOR 
Director of Nursing, Surgical and Emergency Services, Cleveland Clinic – Avon Hospital
Regina Schneider is the Director of Nursing for Surgical and Emergency Services for the Cleveland Clinic – Avon Hospital.  Her responsibilities include operational oversight of these departments and professional development of the nursing teams.  Ms. Schneider’s experience spans more than 25 years as a clinician and administrator in various organizations.  She has spent much of her career in the perioperative/surgical arena with the additional responsibility in emergency services in the last four years.  Her interests include system integration, process improvement, leadership development, coaching and mentoring.  She holds a Six Sigma Green Belt from Cleveland State University.  Regina obtained her BSN and MSN from Ursuline College, Pepper Pike, OH and is currently enrolled in the Doctorate in Nursing Practice program at Chamberlain College of Nursing.
Eugene Stuart Schneller Ph.D.
Director - Industry Advisory Group
CAPS Research & Arizona State University
Eugene Schneller is Professor: Department of Supply Chain Management, at W.P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University and co-founder of Healthcare Supply Chain Excellence. He is Director, Health Sector Supply Chain Research Consortium, an Industry Advisory Group within CAPS Research, committed to advancing health sector supply chain practice. He earned his Ph.D. at New York University. He holds an honorary physician associate (PA) degree from Duke University. He has held faculty and research scholar positions at Duke University Medical Center, Union College (New York), Albany Medical Center, Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center and Columbia University. His consulting and research focuses on best practice adoption, supply chain purchasing strategy, supply chain design and governance, human resource development and supply chain integration. He is a frequent speaker at major health care conferences including GHX Global Summit, Health Trust University, Managed Care Forum, and World Congress on Healthcare Supply Chain.
Kerry Schwartz MD, FACC, FACP
Senior Medical Officer, Supply Chain Management
Adventist Health System
Kerry Schwartz is a clinical and interventional cardiologist/electrophysiologist with over 35 years of experience with direct patient care, with hospitals and large, single specialty practice executive leadership, and with cardiac rhythm device and arrhythmia innovation, pharmacologic research and education. He is the Senior Medical Officer, Supply Chain Management at Adventist Health System, where he is responsible for contracting for 40+ hospitals in the Adventist Health System. He also chairs the Technology Assessment Committee, which evaluates current and new, innovative technology, procedures, and products, and makes recommendations to physician service line leaders and C-suite. Dr. Schwartz is a founding partner of the Florida Heart Group, a widely recognized, innovative clinical and interventional cardiovascular practice and served as group president for two terms. He has served as an active member of the American Heart Association and president of Central Florida Chapter and as a volunteer instructor and Assistant Professor of Medicine UCF College of Medicine. 

Ronald Scott

Assistant Vice President, Clinical Supply Chain, St. Joseph Health System

Dr. Scott received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of California, San Francisco. He completed a Residency in Clinical Pharmacy at the Buffalo General Hospital and a Fellowship in Clinical Pharmacokinetics at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He was awarded the American College of Clinical Pharmacy Fellowship in Cardiovascular Therapeutics. During his more than 35 years in healthcare, he has practiced in both acute care and ambulatory care settings in both academic and community organizations. In his current role with St. Joseph Health System, a 14 hospital IDN, he is provides clinical and contracting oversight for each of the hospital’s pharmacy departments, is responsible for all contracting and clinical research for SJHS.

 

Frank Searl

Director of Performance Groups, 
Premier, Inc.
Frank Searl has dedicated his five year tenure at Premier to helping members make informed, evidence based decisions about clinical products and physician preference items.  In his current role as director of performance groups, he helps facilitate collaboration among physician-led cohorts as they methodically explore clinical processes and products to help establish best practices, product utilization, standardization and improved outcomes through comparative effectiveness.  Prior to joining Premier, he spent 15 years in the operating room in various roles including nurse manager and three years in supply chain for a 13-hospital IDN.

Bharat Shah

Plastic Surgeon, Mercy Health System
Bharat Shah, M.D., F.A.C.S., M.H.A., joined Mercy Health System, the nation’s fifth largest Catholic health care system, in 1996. His plastic surgery practice encompasses a wide variety of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. Dr. Shah is board certified in Plastic Surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery, and Head and Neck Surgery. He is the Clinical Advisor to ROi’s Provider Operating Council, helping set strategic direction to improve physician relations and healthcare efficiency and reduce supply costs. Dr. Shah’s research interests are primarily focused on medical innovations, including pediatric craniofacial surgery devices and facial reconstructive technology. Dr. Shah is an Adjunct Faculty member of Missouri State University Center for Applied Sciences and Engineering, and the Center for Biomedical and Life Sciences. He was previously a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Missouri – Columbia.

Pinak Shah

Assistant Vice President, Health System Purchasing, Contracting and Materials Management, North Shore LIJ Health System.

Pinak Shah is responsible for the operation of the 18-hospital North Shore LIJ Health System innovative supply chain model, which includes their Integrated Distribution Center (IDC). As Assistant Vice President of health system purchasing, contracting and materials management, Pinak is engaged in contract negotiations and the development of strategic relationships with manufacturers and distributors. He also leads supply chain expense reduction, inventory improvement, and product standardization initiatives. Prior to his experience at NSLIJHS, Pinak was with the healthcare consulting practices of Deloitte and PeopleSoft. Pinak is a graduate in Engineering and earned an M.B.A. from India. He has joined the faculty at Hofstra University, Frank G. Zarb School of Business and is currently teaching operations and supply chain management.

 

Perry Sham

Senior Vice President,
Nexera, Inc.

Perry Sham is responsible for practice leadership for Nexera’s financial improvement, performance improvement, technology optimization, strategic advisory services, and project management services in facilities throughout the U.S. and internationally.  With over a decade of healthcare experience, Mr. Sham has served as an advisor to numerous provider organizations. Among them are leading academic health centers, accountable care organizations, integrated health systems, community hospitals, and non-acute care facilities. His work has encompassed financial improvement in large-scale cost-reduction and comprehensive revenue cycle management, data management, analytics, and process redesign. At Nexera, Mr. Sham has helped healthcare facilities reduce costs by over $65 million.  Mr. Sham received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Baruch College. He has been published by the Association of Healthcare Internal Auditors and the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). He is also a member of the HFMA.

Tali Sharot

Neuroscientist, Author and Human Behavior Expert;

Associate Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London and Current Visiting Professor at MIT
Part of our daily job as humans is to affect others; we guide patients, advise clients, inform colleagues, impact change, and drive results. We do this because we each have unique experiences and knowledge that others may not. But how good are we at  this role? Turns out we systematically fall into suboptimal habits when trying to change others beliefs and behaviors. Many of these instincts—from insisting the other is wrong to exerting control—are ineffective, because they are incompatible with how the mind operates. Tali Sharot, a leading behavioral neuroscientist and author of an upcoming book on influence, explained how an attempt to change will be successful only if it is well-matched with the seven core elements that govern how we think. She showed how each of these factors can either hinder or help an attempt to influence others in positive ways.   Dr. Sharot is the author of The Optimism Bias: A Tour of the Irrationally Positive Brain, as well as the upcoming - The Influential Mind: What the Brain Reveals About Our Power to Change Others
Kenneth Shaw
Director, Contracts, Vidant Health
Kenneth Shaw received his Bachelors Degree in Management from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. Kenneth has worked in various capacities with the Internal Revenue Service (Auditor, SS-8 Determinations and Fraud), the School Board of Broward County (Director of Operational Audits) and Vidant Health (Director, Contracts). Kenneth lived in South Florida for 45 years and moved to Greenville, NC in 2005. Kenneth has been married for 39 years this May, and has two sons. One son is a Police Officer in Huntersville, NC (suburb or Charlotte) and one is a Personal Fitness Trainer in Chapel Hill, NC. Kenneth has worked on teams that have negotiated contracts as diverse as Environmental Services, Food Service and many Service Lines, including Orthopedics, Trauma and CRM to name a few. Personal hobbies include, Weight Lifting, Reading, Data Analysis in EXCEL and running in Spartan type races – although he underwent a Total Left Shoulder Replacement in November 2018, so has not been able to participate in any of these races lately.
Lindsey Sheeran MBA
Senior Category Manager
Mayo Clinic

Lindsey Sheeran is a Sr. Category Manager on the Medical/Surgical, Laboratory Team at Mayo Clinic. This team negotiates Commodity, Clinical Preference & Laboratory contracts for Mayo Clinic and the Upper Midwest Consolidated Services Center (UMCSC). As a Sr. Category Manager, Lindsey has an integral role in driving the Category Management strategy at Mayo Clinic while working with internal and external stakeholders, identifying business requirements and negotiating the best value for the clinically chosen products. Lindsey has been at Mayo Clinic for 12 years in multiple roles, primarily in Supply Chain. These roles have given her experience in Purchasing, Accounts Payable, Project Management, Supervision and Contracting. Lindsey has a Master of Business Administration degree from Cardinal Stritch University and a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from Winona State University.

Zewdu Shibabaw

Contract Manager & Emergency Management Planner, Kaiser Permanente
Zewdu is currently Contract Manager and Emergency Management Planner for Kaiser Permanente in the East Bay Service Area and has 15 years of healthcare experience. At Kaiser, he is responsible for managing administrative, clinical & continuum care contracts with a total dollar value of $28 million dollars. He holds an Executive Master of Public Administration from Golden Gate University, School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Business Administration, Management and operations from University of Phoenix. In addition, he is a licensed Advanced Public Information Officer: Health and Hospital Emergencies by the US Department of Homeland Security and a Certified Healthcare Reform Specialist by Employer Healthcare & Benefits Congress, License Health Care Reform Center and Policy Institute.

Gregory Shufelt

Managing Director, Prism Healthcare Partners LTD
Managing Director Greg Shufelt has almost 20 years’ experience providing financial and healthcare advisory services across a variety of strategic, operational and assurance engagements. He specializes in business valuation and fair market value services, physician co-management and compensation fairness opinions and financial impact modeling. Greg helps health systems and hospitals quantify the financial risk and opportunity of developing and deploying population health strategies, including clinically integrated networks, ACOs and bundled payment programs. He also provides strategic advisory and analytical services for developing pre and post-merger efficiency plans. Previously, Greg was Vice President of Financial Advisory Services for a business advisory firm serving more than 2,000 healthcare organizations. Greg is frequently asked to speak and publish on finance trends and healthcare reform. His article “Medicaid Reform: Are You Ready” won the 2013-14 Helen Yerger/L.Vann Seawell Award for Best Article in hfm magazine. Greg is an Accredited Senior Appraiser in the American Society of Appraisers.

Deborah Simonson, PHARM.D.

Vice President, Pharmacy Services, Ochsner Health System
As Vice President of Pharmacy Services for Ochsner Health System, Dr. Simonson has responsibility for the strategic vision, long term planning, direction and overall accountability for pharmacy services across the system. She joined Ochsner in 1981 and has built the pharmacy program to include clinical services, education/academics, research, retail services, specialty pharmacy, population management, transitions of care, informatics, regulatory compliance, medication safety, logistics, and digital medicine support. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama and her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Xavier University of Louisiana.  Dr. Simonson started her career with the Public Health Service. She has held many leadership roles with pharmacy associations and boards over the years. She has been a member of the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy and was named in the City Business's 2015 Women of the Year.

Robert Simpson

President/CEO, LeeSar

From 1976 to 1982, Bob was the Director of Operations for Northeast Red Cross Blood Service. From 1982 to 1983, Bob was the Director of Materials Management and Project Coordinator and assisted in building the first USDA Human Nutrition Research Center at Tuft’s University in Boston. From 1984 to 1994, Bob was at the Neponset Valley Health System as Vice President of Materials Management for that system. In 1994, Bob joined Healthcare Service of New England, the largest and oldest group purchasing organization in New England and, as their Vice President, developed total service contracts for their membership. From 1995 to 2002, Bob held several executive positions at TFX Surgical Group. On March 1, 2002, Bob returned to the Provider side of the business as President and Chief Executive Officer of LeeSar, the Supply Chain Management Division, and Cooperative Services of Florida, the group Purchasing Organization for Lee Memorial Health System and Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System. During 1995, Bob was the International President of the Association for Healthcare Resource and Materials Management and in 1997 received the Association’s most prestigious award “The George R. Gossett Leadership Award”. He is also the founder of Project Perfect World, which takes medical teams around the world to provide free surgical for needy children.

Don Sizemore

President, IMDA
Don Sizemore – Member of IMDA for 6 years, Current President of IMDA lives in Tennessee where he volunteers as a First Responder with a local Rescue Squad and has a wife and four children and two grand children. Has been involved in bringing new medical technologies to market since 1991 with a career that includes companies like Welch Allyn, Medical Data Electronics, Protocol Systems, and D&D Medical Inc.
David E. Skarda MD
Senior Medical Director, Center for Surgical Value
Intermountain Healthcare
Dr. David Skarda is the Senior Medical Director of Intermountain Healthcare's Center for Surgical Value. He is clinically active at Utah Valley Hospital (UVH) and Primary Children's Hospital (PCH). At both facilities he evaluates and manages the broad range of emergent and elective pediatric surgical problems. He is the site director for pediatric surgery at UVH. Between 2011 and 2015 Dr. Skarda practiced pediatric surgery at Primary Children's Medical Center (now Primary Children's Hospital) and focused his academic and administrative work on improving the management of appendicitis, pyloric stenosis, and gastroparesis. Dr. Skarda has authored several case reports including EC-CPR for pediatric hypothermic arrest, ECMO for respiratory failure in pediatric trauma patients, and persistent hemobilia after percutaneous liver biopsy. He presented the EC-CPR for pediatric hypothermic arrest data in Shanghai, China at the meeting of the Pacific Association of Pediatric Surgeons.

Kyle Skiermont, PHARM.D.

COO, Fairview Pharmacy Services

Kyle Skiermont is the Chief Operating Officer for Fairview Pharmacy Services, a leading health system based pharmacy organization in Minneapolis, MN.  He received his PharmD from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy.  As COO, Kyle is responsible for strategy and overall operations of Fairview Pharmacy's specialty pharmacy, retail, MTM, mail order, long term care, compounding, home infusion and community infusion business units.    Kyle has spent 19 years in pharmacy including traditional retail, clinic based retail, outpatient pharmacy at an academic health center, community and home infusion, specialty, and mail order.  In addition, he is a frequent media and professional spokesperson on a variety of pharmacy topics.
Anthony Daniel Slonim MD, DrPH
President and CEO
Renown Health
Dr. Anthony Slonim is an innovator and proven healthcare leader at both regional and national levels. His expertise spans across areas of patient safety, accountable care, healthcare quality, and innovative care delivery models, which focus on improving health in the community. As tenured professor, he has authored more than 100 publications, 15 textbooks, and has received more than $2 million in National Institutes of Health funding. Since joining Renown Health in July 2014, Dr. Slonim has completely reoriented northern Nevada’s largest locally governed, not-for-profit healthcare network, by focusing on overall community health and embracing the national triple aim initiatives. As an advocate of healthcare partnerships, Dr. Slonim has also initiated national collaborations to establish a medical training campus at Renown, expand the region’s quaternary care services in collaboration with Stanford Medicine, and launch the nation’s first-ever community-based, population health study with Desert Research Institute and personal genetics company 23andMe.
Scotty Smiley
Major (Retired)
United States Army
Scotty Smiley is from Pasco, a small city in Washington state. After high school he attended the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. After four great years, he graduated and moved to Fort Benning, Georgia and attended Infantry Officer Basic Course and Ranger School. Soon after he moved to Fort Lewis, Washington where he led a 45 man Platoon. In 2005 while leading his Platoon in Mosul, Iraq, Scotty found himself in front of a suicide car bomb. After the man blew himself up, shrapnel blew through Scotty’s eyes leaving him blinded and temporarily paralyzed; he woke up in Walter Reed Army Medical Center a week later. Though questioning his faith, Scotty made a decision to forgive and rebuild his life and continue to serve in the Army, becoming the first blind active-duty officer in military history. The Army Times named Scotty “Soldier of the Year” in 2007 and in 2008 he won an ESPY as the world’s Best Outdoor Athlete. After receiving a Master of Business Administration from Duke University, Scotty taught the core course in leadership at West Point and then commanded the Warrior Transition Unit at West Point’s Keller Army Medical Center. Scotty is a recipient of the Army’s prestigious MacArthur Leadership Award and holds an honorary PhD from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY. In 2010, Scotty received a Father of the Year award in New York and in 2011 received the Christopher Award for all he has given and continues to give. Since then, Scotty attended the Maneuver Captain Career Course in Fort Benning, Georgia, and then moved to Spokane, Washington where he held a position with the Gonzaga University ROTC Department, teaching and mentoring America’s future leaders. After many years of service, Scotty retired from the military in 2015. Over his military career, Major (Retired) Smiley received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart; Combat Infantry Badge, Ranger Tab, Airborne Wings and Combat Diver Qualification Badge. He currently works with the capital markets department at Drexel Hamilton out of New York as an investment banker for corporations and banks around the world. With a passion for using his story to build hope in this world, Scotty authored Hope Unseen in 2010 and now travels all over the country speaking and sharing his message of perseverance, courage and hope. He is an avid adventurer and has completed the Coeur d’Alene Iron Man, climbed Mt. Rainer, gone skydiving, surfing and is always looking for his next chance to try something new. Scotty is married to his high school sweetheart, Tiffany and the couple lives in Pasco and are the proud parents of Grady Douglas, Graham Elliott, and Baylor Scott.

Clara Anne Spencer

Director, Pharmacy Contracting, Carilion Clinic
Clara Anne Spencer is a pharmacist and has worked as the Director of Pharmacy Contracting for Carilion Clinic since March 2000. During this time, her work has included system-wide pharmacy contracting, maximizing Premier Group Purchasing agreements and capital project initiatives, as well as direct improvements to patient care through the implementation of Patient Medication Assistance program. Ms. Spencer has also worked extensively with Carilion Clinic’s 340b programs. She serves on the Clinical Products Committee, Surgical Products Committee, and coordinates the Pharmacy Leadership Team. Prior to her joining Carilion Clinic, Clara Anne had ample experience working with all sides of practical healthcare as a Healthcare Resource Management Director for Premier, Inc., and Director of Pharmacy for Lewis Gale Psychiatric Pavilion. Her background include hospital pharmacy practice in both for-profit and not-for-profit settings, retail pharmacy, and serving as regional director for a group purchasing organization. In addition, Clara Anne serves on the Board of Directors for the Bradley Free Clinic.

Bonnie St. John

Author, Olympic Athlete, and TV Personality
Are you challenged by life’s setbacks? Then meet Bonnie St. John, whose enthusiasm and personal story will drive you to confront challenges head-on to live a more meaningful life. Her gripping story of how a five-year-old girl who found herself dealing with a ‘Pinocchio-style wooden leg’ somehow discovered an inner resilience fascinated the IDN Summit audience. This drive led her to become the first African-American ever to win medals in the Winter Olympics, a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Harvard and Rhodes Scholar, a bestselling author, Director of the White House National Economic Council and being honored at the White House by president George W. Bush. 
Margaret Steele
Vice President, Contract and Program Services
Vizient, Inc.
As Vice President, Contract and Program Services, Margaret directs strategic planning and contracting for Vizient’s Medical, Surgical and Distribution team. She is responsible for the strategy and execution of national agreements to deliver significant value and operational improvement for products and distribution services purchased by members. Margaret also has oversight of five Member Councils including Anesthesia, Clinical & Supply, Perioperative, Respiratory and Wound Management. Prior to her role on the Medical/Surgical team, Margaret led the Accelerated Contracting Expertise team in Purchased Services. The team featured deep expertise in Food & Nutrition Services, Environmental Services, Clinical Equipment Maintenance, Laundry and Linen Services and Plant Operations. 
Margaret brings a rich background as the former Chief Operating Officer for Beckett Media, a leading publisher of sports and specialty market collectibles. Margaret has leveraged her business operations and management experience to continually create value for Vizient’s members.  Margaret received her Bachelor of Science from University of Texas at Dallas with a Major in Business Administration and a Minor in Marketing. Margaret has served over 10 years on the Community Storehouse Board, a non-profit agency for children. 
Onisis Stefas
VP, Chief Pharmacy Officer
Northwell Health
Dr. Onisis Stefas is the VP, Chief Pharmacy Officer for Northwell Health. In this role, he directs the implementation of pharmacy programs, policies and procedures designed to integrate the health system pharmacy operations. He has oversight of the management, financial operations and development of the system’s central pharmacy and outpatient ambulatory pharmacies. He also consults for the Office of Professional Discipline. A graduate of Albany College of Pharmacy with a Doctor of Pharmacy in 2002, Dr. Stefas went on to receive his Master in Business Administration from Hofstra University in 2010. He maintains a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice Position at St. John’s University as well as holds a position on their Advisory Board. Prior to joining the health system, Dr. Stefas has held numerous leadership positions in fortune 500 companies including CVS Caremark and Target Corporation. He was responsible for 42 Target Pharmacies across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Dr. Stefas joined Northwell Health in 2010 as the Director of Pharmacy and Clinical Services at Forest Hills Hospital. Thereafter he assumed the position as Director of Pharmacy for VIVO Health and then Senior Director of Pharmacy for North Shore University Hospital. Dr. Stefas is involved in several professional affiliations including the American Society of Health System Pharmacists, New York State Council of Health System Pharmacists, and Long Island Society of Health System Pharmacists. 
Scott Sterrett PharmD
Manager, Specialty Pharmacy
Beaumont Health
As Manager, Specialty Pharmacy Services, Scott Sterrett is responsible for managing the development and implementation of the specialty pharmacy program for Beaumont Health, an eight-hospital health system in Metro Detroit with $4.1 billion in annual revenue. Specific responsibilities include developing a phased implementation plan for targeted disease states and medication classes, developing training and marketing materials, hiring and managing technical and professional staff, determining workflow and operating procedures, overseeing financial projections and performance, contracting with payors and vendors, and providing exceptional care and service to patients, nurses, and physicians. Scott received his Doctor of Pharmacy from Ohio Northern University.

Chris Stewart

Assistant Vice President, SourceTrust Solutions Advisory Group, HealthTrust

Chris Stewart is the Assistant Vice President, SourceTrust Solutions Advisory Group, HealthTrust. In his role as leader of the Solutions Advisory Group within SourceTrust, Chris leads his team in their focus on the development and delivery of customized CSI (Clinically Sensitive Implants) cost saving programs through strategic physician/hospital leadership engagement and the functional redesign of the implant delivery model. Chris originates from Johannesburg, South Africa and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Tennessee. He also participates in international masters swimming events.

Thomas Howard Stewart MBA, CMA
Director of SCM Performance Consulting
Mayo Clinic
Tom has 19 years of experience at Mayo Clinic. Over the last 14 years he has been in Supply Chain Management as Director of the Performance Consulting Team. Tom also spent five years in Mayo’s Accounting and Revenue Cycle. Prior to joining Mayo Clinic, he spent 13 years working at IBM in various finance roles.
William Paul Stitt CMRP FAHRMM CHFP
Chief, Supply Chain Management
University of Mississippi Medical Center
William Stitt currently serves as the Chief Supply Chain Officer at University of Mississippi Medical Center and is also the Principal and Chief Operating Officer of Credibility Healthcare, LLC, a full-service supply chain and operations consulting firm. Throughout his 27+ years in the healthcare supply chain, he has held various executive level positions in a variety of settings to include integrated delivery networks, academic medical centers and community hospitals from 90 beds to over 900 beds. He has an established record of building high performing supply chain departments and meeting and exceeding operational goals. Bill is a Certified Materials Resource Professional and has achieved Fellow status in the Association of Healthcare Resource and Materials Management and is a Certified Healthcare Finance Professional through HFMA. He is also a former AHRMM President and Region 5 Board member. 
Barbara Strain MA, CVAHP
Director of Value Management
University of Virginia Health System
Barbara Strain is the Director of Value Management at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, VA. In her current role Barbara directs the value management program which collaborates with physicians, nurses and staff across the care continuum providing the infrastructure to standardize products and reduce practice variation. Employing a team of VA nurses and analysts their data driven results approach to manage resource utilization has produced more than $40M of savings over the past 7 years. Barbara has led LEAN activities to identify and eliminate waste by using data analytics and systems thinking. Prior to joining Supply Chain Management, Barbara managed the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory operations at UVA. Additionally she served as the institutional fire safety chair and facilitated performance improvement initiatives as a Six Sigma green belt. Barbara is a founding member and past president of the Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals. Barbara has published several healthcare value management and supply chain in healthcare articles and speaks nationally on a variety of topics including personal viability, process improvement, sustainability and safety.
David E Stumbaugh
Vice President, Supply Chain Management & Pharmacy
Hawaii Pacific Health
David Stumbaugh began his career in banking in 1992 by joining Huntington Bancshares Incorporated in Columbus, Ohio. In 1995, he relocated to Honolulu, HI and joined Central Pacific Bank. In 2001, he left banking to join Hawai‘i Pacific Health as a Business Manager for their community benefit grant programs. In 2003, he was promoted to Director of Finance and Administration for the Hawai‘i Pacific Health Research Institute and to Director of Financial Planning for Hawai‘i Pacific Health in 2004 where he was responsible for all fiscal aspects of the corporate parent company and philanthropy subsidiaries including budget development and tracking and reporting. In 2015, he moved to Director of Financial Planning for Straub Medical Center (a subsidiary facility of Hawai‘i Pacific Health) where he was responsible for all fiscal aspects of the hospital and its related clinic operations. In 2017, Mr. Stumbaugh was promoted to Vice President, Supply Chain Management and Pharmacy where he currently provides strategic direction and leadership for the corporate supply chain management operations with overall accountability for corporate centralized procurement, contract negotiation and management, inventory management, purchasing, receiving, storage, distribution, central supply, PAR stock replenishment, mail room/copy center and asset management for all supplies, services, pharmaceuticals and equipment utilized by Hawai‘i Pacific Health and its subsidiaries. Mr. Stumbaugh holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from The Ohio State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. He holds a Certified Public Accountant certificate and is a member of the inaugural Health Management Academy’s General Electric CFO Fellowship graduating class of 2013. Mr. Stumbaugh coached youth sports in the Honolulu community and was a board member of the Manoa Youth Baseball League from 2006 to 2015. He currently serves as a mentor to students in the Maryknoll High School MX Scholar Program.
Morgan Swink
West Endowed Chair of Supply Chain Management
Texas Christian University

Morgan Swink is the Eunice and James L. West Chaired Professor of Supply Chain Management in the Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University. He also serves as the Executive Director of the Center for Supply Chain Innovation at the Neeley School. He teaches in areas of supply chain management, project management, innovation management, and operations strategy. Dr. Swink’s current research projects address digital transformation and cutting-edge competencies in supply chain management, financial impacts of supply chain management, collaborative integration, supply chain organizational structures, innovation initiatives and project success factors. He was recently ranked among the top ten innovation management scholars in the world, and among the top 75 most productive operations management scholars. Dr. Swink is the former Co-Editor in Chief for the Journal of Operations Management, a top academic supply chain management journal. He serves as associate editor for several other journals. He has served as president of the Decision Sciences Institute, as well as chair of the Research Strategies Committee and a member of the board of directors for CSCMP. He has co-authored two supply chain operations text-books, one managerial book on supply chain excellence, and more than 75 articles in a variety of academic and managerial journals. He has won several research and teaching awards, including the 2016 Research and Creativity Award at TCU. Dr. Swink consults and leads executive workshops and seminars in supply chain management best practices, cross-organizational integration, project management, operational flexibility, and breakthrough thinking for innovation and productivity.

Miriam Sznycer-Taub
Senior Consultant, 
Advisory Board
Miriam Sznycer-Taub is a Senior Consultant with Advisory Board’s Health Care Industry Committee. In this capacity, she leads research around health care industry trends and their impact on provider economics and strategy. Her areas of expertise include health care delivery model changes, innovative supplier-provider partnership models, and provider purchasing decision making. Miriam recently led research uncovering key strategies for suppliers and service providers to support IDN cost control and revenue growth initiatives. She is frequently asked to speak to how provider priorities and strategies affect decision-making and purchasing. Prior to joining Advisory Board, Miriam held positions at the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation and the National Association of County and City Health Officials. She received an MPH from the Boston University School of Public Health and a BA in history from Tufts University.

Kristin Tapley

Trinity Health

Kristin Tapley Bailey leads the Purchased Services Supply Chain Sourcing team at Trinity Health Corporation.  Kristin led a national strategic sales team for account-based benefit and insurance (e.g. HRA, HSA, FSA) consulting with national insurance companies and Fortune 500 employers. Kristin has a proven ability to initiate, manage, expand and successfully deliver complex health care projects by approaching problem solving with use of 6-Sigma methodology.  While widely known as a natural thought leader and motivator, Kristin is a recognized professional with a proven track record of consistently exceeding company objectives related to: 1) strategically procuring and sourcing clinical and non-clinical purchased services in excess of $1.4B 2) managing and delivering large cross-functional projects 3) developing and monitoring measurable performance criteria for vendor, employee and employer oversight 4) developing and structuring contracts to support long term partnerships 5) educating, communicating, and marketing product solutions.

Bob Taylor MBA, CMRP
SVP Supply Chain, RWJ Barnabas Health
Bob Taylor has over 30 years of experience in the Health Care Supply Chain. Currently Bob is the SVP of Supply Chain for RWJBarnabas Health. For 18 months prior Bob was the VP of Managed Services with HealthTrust, leading the company’s outsourced Supply Chain Leadership Staffing business and also the interim SVP of Supply Chain for RWJBarnabas Health. Prior to this Bob was the AVP for Supply Chain at UAB Health System in Birmingham Alabama for 9 years including the 1,250 bed flagship UAB University Hospital, The Health Services Foundation with over 1,000 physicians, three affiliate hospitals, and two additional associate hospitals all located within the state of Alabama. Prior to UAB Health System Bob worked with HCA for fifteen years, the last seven as a regional Supply Chain Officer with responsibility for Supply Chain Services for 22 hospitals in three states. Bob has also worked community and faith based facilities throughout his career. Bob received his Bachelor’s Degree from The Pennsylvania State University and his Master’s Degree from Kennesaw State University, has a Graduate Certificate from UAB in Healthcare Quality and Safety, and is a Certified Materials Resource Professional and is the Chair of AHRMM.

Clint Taylor

Category Lead (Sourcing), Contracts Pharmaceuticals, HC Pharmacy
Clint Taylor joined HC Pharmacy in 2008, providing service through the centralized pharmacy supply chain to the UPMC Health Service and affiliates. In his tenure with HC Pharmacy, Clint has been involved in several categories including sourcing, purchasing, customer service and has helped in the implementation of several projects including EDI ordering, min/max planning, and Warehouse Management System (WMS). Clint has also played an integral role in customer service and shortage mitigation by helping to create a drug shortage report and weekly conference call, as well as a service account giving customers access to and HC Pharmacy inquiries they may have. Clint currently holds the position of Category Lead (Sourcing), and contracts Pharmaceuticals.

Jack Temple

Manager, Information Technology and Medication Use System, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics
Jack Temple is Manager, Information Technology and Medication Use System. University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of North Carolina in 2004 and his Masters of Science in Health System Pharmacy Administration from the University of Wisconsin in 2006. He completed a PGY-1 AND PGY-2 specialty residency in Pharmacy Practice Management from the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics. Jack is an active member of Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin, American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists, and University Health System Consortium. He currently serves as Chair for the UHC-Medication Use and Information Technology Committee, past chair for the Novation Pharmacy Business Council, and is a member of the UHC-Pharmacy Executive Committee. He brings a wealth of experience in the use of automation and technology for dispensing operations. For the past three years he has focused on the pharmaceutical supply chain, the use of information technology, EMR’s, to facilitate pharmacy practice in an institutional setting.

Hassan A. Tetteh, MD, MBA, FACS, FACHE

Command Surgeon, National Defense University
Dr. Hassan A. Tetteh is an Associate Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, adjunct faculty at Howard University College of Medicine, and served as Division Lead for Futures and Innovation at Navy Medicine’s Headquarters, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. He was a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow from 2012-13, assigned to the U.S. Congress, Congressional Budget Office, (CBO), and served as Assistant Deputy Commander for Healthcare Operations and Strategic Planning at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center during its integration. His clinical work includes cardiovascular disease management, heart failure surgery, and heart and lung transplantation. He led Thoracic Transplantation Procurement and Research for the INOVA Health System Heart and Lung Transplant Program in Virginia and currently serves as a staff Thoracic Surgeon for the MedStar Health System. Tetteh is an Alley Sheridan Award recipient from the Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education. Tetteh served as Ship’s Surgeon and Director of Surgical Services for the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) battle group in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM in 2005. In 2011, he deployed as a trauma surgeon to Afghanistan’s Helmand and Nimroz provinces in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM with 2nd Marine Expeditionary Forces, and has supported special joint forces missions to South America, the Middle East, the South Pacific, Australia, and Africa. He earned both the Surface Warfare Medical Department Officer and Fleet Marine Force Qualified Officer designations, and his military honors include two Meritorious Service Medals. Tetteh is author of the novel Gifts of the Heart and has published articles on surgical innovation, health information technology, ethics, wounded warriors, and process improvement.
Lisa Marie Thakur CPA, MBA, FACHE, FHFMA
Senior Corporate Vice President, Ancillary Operations
Scripps Health
Lisa Thakur was named Corporate Senior Vice President of Ancillary Operations in January 2018. In her role she is responsible for all services and business at Scripps that are not hospital or ambulatory care. This includes home health, laboratory, imaging and other business services. Thakur joined Scripps Health in 1998 at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, where she was first chief financial officer and later chief operating officer. In 2013, she was one of four site executives tapped to move Scripps toward a horizontal, matrixed organizational structure. As corporate vice president, clinical and support services, Thakur took system responsibility over supply chain, endoscopy, perioperative services and pharmacy, bringing new system alignment to these functions which resulted in cost savings of $130 million over six years. Prior to joining Scripps Health in 1998, Lisa worked as a finance and business manager at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix. She also managed financial operations and human resources for Freedom Plaza Retirement Center/Care Center in Peoria, AZ. Thakur is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She currently serves on the National Board of Examiners for the Healthcare Financial Management Association, where she is a past member of the National Advisory Council. She also is a member of the Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management and the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses. Thakur holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington, and a Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University. In 2010, she received the Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN) award from the YWCA. In 2014, she received a Medal of Honor from the Healthcare Financial Management Association as well as an ACHE Regent’s Award.

Deb Thompson

Senior Director, Relationship Management, Health & Wellness, Wal-Mart
Deb leads the Relationship Management West team for Wal-Mart’s U.S. Health & Wellness business. Her team focuses on delivering payer solutions that drive down the cost of health care by leveraging Wal-Mart’s broad assortment of health and wellness products and services. Prior to her current role Deb was Director of Managed Care, coordinating the efforts of the specialty pharmacy, mail order pharmacy, WMS and the Health Living Compliance and Adherence Programs. Deb brings over 30 years of experience in the prescription medication management arena including: product development, marketing and administration. Prior to joining Wal-Mart, Deb held senior management positions at Express Scripts, PharMeric, Cardinal Health and Dispensing Solutions.
Jeff Thompson PharmD
Vice President of Pharmacy Services, Freeman Health System
Jeff Thompson received his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from University of Louisiana at Monroe, and completed his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock in 2002. He has held hospital pharmacy positions at Mercy Hospital, Springfield Missouri and DCH Health System in Tuscaloosa, AL. In 1997, he accepted a clinical pharmacist position at Freeman Health System, in Joplin, MO where he served as a critical care clinical pharmacy specialist for 9 years before taking on the role of Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator and then Director of Pharmacy Services. In 2014, he was promoted to Vice President of Pharmacy Services for Freeman Health System, assuming additional responsibility for retail and contract pharmacy operations and system-wide 340B compliance. Jeff completed Advanced 340B Operation Certification in 2018. He is a member of the American Society of Health System Pharmacists as well as the Missouri Society of Health System Pharmacists.
John Thompson
Senior Vice President, Sourcing Operations
Vizient, Inc. 
John Thompson is Senior Vice President of Sourcing Operations, with responsibilities in Business Technology, Capital & Imaging, and Purchased Services programs. In this role, John provides administration for Business Technology and Support, Capital Equipment, Diagnostic Imaging, Construction, Purchased and Contract Services. Prior to this role, John was Vice President & GM with leadership in the operational programs of Vizient’s Medical and Surgical contracting teams as well as the Distribution logistics programs. Previously, he was Vice President with accountability for Novation’s Strategic Programs including novaplus (Novation’s private label program), Committed Programs with a focus on Standardization Programs and Committed Portfolios. John has previously held the role of Senior Director, Surgical Contracting Services, where he led the strategic and operational direction of the company’s Surgical Contracting Portfolio. Prior to joining Novation, Thompson had management responsibility for a group four of satellite clinics associated with Galichia Medical Group. Thompson holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Healthcare Administration from Wichita State University in Wichita, KS, and attended the University of Dallas, where he studied business administration.
Henry Tomasuolo
Vice President, Support Services
Boston Children's Hospital
Henry Tomasuolo is the vice president of operations at Children’s Hospital Boston, a 397-bed comprehensive center for pediatric healthcare. As one of the largest pediatric medical centers in the United States, Children's offers a complete range of healthcare services for children from birth through 21 years of age and is also home to the world's largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center.Mr. Tomasuolo has 22 years of healthcare management experience and his responsibilities at Children’s include supply chain management, environmental services, food service, security, parking and environmental safety. Prior to joining Children’s Hospital in 2006, Mr. Tomasuolo was the vice president for supply chain management at Saint Vincent’s Catholic Medical Centers of New York (SVCMC), where he led the successful integration of the supply chain functions at the inception of the IDN . At SVCMC, Mr. Tomasuolo spearheaded expense reduction projects that resulted in savings in excess of $137 million over five years. Mr. Tomasuolo chaired the Greater New York Hospital Association’s Regional Advisory Council, an organization representing the supply chain leadership of the largest and most influential medical centers in the New York metropolitan area. Mr. Tomasuolo has a Bachelors Degree in economics from Columbia University and is a fellow at the Marschall Institute.
Christine Torres
System Vice President, Supply Chain Management and Biomedical Engineering
Main Line Health System
Christine Torres is the System Vice President of Supply Chain Management for the Main Line Health System, an Integrated Delivery Network consisting of four tertiary care hospitals and one rehabilitation hospital. In this role she provides corporate oversight by facilitating all contracting, logistics and medical equipment management associated with the supply chain needs of these healthcare institutions. Chris draws from her 40 years of healthcare business knowledge, clinical expertise, established relationships and teaching abilities to provide this organization with vision, strategy and direction in navigating the difficult challenges hospitals face today in the areas of ensuring patient safety, increasing supply costs, new technology demand, bending the Medicare cost curve and a host of other economic and resource demands. Chris is a member of the Main Line Health Leadership Faculty and provides training to the Management Team of the organization utilizing curriculums related to leadership development. Chris is certified in lean 6 sigma work and employs these strategies and techniques across the continuum of process improvement initiatives for the organization. Chris acts as a resource for many of the safety initiatives across the Health System. She provides guidance and support to these initiatives by focusing on the IOM STEEEP principles to provide a safer environment for our Patients and Staff. Chris provides strategic direction to the Main Line Health organization by coordinating a system approach to managing efforts related to clinical resource management processes that are leveraged in the evaluation of new technologies, services and supplies for the organization.
Nicholas Toscano
CEO
Julicon Advisors, LLC
Nicholas C. Toscano has over 40 years of progressive experience in healthcare supply chain management, shared/support services, marketing, facilities planning/development, supplier business development strategies and M & A integration modeling. Toscano is well known in the healthcare supply chain industry as a visionary leader, innovative designer and successful implementer of efficient, effective shared service/supply chain models. He currently serves large integrated delivery networks (IDN’s) supply chain executives as strategic advisor and designer for transformation modeling and optimization strategies. Toscano also serves as advisor to strategic suppliers to large health systems. He collaborates with supplier executives on business development growth strategies, qualifying products and services and facilitating strategic supplier collaborative sessions. Toscano founded Julicon, LLC in September 2000 as a strategic advisory focused on developing strategic business solutions for the healthcare supply chain and shared services organizations.

Bill Tribe

Vice President and Partner, A.T. Kearney, Inc.
Dr. Bill Tribe is a Vice President and Partner of A.T. Kearney, Inc. in their American Health practice. In his 10 years with the firm, he has worked extensively in Europe and North America, addressing global and regional C-Suite issues for many of the leading companies in the Medical Device, Pharmaceutical and Biologic sectors. His expertise spans supply chain strategy, portfolio and product design, product distribution, and optimization of service and supply across the extended value chains of suppliers, manufacturers and end user. Prior to joining A.T. Kearney, he was involved in start-up companies in Cambridge, UK, pioneering new imaging modalities in areas such as pharmaceutical drug discovery, non-invasive blood monitoring, and cancer screening. Dr. Tribe studied for his BSc in Physics at Imperial College, London, before earning his PhD from Oxford University, UK.
Eric Tritch
Vice President Supply Chain, UChicago Medicine
Eric Tritch, MBA is the Vice President of Supply Chain for the UChicago Medicine. In this role, Eric has oversight of all supply chain operations, contracting, value analysis and supplier management activity for the health system. Eric has extensive experience and a proven track record in Supply Chain and Strategic Sourcing processes. Eric's career started in the industrial manufacturing sector, then went into supply chain consulting, and now has been in healthcare for the last 8 years.
David Twitchell PharmD, MBA
Co-Founder and President
Trellis Rx
David Twitchell is a Co-Founder and the President of Trellis Rx. Prior to joining Trellis, David served as Vice President and Chief Pharmacy Officer for Boston Medical Center, the primary teaching affiliate for Boston University School of Medicine and the largest safety net hospital in New England. At BMC, David led the development and launch of the hospital’s specialty pharmacy services and grew retail revenues by more than $100M in just over two years. In addition, David led the development of a new inpatient model for operations, including supply chain management and clinical focused quality improvement projects, resulting in millions of dollars of direct savings and measurable improvements in clinical care delivery. Prior to BMC, David served as a Critical Care Clinical Specialist at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, CO, as well as the Director of Pharmacy at North Suburban Medical Center in Thornton, CO. David holds a PharmD and a BS in Pharmacy Studies from the University of Connecticut College of Pharmacy. David also holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix. David and his wife live in the Boston area with their two sons. He enjoys spending time with his family, particularly on the ski slopes.

Marianne Udow-Phillips

Director, Center for Healthcare Research & Transformation

Marianne Udow-Phillips is Director of the Center for Healthcare Research & Transformation (CHRT) at the University of Michigan. CHRT is a non-profit partnership of the University of Michigan and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan to promote evidence-based care delivery, improve population health, and expand access to care. From 2004 through 2007, Marianne was director of the Michigan Department of Human Services, Appointed by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. Marinna came to state service from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, where she served in leadership role for over 20 years, most recently as senior vice president of Health Care Products and Provider Services. She holds a Master’s degree in Health Services Administration from the U-M School of Public Health; she is a lecturer at the U-M school of Public Health. She serves on numerous boards and commissions.

Mark Van Sumeren
Managing Director
Health Industry Advisor LLC
Mark provides governance and strategic advisory assistance to healthcare organizations seeking profitable growth. His portfolio includes several board and retained advisory roles: 
• Board Chair, Crown Healthcare Laundry, a Quilvest Private Equity portfolio company 
• Strategic Advisor, Terso Solutions, Inc., a provider of RFID based field inventory solutions for Life Sciences and Medical Devices companies
• Retained Advisor, SVP of Supply Chain, Beaumont Health System
• Board Chair, Health Sector Research Consortium at Arizona State University’s W. P Carey School of Business 
• Board Member, Bellwether League Inc., an industry consortium that honors individuals who have demonstrated significant leadership in the healthcare supply chain
• Advisory Board Member, Medical Device Supply Chain Council, a network of supply chain and operational executives from leading medical devices manufacturers
Previously, Mark served as chief strategy officer of Owens & Minor, Inc., and as Partner in the Healthcare practice of Ernst & Young LLC.
Patricia Vida RN, MBA
Continuum Administrator
Kaiser Permanente
Pat Vida has had 40+ years’ experience in healthcare across the continuum of care from wellness and prevention to end of life care. Pat has been a part of the Kaiser Santa Clara leadership team since 2012 with responsibility for care outside of the four walls of the hospital including Home Health, Palliative Care, Skilled Nursing Facilities. Prior to her life at Kaiser, Pat’s career included Staff Nurse positions in in several departments such as the Medical Surgical Unit, Emergency Department and the Cardiac Cath Lab. Her management experience includes hospital nursing units of ED, Critical Care and Worker’s Compensation. Pat also served as SVP of Strategic Planning and Business Strategy for Health Quality Partners, a Quality Service Organization and the Executive Director of Health and Wellness. Pat lead a startup team as the subject matter expert for post follow up care at Reinforced Care. Pat is a progressive Leader with a consistent record of successfully leading complex organizations through change. Pat is focused and committed to accomplishing goals. She has superior skills in strategic planning, creative problem solving, building consensus and achieving bottom-line results through teams. She has expertise in operations, budgeting and planning. Pat has a truly unique combination of both strategic marketing and business acumen as well as an experienced, first-hand perspective as a seasoned health care provider. Pat’ has an understanding of and passion for health care quality improvement and she combines this with a strong commitment to building viable and sustainable business models. With 48 years of healthcare experience, Pat has touched most of the continuum of care with a consistent focus on quality and patient experience as her grounding core elements. 
Anita Vila-Parrish PhD.
Research Director 
Gartner
Anita Vila-Parrish is a Research Director in the Gartner Healthcare Supply Chain Group. Dr. Vila-Parrish's focus is on the pharmacy supply chain, supply chain analytics and inventory - all from the perspective of the healthcare provider. This involves the impact of these process improvements on patient outcomes due to a more efficient delivery of care. Dr. Vila-Parrish has over 15 years of experience in consulting, research and product development settings. Prior to Gartner, her roles involved managing and conducting original, applied research and consulting projects focused on the use of healthcare data to improve supply chains, logistics and delivery. 
Jean-Marc Villain MBA
Director of Supplier Diversity
Medical University of South Carolina
When the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) sought to find the “why” and “how” while realigning the strategic priorities with the demographic shifts in their supply and customer bases, they called on Jean-Marc Villain’s expertise as a change agent and experienced supplier diversity professional. As a consultant in 2013 and later as its first director of supplier diversity, he brought to MUSC 20 years of deep and broad experience in connecting small and diverse businesses with capital and contracting opportunities in both domestic and international markets. Jean-Marc’s great passion is to assist corporations in removing internal obstacles in their procurement functions to allow for a level playing field where diverse companies can openly compete with larger entities who traditionally have had a virtual lock as the GOTO options for sourcing products and services. At MUSC, Jean-Marc is accountable for the implementation, management and compliance of the academic health center’s best-in-class supplier diversity program for the Clinical Enterprise, the University and the Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital and the ambulatory unit projects scheduled for completion in 2019. Under his leadership, MUSC’s received the 2018 BEST NEW PROGRAM Award by the Carolina-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council (CVMSDC) for successfully integrating small, women and minority business enterprises (SWMBEs) into its supply chain; and the proposed children’s hospital was honored by the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) as the 2017 Project of the Year. Jean-Marc serves as a member of the Vizient Supplier Diversity Advisory Council and prior to joining MUSC, he managed the supplier diversity program of a $4 Billion mixed-used real estate project in South Florida. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and MBA from Florida Atlantic University. 
Régine Honoré Villain 
Chief Supply Chain Officer, Ochsner Health System
Régine Villain is the Chief Supply Chain Officer at Ochsner Health System.  Previously she served as the Vice President of Supply Chain Operations at NYU Langone Health System in New York City, where she was responsible for the continuum of the supply chain operation for the Health System. Régine began her career in healthcare at New York Presbyterian Hospital where she spent 10 years mastering her skills with increased responsibilities along the continuum of supply chain. After a yearlong intro to general studies at the Interamerican University of San Germán in Puerto-Rico, Régine earned her Bachelor's Degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Florida. She then pursued her Master's in Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy Management at Columbia University in New York before obtaining a certificate in Business Studies at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.

Meg Voorhis

Senior Director and Cardiovascular & Interventional Radiology Category Lead, The Advisory Board Company
As Senior Director and Cardiovascular & Interventional Radiology Center Lead of the Advisory Board Company’s Spend Performance Solutions division, Meg Voorhis oversees the strategic sourcing practice for cardiovascular clinical preference item categories. Previously, Meg served as a leader in the performance Technologies program at the Advisory Board, focusing primarily on the development and deployment of technology solutions to improve clinical quality across the care continuum. Meg also served as a senior dedicated advisor in the Performance Technologies program at the Advisory Board, focusing primarily on the development and deployment of technology solutions to improve clinical quality across the continuum. She spent several years supporting multiple Research and Insights divisions, including the Cardiovascular Roundtable, Oncology Roundtable, and Imaging Performance Partnership, where she concentrated on hospital and health system service line growth and planning, new technology and reimbursement trend, physician alignment strategies, and cost saving management best practices.
Heather Wall MBA
Chief Commercial Officer
CivicaRX
Heather’s expertise spans across the healthcare continuum with a focus on design, implementation and execution of hospital and health system strategies that improve patient care. Heather has a 20-year plus career where she held positions of significant responsibility for strategy, operations and finance, including various roles in hospital management, quality, strategy and high-value health care delivery. Prior to joining Civica, Heather worked at Intermountain Healthcare as an Enterprise Initiative Partner and was responsible for driving forward Intermountain’s key strategic initiatives. Before this position, Heather was the Operations Officer for Intermountain Healthcare’s LDS Hospital, with accountability for hospital-wide operations, strategic growth and high-value healthcare delivery. Before joining Intermountain in 2008, Heather was the President / Managing Partner of Tesaris Corporation, a healthcare consulting and technology company. In this position, Heather designed and optimized strategy and operational efficiency for hospitals, ranging in size from critical access facilities to academic medical centers. Heather received her Masters of Business Administration from Arizona State University and her Bachelor of Science in management from Brigham Young University.
David Walsh
Director of Supply Chain Administration
Boston Children's Hospital
David L. Walsh is the Director of Supply Chain Administration at Boston Children's Hospital and is responsible for managing the Purchasing, contracting and business systems analytics. Prior to joining the team at Boston Children’s, he was the Administrative Director of Supply Chain at Saint Francis hospital in Hartford, CT. He also served in a leadership capacity as the Director of Materials, Facilities and Nutritional Services at South Short Hospital in Weymouth, MA and spent 15 years in the Partners Network in Boston MA, where he also served as the Senior Director of Support Services. Throughout his career, Walsh has strategically led a number of signature programs in procurement, energy, technology enhancements, and supply cost reduction. Walsh is a member of the Association for Healthcare Resources and Materials Management. From 1988 to 1996, he proudly served his country in the United States Army and Army Reserves, receiving commendation for his service. 
Joe Walsh
Coach | Educator | Advisor
Supply Chain Sherpas, LLC
Joe Walsh is a visionary leader with a 20-year track record of leading nationally-recognized supply chain transformations and new business development ventures at multibillion dollar organizations. Joe recently started an innovative practice called Supply Chain Sherpas, which provides distinctive talent management solutions designed to help unlock the transformative potential of the healthcare supply chain. Supply Chain Sherpas offers executive coaching, mentoring, strategic advisory services and education services to both Providers and Suppliers. For most of the last decade, Joe has continued to learn healthcare and its supply chain nuances while in progressive leadership roles at Pensiamo and at Intermountain Healthcare. Joe served as the Executive Vice President of Operations for Pensiamo, where he led sourcing, purchasing, accounts payable, integrations and account management for UPMC while developing Pensiamo’s offerings for external clients. Previously, Joe served as Intermountain Healthcare’s Vice President of Supply Chain & Chief Procurement Officer where he led the award-winning transformation effort and helped the team earn the number one ranking in Gartner’s “Healthcare Supply Chain Top 25.” Individually, Joe was recognized as the “Contracting Professional of the Year” in 2013 by Healthcare Contracting News.

Dawn Wang

Manager, KPMG Healthcare and Life Sciences Advisory
Dawn Wang is a Manager within KPMG’s Advisory practice, focused on the Healthcare an Life Sciences industry. She has experience working on Technology Enabled Compliance Solutions to help Healthcare and Life Sciences clients meet various compliance regulations in the U.S. and other global markets. Her current work focuses on helping various stakeholders in the pharmaceutical supply chain – manufacturers, wholesale distributers, dispensers – comply with global serialization/track & trace requirements. Prior to joining KPMG, Dawn held various roles in Operations, Supply Chain, and Compliance across a global Medical Device and Pharmaceutical company. Though her experiences, she’s gained insight into industry best practices in business process & design, systems & technology integration, data management, project/program management, supply chain management, quality and compliance, and process excellence methodologies.

Cheryl Watkins-Knowles

Director of Purchasing, Supplier Diversity and Integration, Supply Chain​, Palmetto Health

Cheryl Watkins-Knowles has over 15 years as a leader in the field of supply chain, consulting and business development.  Her expertise is in procurement, distribution, transportation, inventory management and supplier diversity allows her to identify opportunities that bring financial value to organizations, with increased earnings and identification of savings potential.  Her project management skills have allowed her to successfully implement ERP systems like SAP and Lawson Supply Chain Management.  She is recognized for solidifying partner relationships through vertical and horizontal communications within large organizations such as Ernst and Young, Johnson & Johnson, Cardinal Health and several large healthcare systems to include Palmetto Health.  Experienced in planning, developing, and implementing analysis of activities relating to Supply Chain policies. Utilizes ERP Financial systems (Lawson Supply Chain Management) to manage procurement, purchased services, contracting, budget plans, and contract negotiations. Knowledgeable with the architecture and specifications of ERP's to include source documentation, system flows, system interfaces, and related internal controls.  Cheryl is also responsible for the development and implementation of the Corporate Supplier Diversity strategy, infrastructure, initiatives, procedures, policy and processes within Palmetto Health.  She is a key member of the leadership team and is accountable for all supply chain activities. Additionally, she directs and develops sourcing strategy consistent with the culture and strategic business plan while leveraging continuous improvement activities to maximize cost reduction efforts.  Cheryl has a BS in Business with a concentration in psychology and Women’s studies.   She is Co-Author of Bruised not Broken that was released in 2012.  She was the South Carolina Chapter President of the National Association of Professional Women and the National President of the American Association of Business and Professional Women.

Mark Welch MHA
SVP, Supply Chain, Novant Health
 
Mark Welch is the Supply Chain Senior Vice President for Novant Health. Mark began his career at Novant in 2005 as the leader of Supply Chain operations. Since then, he has served as the Vice President of the Novant Health Logistics Center, then was named Vice President of the Strategic Sourcing Division. He was selected as the Senior Vice President of Novant Health Supply Chain in 2015 to oversee all non-labor spend, Supply Chain Logistics, Operations, Procurement, Sourcing and Clinical Supply Chain Engagement. Mark has been in the hospital industry since 1995. Prior to Novant, Mark worked as an Administration Officer for a community hospital in West Virginia, with operational responsibilities for Radiology, Ancillary Services, as well as Supply Chain. Prior to that, he was an owner-operator of a successful construction company in Ohio. Mark earned his Business of Administration degree from the Ohio State University. He also holds a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Pfeiffer University.
Morten Wendelbo
Research Fellow
Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs
Morten Wendelbo is a Research Fellow at the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. His research focuses on complex emergency management, particularly preparedness for and response to pandemics. In his work, he emphasizes contributing actionable information to policy makers and private industry as a means to improving disaster preparedness and response. His analyses of health preparedness have appeared in The Washington Post, Smithsonian Magazine, and Newsweek, among other outlets. Wendelbo is also the co-creator and developer of the Scowcroft Infectious Disease Information Platform (SIDIP), a forthcoming open-source platform intended to bridge the gap between policy makers, academics, and private industry in the infectious disease domain. 
Robert Wesley MS Bioengineering
3D Printing Engineer
St. Louis Children's Hospital
Robert Wesley is a Tennessee native who started his career at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami. It was there he was introduced to in-hospital 3D printing. As a biomedical engineer in pediatric cardiac surgery, he worked to expand the hospital’s 3D printing capabilities and vision beyond its congenital heart program. A couple of years later he did consult work for a few southeastern children’s hospitals with emerging 3D printing programs, before finding his way to St. Louis Children’s Hospital of BJC HealthCare. In St. Louis, Robert runs the operations of the 3D Printing Center at Washington University Medical campus which services all 13 BJC hospitals, Washington University School of Medicine, and local/regional hospitals, under the direction of Christine Pavlak, Dr. Shafkat Anwar, Dr. Kamlesh Patel, and Dr. Eric Eutsler.
Gunter F Wessels Ph.D., M.B.A.
Practice General Manager
LiquidSMARTS
Dr. Wessels founded LiquidSMARTS℠. He leads the global practice and is a member of the leadership team. He is passionate and dedicated to the improvement of human performance and ethical business practices in sales and marketing. His expertise comes from more than 25 years in the healthcare industry, including 14 years as a consultant to global and local marketing and sales teams. His clients gain rapid performance improvement through analysis, design, implementation of market approach, and commercial operations execution. He leads the field in providing micro-learning for business professionals. His micro-learning approach teaches people essential soft-skills and influencing and leadership behaviors in a few minutes per day. Dr. Wessels is a sought-after speaker on the practical implications of industry change, and accelerating performance during disruption. Dr. Wessels has a Ph.D. in Management with an emphasis in Marketing and Psychology from the University of Arizona, an M.B.A. from the A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management, and a B.S. in Biology from the University of California.

Marc Westerman

Executive Director for Supply Chain, Piedmont Healthcare
Marc Westerman is the Executive Director for Supply Chain at Piedmont Healthcare Corporation in Atlanta, GA. In his current role Marc is responsible for developing the Clinical Value Analysis & Strategic Sourcing division. Marc has an extensive career in Healthcare Supply Chain with experience in regional purchasing cooperative and distribution centers, clinical value analysis, and multi hospital and clinic system operations. He is a Certified Materials Resource Professional and a Past President of the Association of Healthcare Resource and Material Management.
Shon Wettstein CPSM, MBA
Senior Vice President, Business Development, Intalere
Shon Wettstein is responsible for leading the development and execution of new external business ventures for Intalere. Shon works closely with Intermountain Healthcare leadership to expand its best practices throughout the healthcare industry. Shon also works closely with the Intalere leadership team to design disruptive new solutions and partnerships that impact patient care at all points of the provider continuum. Shon joined Intalere after an 8-year career at Intermountain Healthcare, where he held roles of increasing responsibility, including senior solutions manager for the Surgical Services, Musculoskeletal and Neuroscience Clinical Programs. One of his key responsibilities was advising on the development of ProComp, a proprietary clinical variation surgical procedure comparison platform. Shon also worked closely with strategic suppliers to drive value creation initiatives through collaboration with clinical programs. Shon holds a Certified Professional in Supply Management designation from the Institute for Supply Management, Inc., and earned a Bachelor of Science in Operations Management from Brigham Young University, and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Colorado.
Cynthia Williams BS Pharm, FASHP
VP/Chief Pharmacy Officer
Riverside Health System
Cindy Williams, RPh, FASHP received her B.S. Pharmacy from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has completed the Executive Management Program for Pharmacy Leaders at the Wharton School and The Pharmacy Leadership Institute at Boston University. Cindy currently serves as VP/Chief Pharmacy Officer for Riverside Health System in Newport News, Virginia. In this role, Cindy is responsible for oversight of pharmacy practice for the acute care and post-acute care facilities as well as a 600 member medical group. She has served on several of the ASHP Section Advisory Groups (SAG), including Pharmacy Business Management, Pharmacy Informatics and Technology and Quality and Compliance. She currently serves as chair for the ASHP SAG for Multi-Hospital Health-System Pharmacy Executives, is a member of the Council on Pharmacy Management and is president-elect for VSHP. Cindy holds adjunct faculty positions at Virginia Commonwealth University and Hampton University Schools of Pharmacy and has completed certification programs in Diabetes Management and Medication Therapy Management.
Lisa Gilbert
Williams ACC 
Leadership Coach + Consultant 
Lisa Williams Coaching + Consulting 
Lisa Williams is a leadership coach and organizational consultant who helps organizations and the leaders within them become peak performers. As a coach, her passion is helping leaders increase their emotional intelligence, which she sees as a critical component of a thriving organization. As a consultant, she uses a solution-focused mentality to help organizations improve processes and systems, maneuver around pitfalls and think outside the box. Additionally, Lisa is an Adjunct Professor teaching graduate-level courses at the University of Kentucky. She is the former Executive Director of the University of Kentucky Institute for Workplace Innovation and has served in leadership roles for other organizations, including the YMCA of Central Kentucky and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri. Lisa holds a Master of Social Science Administration from Case Western Reserve University and has completed Coach Training curriculum through the College of Executive Coaching. She holds an ACC certification through the International Coaching Federation

Michael Williams
Director 
Navigant Consulting

Michael Williams is a Director in the Healthcare practice of Navigant Consulting. Michael is a Strategic Executive with a successful record for the implementation of solutions to transform organizations faced with complex supply and logistics concerns. Michael has over twenty years of experience in hospital supply chain. He is a resourceful leader with a history of successfully leading operational functions for complex Integrated Delivery Networks (IDNs). Adept at delivering the successful implementation of sophisticated consulting engagements, he has developed, directed, and delivered supply standardization and consolidation programs. In addition, Michael has experience in leading large multi-disciplinary work groups to define and achieve targeted savings opportunities. He has worked closely with hospital Administrators, as well as their medical staff, to identify projects and programs and coordinate their completion. He is skilled in project planning, management, team leading and facilitation.

Bill Wilson RPh BCPS

Pharmacy Manager, Orlando Regional Medical Center
Bill Wilson is the Director of Pharmacy at Orlando Regional Medical Center.  He is responsible for the management of all areas of pharmaceutical services.  Prior to joining Orlando Regional Medical Center, he served as the Director of Pharmacy for Select Medical Corporation where he was responsible for the supervision development and training of staff and management of Pharmacy Services of 4 facilities in Central Pennsylvania.  Bill has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science.  He is a BCPS Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist and a member of the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM).
Francine Wilson 
Retired SR VP Supply Chain Manangement
Senior VP Supply Chain Management
University Health System
Now retired, as vice president of supply chain management, Francine Wilson served as a strategic leader and executive sponsor for change management and cost reduction initiatives related to supply chain optimization within University Health System. Among others, she is affiliated with the Alpha Home Board; president, Greater San Antonio Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management and founded the Witness Project® San Antonio. She received a Bachelor of Science in accounting, Master of Science in applied management, Master of Arts in health services management, Master of Arts procurement and acquisitions management, and is a Master Leadership Program of San Antonio and Bexar County Graduate.

Jared Winchester
Director, Purchased Services
Mercy

Jared Winchester is the Director of Purchased Services for ROi. Jared is responsible for the strategic and tactical contracting decisions around Distribution, I.T., facilities, Construction, Food, EVS, and traditional Purchased Services. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri with a bachelor’s degree in Finance, and returned immediately after his undergraduate program to earn his Master of Health Administration with a Certificate in Health Informatics. Jared began his career at The Resource Group, providing analytics for implants and wound care. He was promoted to a Contract Design role where he was on the strategic side of Purchased Services categories, mainly involving a clinical aspect. Jared has been at ROi since July 2016 and is currently focused on expanding the Purchased Services portfolio while reducing costs as well as suppliers within each category.
Nancy Wobig MSM
Director, Category Management
Mayo Clinic / Captis
Nancy Wobig is a Director of Category Management at Mayo Clinic focused on the Medical, Surgical & Laboratory Contracting Team. This team negotiates Commodity, Clinical Preference & Laboratory contracts for Mayo Clinic and the Upper Midwest Consolidated Services Center (UMCSC). Nancy is part of the integrated Vizient team at Mayo Clinic and started her role in 2008. She provides team leadership as well as develops processes and procedures used in the negotiations with suppliers and communications with UMCSC members. Nancy has over 25 years’ experience in numerous roles throughout the supply chain and in varying industries. Nancy has a Master of Science in Management degree from Cardinal Stritch University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication with an emphasis in Journalism from the University of Minnesota.

Jeffery Woodyard

Senior Vice President, Strategic Sourcing, MedAssets

Jeff Woodyard is senior vice president of strategic sourcing at MedAssets. In this role, he is responsible for the strategic development and leadership of the GPO portfolio (excluding pharmacy) totaling almost $18 billion in annual spend. Prior to his current role, Jeff held positions as vice president of MedAssets’ National Collaborative Program, as well as the medical service line. Before his career with MedAssets, Jeff practiced corporate and transactional law at Thompson & Knight, LLP. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center. In his spare time, Jeff enjoys playing golf and spending time with his two children, Avery Grace and Walker Levi.

Calvin Wright

Senior Vice President, Chief Resource Officer, Mercy Health
Calvin Wright is the Senior Vice President, Chief Resource Officer, Mercy Health (MH). Wright and his ream are responsible for overseeing strategic sourcing fro medical and pharmaceuticals products, purchased services, capital and construction projects, property and facility management and supply expense management across MH’s system. Prior to working for MH, Wright was the corporate director of materials management for Vanguard Health Systems. He also held executive positions in supply chain management at HCA and Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he had responsibility for contract negotiation and service delivery, respectively. Calvin is a member of MH’s Executive Management Team (EMT), chairs Bond Hill Community Relations Initiative Steering Committee, and is a member on various other MH executive committees. He is also a member of the Catholic Contracting Group (CCG), which consists of five of the largest Catholic health systems with a strategic alliance to aggregate and leverage purchasing volume.

Dale Wright

Chief Contracting Officer, Amerinet

Dale Wright brings more than 40 years of healthcare experience to his role as chief contracting officer for Amerinet Inc., and as president of Amerinet Choice. Recognized industry-wide as a healthcare innovator, Wright has executive experience working for provider’s manufacturers, distributors and group purchasing organizations across the U.S. At Amerinet, Wright serves as chief purchasing officer, responsible for ensuring that the company’s portfolio of agreements is cutting-edge and competitive. He develops and implements the strategy for contracting in all disciplines, including Amerinet’s exclusive Custom Contracting division. In addition, and he is responsible for executive leadership of Amerinet Choice, the private label and sourcing company of Amerinet. Prior to joining Amerinet, Wright was owner and president of Ni-Med Inc., a market leading medical device manufacturer; now a division of Cardinal Healthcare. Wright also served as vice president of sales at the Health Services Corporation of America.

Tony Ybarra CMRP
SVP CHC Suppl
y Trust
Community Hospital Corporation
Tony Ybarra serves as Senior Vice President, CHC Supply Trust. In this role he manages initiatives to develop and implement comprehensive supply chain management strategies on a company-wide basis and ensures that quality-based initiatives are implemented in order to gain the greatest value from CHC’s supply expenditures and resource utilization. He provides services to owned, managed and consulting clients in the area of supply chain. He also establishes and implements strategies aimed at improving CHC’s procurement activities on a consolidated basis by selecting and negotiating agreements for supplies, pharmaceuticals, equipment and services. Tony has over 30 years of materials management experience in the healthcare industry. Prior to joining CHC in 2007, Tony managed a corporate materials management department that serviced surgical hospitals and surgery centers nationwide. He also has extensive materials management and operational leadership experience working within multi-hospital health systems, large physician groups and individual physician practices. Tony brings to the team an expertise in procurement, negotiation and material controls. Tony is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles. Tony is an active member of the Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM) and The Council of Supply Chain Executives. He is a Certified Materials & Resource Professional.
Lamont Yoder MSN, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE
CEO for Banner Baywood, Banner Gateway, Banner Heart, Banner MD Anderson
Banner Health
With over 30 years of healthcare experience, Lamont’s initial career began in open heart critical care as a nurse and evolved into progressive leadership roles as an executive in three large nationally known healthcare systems. His passion for talent development led his own career through executive roles in six hospitals across both non-profit and for profit integrated healthcare delivery systems to his most recent role as the CEO over four facilities in Banner Health. Lamont is responsible for the partnership and relationship with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and for the fastest growing campus in Banner Health. Currently Lamont leads the acute care participation in Banner Health’s new “Winning the Consumer” journey to reinvent healthcare known as the Imagine journey. The Imagine journey is an effort to move boldly and quickly to rewrite the rules in creating models of providing care when, where and how consumers want it, with convenience, affordability and exceptional quality. Lamont’s undergraduate degree is in nursing, and his graduate degrees are in Nursing Science and Administration, Managing Information Systems and Business Administration. Lamont will graduate in 2019 from the Healthcare Management Academy’s GE Fellowship for executive administration. He serves in numerous civic and professional organizations and Boards, including the Mesa Chamber of Commerce Board, the American Cancer Society Regional Board and as the current nationally elected Board member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives and on the American Hospital Association Board Operations Committee. Lamont and his wife Charlene reside in Scottsdale, Arizona with their 11 year old son, Ryan and 9 year old daughter, Julia. They have a passion for travel and are actively involved in the sport of purebred dogs having bred over 50 champion Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and shown dogs in eight countries. Lamont is also an AKC dog show judge, and recently judged his first dog show in Australia.
John J. Young M.D.
Chief Medical Officer, HealthTrust
Dr. John Young is the Chief Medical Officer and member of the executive team for HealthTrust Purchasing Group. Dr. Young is responsible for HealthTrust’s clinical agenda and ensuring the organization’s overall strategy is designed to meet the needs of a clinically integrated supply chain. Dr. Young is responsible for communicating HealthTrust’s vision and values to internal and external stakeholders, as well as measuring and reporting growth and budgetary expectations for the clinical service teams. Dr. Young provides leadership and oversight of the Physician Advisors program and participates in member education, sales, collaborative events, and clinical advisory boards. Dr. Young was previously the National Medical Director for LifePoint Health in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Young has developed diverse expertise through 20 years of clinical practice, pharmaceutical and medical device industry experience, and healthcare leadership appointments across a variety of care delivery settings.

Kelley Young

Director, Supply Chain Clinical Informatics,
Trinity Health
Kelley Young has over 30 years of healthcare leadership service. Her experience includes management across inpatient and outpatient care settings in Maternal Child and Cardiovascular Service Lines. At Trinity Health, Kelley has led a sourcing strategy portfolio of spend in excess of $750 Million for the service lines of Cardio and Peripheral Vascular, Imaging, Orthopedic Joints, Trauma and Spine. She developed and manages the Strategic Sourcing Implant Database which collects data on orthopedic joint and spinal cases representing over 350,000 patient cases. Kelley recently accepted a new position as the Director of Supply Chain Clinical Informatics to create an enhanced platform to integrate clinical, operational, and financial data in support of clinical excellence leadership councils at Trinity Health. Kelley is a trailblazer for implementing the Clinically Driven Supply Chain at Trinity Health. Kelley is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and the Strategic Leadership Program of Trinity Health. 
Tony Zappa PharmD, MBA
Chief Solutions Officer
Trellis Rx
Tony Zappa is the Chief Solutions Officer of Trellis Rx, where he is responsible for helping prospective clients assess opportunities and model possible financial performance. Prior to Trellis, Tony served as Vice President, Specialty Pharmacy and PBM for Visante, a consulting firm focused on medication management and “pharmacy as a business” engagements for hospitals, health systems, managed care plans and drug and technology companies. Before joining Visante, Tony was VP of Operations and Business Development of Wellpartner. He was lead designer and product manager for a novel program that allowed covered entities and health plans to collaborate on patient care programs funded by 340B savings. Prior to Wellpartner, Tony served as CIO and VP of Specialty / Infusion Operations with Fairview Pharmacy Services, where he achieved revenue growth, productivity improvements and operating cost reductions in the pharmacy operations for all 3 years he was there. Tony also previously served as Executive Vice President of Operations for retail, mail order, and clinical services at Chronimed / BioScrip. Tony holds a PharmD and a BS in Pharmacy from the College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota. Tony also holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis. Tony lives a hermit-like existence in Bloomington, MN with a wife and dog who (reluctantly) let him come home after road trips.