About Us

Dr. Alex Ledbetter is a speech-language pathologist with over 20 years of experience. Dr. Ledbetter has worked in various public school settings and as a clinical supervisor at the University of Oregon Speech-Language-Hearing Center while completing his doctorate in communication disorders and sciences (CDS). He also holds a master of science degree in communication disorders from the University of New Mexico.

In addition to professional interests in specialty clinic development, inter-professional collaboration, and problem-based learning, Dr. Ledbetter is especially interested in writing intervention.

Dr. Alexander Tropsha is the K.H. Lee distinguished professor at the Eshelman School of Pharmacy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. With expertise in computational chemistry, cheminformatics, and structural bioinformatics, Dr. Tropsha's research focuses on computational drug discovery, cheminformatics, computational toxicology, and health informatics.

Dr. Tropsha's contributions to biomolecular informatics and dedication to understanding relationships between molecular structures have made him a respected figure in the academic and scientific communities. He is a prolific author with over 190 peer-reviewed papers and 20 books and chapters.

Amy Anderson is the department chair and academic fieldwork coordinator of the occupational therapy program at Austin Community College. In 2006, she received an associate of applied science degree from Austin Community College's OTA program. Over the next decade, Anderson honed her skills in the Austin area, working in outpatient pediatric sensory integration clinics, adult home health focusing on vestibular rehabilitation and low vision, and skilled nursing and long-term care settings.

In 2014, Anderson returned to Austin Community College as an adjunct professor, where she taught various subjects, including human structure and function, therapeutic use of occupations, and multiple courses on occupational performance across different life stages. Her commitment to education led her to complete a bachelor of applied arts and sciences at Texas State University, specializing in organization, workforce, and leadership Studies. By 2019, Amy became a full-time faculty member, and in 2020, she earned her master’s in education in cognitive science with a focus on community colleges. Now serving as the department chair and academic fieldwork coordinator, she continues teaching and inspiring future occupational therapists.

Amy Spiczka currently serves as the executive director of the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC). The ASCP BOC has credentialed over 625,000 laboratory professionals worldwide. Spiczka is a patient-centric advocate for the laboratory professional workforce, as the ASCP BOC collaboratively provides examinations and credentials across the entirety of the laboratory-specific healthcare continuum.

Spiczka’s clinical practice, published research, education interests, and awards focus primarily on elevating patients’ experiences with continuous quality improvement; developing and integrating innovative laboratory techniques; and advancing professional development opportunities, visibility, and recognition for laboratory team members.

Dr. Andy Boyd is an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical and Health Information Sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) College of Applied Health Sciences. He earned his MD from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, and completed his postdoctoral work in biomedical informatics at the University of Michigan.

Dr. Boyd’s research focuses on data simplification to improve clinical outcomes, engaging administrators, researchers, and patients. His recent research succeeded in simplifying the transition for International Classification of Disease version 9 clinical modification (ICD-9-CM) to version 10 (ICD-10-CM). Over 200 news publications have cited his work, including Crain’s Chicago Business, POLITICO, and Inside Health Policy.

Annette Arevalos is a registered dental hygienist at Dee for Dentist, where she brings nearly two decades of industry experience.

Originally from Zacatecas and Durango, Mexico, Arevalos has lived in Las Vegas for nearly 20 years and earned her associate of science in dental hygiene degree from the College of Southern Nevada in 2021. She began her career as a dental assistant in 2006 and is passionate about creating a comfortable environment for her patients and educating them on the value of caring for their oral health. Arevalos provides catered treatment to each patient she treats, ranging from a traditional hygiene appointment to full periodontal therapy.

Ben Montoya is a certified pharmacy technician (CPhT) and lead pharmacy technician instructor at Pima Medical Institute’s Chula Vista Campus in Chula Vista, California.

Montoya plays an instrumental role in educating his students and supports the campus’ career and student services teams by overseeing, documenting, and assessing students during their clinical externships. In addition, he contributes to curriculum reviews and leads advisory board meetings, engaging with educational and community partners.

With nearly 20 years of dedicated service in the pharmacy and higher education fields, Montoya has nurtured countless aspiring pharmacy technicians. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge and fostering growth in and out of the classroom. In addition to his CPhT credential, Montoya holds a BS in biology from California Polytechnic University in Pomona. He thrives as a leader and a mentor and says he never tires of his work in helping to shape the next generation of qualified healthcare professionals.

Bennett Napier has made significant strides in the dental laboratories industry and has worked with nonprofits in the dental field for 30 years. His impactful leadership and business acumen have earned him recognition as one of "Florida's Most Influential Business Leaders" by Florida Trend Magazine for six consecutive years. Bennett has also served as the past board chair for the AMC Institute, an international trade association representing the association management company industry. Mr. Napier’s academic credentials include a master's degree in applied American politics and policy from Florida State University, and he has been leading the National Association for Dental Laboratories (NADL) as the chief staff executive since 2001, contributing significantly to its growth and success.

With over 20 years in healthcare, Dr. Blagica Milosevska is a cardiac tech at Tucson Medical Center. She is skilled in noninvasive cardiac diagnostic tests and equipment operation. She also coordinates the ambulatory EKG monitor program and interprets cardiac rhythms.

Before her current role, Dr. Milosevska held a key position as a medical director at the Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Center in Macedonia. Here, she made significant contributions by opening the country's first center of its kind, writing guidelines and regulations, and implementing drug abuse prevention and treatment programs. Dr. Milosevska holds ACLS and Advanced EKG certifications and her vast experience and dedication to patient care make her an invaluable asset in the healthcare industry.

Dr. Brian DeHaven is the chief program director for biomedical sciences at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

With a passion for osteopathic medicine, Dr. DeHaven leverages his expertise to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals. His commitment to patient care and academic excellence shines through his work, making him a valued member of the PCOM community. As a scientist and educator, his areas of expertise include virology, immunology, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. He holds a doctorate in microbiology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Candy Miller is a certified medical assistant at Women’s Care in Eugene, Oregon. She is known for her unwavering commitment to excellence and extensive volunteer work across numerous healthcare organizations. She has held continuous certification since 1981, demonstrating exceptional leadership within the American Association of Medical Assistants and Oregon Society for Medical Assistants, including serving as OSMA President. She is strongly dedicated to mentoring, professional development, and making a meaningful difference in patient care.

Carrie Bowen is a registered diagnostic medical sonographer and registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer with nearly two decades of experience. She’s currently a sonographer and ultrasound educator at the Perinatal Associates of New Mexico. She also serves as a secretary of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM).

Dr. Chelsie Rohrscheib is a renowned sleep scientist and a founding member of Wesper, a clinical sleep testing app. With over a decade of experience in clinical sleep medicine and sleep science, Dr. Rohrscheib brings a wealth of expertise to the brand. She holds a PhD in neuroscience specializing in sleep and mental health and has previously researched the genetic factors influencing sleep regulation.

Additionally, Dr. Rohrscheib has served as a sleep specialist consultant to help organizations mitigate fatigue-related accidents in the workplace.

Cheryl DeRosier Martin is the chief knowledge officer at AHIMA where she is responsible for developing AHIMA’s knowledge as an asset to the company and its members. She has more than 20 years of experience in the industry and served as the chief information officer at both Tuomey Healthcare System and Kingman Regional Medical Center before joining AHIMA. She holds a bachelor of applied science in health information and medical records, as well as a master of arts in health information management.

Dr. Christina Gardiner has served since 2018 as a Professor in the Department of Healthcare Services Management at the University of Maryland Global Campus, College of Business & Management. She is the President of Summit Healthcare Advisors and has over two decades of executive healthcare experience. She has taught a variety of subjects including healthcare administration, public health, quantitative and qualitative analysis, finance, and business management.

Dr. Gardiner has advised both private firms and nonprofit organizations on issues related to value-based healthcare, healthcare system competition, market allocation, patient safety, and health policy. She is known for being a trusted consultant, educator, and subject matter expert on complex healthcare systems as well as evidence-based interventions that support public health responses.

Over the past five years, Dr. Gardiner has conducted over 100 speaking engagements on topics related to value-based healthcare, public health preparedness, and neurological disorders. She also engages in public health projects such as large-scale nursing home evacuation preparedness, conducts Alzheimer’s research using artificial neural networks, and performs data analysis for nonprofit organizations and post-secondary institutions.

Christopher Gates has over three decades of experience developing and securing medical devices for various industry leaders. Currently, he serves as the director of product security at Velentium, an engineering firm specializing in designing and manufacturing therapeutic and diagnostic medical devices.

He actively collaborates with regulatory and standard bodies such as NTIA, MITRE, Bluetooth SIG, IEEE, U.S. Department of Commerce, and FDA to design and formalize tools, techniques, and processes that facilitate the development of secure medical devices. He holds a BS in computer science from California State University Northridge and has worked as a software engineer, project manager, and cybersecurity architect.

Dr. Christopher T. Robertson is a professor at Boston University’s School of Law. His interests include bioethics, professional responsibility, conflicts of interests, criminal justice, evidence, the First Amendment, racial disparities, and corruption.

Dr. Robertson has served as visiting professor at Harvard Law School, NYU Law, and the London School of Economics, and as a visiting scholar at the Brown University Policy Lab.

Clara McCurdyis a third-year graduate student at UW co-advised between this lab in the Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine and the Institute for Protein Design.

Her focus is on using designed proteins to study signaling and direct stem cell differentiation.

Claudia Tigrero is a highly trained and Certified Level II Dental Assistant known for her dedication to delivering outstanding patient care. With extensive knowledge of dental procedures and patient management, she ensures a seamless and comfortable experience for both patients and dental professionals. Her proficiency in assisting with diverse dental treatments and a strong commitment to maintaining rigorous hygiene protocols and professionalism establishes her as an integral part of the dental team.

Courtney Pelitera is a registered dietitian nutritionist at Top Nutrition Coaching with over 12 years of experience in the health and wellness industry. She holds a a bachelor's degree in sports and exercise science and a master's degree in nutrition and dietetics.

Pelitera grew up in an extremely athletic household, with most family members working in the health and fitness industry. She is dedicated to providing clients with the tools to implement learned nutrition strategies in their busy lives. She has seen on a personal level how the power of food can catapult sports performance and is determined to teach others how to use food to feel the difference in their athletic endeavors and daily lives.

Danielle McGeary became the inaugural vice president of healthcare technology management (HTM) at the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) in 2018. She champions the HTM field and its professionals' role in safe, effective patient care while striving to boost the number of skilled HTM practitioners and elevate the field.

Holding bachelor's and master's degrees in biomedical engineering from the University of Connecticut, McGeary is a certified project manager and healthcare technology manager. She has authored numerous articles for AAMI's journal BI&T and the Journal of Clinical Engineering and held leadership positions at the New England Society of Clinical Engineering for over ten years. Before AAMI, McGeary served at Aramark Healthcare Technologies as the Northeast Clinical Engineering district manager and director of clinical engineering for VA Boston and Bedford Healthcare Systems.

Dr. Danny Arends is an associate professor of bioinformatics at the University of Northumbria, England. In addition to a master’s degree in molecular biology, he holds a PhD in bioinformatics and has completed a postdoctoral program in computational biology at Humboldt University in Berlin.

As a former biologist, some of his research focuses on plant life and the challenges posed by a warming planet for vital food crops. In addition to working on several projects related to the human genome, he is regularly drawn to work on bees, whose genetic makeup he describes as utterly fascinating.

Dr. Danny Goel earned his medical degree and a master’s in science from the University of Manitoba. He then pursued his Orthopaedic Surgery training at the University of Calgary. Dr. Goel is shoulder fellowship trained from the University of Western Ontario and Harvard. He has also trained in complex shoulder tendon transfers at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Dr. Goel has his MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. His practice includes all aspects of arthroscopic and reconstructive shoulder surgery. He is a member and an examiner for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and is board-certified under the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He maintains privileges at Burnaby General and St. Paul’s Hospital. He is a member of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association, American Shoulder Elbow Surgeons, and the Canadian Shoulder and Elbow Society.

Dr. Goel’s research and clinical interests include surgical education and skill acquisition. He is also the CEO and founder of PrecisionOS, an immersive medical education software company.

Dr. David Ferguson is an associate professor of kinesiology at Michigan State University. With a strong foundation in exercise science and a passion for promoting physical health, Dr. Ferguson has dedicated his career to advancing the understanding of human movement, exercise physiology, and the impact of physical activity on overall well-being.

As a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (FACSM) and a Clinical Exercise Physiologist certified by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM-CEP), he brings a wealth of expertise to his role, combining academic rigor with practical insights from the field. A commitment to excellence in research and education has marked his professional journey. His work encompasses various topics, from the physiological responses to exercise to developing evidence-based exercise interventions for diverse populations. His most recent publications have centered on how early life growth restriction can affect an individual’s chronic disease risk.

David Sosa is a certified professional in medical billing and coding through the AAPC. He is the medical billing manager and coder at Sosa Practice Partners, overseeing billing operations and management, ensuring precision and compliance with all billing activities. Sosa also holds a certification as an insurance specialist from DeAnza Community College.

Dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and thoroughness, he supports the needs of Sosa Practice Partners' clients effectively through meticulous billing processes.

Dr. Deborah Josko has been the director of the medical laboratory science program at Rutgers University, School of Health Related Professions in New Jersey for the last eight years, and has been an associate professor at the university for 24 years.

Dr. Josko earned her master of science in molecular biology from Georgian Court University and her doctorate from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. She started out in the field as a medical laboratory technician and then became a clinical microbiologist at Riverview Medical Center in New Jersey before she started her career in education.

Dmitry Beyder is a certified nuclear medicine technologist, who holds a master’s degree in public administration (MPA) from New York University. He has been a member of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) for 20 years, and during this period worked for major academic facilities such as the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Oregon Health & Science University, and the Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

In his role at those facilities, he provided direct patient care and was a nuclear medicine leader for more than ten years. He is currently a program manager for outpatient radiology. He has authored many papers and continuing education presentations for SNMMI annual meetings and has been chair of a number of committees for the SNMMI Technologist Section.

Donald A. Balasa serves as the CEO and legal counsel of the American Association of Medical Assistants. His areas of legal specialization include not-for-profit governance, professional credentialing and regulation, and antitrust principles applicable to certifying and accrediting bodies.

Balasa served as chair of the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and as vice-chair of the committee to update the Institute for Credential Excellence (ICE) publication ICE 1100:2019—Standard for Assessment-Based Certificate Programs, which is an American National Standard. He was elected to the board of directors of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) in 2018 and as president of CAAHEP in 2021.

Balasa received both his baccalaureate and law degrees from Northwestern University and his MBA in economics from the University of Chicago. He was awarded the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the American Society of Association Executives. Balasa has taught a course on association management at the DePaul University Kellstadt Graduate School of Business and teaches constitutional law evening courses at Trinity International University.

Douglas S. Laher is the Chief Operating Officer at the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), where he provides strategic oversight for all functional divisions and service lines. He received his BS in respiratory therapy from the Ohio State University and his MBA from Ashland University.

Prior to his term as COO with AARC, Laher had 16 years of service with Cleveland Clinic, where he worked as a registered respiratory therapist (RRT), a respiratory clinical instructor, and director of respiratory care. Laher has also served on the board of directors of both the Ohio Society for Respiratory Care and AARC.

Eric Swirsky is a clinical associate professor, director of graduate studies, and PhD program director in the College of Applied Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical and Health Information Sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). He has created and delivered ethics and professionalism curricula from the baccalaureate to post-doctoral levels with multiple teaching appointments across disciplines.

Swirsky serves on numerous health and education-related boards, including contributions to the editorial board of The American Journal of Bioethics, the Chicagoland Covid-19 Pandemic Response Commons, and the Board of Directors of the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. His current research involves testing the construct validity of an instrument measuring variables related to moral distress resulting from the hidden curriculum of undergraduate medical education.

Erik Eisen is the CEO at CTI Technical Services, a managed services and cybersecurity provider specializing in delivering technical solutions to businesses, primarily focusing on the medical sector. Under his leadership, CTI serves a diverse clientele, including dental specialties, small medical practices, hospitality, legal, manufacturing, and other industries. The company excels in managing and maintaining healthy networks through patching, security software updates, and operating systems management while also offering cloud services such as email hosting and cloud backups.

As CTI expands from its roots in the Philadelphia Metro area to a nationwide service provider, Eisen is committed to offering comprehensive IT management, cybersecurity, and compliance services across the country. Additionally, he is at the forefront of exploring AI integration to help businesses enhance operations while preserving the essential human touch, ensuring new technologies are embraced effectively to improve client service.

Erika Ferreri, MAED, BSBM, MA-P, has been a member of the allied health faculty at Bellevue College since 2004, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to her part-time teaching role.

With a master’s degree in adult education and certification as a phlebotomy instructor, Ferreri’s educational foundation is robust and specialized. Her remarkable career spans over 26 years in the healthcare sector, where she has served in various capacities, including phlebotomist, clinical lab assistant, laboratory information specialist, and clinical research liaison for the federal government.

Additionally, her expertise has been sought after as a subject matter expert in numerous phlebotomy-related lawsuits. Leveraging her extensive background, Ferreri has dedicated herself to educating others at the college and corporate levels. Known for her dynamic teaching style, she engages her students through interactive lessons incorporating real-world scenarios, ensuring they are well-prepared for the workforce.

Gabrielle Francois is an American Society for Clinical Pathology-certified cytotechnologist. She completed her post-baccalaureate certificate in cytotechnology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is currently pursuing a master’s in health informatics from the University of San Diego.

In March of 2020, Francois took advantage of the flexibility working in cytotechnology can offer and took a position as a traveling cytotechnologist. When not working, she spends time exploring the new cities she gets to live in and writes about it on her blog “The Traveling Cytotech.” She routinely posts pictures of the cells she analyzes on both Facebook and Instagram. With her years of experience, here is the advice she has for new cytotechnologists.

Greg Farmer, Cer.A.T., is the president-elect of the American Society of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians (ASATT) and a highly experienced certified anesthesia technician at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.

Since becoming a certified anesthesia technician in 2005, Farmer has built a robust career in anesthesia technology, serving as interim program director at Tarrant County College and as lead certified anesthesia technician at Cook Children's Health Care System in Fort Worth, Texas.

His involvement with ASATT began in 2015, and he served as president from 2018 to 2021. During his historic term, he led with vision and collaboration alongside the Board of Directors to enhance ASATT for its members, launching the first educational webinar, hosting the first virtual Education Conference, and introducing numerous initiatives to better serve the community. He is dedicated to leading ASATT in a transformative direction to further elevate the profession.

Additionally, Farmer has been program director, clinical coordinator, and lead instructor for a local anesthesia technology program, where he developed curriculum, authored content, and attained accreditation. His leadership roles and commitment to advancing the field underscore his dedication to excellence and professional development in anesthesia technology.

Greg McCallay brings over 37 years of experience in patient care, primarily in the outpatient setting, to his work as a PTA. He graduated from the HCCS Eastwood Center physical therapist assistant program. He obtained level 1 certification in selective functional movement assessment and functional movement screening and level 2 certification in FMS. His skills are very diverse, specializing in throwing and running sports, athletic injuries, manual therapy, and spine care.

Hannah Dowdy is a highly skilled and dedicated professional with a comprehensive background in healthcare, specializing in diagnostic sonography.

With a bachelor of science degree and dual credentials as a registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer (RDCS) and a registered vascular technologist (RVT), Dowdy is an instructor and clinical coordinator at the Medical University of South Carolina Columbia’s School of Cardiovascular Technology.

Dr. Haris Choudry is the program director and education chair of the New York Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (NYS PM&R). He is also a practicing physiatrist at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains, New York, where he serves as the PM&R residency program director and provides patient care focused on musculoskeletal medicine, amputee rehabilitation, and stroke rehabilitation.

A former educator, Dr. Choudry holds degrees from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine (MD), Johns Hopkins (MPH), and the University of Oklahoma (BS). He completed his residency in PM&R at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn and speaks English, Spanish, and Urdu.

Harman Dhawan is the CEO and founder of Bikham Healthcare, an IT solutions company that offers digital solutions for revenue cycle management, credentialing and enrollments, patient reports, and billing and compliance.

Bikham Healthcare’s clientele includes a mix of healthcare institutions, hospitals, physician groups, laboratories, durable medical equipment companies, and standalone physicians.

Howard Rosen is the CEO and lead solutions architect at Nova Insights, a consulting firm transforming major healthcare companies in North America. With over 20 years as a health sector innovator, he was awarded seven patents and seamlessly blends engagement, innovation, and business development expertise.

As a founder and thought leader, he’s pioneered novel health tech solutions across diverse domains, contributing to health informatics and innovation governance. Rosen’s mission is to enhance healthcare accessibility and affordability using mobile, digital, and emerging technologies.

Jacquelyn Polito is the chair of the neurodiagnostic technology program at Labouré College in Milton, Massachusetts, and an assistant professor. With a wealth of experience and expertise in the field, Polito has made significant contributions to neurodiagnostics.

Before joining Labouré College, Polito held the position of neurodiagnostic department supervisor at the South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, Massachusetts. Her role at the hospital allowed her to hone her skills in areas such as neurodiagnostics, polysomnography, and lab management.

With a passion for advancing the field of neurodiagnostic technology, Polito continues to inspire and educate the next generation of professionals in this specialized field. Her dedication to excellence and unwavering commitment to enhancing patient care make her a valued asset in both educational and clinical settings.

Jayzle Piga is a faculty member in the psychiatry technician program at Napa Valley College. Piga graduated from high school in 1997 and started on her career path with the completion of the psychiatric technician program at Napa Valley College. She then gained valuable experience working at Napa State Hospital from 1999 to 2001.

In 2001, Piga joined the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, serving as a medical technical assistant at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville. In this role, she combined her nursing skills with peace officer duties until a life-altering incident in 2016 led to her medical retirement.

Despite the challenges that followed, including a traumatic brain injury, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and multiple facial lacerations, she continued to pursue her academic goals. She earned a bachelor's of science in 2012, followed by a master's of science in 2014, and is currently working towards her PhD. Since 2018, Piga has been working in her role as an educator, imparting her extensive knowledge and experience to students.

Dr. Jeffrey Damrauer is an assistant professor and researcher in the Department of Medicine at the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. He also serves as a co-leader for the Bladder Cancer Research Program, where he plays a pivotal role in overseeing the group's bioinformatics endeavors.

Dr. Damrauer has a long track record in bladder cancer research, including identifying and characterizing molecular subtypes of muscle-invasive bladder cancer. He also discovered a unique gene expression signature demonstrating predictive capabilities regarding the response to BCG therapy. The research he has accomplished has relied heavily on the data produced for The Cancer Genome Atlas.

Jennifer Murphy has been a volunteer EMT in Brooklyn, New York since 2018. In addition to her EMT work, she maintains a parallel career as an investigator, crisis adviser, and author. Her writing has appeared in Mississippi Review and Wrath-Bearing Tree, Forbes, and the New York Post.

She holds a BA from Syracuse University, an MA from the University of Chicago, and an MFA from New York University.

Dr. Jiajie Zhang is dean, professor, and the Glassell Family Foundation Distinguished Chair in Informatics Excellence at D. Bradley McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston. He is also a professor at the MD Anderson Cancer Center-UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Dr. Zhang has more than 30 years of research, education, application, and management experience in biomedical informatics, cognitive science, human technology integration, information visualization, usability and workflow, decision-making, and machine learning. He has conducted pioneering research on distributed knowledge representations and their effects on decision-making, problem-solving, and human-computer interaction. He was early to recognize the importance of usability, design, and cognitive support in health information technology.

In continuing that work at UTHealth Houston, Zhang led the $15M SHARPC Project arm of the Strategic Health IT Advanced Research Projects (SHARP) Program, a seminal consortium funded by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) to support innovative research addressing well-documented problems that impeded the adoption and use of health IT. He holds a PhD and master’s of science in cognitive science from the University of California, San Diego.

Joe Hamel is the Strategic Innovation and Emerging Technology Manager for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). He received his BA in molecular biology from Colgate University and his MS in biotechnology from John Hopkins University.

Prior to joining the ASPR, Hamel worked as a biologist for the US Army, where he also served as a team leader and chief of planning and policy. Later, Hamel was a program director for the Department of Homeland Security, and then a program manager at Johns Hopkins University’s applied physics laboratory. You can find him on Twitter (@JoeHamel9).

John Richey is an AHIMA Academic Affairs Subject Matter Expert with a wealth of experience in health information professional practice, academic program development, teaching, and membership association leadership. His 36-year career features leadership and management roles in health information management, coding, revenue cycle and chargemaster, and occupational health services.

Mr. Richey founded two academic programs: an associate degree program in health information technology, leading the program to CAHIIM accreditation, and a master of science in health informatics program.

Mr. Richey serves as the Staff Liaison for the AHIMA Professional Certificate Approval Program (PCAP) and the Council for Excellence in Education’s (CEE) Graduate Resource Alliance. He is a past president and distinguished member of OHIMA (Ohio). He is also a doctoral candidate in the biomedical informatics program at Rutgers University.

Dr. John Sellick’s work involves infection prevention and post-travel care. He is a hospital epidemiologist at Veterans Affairs Western New York Healthcare System and Kaleida Health and a staff physician with the University of Buffalo Student Health Services. His work includes pandemic and bioterrorism planning activities for those hospital systems, as well as for UB.

Dr. Sellick collaborates with hospital infection control teams, pharmacists, microbiologists, and administrators. He has given talks to the public and medical community about the risks for and treatment of Ebola and has done media interviews about that disease and others.

Dr. Jorge Jacot is the founding program director of the pathologists’ assistant program at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) and is currently serving at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Center at Old Dominion University.

Dr. Jacot obtained a master’s degree as a pathologists' assistant from the University of Maryland at Baltimore and his PhD in physiological sciences from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland.

Dr. Jacot completed a five-year post-doctoral fellowship at the National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Laboratory of Mechanisms of Ocular Diseases, where he was given the Fellows Award in Research Excellence. As a recipient of awards from the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), his research is internationally recognized for characterizing microangiopathies pertaining to diabetic retinopathy and diabetic ocular pathologies.

Dr. Jacot has numerous publications on this topic in high-impact journals. He has served on the editorial board of several pathology journals and continues to serve as a reviewer for several international peer-reviewed journals. In addition to ten years of directorship experience in developing commercial therapeutics leading to human clinical trials and several USA patents, he joined EVMS in 2004. During his 20-year tenure, he has served as chairman of the Curriculum Committee for the School of Health Professions, been on the NAACLS site-visit team for accreditation for several pathologists’ assistant programs, and is currently an associate professor in the Department of Pathology & Anatomy and Physiological Sciences at EVMS/ODU. He has been the PathA program director since 2016 and is the course director for seven courses in the PathA curriculum. He is a member of the AAPA, ASCP, American Diabetes Association (ADA), and American Physiological Society (APS).

Kaleena Ramirez is the education coordinator for the histotechnology program at the School of Health Professions at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She holds a bachelor of science in histotechnology from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center School of Health Professions.

Ramirez’s professional journey began in veterinary medicine, where she honed her technical skills and developed a deep understanding of histotechnology and laboratory sciences. Transitioning to education, she joined MD Anderson, bringing her practical expertise to the academic environment. In 2022, she earned her master's in healthcare administration from Texas Woman's University, further expanding her knowledge and leadership capabilities in the healthcare sector.

Karen Langan is the Clinical Coordinator of the Cardiovascular Technology (CVT) Program at Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences.

Over an 18 year career in endovascular care, she’s provided care at several different cath labs, and brings experience in carotid interventions, high-risk cardiac repair, CTOs, congenital defect repairs, TAVRs, and electrophysiology procedures. Langan earned her diploma in invasive cardiovascular technology from the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences.

Dr. Karie Ryan has served as the chief nursing officer at Artisight since 2023. With over 21 years of healthcare experience, she is a seasoned healthcare executive committed to enhancing care delivery through operational improvements and the strategic use of technology. Her expertise spans clinical workflow design, technology evaluation, implementation, adoption, and clinical operations.

Dr. Ryan holds a DNP degree from Baylor University and is certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP). Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a passion for leveraging technology to optimize healthcare processes and improve patient outcomes.

Kate McFadyen is the director of government affairs at the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), where she focuses on the congressional and policy work for the association. Previously, McFadyen was the director of government affairs for the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM), where she worked on public health and preventive medicine issues within the medical specialty.

She was also previously director of government affairs at QGA Public Affairs, where she handled healthcare issues, including Medicare, funding for biomedical research, and access to medicines.

As the founder and CEO of Neurosnap Inc., a biotech startup focused on merging biology with machine learning, Keaun Amani leads a skilled team of engineers, scientists, and researchers who share a passion for innovation in this emerging field. His career began in software engineering, where he spent nearly a decade specializing in data science, algorithm development, and software design.

Amani later transitioned to synthetic biology, applying computational expertise to tackle biological challenges. Notable achievements include developing algorithms for predicting enzyme stability and genetically engineering plants to glow in the dark. His journey reflects a commitment to challenging the status quo and pushing the boundaries of innovation, a spirit that continues to drive the work at Neurosnap Inc.

Keith Olenik is the Chief Health Information Officer for AHIMA. He has more than 35 years of experience working with healthcare delivery systems as a member of executive leadership and a consultant. He specializes in streamlining business operations, evaluating and implementing information technology solutions, and enhancing productivity through process improvement.

Olenik holds a bachelor’s degree in health information management from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in health services management with an emphasis in computer resources management from Webster University. He has a long history of volunteer leadership at AHIMA, having served on the boards of directors for AHIMA, the AHIMA Foundation, and the Council for Excellence in Education. Olenik also served as chair of the CHPS exam construction committee and the EHR Practice Council.

Kendra Covele has always had a passion for sports, growing up playing both basketball and volleyball in high school. Her athletic background sparked her interest in physical therapy, leading her to pursue a career in this field. She earned her associate’s degree as a physical therapist assistant (PTA) from Ivy Tech in May 2022.

While at Ivy Tech, Covele gained valuable hands-on experience working as a tech for ProRehab in New Albany. This role allowed her to apply her academic knowledge in a practical setting and solidified her dedication to the profession. Her positive experience at ProRehab inspired her to return to the company after completing her PTA program.

Kevin Craycraft is the vice president of the Association of Surgical Technologists’ board of directors. The organization represents more than 80,000 surgical technologists and is a public advocate in the push to get more states to introduce requirements.

Craycraft is also the program coordinator and a professor of the surgical technology program at Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington, Kentucky. Notably, he has been a certified surgical technologist for 32 years—14 years as a practitioner and 18 as a program coordinator.

Dr. Khyobeni Mozhui is an associate professor at the College of Medicine in Memphis, within the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She earned her PhD in neurogenetics, focusing on neuropsychiatric conditions related to stress response, depression, and addiction.

Dr. Mozhui's primary research centers on the genetics and epigenetics of aging and age-related diseases. Her work delves into how the epigenome changes over time and its implications for health status.

Additionally, Dr. Mozhui is keenly interested in how the epigenome can serve as markers of health disparities and the ways in which social environment and dietary factors interact with the genome, influencing the “epigenetic clock.” Through her groundbreaking research, she aims to unravel the complex interactions between our genetic makeup and external factors, contributing valuable insights into preventive medicine and public health.

Kimberly Harrington is the CEO of Phlebotomy Express Training Centers LLC in Detroit, MI. Ms. Harrington transitioned to phlebotomy after a 30-year career working for AT&T. She quickly realized this low-barrier-to-entry profession offered higher than average wages and advancement opportunities and wanted to provide that same opportunity to her community and neighbors.

She founded Phlebotomy Express Training Centers directly across from Samuel Mumford High School and now offers a four-week course in phlebotomy and a six-week medical assistant certification program. Students include everyone from high schoolers to retirees. Ms. Harrington is the recipient of the Walker Power 15 Legacy Award Detroit, the 2018 City Spirit of Detroit Award, and is among the Who's Who in Black Detroit 2020.

Dr. Kristi Linnea Tonning is the radiation therapy program director and an associate professor at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon. Shortly after earning her bachelor’s in radiation therapy from OHSU in 2001, she moved to Stavanger, Norway. She worked as a radiation therapist, dosimetrist, and manager at Stavanger University Hospital for more than 12 years. In Norway, she earned her master's in change management from the University of Stavanger and worked as a change management consultant in the oil and gas industry for more than two years.

In 2015, after more than 14 years in Norway, she moved back to Portland, Oregon, with her husband and three children. In 2021, Dr. Tonning earned her doctorate in educational leadership in health professions from Pacific University. She is passionate about patient education in radiation therapy and serves on multiple national committees advocating for and advancing the profession.

Dr. Kristi Moore is the president of the ASRT, where she has held positions as vice president and secretary, among many other roles. She also serves as the chair and director of the Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, as well as a professor of radiologic sciences. She earned her BSHS, MS in clinical health sciences, and PhD in clinical health sciences—all from UMMC.

Dr. Moore has received a wealth of awards and honors related to radiologic technology, including Technologist of the Year from the Mississippi Society of Radiologic Technologists and the Nelson Order of Exemplary Teaching recognition from UMMC.

Kwindla Hultman Kramer is the CEO and co-founder of Daily, a video infrastructure software company. Kwin's background lies in programming, hardware design, and developing large-scale systems architectures.

Before Daily, he served as the founding CTO of AllAfrica.com, one of the web's largest content aggregators and the only independent, comprehensive pan-African news source.

Kyle Zebley is senior vice president of public policy at the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), working with and on behalf of ATA members and like-minded organizations to eliminate barriers to the expansion of telehealth and ensure patients, providers, and payers can realize the benefits of virtual care.

Previously, Zebley was the chief of staff in the Office of Global Affairs at the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). He collaborated with senior leadership from HHS, the White House, and other cabinet departments to develop, advise, and promote US global health policy, including in such policy areas as drug pricing, global health security, and non-communicable diseases.

Zebley is frequently quoted in major media coverage on the topic of telehealth, including by the Associated Press, Bloomberg, Harvard Business Review, and The Wall Street Journal. In early 2022, Kyle was named by POLITICO as one of the “four Washington players poised to shape digital health in 2022.”

Dr. Laurie L. Shanderson is the visionary president and CEO of Accreditation Insights, a leading consultancy that provides tailored advisory services to help academic institutions navigate accreditation, certification, and regulatory compliance. With over 25 years in higher education leadership, Dr. Shanderson has held prestigious roles, including chancellor of Methodist College, where she led significant improvements in student retention and program accreditations, and founding Dean of Northcentral University's School of Health Sciences. Her extensive background in health services administration spans institutions such as SUNY at Buffalo, Pace University, and Walden University, underscoring her commitment to educational excellence.

Dr. Shanderson's influence extends to serving on various boards and professional organizations, reflecting her dedication to academic integrity, quality education, and the promotion of diversity and inclusion within higher education. She holds a PhD in health services administration.

Leanne Sherred is the president and founder at Expressable. As a speech-language pathologist, she has years of experience treating children and adults for communication differences and disorders in outpatient clinics, home health, and telepractice. Sherred noticed that too many families struggled to access the care they needed in those settings. The traditional speech therapy model also made it challenging to help families practice their new skills between sessions, which research has shown is the most effective way to make progress. So she created a new model based on research-based techniques to better serve children and their families.

Dr. Lee Fisher is an associate professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh. He completed his doctoral studies in biomedical engineering at Case Western Reserve University, focusing on the use of multi-contact stimulating electrodes to restore standing function after spinal cord injury.

Dr. Fisher's research interests center around developing neuroprostheses to restore sensory and motor function following neural damage or disease. Additionally, he explores the role of somatosensation in maintaining balance control during standing and walking. His work has contributed to neuroprosthetic advancements, somatosensory function, spinal cord injury, amputation, and balance control. He has published extensively in the field, with representative publications including research on microstimulation of the lumbar dorsal root ganglia, chronic recruitment of primary afferent neurons, and optimizing selective stimulation parameters for multi-contact electrodes.

Leigh Poland, RHIA, CCS, CDIP, CIC, is the vice president of coding services at AGS Health, with over 25 years of experience in revenue cycle management. Her passion for coding and education, which she has specialized in for the past 20 years, is evident in her oversight of educational programs for over 3,500 coders and her advisory role at the AGS Health International Coding Training Academy.

Previously, Poland was the corporate HIM supervisor for a major healthcare provider, managing coding education, auditing support, HIM system implementation, and serving as RAC coordinator. Her extensive background includes roles as a coder, coding supervisor, and director of HIM in various healthcare settings, as well as senior coding consultant in Florida.

A recognized speaker and writer, Poland has presented at numerous conventions and contributed to industry publications. She holds a bachelor of science degree from Louisiana Tech University, is a long-time member of AHIMA, and carries multiple AHIMA and AAPC credentials.

Dr. Leila Casteel is associate vice president of curriculum and innovation at Herzing University and a nationally certified family nurse practitioner. She has 17 years of advanced practice nursing in emergency medicine and internal medicine and over 27 years in medical, surgical, pediatric, and oncology nursing.

Dr. Casteel is also a long-time gamer passionate about the potential of gamification to enhance students’ learning outcomes. In her role at Herzing University, she has sought to increase the immersive learning experiences that its nursing students receive.

For more than a decade, Dr. Casteel has been spreading the word about how higher education can benefit from elements of computer and video games.

Lisa Cremeans said she has been keeping tabs on the medical lab worker shortage since she became a clinical assistant professor at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill in 2013. She has more than 14 years of experience as a medical technologist, working in physician office laboratories, emergency medical services, organ and tissue donation services, and for clinical research organizations in clinical trials and post-approval pharmaceutical safety. She’s also a task force member for the ASCLS, which is seeking to address the clinical laboratory workforce shortage.

Cremeans holds her BA in clinical laboratory science, as well as a master’s in molecular diagnostic science from UNC at Chapel Hill.

Lisa Lock is the program coordinator for the Dallas College, El Centro Campus medical laboratory technology program. She is an experienced professional with a strong educational background, holding an MBA from Amberton University and a bachelor of science in medical technology from Louisiana State University.

Lock has been a faculty instructor since 1997, teaching medical laboratory technology and health profession readiness courses, and she serves as a guest lecturer at various institutions. Her credentials include medical technologist (MT ASCP) and technologist in blood banking (BB) certifications and membership in ASCLS. She has also presented research papers at national conferences, demonstrating her expertise in the field.

Lisa Maas has been a certified ophthalmic technician since 1991 and worked with ophthalmologists in practice until 2020. She started teaching part-time for the Triton College ophthalmic technician program in 2006 and became the program chair in 2016. Her love for ophthalmology and being a technician shows through in her teaching, which quickly became another passion.

Lisa Schlager has been the vice president of public policy for FORCE, Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered, since 2008. She found the organization after learning that she carries the BRCA1 mutation. One of dozens of mutations that place individuals at elevated risk of cancer, BRCA carries a high risk of breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancers.

Before being hired as VP of public policy, Schlager volunteered for FORCE, organizing support meetings as an outreach coordinator and representing the organization at national and local conferences. Currently, her biggest passion is access to care.

After earning a bachelor's degree from Penn State University, Liz Palmer trained in sonography at South Hills School of Business & Technology. She then worked as a clinical sonographer at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, specializing in abdominal, pediatric, gynecologic, and vascular ultrasound.

In 2009, Palmer returned to South Hills as an instructor in the diagnostic medical sonography program, where she teaches ultrasound physics and abdominal and vascular sonography courses. Additionally, she works part-time at Penn State as an ultrasound research specialist and volunteers with the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

Mackenzie Higgins, an award-winning health information professional with over six years of enterprise master patient index (EMPI) expertise, is the partner account manager and privacy and security liaison with Harris Data Integrity Solutions. Drawing on her time leading EMPI cleanup initiatives, she contributes a wealth of knowledge to her role, safeguarding the integrity and security of patient health information.

Notably, Higgins is deeply committed to fostering relationships within the healthcare community. Her active participation in AHIMA state association committees and speaking engagements is a testament to this. She has served as the CHIMA technology committee chair for three years, a role that earned her recognition as the 2019 CHIMA Outstanding Volunteer and 2020 CHIMA Rising Star. She holds the RHIA credential and is a graduate of the College of St. Scholastica, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in health information management with a minor in computer information systems.

Mark A. Bailey is an associate professor and program director in the School of Health Professions at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He earned his certificate in histotechnology at MD Anderson in 1988, and then went on to get his MA in education and humanities from Texas A&M.

A board-certified histotechnologist, Bailey is a member of numerous professional societies, including the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP), and the National Society for Histotechnology (NSH), among others. Over the course of his career, he’s co-authored over a dozen academic papers and served on numerous institutional committees.

Dr. Mert Aral is the chief medical officer at Huma, a global health tech company revolutionizing healthcare through digital-first solutions and proactive patient monitoring. He is also a clinician focusing on cardiology, research, and health technology. His dedication to patient care and safety and his commitment to enhancing patient outcomes through clinically led development underscore his commitment to advancing healthcare practices.

Dr. Aral has pioneered initiatives that make heart disease prevention more personalized and accessible. His strategic leadership and innovative approach have shaped the healthcare landscape and established him as a key figure in bridging the digital divide for improved patient diversity.

Michael Mukavetz is an experienced lecturer at Boston University with over 20 years of experience in the IT and telecom industry. He graduated from BU's MSCIS program and has been a course facilitator since 2011. He also holds a bachelor's degree from the J. Warren McClure School of Information and Telecommunication Systems at Ohio University.

Currently, he works in healthcare technology as an application analyst for Catholic Medical Center. At Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio, he was previously the project lead for implementing a multi-site cardiology imaging and reporting system.

Dr. Michal Tzuchman Katz is the co-founder and chief medical officer of Tel Aviv-based medtech company Kahun. She began her career as a software engineer, but later decided to go back to school to pursue her dream of studying medicine.

In 2018, Dr. Katz partnered up with peers from her tech days to start Kahun, merging her two vocations. The company’s clinical reasoning software aims to optimize physicians’ time, focusing on the U.S. market. She continues to practice as a pediatrician in primary care and emergency settings.

Michelle Pelescak is an accomplished senior certified nuclear medicine technologist at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. She holds an MBA and a master’s of science in biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University.

Pelescak has proven herself a skilled professional in healthcare and global affairs. She has a demonstrated history of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Her career trajectory, which includes roles in translation and language consultancy, showcases her adaptability and prowess in navigating the cross-disciplinary fields with medical technology.

For more than a decade, Nicole Pahl has been the program director and faculty member for the dental assisting program at Lake Area Technical College. She graduated with her associate’s in dental assisting from Lake Area Technical College and then went on to work for private dental offices. She then pursued a bachelor’s of arts in educational psychology from Mount Marty University.

Ms. Pahl currently leads courses in anatomy and preclinical science, which encompasses sterilization techniques.

Dr. Nina Mckie is a licensed optician, associate professor, and program director at Broward College. She has 31 years of experience in the eyecare industry and has taught in higher education for the past 20 years.

Dr. Mckie is a graduate of Nova Southeastern University. She is a Licensed Dispensing Optician (LDO) and holds a doctor of healthcare science (DHSc) degree.

Dr. Norrina Bai Allen is a highly respected researcher specializing in cardiovascular epidemiology, focusing on health services research. She is the director of the Institute for Public Health and Medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University.

She is also a professor in epidemiology and pediatrics, and her work revolves around understanding the impact of various factors on cardiovascular disease, including neighborhood and environmental influences. She holds a master’s of public health and a doctorate in epidemiology from Yale.

Dr. Payman Nasr is an associate professor and chairperson of the Clinical Science Department at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH). He earned his bachelor’s of science in clinical laboratory sciences and a doctorate degree in neurobiology in 2003, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in cellular physiology and molecular biology at the University of Kentucky, Lexington. He joined Kent State University in Ohio in 2004. He served as an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences until 2014.

Dr. Nasr holds professional membership with the American College of Clinical Pathologists, the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Scientists, and the California Association of Clinical Laboratory Scientists.

His teaching is extensive and covers medical courses, including human gross anatomy, clinical hematology, pathophysiology, and body fluid analysis. He has published several manuscripts on teaching effectiveness and students’ success. In 2019, he received the Theriot Award—an annual national recognition for teaching innovation and creativity granted by the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

Dr. Peter Hotez is an expert on infectious diseases, co-director of Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, and was previously chair of microbiology at George Washington University.

A decade ago, Dr. Hotez helped create the National School of Tropical Medicine in Texas, where he is the dean. He also is the founding editor-in-chief of the influential scholarly journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

He and his team have worked on a vaccine for Covid-19.

Dr. Philip Verhoef is an adult and pediatric intensivist who has dedicated his career to clinical practice and research. He serves patients at Kaiser Foundation Hospital and Kapi’olani Medical Center for Women and Children while also holding the position of associate program director for the Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Internal Medicine Residency.

Additionally, Dr. Verhoef is a clinical assistant professor of medicine at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine. Recently, Dr. Verhoef co-authored a paper titled “Racial Differences in Detection of Fever Using Temporal vs. Oral Temperature Measurements in Hospitalized Patients” that was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Dr. Randy Stout is a neuroscientist, cell biologist, and associate professor of biomedical sciences at the New York Institute of Technology. He is the director of the biomedical science school’s Center for Biomedical Innovation. He is also leading scientific planning for the Biomedical Research Imaging Innovation Center, which is being established in 2023.

Dr. Stout also organizes VR Interest Group meetings within the university, bringing together New York Tech faculty, staff, and students from many departments and disciplines to build new VR and computation-focused research and educational technologies.

Dr. Rebecca Meehan is an associate professor at iSchool at Kent State University. She has an extensive background in research related to healthcare and health informatics, particularly focused on information technology and user experience. Her interests center on improving patient safety outcomes by improving the user experience of health information technology and sociotechnical approaches to improving health outcomes for a diverse cultural population.

Dr. Meehan bridges academic research to industry applications and standards. Her previous experience includes senior research roles with Intuit, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and the Department of Sociology. She has also served as senior research scientist at Myers Research Institute of Menorah Park Center for Senior Living and senior research associate at Innovative Designs in Environments for an Aging Society (I.D.E.A.S., Inc.).

Dr. Meehan holds a BS in biology from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame; a master’s and a PhD in sociology from Case Western Reserve University, with concentrations in medical sociology and gerontology.

Richelle Rada is a licensed dietician based in Guam. Born and raised in Hawaii, she fosters the spirit of aloha and encourages clients to honor food, family, and culture when it comes to nutrition.

Rada has been a dietitian for the U.S. Renal Care in Dededo, Guam for the last five years. She earned her bachelor of science degree in science and human nutrition from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2012. You can subscribe to her health newsletter here and follow her on Instagram for lifestyle tips.

Robin Foroutan is an award-winning registered dietitian nutritionist specializing in integrative medicine, functional medicine, and holistic healing. She holds a master’s of science in nutrition education from Columbia University and a bachelor’s of science in nutrition and dietetics from New York University.

Her passion is empowering individuals to discover the healing power of food, nutrition, and herbs and teaching people how to take better care of their bodies through gut healing, detoxification, and other natural ways of healing.

Dr. Rodney E. Rohde is a widely published specialist of virology, microbiology, and molecular biology. He serves as the associate dean for research, department chair, and professor in the clinical laboratory science program within the College of Health Professions at Texas State University.

Prior to joining academia, Dr. Rohde spent a decade as a public health microbiologist and molecular epidemiologist at the Texas Department of State Health Services Bureau of Laboratories and Zoonosis Control Division.

In the wake of the 2003 SARS epidemic, Dr. Ronald D. Brown leveraged his extensive background in emergency medicine and his tenure as the EMS medical director for Seminole County Department of Public Safety between 1985 and 2000. He then established AeroClave LLC, which quickly rose to prominence as a key player in the distribution of decontamination systems. AeroClave was created to design, produce, and market an innovative system engineered to decontaminate commercial and military aircraft against pandemic-causing viruses and various pathogens. Over time, the AeroClave System has expanded to include a range of user-friendly decontamination solutions that are effective in curbing the transmission of infectious diseases.

Beyond its initial focus, AeroClave has pioneered the first large-scale, economically viable vehicle decontamination facility in Winter Park, Florida, and has further broadened its product line to encompass portable and stationary room decontamination units.

Sadie Skorjanc is a dedicated travel medical assistant and phlebotomist with Aya Healthcare. She combines her expertise in patient care and phlebotomy to provide essential medical support across various healthcare settings.

Skorjanc's role at Aya Healthcare involves traveling to different locations, ensuring that patients receive the highest standard of care no matter where they are. A graduate of the College of Western Idaho’s Health Services program, she has honed her skills and knowledge through rigorous training and hands-on experience. Sadie is passionate about making a difference in the lives of her patients, and her commitment to quality care is evident in every assignment she undertakes.

Sam Hurley started volunteering as an EMT as a 16-year-old high school student, attracted to the idea of being able to help people in their hour of need. While his time as an EMT made him fall in love with healthcare, he quickly became frustrated with the role.

Hurley started getting paid work in EMS during college, after securing his paramedic certification. At the age of 19, he was one of the youngest paramedics in the state.

Hurley went on to gain a master’s degree in public health from the Emory University in Atlanta and his executive master’s in emergency and disaster management from Georgetown University. In 2017, he became the EMS Division Chief for the D.C. Department of Health, where he stayed for two-and-a-half years, before becoming the state EMS director of Maine in 2019.

Sanaz Eftekhari is the Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Research for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). Over her 13 years with AAFA, she’s served in a wide variety of roles and connected with stakeholders across multiple industries, including patient advocacy organizations, pharmaceutical companies, medical societies, research firms, and government agencies.

Eftekhari has also co-authored several of AAFA’s key research reports, such as “My Life With Asthma” and “Asthma Disparities in America,” which have been shared with researchers, medical experts, and policymakers to emphasize patient needs for treatment options, advocacy, and support.

During her 22-year tenure at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH), which included serving as the chief executive officer from 2013 to 2021, Sandra Fenwick led a team of 20,000 people dedicated to improving and advancing health through life-changing work in clinical care, biomedical research, medical education, and community engagement.

Today, she serves as a member of the Board of Directors at Patient Discovery, where she strives to make a meaningful impact on patient outcomes by addressing social determinants of health. Her additional board commitments include serving on the Board of Directors of The Risk Management Foundation of the Harvard Medical Institutions, Inc, Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically-inspired Engineering, and Teladoc Health, Inc. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Simmons College with distinction and a master’s in public health in health services administration from the University of Texas School of Public Health.

Dr. Sara Bogner is the director of the physical therapist assistant program at Mendocino College. She has been a physical therapist in Ukiah and other Northern California areas for the past 22 years. Her bachelor’s of science in exercise and movement science is from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s of science in exercise and movement science. She also received a master’s of science in physical therapy from Regis University and completed a doctor of physical therapy degree from AT Stills University.

She has worked in various patient care settings over the years and began teaching anatomy at Mendocino College in 2016, where she was instrumental in developing the physical therapist assistant program.

Dr. Sean Khozin is a physician-executive, board-certified oncologist, and data scientist with over 15 years of experience in therapeutic development, drug regulation, and artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in biomedical research.

As the founder of Phyusion, Dr. Khozin is currently working on advancing ventures at the intersection of biology, technology, and artificial intelligence. Previously, he was a founding member of the US FDA’s Oncology Center of Excellence and Executive Director of Information Exchange and Data Transformation (INFORMED), the FDA’s first data science and technology incubator that he established under special federal authorities.

Dr. Khozin currently serves on the boards of the Society for Translational Oncology, the Alliance for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, the Digital Medicine Society, and the Life Sciences Council of the CEO Roundtable on Cancer.

Dr. Shiri Levy is an epigenetic scientist passionate about how the study of protein design can uncover cures for diseases. She completed her master’s degree and PhD a thet Israel Institute of Technology before moving to Seattle to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship at UW, where she worked with the Institute for Protein Design to explore synthetic epigenetic modifiers.

She is currently an acting instructor at UW, where she lectures on stem cells in development and regeneration. In 2021, Dr. Levy founded Histone Therapeutics—a biotechnology company for developing drug modalities based on protein modifiers of chromatin remodeling, to create new options for treating disease.

Stacey MacArthur is the manager of sterile processing at Providence Portland Medical Center. She holds a master of science in management and organizational leadership and a bachelor of business administration from Warner Pacific College.

MacArthur is renowned for her expertise in regulatory compliance, budget management, and quality improvement. Her career is distinguished by her commitment to staff development and process enhancement, alongside her active involvement in professional organizations and educational roles, contributing significantly to advancing healthcare standards. She holds certifications as a Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST), Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS), Certified Endoscope Reprocessor (CER), and Certified Healthcare Leader (CHL) from the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA).

Stephanie Gomes-Ganhão is an associate attorney at Day Pitney law firm in Connecticut. She advises corporations and organizations across diverse industries on data privacy, cybersecurity, and technology matters and has particular experience handling data breach matters, having counseled clients on dozens of ransomware, phishing, and other cybersecurity incidents.

Building upon a healthcare and insurer privacy background, she regularly counsels manufacturers, software companies, technology companies, and financial institutions.

Stephanie Johnston is the current president of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT). But that’s only part of her dedication to (and passion for) the radiologic technology profession. She’s a working mammographer in Wichita Falls, Texas.

As president of the ASRT, she’s traveled across the world, sharing her passion for the profession, listening to the concerns and ideas of her fellow RTs, and keeping an eye on the future.

Dr. Steve Zinn is a professor at the University of Connecticut's College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources. He is known for his significant contributions to livestock development and animal production efficiency. His research focuses on tissue-specific growth factor expression in livestock, shedding light on the physiological mechanisms involved in animal production efficiency. Additionally, he explores the impact of maternal nutrition on sheep offspring development and the multi-generational effects of poor maternal nutrition on feed efficiency.

Dr. Zinn's educational background includes a BS in animal science from Cornell University and MS and PhD degrees in animal science from Michigan State University. His commitment to excellence has been acknowledged through accolades such as the 2023 University Outstanding Undergraduate Faculty Advisor Award and the 2023 AAUP Service Award.

Dr. Thomas Hartungis a professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He received his PhD from the University of Konstanz and his MD from the University of Tuebingen in Germany. The main objective of his work is to revolutionize toxicity testing with the underlying goal of improving public health.

His background lies in clinical and experimental pharmacology and toxicology, documented in more than 550 publications. Between 2002 and 2008, he served as Head of the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) at the EU Joint Research Centre.

Dr. Thomas Molinaro is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, obstetrician, gynecologist, and clinical assistant professor for the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He holds a master of science degree in clinical epidemiology from the University of Pennsylvania and his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - New Jersey Medical School. He completed his obstetrics and gynecology residency and fellowship training in reproductive endocrinology at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital.

Dr. Molinaro’s areas of specialty include assisted reproductive technology and treatment of ectopic pregnancy. A confessed gadget aficionado, he believes the cutting-edge and high-tech resources available at Reproductive Medicine Associates (RMA) of NJ not only guide patients toward their goal of parenthood but also make his clinic second to none regarding true academic medicine.