Rise

Jessica Assefa Partner, Strategic Consulting

Press Ganey

Jessica Assefa is a seasoned healthcare executive and nationally recognized expert in Medicare Advantage Star Ratings and quality improvement. With over two decades of experience, she is the President and Senior Consultant at Ameropia Advisors, LLC, where she helps health plans optimize performance and achieve higher Star Ratings.

Jessica’s expertise spans Medicare, Medicaid, Marketplace, and dual-eligible programs, with a proven track record of guiding contracts to 4- and 5-Star ratings nationwide. She has held senior leadership roles on the Medicare Advantage payer side, including Chief Quality Officer and Senior Director of Star Ratings, where she led strategic planning, quality improvement initiatives, and operational execution for local, regional, and national health plans. Her work has driven measurable improvements in HEDIS, medication adherence, CAHPS, HOS, provider engagement, value-based care, and overall health plan performance.

Jessica’s healthcare career began on the provider side, where she held leadership positions in geriatric and disability care. As a nurse, she developed a deep, firsthand understanding of patient needs, healthcare delivery, and quality improvement—insights that now shape her strategic approach.

Her unique experience across both payer and provider sectors gives her an unmatched perspective on healthcare quality, regulatory strategy, and Star Ratings success. Jessica is a trusted advisor known for delivering data-driven, results-oriented solutions that drive meaningful improvements in healthcare quality and outcomes.

Sujata Bajaj Chief Technology Officer

Yuvo Health

Su Bajaj, a seasoned executive in value-based healthcare, is the current Chief Technology Officer at Yuvo Health. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated leadership in steering technology solutions for MA and Medicaid health plans, ACOs, Provider Groups, and patients. At Episource LLC, she headed the development of a successful SaaS platform and a team to support it, driving significant growth. Her acumen in incorporating public healthcare policy into product features proved crucial at multiple organizations, including Family Health Network (a Medicaid Plan).  She is a supporter of women-led start-ups. She lives in Houston, TX with her husband and three sons.

Ryan Bernstein Consultant

Rex Wallace Consulting

Ryan started consulting with Rex Wallace in July 2023. He has a Master’s degree in Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. With 7 years of experience supporting Medicare Star Ratings, he possesses in depth knowledge of the program as a whole, as well as practical strategies that drive improvement at the measure level.

He previously worked at a multi-state 4 Star plan in both leadership and analytic roles. Ryan is passionate about leveraging data to inform decision making in support of vulnerable populations.

Vandna Bhrany Principal

8BAdvisors

Vandna Pandita, MPH is the Vice President of HEDIS® Strategy and Analytics for the AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies [ACFC].  In her role, Vandna is leverages her experience in quality and risk adjustment operations to support members and providers as it relates to performance reporting and the member and provider experience.  Her area of influence spans analytics, plan operations and digital integration of data and processes in the transition to interoperability. 

Prior to AmeriHealth, Vandna has worked for several national health plans, including Aetna, several Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and Centene.  She has successfully led several health plans through NCQA Accreditation, managed HEDIS® reporting, improvement and outreach, and helped develop and implement a successful provider profiling and performance measurement program.  In addition to her health plan experience, Vandna managed Risk Adjustment Client Operations for Evolent Health, is a former certified HEDIS® Compliance Auditor and led project management and client solutions for a retrieval, abstraction/coding and analytics vendor supporting health plans and provider groups in their efforts to optimize revenue and improve quality within their populations.

Vandna attended the University of California at Berkeley as an undergraduate and received her Master’s in Public Health from the University of California at Los Angeles.

Vandna has moved from coast to coast, spending the better part of the last 25 years working on her southern drawl in Atlanta, Georgia.  These days you can find her running the streets of Atlanta, cooking for friends or working on her newest hobby, making wobbly pottery. 

Amy Blackledge Director of Clinical Quality Management

Blue Cross of Idaho

Amy Blackledge, MBA-HC, MSN, RN, CSSBB is the Director of Clinical Quality at Blue Cross of Idaho where she has oversight of HEDIS, NCQA accreditation, and quality improvement.  Her previous experience includes leading quality reporting, population health, and value-based performance for large health systems.  She has a passion for transformational work through collaboration, quality integration, and using data to drive improved outcomes.

Courtney Breece AVP, Product

Inovalon

Courtney Breece has served as the Product Owner for the Analytics capabilities of the Inovalon ONE^® Platform for 13 years. She drives Inovalon’s integrated approach to payer related analytics for both quality measurement and risk adjustment. Ms. Breece oversees the product management, technical development, and policy oversight of Converged Quality, the industry’s leading performance measurement reporting application. Prior to joining the Inovalon team in 2012, she acted as the Assistant Director of NCQA’s Measure Validation department and managed the Certified HEDIS^® Compliance Audit (CHCA) Program.

In her roles at NCQA, she worked closely with auditors, health plans, and vendors to craft measure and audit policy. She served as NCQA’s Contract Director for CMS’ HEDIS^® Medicare Reporting contract for the delivery of Medicare data used in CMS’ MA 5-Star Health Plan Ratings program.   

Ms. Breece received her Bachelor's of Science degree in Healthcare Administration with a concentration in Public Policy from the University of Maryland.

Keileigh Brown Quality Analyst

Hometown Health

Keileigh is a highly dedicated Quality Analyst at Hometown Health, located in the “biggest little  city” of Reno, NV. With a fervent passion for healthcare consumer education, Keileigh believes in providing healthcare services with utmost dignity, ensuring that every individual receives the care they deserve.

In her current role, Keileigh serves as an internal consultant, extending her expertise to every department within the health system. Her primary responsibilities revolve around conducting comprehensive quantitative and qualitative analyses, enabling the organization to continuously improve its services and ensure top-notch quality care.

At the heart of her work lies a deep commitment to member engagement and education. Keileigh takes pride in coordinating and implementing effective programs to educate and empower members belonging to Commercial Large Group, Small Group, Individual & Family, and Medicare Advantage populations.

Keileigh's journey at Hometown Health has been characterized by diverse experiences across the organization. Before joining the Quality team, she actively contributed to various vital functions, including plan design, performance improvement, and managing the Appeals & Grievance teams. These experiences have endowed her with a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare system.

Paige Caprara Quality Improvement Consultant

RWC

Paige holds a Master’s degree in English and Human Development. She has over 10 years of experience in healthcare management, specializing in Medicare strategy, population health, and value-based contracting. ​

​Previously, Paige supported Accountable Care Organizations at Collaborative Health Systems and led Quality Improvement at WellCare Health Plans. She also managed provider education at BayCare Health System, advancing healthcare outcomes and operational efficiency.

In her free time, Paige enjoys spending time with her daughters and two dogs, traveling, hiking and doing yoga.

Liz Carr VP of Product Delivery & Customer Experience

Ingenia

As VP of Product Delivery and Customer Experience at Ingenia Health, Liz directs the account management, operations and support teams for new client implementations and production clients. Liz is a trusted advisor to health plan leaders on all things related to Quality organization and analytics. She enjoys taking creative yet pragmatic approaches to problem solving in order to deliver the most value to clients.

Liz began her career at MedVentive, a startup acquired by McKesson, and was on the product team for a Quality & Med Econ tool. She was a Certified Scaled Agile scrum master for the product development team and supported new client implementations. Liz made the transition to consulting, joining a boutique firm that focused on Quality and Risk Adjustment optimization for health plans. She led client accounts ranging from small Duals payers to national multi-state managed care organizations and worked with vendor partners to design new specialized software. Her projects ranged from new Quality tool implementations and multi-year HEDIS and STARS projects to organizational strategy consulting.

Liz has a BA in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University

Maria Cole Pharmacy Director, Arizona Markets

Centene

Maria Cole is a Managed Care Pharmacy Director with Arizona Complete Health. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree in 2008 from Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy in Pennsylvania.

She has over seven years of experience in Managed Care, five of those working closely with the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment system (AHCCCS) regulators, providers and Medicaid members. As a Health Plan Pharmacy Director, Dr. Cole manages the Health Plan Pharmacy program ensuring members have access to quality health care,  including medically necessary and cost-effective medications.

Prior to working in Manage Care, Dr. Cole was a retail pharmacist for over 10 years providing direct patient care. 

Jessica Columbus LVN, CCS-P, CRC, CPHQ, VP, Value Based Care Operations

Apex Health Solutions

Jessica Columbus, LVN, CCS-P, CRC, CPHQ is currently the Vice President of Value Based Care for Apex Health Solutions. Her expertise in physician performance engagement and value-based care best practices are built on a foundation of more than 18 years’ experience in managed care focusing on end-to-end health plan operations related to Risk Adjustment and the CMS Star Rating Program. 

She began her healthcare career in direct patient care as a Pediatric/NICU nurse and in 2005 took an opportunity at a managed care company in their Referral/Pre-Cert Department where she was first exposed to quality and risk adjustment concepts. Once promoted into a leadership role that allowed her to own and create both risk adjustment and HEDIS programs from scratch she discovered those to be her true passion.

For 15 years her career has concentrated on innovative provider engagement strategies and implementing real world solutions that positively impact provider and contract performance. Her enterprise-wide physician education programs that aim to improve understanding of clinical documentation requirements have proven successful through accuracy of HCC recapture, increased year-round closure of HEDIS gaps in care and strengthened positive health plan experiences among both providers and members. 

Prior to joining Apex in August of 2020, Jessica worked at Universal American/WellCare for 6 years as the Sr. Director of Quality Improvement directly overseeing all quality improvement programs, HEDIS, Stars operations and prospective risk adjustment activities for their Texas and Louisiana markets. During her tenure at WellCare she was able to consistently deliver solid Star Ratings for all contracts under her responsibility, including achieving a 4.5 STAR in 2019 for their flagship MAPD plan in Texas.  Jessica’s continued career journey is centered on improving clinical outcomes for patients through advancing provider and payer partnerships that will revolutionize value-based care. 

Jessica enjoys spending her free time traveling with her husband Brandon and their 3 daughters (Gabriella, Alexis and Jordan) in Houston Texas. 

John Criswell Founder, CEO & Chairman

Porter

John has over 25 years of entrepreneurial and executive experience in the healthcare space, building relationships across major, national health plans and large regional healthcare systems. John’s newest venture, Porter, designed to reach beyond standard home interventions, is the only quality stars and risk adjustment-focused care coordination program. John previously founded Pulse8, a healthcare analytics and technology company delivering complete visibility into the efficacy of risk adjustment and quality management programs, and led them to a successful acquisition by a publicly traded health IT company. John was recently granted a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a method and apparatus for risk adjustment. 

Shital Daftari Founder and CEO

SNT Biotech

Shital Daftari is an award-winning entrepreneur and the Founder & CEO of SNT Biotech, a certified Minority and Women-Owned company revolutionizing preventive care through at-home health screening solutions. Her visionary leadership has made SNT Biotech a trusted partner to health plans nationwide—helping to close care gaps, improve HEDIS scores, and advance health equity, particularly in underserved communities.

Shital built SNT Biotech with a focus on innovation, accessibility, and outcomes. The company offers end-to-end solutions for screenings such as colon cancer (FIT), diabetes (HbA1c), kidney disease (KED), and cervical cancer—supported by a fully accredited CLIA- and COLA-certified lab and a robust member engagement platform with multilingual outreach and real-time reporting.

A proud Harvard alumna, Shital has earned numerous honors including EY Entrepreneur of the Year Midwest Finalist, Silver Stevie Award winner, Top Woman to Watch by the Women Presidents Organization and JPMorgan Chase, and two-time Inc. 5000 honoree. She is deeply committed to improving population health through early detection, closing disparities in care, and building a more equitable healthcare system.

Ninad Daftari Head of Operations

SNT Biotech

Jack Dainton Director, Business Development for Payer Data and Solutions

Quest Diagnostics

Jack Dainton is the Director, Business Development of Payer Data and Solutions at Quest Diagnostics, where he drives business development efforts by delivering data and analytics solutions that help health plans optimize initiatives across the organization—including quality improvement, risk adjustment, and population health management.

Ryan Dodson Regional Manager, Risk Adjustment

Choice Medical Group

His background is in management and operational processes for 15 years and begun working in the Risk Adjustment arena 15+ years ago. Ryan has proven himself by helping Medical Groups and Health Plans to accurately improve their documentation with a solid track record of provider engagement. Ryan uses a unique blend of comedy, and deep risk adjustment knowledge to get buy-ins from providers to improve their documentation. His track record of results of improving documentation and thus improving revenue streams and patient care brings value to any group he works with. Having worked on the provider, payer, and now the vendor side Ryan is able to bring a unique perspective to the conversation and develop out of the box ideas to help any size group. In 2020 Ryan co-founded New Vision Healthcare Solutions to fill a niche in the market on providing provider education with data stemming from analytics, and provider chart data. Ryan is a Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC) credential through the AAPC.

Tina Dueringer CEO, Principal Advisor

Dueringer Advisors, Inc

Tina Dueringer, BSN, RN, CCM, PCC, is the CEO and Principal Advisor at Dueringer Advisors Inc., a distinguished consulting firm dedicated to supporting health plans, vendors, and leaders in the health insurance and provider sectors. With a robust background spanning Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, Duals, ACA, and commercial markets, Tina brings extensive expertise in care management, utilization management, clinical quality, Model of Care development, Stars ratings, HEDIS measures, and accreditation standards such as NCQA and URAC.

Tina's career is marked by strategic insights into health plan operations, including strategic planning, joint ventures, partnerships, delegated relationships, and the advancement of value-based care models. She is deeply committed to advancing Health Equity, Population Health, and integrated care initiatives across the industry.

Previously, Tina served as Vice President of Clinical Quality and Stars at Rebellis Group, specializing in Medicare Advantage and government consulting. Her leadership journey includes pivotal roles at Cityblock, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Medicaid Policy Division.

Tina earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and holds a post-graduate certification in Population Care Coordination from Duke University. She is also a Board-Certified Case Manager (CCM), underscoring her dedication to enhancing healthcare delivery and outcomes through comprehensive care coordination strategies.

Melissa Duke Executive Director, Stars Strategy

Banner Medicare Advantage

Missy Skelton Duke is the Executive Director of Medicare Quality and Stars Strategy at Banner Health. In this role, she builds the strategic vision and strategies that optimize Banner Health Plans’ Medicare Advantage Star Rating. In this role, she drives alignment across complex provider networks, provider aggregators, population health services organizations, and health plan departments to provide the highest quality health care and service to their Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and Dual-Eligible members. Prior to this role, Missy served as the Executive Director of Population Health Pharmacy Solutions and Ambulatory Pharmacy Services and Senior Director of Specialty and Home Delivery Pharmacy Services at Banner Health. She has also served as the Clinical Pharmacy Services Manager for Intermountain Healthcare, where she was responsible for the growth and development of clinical services, collaborative pharmacy practice agreements, and professional development and competency assessment.

Missy has been active in pharmacy advocacy issues throughout her entire pharmacy career. She has served in numerous pharmacy leadership and advocacy roles at the state and national level, most recently serving as APhA Speaker of the House of Delegates.

She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University Of New Mexico College Of Pharmacy in 2008, and a Master of Science degree in Health Policy and Pharmacotherapy Outcomes Research from the University of Utah. She completed a 24-month residency program in Health-System Pharmacy Administration from Intermountain Healthcare in June of 2010.

Julianne Eckert RN BSN, CCM, CMCN, ACMP, Senior Director, Clinical Quality Programs

Clover Health

Julianne Eckert is the Senior Director of Clinical Quality Programs at Clover Health, a physician enablement company focused on seniors who have historically lacked access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. She is responsible for creating an innovative  data driven strategy that breaks the traditional model of healthcare to make it easier for providers and patients to deliver and receive healthcare.   

She has spent her life using her personal and clinical career experiences to help drive her mission as a patient advocate by leading health plan quality improvement strategies to prevent vulnerable populations from falling through the cracks with data stories and forward thinking programs which enable patients to easily navigate the complex matrices of healthcare and insurance. She has sweeping subject matter experience in CMS Innovation models, Stars QI programming, NCQA HEDIS/CAHPS/HOS, health equity, as well as, national and international leadership in driving laser focused strategies to improve health plan performance and member outcomes/experience.

She has held multiple Board Advisory roles and currently serves on the Board of Advisors for curriculum development for Pace University’s Design Thinking Executive Program which meets high academic standards, with a challenging interdisciplinary curriculum designed to prepare top executives to solve real-world challenges in designing innovative practices. She holds multiple certifications in Organizational Change Management, Case Management and also Managed Care.  She is an avid mentor and career coach believing it is her mission to develop our next generation of leaders.

Leigh Elko MS, LSSGB, PMP, RRT, Senior Program Manager, HEDIS Initiatives, Office of Quality & Transformation

Johns Hopkins Health Plans

Leigh Elko is a seasoned healthcare leader with over 20 years of experience spanning clinical care, ambulatory and acute operations, and healthcare informatics, including digital transformation. Known for her ability to bridge cross-functional teams, Leigh excels in driving strategic initiatives and complex system implementations aimed at improving healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

Leigh has held key roles at renowned organizations such as Christiana Care and Thomas Jefferson University Health Systems, where she led large-scale projects including IT systems integration, chronic disease management, and practice optimization. She has a strong background in strategic implementation, and her work has consistently delivered measurable improvements in operational efficiency and patient care.

In her current role as Senior Program Manager at Johns Hopkins Health Plans, Leigh partners with cross-functional stakeholders and external vendors to lead Quality (HEDIS) strategy and initiatives across multiple lines of business, ensuring high-quality care and regulatory compliance.

In addition to her professional work, Leigh is an adjunct professor specializing in quality & safety, operational excellence, and clinical informatics. She holds a Master’s degree in Health Administration from Saint Joseph’s University and is certified in Lean and PMP methodologies.

Leigh's expertise in both clinical and operational domains, combined with her leadership in digital health transformation, makes her a proven driver of healthcare innovation and improvement.

Rhonda Farrar Clinical HEDIS Supervisor and Lead HEDIS Auditor

Healthy People, Inc.

Rhonda Farrar, RN, BSN, CHCA, is Healthy People's Clinical HEDIS Supervisor, as well as a Lead HEDIS Auditor. Prior to joining Healthy People, Rhonda was Advantmed’s HEDIS and Quality Principal Program Manager and served as the Senior Manager of HEDIS Data Analytics. Prior to working at Advantmed, Rhonda led HEDIS and NCQA Accreditation programs at a health plan. Across her seven years of HEDIS work at the health plan, Rhonda developed a provider-based incentive program including quality and pharmacy measures. Rhonda also created health care integrated delivery network (IDN) system-wide initiatives and education to support HEDIS population health improvements. She is currently based in Marion County, FL and spends her free time with her husband, family, and their precious dogs, Creek and River.

Rebecca Fitch MD

Permanente Medicine

I am a transformational healthcare leader committed to utilizing evidence-based preventative health guidelines, cutting-edge technology, and continuous quality improvement to enhance health outcomes and equity. I play a crucial role in strategic planning, elevating care quality, and boosting operational efficiency within large, complex healthcare environments, which have lead to the achievement of top NCQA HEDIS results. My expertise extends to engaging with top executives and providers, as well as leading cross-functional teams effectively. I am known for seamlessly integrating clinical expertise with managerial acumen, fostering robust relationships, and pioneering innovative strategies that significantly enhance quality and patient satisfaction. I am committed to physician education and have developed and delivered several continuing medical education presentations on a range of health topics.

Mary Goble Director Clinical Quality and Performance Improvement

Capital Health Plan

Mary Goble, MSN, RN is the Director of Clinical Quality & Performance Improvement at Capital Health Plan (CHP) in Tallahassee, Florida. With over 30 years of experience in healthcare quality, Mary brings expertise in HEDIS, NCQA accreditation, quality improvement, and risk management. At CHP—a unique regional health plan that employs its own physicians in addition to a broad network of affiliated providers—Mary leads a cross-functional team focused on driving continuous improvement and achieving outstanding results in patient care and operational efficiency. Her commitment to excellence plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of healthcare services within the community.

Under her leadership, CHP has maintained its status as one of the highest-rated health plans in the nation, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars for both its Commercial and Medicare plans in NCQA’s 2023–2024 Health Insurance Plan Ratings.  She also leads CHP’s Medicare Star ratings team, maintaining their 4.5 rating last year.   She has also spearheaded provider education initiatives and data-driven campaigns that significantly improved HEDIS measure performance.

Mary regularly advises CHP’s executive leadership team on strategies that support both member satisfaction and performance improvement. She has spoken at healthcare quality forums and industry events for audiences focused on HEDIS rate improvement.

Savannah Gonsalves Director of Quality

Network Health

Savannah Gonsalves, RN, BSN, MHA is the Director of Quality for Hometown Health. Savannah specializes is regulatory quality programs, including MIPS, ACO, and HEDIS and has a passion for population health.  She has an extensive background in clinical informatics as well and uses this to integrate quality into clinician workflows effectively and efficiently. In her role at Hometown Health, she oversees the Stars and Accreditation Programs. She enjoys hiking and camping with her family in the paradise that is Lake Tahoe.  

“People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it” George Bernard Shaw.

Ana Handshuh Principal

CAT5 Strategies

Ana Handshuh, Principal at CAT5 Strategies, is a government programs executive with expertise in creating and implementing corporate programs for the healthcare industry. Her background includes Quality, Core Measures, Care Management, Benefit Design and Bid Submission, Accreditation, Regulatory Compliance, Revenue Management, Communications, Community-based Care Management Programs and Technology Integration. Ms. Handshuh currently serves on the Board of the Resource Initiative and Society for Education (RISE), the preeminent national professional association dedicated to managed and accountable care financing and delivery. She is a sought after speaker on the national healthcare circuit in the areas of Quality, Star Ratings, Care Management, Member and Provider Engagement, and Revenue Management. Her recent consultancy roles have included assisting organizations create programs to address the unmet care management needs in the highest risk strata of membership, document their processes and procedures, achieve accreditation status, design and submit government program bids, institute corporate-wide programs and create communications strategies and materials. She possesses sophisticated business acumen with the ability to build consensus with cross-functional groups to accomplish corporate goals. Ms. Handshuh served as the Vice President of Managed Care Services at Central Florida Inpatient Medicine (CFIM). In this role, she provided leadership and strategy on CFIM projects and collaborations with physicians, risk entities, hospital health care systems, and health plans. CFIM is the largest Hospitalist group in Central Florida, with 70 providers discharging over 50,000 patients annually from multiple hospitals across two health care delivery systems and 24 skilled nursing facilities. At CFIM Ms. Handshuh previously served as the Vice President of Operations. Prior to those assignments, she worked with Precision Healthcare Systems as their Vice President of Quality Improvement. In that capacity, she led the IPA’s Quality efforts and collaborated with payers on implementing programs to move the needle on Quality and Star Rating initiatives. Ms. Handshuh also served as the Director of Corporate Program Development at Physicians United Plan. In this role, she led the Quality Management and Corporate Communications departments and spearheaded the development of innovative integrated technology solutions to drive business excellence and Star Rating achievement initiatives. For the past fifteen years Ms. Handshuh has taken an active role in redefining and implementing changes that have led to improvements and greater efficiency within Government programs and healthcare delivery. Prior to joining Physicians United Plan Ms. Handshuh was the founder of I-Six Creative. Under Ms. Handshuh’s vision and leadership, I-Six Creative provided expertise in the areas of managed Medicare benefit design, MSO/IPA operations, provider network strategy, new market launches, technology integration, corporate communications and quality improvement.

Gerardo Hernandez Diaz Senior Director, Quality Improvement

Permanente Medicine

Sarah Hreyo Clinical Excellence Performance Manager

Novant Health Medical Group

In her role as Clinical Excellence Manager at Novant Health, Sarah designs and implements clinical quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare quality by reducing unwarranted clinical variations and addressing health inequities in the community. From addressing care gaps related to colorectal cancer screening to piloting novel approaches to address penicillin allergies in pediatric patients to brainstorming new and improved ways to share data with stakeholders, the work Sarah and her team takes on is diverse, engaging, and ever evolving! 

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts with a Concentration in Public Health from Sarah Lawrence College and a Master of Applied Science in Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality and holds several Lean certifications.

Outside of work, Sarah is passionate about fitness – if she looks familiar, you’ve probably seen her on screen at your local infrared fitness studio. She also loves to read and is on track to read over 100 books in 2025. If you have any book recommendations, let her know!

Katharine Iskrant Practice Leader

Healthy People

Katharine is the President of Healthy People, an NCQA-licensed HEDIS audit firm and CMS Data Validation firm. She is a member of NCQA’s Audit Methodology Panel and NCQA’s HEDIS Data Collection Advisory Panel. Katharine has been a Certified HEDIS® Compliance Auditor since 1998 and has directed more than two thousand HEDIS audits.

Previously, as CEO of the company Acumetrics, Katharine provided consultancy services to NCQA which helped their initial development and eventual launch of the NCQA Measure Certification Program.

Katharine is a frequent speaker at HEDIS conferences. 

She is featured on an NCQA podcast, discussing the HEDIS Electronic Clinical Data System Measures:
https://blog.ncqa.org/inside-h...

She received her BA from Columbia University and her MPH from UC Berkeley School of Public Health. She is a member of the National Association for Healthcare Quality and is published in the fields of healthcare and public health.

Violet Jones BSN, RN, CCM, Government Market Solutions, Medicare

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

As a registered nurse for several decades, I have worked in the ER, home services with case management, and have thirty years of experience working with the BCBS Plans in a variety of management roles in health services, Stars and Risk Adjustment.  It has been a wonderful journey that led me to where I am today. I have a passion for helping people and being kind.

In my free time, I enjoy being with family,  am involved with animal rescue and love to spend time gardening and in nature.

Ekaette Joseph-Isang Principal Consultant

Ritebridge

Dr. Ekaette Joseph-Isang is a subject matter expert in population health and value-based care with over 20 years combined experience in payor-provider strategy.

Her expertise cuts across population health, risk adjustment, healthcare quality, and healthcare innovation. Her specialty is in serving as a bridge between payers and providers and supporting  organizations in getting their providers the tools,  resources, and education that they need to stay competitive and efficient in the value based care space.

She is certified across multiple professional organizations in the risk adjustment, CDI, coding, and healthcare quality and is highly sought after for healthcare strategy and operations consulting.

Jenn Kerfoot Chief Strategy and Growth Officer

DUOS

Jenn brings her deep understanding of the complexities and nuances within the Medicare Advantage & Value-Based Care landscape to their work at DUOS, where they lead business development, go-to-market strategy, and marketing. By leveraging data-driven insights and market intelligence, they spearhead the development of tailored products and services that cater to the unique needs of Medicare Advantage plans and deliver unparalleled value to clients and beneficiaries alike; previous leadership roles include FarmboxRx, Excelera Health, and NationsBenefits. Beyond her role at DUOS, Jenn actively contributes to the industry's progress as a thought leader leveraging expertise and advocacy for innovative healthcare practices to enhance healthcare accessibility and quality.

Janelle Kistler Assistant Director of Managed Care

IHP

Janelle has over 10 years of experience in health care.  She earned her MS in Counseling and Clinical Health Psychology from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and her Juris Doctor from McGeorge School of Law. As the Assistant Director of Managed Care at IHP, she partners with health centers to advance initiatives and operational improvements.  She also assists in supporting IHP’s contracting strategy and developing the provider network.

Asaf Kleinbort CEO & Co-Founder

MedOrion

Asaf is the co-founder and CEO of Medorion with over 20 years of experience in computer science, software, and leadership of diverse multidisciplinary teams.  Prior to Medorion, Asaf served as VP of R&D at CloudShare, a pioneering cloud computing company.  He holds an M.Sc degree in computer science from the Weizmann Institute of Science and a B.Sc. in Mathematics from Tel Aviv University.

Brandy Lanns MBA, CPHQ, PMP, CTT, Director of Quality Improvement

Baylor Scott & White Health Plan

Brandy Lanns is the Director for Quality at Baylor Scott and White Health Plan, Texas's largest not-for-profit healthcare system. She oversees Quality Program implementation and reporting, including HEDIS and Health Plan Accreditation. With over a decade of experience, Brandy is dedicated to driving process improvements and advancing health equity to ensure high-quality care delivery and accurate reporting for all.

Mike Leiper Director, Performance & Risk Management, Government Quality

Highmark

Mike has been working at Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield since 2003 in various technical, operational, and strategic roles. He has spent the last 5+ years with Highmark’s Government Quality department where he originally led a team of Medicare Advantage Star quality program managers but now oversees a small strategy team whose mission is to create remarkable health care experiences and outcomes in alignment with quality performance standards established by federal and state regulators for Medicare Advantage, ACA, and CHIP members. He and his team establish targets, manage performance, and partner with cross-functional program teams to influence Highmark’s Medicare Advantage Star & ACA Quality Rating System results across PA, NY, WV, and DE…leading to (1) high quality health care for our members, (2) satisfaction of gov’t regulator quality expectations, and (3) achievement of Highmark’s financial objectives.

He has a BS in Mathematics & Computer Science from Westminster College and MBA from University of Pittsburgh Katz School of Business…a non-traditional background for his current role. However, he has found his position aligns with his passion for applying use of data to solve problems via practical strategies that benefit vulnerable insurance member/patient populations while generating financial value that can be reinvested into those populations.

Outside of work he is actively involved in coaching and/or running recreational sports teams for his 3 boys, enjoying walks/campfires with his wife, or watching his favorite college/professional sports teams.

Matthew Loper CEO and Co-Founder

Wellth

As CEO and Co-Founder, Matt Loper oversees strategy, sales, business development, and finance for Wellth.  He is inspired by the chance to create scalable positive behavior change in patients with chronic conditions and humbled by the fact that we get to work with some of the best healthcare providers and insurers in the industry.

Prior to founding Wellth, Matt was an investor in publicly traded healthcare technology, medical devices, and services companies at OrbiMed Advisors, a leading healthcare investment firm with $13 billion under management.  He also worked in Healthcare Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs.

Matt holds a BS in Biological Engineering from MIT. 

Nate Lucena President, Manaing Director

RWC

Nate Lucena is the Chief Strategy & Analytics Officer for Rex Wallace Consulting, where he specializes in helping health plans achieve their Quality Improvement performance goals through data-driven and equity-focused strategies. He began his career spending over a decade in academic research, specializing in the neural bases of schizophrenia, brain aging, Alzheimer’s Disease and human cognition. Nate has been published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology and Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, and regularly presented research findings at industry conferences.

Nate shifted into a managed care career at Centene Corporation, where he built and led an Enterprise Quality Analytics and Data Science team specializing in data strategy, QI initiative outcomes studies, member-level predictive modeling of experience and clinical outcomes, and performance forecasting. Additionally, he was the key analytics lead in the development of an award-winning QI Health Equity Analysis Model, incorporating stratified reporting and advanced statistical modeling to help health plans identify health disparities and drivers in HEDIS and CAHPS. He went on to lead Ratings Improvement Strategy, National Vendor Management, and Quality RFP/Business Development for Medicare, Medicaid, and Marketplace lines of business.

Core to Nate’s work across the academic and corporate sectors is a deep commitment to creating diverse workplaces rooted in equity and inclusion through measurable action. His commitment is evidenced by leadership roles in the Washington University LGBT Advisory Board, co-creator and leader of the SafeZones training program for faculty and staff departments, co-Presidency of Centene’s cPRIDE employee inclusion group, and participation in numerous equity-focused community groups. This equity focus is the primary lens through which he helps managed care organizations bring disparity reduction to the forefront of their QI strategic focus.

Nate has Master’s degrees in Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience/Aging from the College of William & Mary and Washington University in St. Louis.

Charline Marcelle Manager, Quality & Accreditation, Government Programs

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

Charline Marcelle is an accomplished healthcare leader with over a decade of experience driving quality improvement, accreditation compliance, and operational excellence across managed care organizations. As Manager of Quality and Accreditation, she leads cross-functional initiatives to enhance member experience, close HEDIS gaps, ensure NCQA readiness, and align programs with state and federal regulatory requirements.

With a strong foundation in data-driven decision-making and stakeholder collaboration, Charline specializes in designing strategies that elevate performance outcomes, streamline workflows, and promote equitable care. Her leadership has consistently resulted in improved STAR ratings, successful accreditation cycles, and stronger provider and community partnerships.

Charline holds a Master of Business Administration and is passionate about member-centered innovation, health equity, and empowering teams to exceed quality benchmarks. Known for her analytical acumen, strategic mindset, and people first leadership, she is a trusted voice in the evolving landscape of healthcare quality.

Melissa May PhD

Independent Consultant

Melissa May, Ph.D. is a healthcare technology innovator and mission-driven entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience developing and commercializing disruptive technologies that elevate the quality, accessibility, and efficiency of care. With a career spanning private equity, biotech startups, and defense innovation, she brings deep technical expertise and strategic vision to translating complex science into scalable solutions that transform healthcare delivery.

Currently an executive leader in the health innovation ecosystem, Dr. May has led groundbreaking initiatives that convert sophisticated diagnostic systems into intuitive, point-of-care tools, expanding access to timely, actionable clinical data. Her leadership has helped advance technologies that reduce barriers to care, improve diagnostic accuracy, and drive system-wide performance improvement.

Dr. May began her career in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where she was awarded a Presidential Fellowship and served as Deputy Director of Emerging Technology for the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. In this role, she was responsible for strategy and execution of initiatives to identify high-impact technologies, accelerate innovation pipelines, and safeguard the nation's technological advantage.

She holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Illinois and previously served as a Principal Investigator at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. She is a frequent keynote speaker and expert panelist at global conferences focused on science, technology, and healthcare transformation, and has mentored early-stage ventures through accelerator programs across the U.S. Dr. May has been recognized with honors such as “Women Thriving in Tech,” “Igniting Change: Women in the Business of Disruptive Technologies,” and the U.S. Secretary of Defense Award for Excellence.

Jake Mead CEO

Impact Sales Partners

With over 23 years in healthcare, I bring deep expertise across the payer, provider, and vendor landscapes—spanning Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits, STARS & quality programs, health plan sales, managed Medicaid & MLTSS, care management, home health & hospice, and DME. I’ve led sales teams, optimized processes, and driven marketing initiatives to scale organizations of all sizes—delivering exponential growth, margin improvement, and higher valuations by building the systems and strategies that sustain it. I’m also on the cutting edge of health-tech innovation, having advised AI and robotics companies to integrate intelligent automation into care delivery.

Misty Milby VP Clinical Business Development

Everly Health Solutions

Misty is an experienced Registered Nurse, licensed in all 50 states plus DC, with a robust background in nurse management, clinical operations, clinical strategy, telehealth, and clinical business development. As the Vice President of Clinical Business Development, she leads clinical service expansion for health plans and employers, working closely with cross-functional teams to translate client needs into measurable outcomes.

In this role, Misty is a key driver in strategic initiatives, overseeing new and expanded services, improving processes, and providing critical support for clinical activities and audits. Passionate about patient care and access to healthcare, Misty is dedicated to developing innovative solutions that empower individuals to achieve positive health outcomes and drive meaningful change in the healthcare industry.

Jason Montrie Executive Vice President

NationsBenefits®

Jason Montrie is an award-winning healthcare entrepreneur and executive with more than 20 years of experience leading growth, strategy, and operations for some of the most innovative companies in insurance, healthcare technology, data and analytics, and supplemental benefits.

As Executive Vice President at NationsBenefits, Jason drives the strategy and expansion of supplemental benefits, fintech solutions, and healthcare outcomes. His leadership is instrumental in scaling solutions that enhance engagement, close care gaps, and improve long-term health outcomes.

Jason’s career includes leadership roles at Humana and as Co-Founder and CEO of Land of Lincoln Health, a regional health insurer focused on individuals and small businesses. He also served as President of Pareto Intelligence and Convey Health Solutions, overseeing market expansion and operational excellence.

He lives in Hinsdale, Illinois, with his wife, Jessica, their two children, Juliette and William, and their silkie terrier, Frankie. A lifelong sports fan, he remains loyal to the Colts, Pacers, Hoosiers, and Cubs, while also reminiscing about his former days as a decent golfer.

Beau Munoz Independent Healthcare Technologist

Beau Muñoz, MD is a former Navy combat physician, battalion surgeon, published scientist, and patent holder in machine learning applications for ICU clinical decision support tools. He is a California native and a graduate of the University of Southern California with a degree in Economics. Upon completing his undergraduate degree, he was a recipient of the congressionally awarded Fulbright Fellowship which funded 2 years of full-time graduate work overseas. He graduated from Duke School of Medicine in 2010 and attended Harvard Medical School’s Massachusetts General Hospital General Surgery residency. In addition to multiple combat deployments and extensive international service, in 2018, Dr. Muñoz was the recipient of the Department of Defense Exchange of Scientists and Engineers Program (ESEP) award which supported a 1-year trauma surgery research fellowship at Queens Elizabeth Hospital in England. Prior to venturing out into the health-tech startup field, Dr. Muñoz was the Director of Operational Medicine for the US Naval Special Warfare Command (Navy Seal Teams) in Coronado, Ca. Dr. Muñoz has both a professional and academic interest in the application of machine learning technologies to clinical and population-based medicine. His works have been published in The Lancet and the journal Surgery.

Jessica Muratore Principal

Muratore Advisory Services

Jessica is a trusted advisor in the healthcare industry, offering a powerful combination of legal expertise, managed care leadership, and strategic consulting. With deep knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, Marketplace, and Commercial products—alongside a background in civil litigation—she helps payers, vendors, investors, and global consulting firms navigate complex government programs landscapes and transform regulatory challenges into actionable strategies.

For over a decade, Jessica held executive leadership roles at MVP Health Care and Centene Corporation, where she drove national quality market strategies across 38 health plans, strengthened regulatory compliance, and optimized operational performance. She specializes in Medicare Star Ratings, Medicaid pay-for-performance programs, Marketplace Quality Rating System, quality operations, HEDIS, CAHPS, HOS, and pharmacy strategy, utilization management and quality audits, and NCQA health plan accreditation.

As a consultant and advisor, Jessica brings hands-on health plan experience to her clients, translating industry best practices into actionable success strategies. Her ability to align her deep quality improvement expertise and regulatory frameworks with business objectives makes her a sought-after thought leader in the managed care space. 

Chelsea Nantau Account Executive

LetsGetChecked

Hallie Noecker Partner

Whistleblower Partners

Hallie Noecker is a partner at Whistleblower Partners. She brings cases in federal and state courts and before various agencies on behalf of clients reporting fraud spanning various industries, including healthcare, technology, and financial services.

Chandra Osborn PhD, MPH, Chief Experience Officer

AdhereHealth

Dr. Chandra Osborn serves as Chief Experience Officer (CXO) at AdhereHealth, where she leverages over 25 years of expertise as a behavioral scientist, health psychologist, health services researcher, and behavior change expert to drive member behaviors, outcomes, and health equity. In this key role, she leads the design and execution of stakeholder experiences across the healthcare ecosystem, including members, prescribers, pharmacists, plan leadership, and AdhereHealth employees.

With more than 180 scientific publications and over a decade in academic medicine, Chandra applies her expertise in behavioral science, digital personalization, and medication adherence to ensure every touchpoint—across the journeys of members, prescribers, pharmacists, and plans—is meaningful, data-driven, and aligned with strategic goals. She spearheads cross-functional initiatives to integrate behavioral design into products, programs, marketing, and employee experiences, enhancing satisfaction, engagement, and business performance.

Chandra aligns brand messaging and engagement strategies with behavioral science to drive activation, ROI, and a seamless customer experience across marketing, client, and partnership operations. Her background in scientific research and data analytics, reinforced by credible outcomes research, empowers strategic decision-making and builds consumer trust.

A recognized thought leader, Chandra combines scientific discipline with practical innovation, representing AdhereHealth at industry events and shaping the future of experience-driven healthcare delivery.

Crystal Redfern Senior Director of Clinical Improvement

Novant Health Medical Group

In her role as Senior Director of Clinical Excellence at Novant Health, Crystal designs and implements clinical quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare quality by reducing unwarranted clinical variations and addressing health inequities in the community. She has led efforts to increase breast, colorectal, and cancer screening rates across all populations within the Novant Health footprint. Additionally, her team is responsible for developing organizational quality metrics and implementing process improvement plans across the Novant Health Medical Group.

Crystal began her career as a clinical laboratory scientist in a microbiology laboratory and has extensive experience in molecular genetics and bacteriology research. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science and Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master of Business Administration from Wake Forest University, and a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Outside of work, Crystal coaches a high school club volleyball team and regularly plays indoor and beach volleyball. She has also recently taken up gardening—outcomes to be determined.

Amanda Rees Co-founder and CEO

Bold

Amanda Rees is co-founder and CEO of Bold, a digital health company focused on disease prevention and healthy aging. Bold partners with Medicare plans and provider groups to offer older adults personalized and science-based exercise programs that prevent falls, reduce musculoskeletal pain and disability, and increase physical activity levels. Before Bold, Amanda worked in energy and environmental justice, managing the renewable energy portfolio at The 11th Hour Project, a program of The Schmidt Family Foundation. Prior to that, she was a Dalai Lama Fellow, and she has conducted research at Stanford, Princeton and UCLA. Amanda has a BSE in Chemical & Biological Engineering from Princeton University. She has been a fitness instructor for over a decade, teaching dance, yoga, indoor cycling, and community tai chi for fall prevention. 

Amy Reilly MS, OTR/L, CCM, CPC, Director, Health Plan Quality – HEDIS | Health Plan Clinical Quality

Highmark Western and Northeastern New York

Josh Renken President

Hyperlift, a Press Ganey Company

Josh is the President of Hyperlift, where he has been an integral part of the team since 2017. In his role, he oversees product development and implementation, while also managing customer relationships. With over 15 years of experience in technology leadership roles, Josh brings a developer's expertise to the company's strategic vision.

Bert Rico Fractional Chief Data Officer

Domlytics

Bert J. Rico, is an accomplished leader in healthcare analytics and data-driven business transformation with over 15 years of industry experience. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (Software Engineering) from Barry University, graduating magna cum laude and earning honors from the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society and the National Society of Leadership and Success.

Bert’s career began with roles in data analysis and operations management at Miami-based healthcare organizations, where he honed his expertise in business intelligence and process optimization. At OptumInsight—a division of UnitedHealth Group—he developed interactive Power BI dashboards, automated key data processes, and enhanced data quality through advanced validation protocols, driving significant efficiency improvements.

Most recently, as the Director of Clinical Analytics at Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Bert led a multidisciplinary team dedicated to transforming clinical and operational data into actionable insights. His strategic initiatives included modernizing data architectures and streamlining reporting processes, which have been instrumental in supporting data-driven decision-making and improving healthcare quality.

An entrepreneurial spirit, Bert founded Domlytics, a Houston-based premier Data Management and Software Engineering company specializing in advanced data analytics, custom software/AI solutions, and fractional executive data leadership. Domlytics empowers healthcare and small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) by transforming complex data challenges into clear, actionable insights.. His commitment to continuous professional development is underscored by certifications such as Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analyst and Certified Scrum Product Owner, positioning him as a forward-thinking executive capable of driving sustainable business growth and operational excellence.

Bert Rico’s technical expertise, strategic vision, and proven leadership make him a valuable asset for any organization seeking to harness data for competitive advantage and improved outcomes.

Moraima Rios Gonzalez Medicare STARS Program Director

MCS

10+ years of experience in the healthcare industry specifically focused on Medicare Advantage Stars Rating, public policy, and compliance. Currently serving as the subject matter expert on Stars Rating Methodology and its related data sources. Responsible for leading analyses used to establish effective Stars strategies and initiatives impacting HEDIS, Operational, Member Experience among other measures. During my tenure MCS became the first Medicare Advantage Plan in Puerto Rico to attain 5 stars.

Completed my Dr. PH in Health System Analysis and Management from the University of Puerto Rico in 2016 and a Credential in Public Leadership from Harvard University on 2021.

Heidi Salerno Member Experience Consultant

RWC

Heidi has deep expertise in helping health plans improve their Member Experience. Prior to joining RWC, she led the CAHPS and HOS national strategy for Cigna.

James Schultz Neighborhood Healthcare

CMO

Dr. Jim Schultz has served as the Chief Medical Officer for Neighborhood Healthcare since 2001. Neighborhood Healthcare is an 30-site, 110,000 patient Federally Qualified Community Health Center providing comprehensive primary care, dental, behavioral health and PACE services to indigent patients of all ages in San Diego and Riverside Counties.  Dr. Schultz is a Family Medicine specialist who splits time between active patient care and administrative duties. He sees patients in the office at Neighborhood Healthcare and until recently as a very part time hospitalist at Palomar Medical Center Escondido.

Dr. Schultz has been instrumental in growing clinic operations and improving patient access to specialty services. He led the move to an electronic health record and has led and helped implement robust quality and population health improvement systems.

Dr. Schultz also serves as the Medical Director for Project Access San Diego. He is Volunteer Clinical Professor for the UCSD Department of Family Medicine and Public Health and is the lead faculty for the Family Medicine Residency Outpatient Gynecology Rotation., and is a Volunteer Clinical Professor of Medicine f for the Western University of Health Sciences.

Dr. Schultz completed his family practice residency as Chief Resident at Tallahassee Memorial Regional Medical Center a very long time ago. He received his MD from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his MBA from California State University, San Marcos. He has been awarded the Diploma in Mountain Medicine and a Fellowship in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine. In his free time he can usually be found trail running, biking, or off somewhere teaching or doing wilderness and global medicine.

Reva Sheehan Sr. Director of Customer Insights

mPulse

Reva Sheehan is the Senior Director of Customer Insights at mPulse, a company specializing in digital solutions for the healthcare industry. 

With over 15 years of experience in health plan operations, Medicare quality, long-term care, and compound pharmacy management, Reva is dedicated to enhancing member experiences and outcomes.  

In her role at mPulse, Reva focuses on leveraging data-driven insights to improve healthcare consumer experiences. She has been instrumental in developing strategies to navigate changes in Medicare Star Ratings and has shared her expertise through webinars and industry events.

Adam Simmen Sr Vice President, Sales and Growth

Everly Health Solutions

Adam Simmen is the Vice President of Strategic Accounts at Everly Health Solutions, where he plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare quality. At Everly Health, Adam is responsible for the comprehensive management of client relationships, strategic planning, and ensuring customer success for the company's payer clientele. His leadership and vision are instrumental in driving innovation and delivering value-added solutions, tailored to meet the unique needs of each client.

With over 15 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Adam has consistently demonstrated his commitment to enhancing patient experiences and outcomes. He has successfully led teams to achieve significant growth and scalability, always prioritizing patients and his client's best interest. Adam's expertise and dedication make him a key contributor to advancing healthcare quality and fostering partnerships that benefit both clients and patients alike.

Daniela Simpson Sr Consultant

Wakely

Daniela Simpson, MA, MBA joined Wakely Consulting Group in 2022 as Senior Consultant in the Tempe Office. She has more than 20 years of healthcare experience, specializing in identifying data and analytics solutions and performance improvement strategies. She specializes in end-to-end HEDIS, QRS, and Stars data delivery solutions, spanning from operations and architecture to strategy design and adoption.

Ms. Simpson leads Wakely’s Quality Measurement and HEDIS Certification team, providing strategic leadership and subject matter expertise across multiple projects, including quality, population health, and value-based care initiatives. She evaluates client’s quality measurement processes through internally developed rule-tracing analytics, identifies improvement opportunities, and advises clients on how interoperability and digital transformation can enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of their operations. Additionally, Ms. Simpson collaborates closely with data aggregators, providing expert guidance to help them navigate the complex process of earning the NCQA Data Aggregator Validation certificate. This process involves assisting organizations in meeting stringent data quality standards and ensuring their data collection, integration, and reporting processes align with NCQA’s rigorous requirements and industry standards.

Prior to joining Wakely, Ms. Simpson worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona in different leadership roles, operating at the intersection of business, analytics, and solution design. She served as an analytics translator on the senior leadership strategy team, collaborating closely with general managers and clinical quality leaders to identify and implement analytics solutions that would create the highest value for the business. She led cross-functional teams to implement the organization’s data and submission process for HEDIS and Marketplace QRS reporting, resulting in significantly improved data quality and delivery timelines. She later restructured the organizational processes and consolidated HEDIS submissions across the Commercial, Marketplace, and Medicare lines of business to one vendor, streamlining operations and improving data accuracy. As part of the consolidation, Ms. Simpson transitioned lab and other clinical data feeds to industry standards and integrated health information exchange feeds to replace manual chart abstraction, further enhancing efficiency and reducing reporting burdens.

Ms. Simpson earned a master’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in political science from Arizona State University. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Law at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje.

Kristine Sitson Sr Data Healthcare Analyst

IHP

Kristine Sitson is a Sr. Data Healthcare Analyst at IHP, where she manages quality data and network initiative analysis and reporting. She is dedicated to improving healthcare quality by transforming data into decisions for actionable insight and optimization.

Kristine earned her BS in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and MPH with a concentration in Health Management and Policy from San Diego State University.

Jamee Sunga Director of Product

Bloom

Jamee Sunga is a seasoned sales operations professional with more than a decade of Medicare experience. As Director of Product Operations, she leads the strategy, implementation, and operations of all Bloom onboarding products, helping to produce a better onboarding experience for Medicare health plan stakeholders and their members. Prior to joining Bloom, Jamee served as National Integration Manager for Centene Corporation, where she helped lead large-scale, nationwide initiatives for their Medicare Solutions business.

Christian Trygstad VP Product

Biomedix

Chris Trygstad is a Vice President with Biomedix, a market leader in font-line diagnostic solutions. Chris oversees all aspects of Product at Biomedix, including functional and technical product design, security, interfacing, promotion, and support. Chris has over 20 years of experience in technology-based products and over 10 years concentrating on designing and delivering innovative medical technology products and services that improve and save lives. Chris is an expert in both commercial and public Fee-For-Service reimbursement models as well as commercial and public Value-Based-Care coverage models.

Mick Twomey Chief Executive Officer

Hyperlift

Mick Twomey is the founding Chief Operating Officer (COO) and current Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) of Hyperlift Logic, Inc. Coming from a management consulting background, Mick set his vision on redefining how plans approach Stars optimization. Out of that was born Stars Monitor, Hyperlift's SaaS technology platform.

Crafted by Stars professionals for their peers, Stars Monitor is the industry's leading Stars analytics solution that gives Stars teams time back while redefining how plans approach Stars optimization. Mick's dedication to creating a scalable and universally applicable model has helped establish Hyperlift's innovation-driven approach into a trusted partner in the healthcare sector.

Through a combination of leading-edge technology, Stars experts, and a year-round engagement framework, Hyperlift propels healthcare plans of all magnitudes to elevate their Stars performance management. Mick's leadership catalyzes these solutions, enabling healthcare plans to embark on a transformative Stars management journey that outperforms conventional performance management. 

Max Voldman Partner

Whistleblower Partners

Max Voldman is a partner at Whistleblower Partners. Max’s practice is focused on representing whistleblowers under the federal False Claims Act and numerous state law equivalents, and the whistleblower programs of the Internal Revenue Service, Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and Department of Transportation.

He is part of the legal team pursuing a qui tam case against UnitedHealth Group alleging the nation’s largest Medicare Advantage Organization submitted false claims for payment to the Medicare Program by improperly inflating its members’ risk scores. Max also has experience analyzing complex data sets, developing damages models, and assisting with statistical analyses. He has also published numerous articles on issues of healthcare law, whistleblower programs, and environmental issues.

Max received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. During law school, Max served as a research assistant on taxation to Professor John Brooks and as the Symposium Editor for the Journal of Law and Public Policy. Prior to law school, Max completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois, where he was a member of the Mathematics Honors Society and graduated with a degree in Actuarial Science and a Minor in Business.

Max worked in State Farm’s actuarial science department and coached the debate team for a high school in Illinois, including one team that won the State Championship. He is fluent in Russian. 

In his spare time, Max enjoys hiking, tennis, and is, unfortunately, a devoted fan of the Chicago Bears. 

Rex Wallace CEO

RWC

Rex Wallace is the founder and principal of Rex Wallace Consulting, LLC, a firm that specializes in improving Star Ratings for Medicare Advantage health plans. Rex assesses plans and guides them in the development and implementation of-leading strategies to drive material Quality Improvement. Since its inception in 2017, RWC has helped multiple Medicare Advantage contracts achieve significant improvements in Star Ratings, including single-year full-Star improvements. Prior to launching RWC, Rex spent twenty-three years in strategic healthcare roles, with a strong focus on Medicare Advantage. Most recently, he led Stars for a large, multi-state plan that consistently achieved 4 and 4.5 Stars across its multiple contracts.

Daniel Weaver SVP Stars and Quality

Zing Health

Daniel Weaver recently became the Senior Vice President of Stars and Quality at Zing Health. With over 25 years of experience in Operations and Star Ratings strategy, Daniel has previously served as VP, Government Quality Programs at Gateway Health and Director of Stars Programs at Highmark Health, helping both organizations achieve and maintain their first 4.5 Star Ratings. In his career, Dan has overseen the development and implementation of many analytics-driven and customer-focused programs, and he advocates for continuous improvement and operational excellence philosophies for sustained success. In his new role with Zing Health, Daniel will focus on implementing a high-performing Stars infrastructure to support the organization’s rapid growth with a focus on servicing special needs members in several states.

Candice Williams MBA, BSN, RN, Vice President of Clinical & Quality

Rebellis Group

Candice is a transformative leader with a proven track record in healthcare operations, quality assurance, and compliance strategy. As a registered nurse turned executive, she has successfully navigated both provider and payer landscapes, driving initiatives that enhance efficiency, regulatory compliance, and patient outcomes.

She specializes in Managed Care, ensuring strategic alignment with evolving regulations. Throughout her career, Candice has led large-scale projects, including vendor outsourcing and insourcing efforts, optimizing programs and strengthening healthcare delivery systems.

Her expertise in clinical, financial, and operational data analytics empowers organizations to make data-driven decisions that drive profitability, compliance, and service excellence. She is recognized for developing innovative solutions, streamlining operations, reducing costs, and improving quality standards.

A champion of collaborative leadership, Candice fosters a culture of inclusivity and accountability, building high-performing teams that translate strategy into action. Her ability to transform complex healthcare challenges into practical solutions ensures sustainable growth and industry leadership.

Stephen Winn Managing Director, Government Programs

Permanente Medicine

Stephen Winn is the Senior Director for Quality at the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, a large multi-specialty medical group based in the Mid-Atlantic, and oversees Quality Program reporting, including HEDIS.   With more than a decade of experience, he focuses on building programs, systems, and workflows that promote the delivery of high-quality care and accurate reporting.

Prior to working in Healthcare, he was an International Economist at the U.S. Department of Treasury.

Michelle Zilisch Senior Director-Product

Innovacer

Michelle Zilisch serves as the Senior Director of Product at Innovaccer, where she specializes in AI-powered healthcare solutions. With over 26 years of experience in adult education and 20 years in the healthcare sector, she has successfully led training and implementation initiatives for various systems, including provider and facility EMR/EHR systems, Health Information Exchanges, hospital time and attendance systems, and capital purchasing/budgeting software.
Michelle’s focus on product management encompasses Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and ACA Risk Adjustment and Quality AI-assisted software solutions tailored for health plans and providers. Throughout her career, she has concentrated on risk adjustment and quality initiatives, emphasizing intervention identification, coding, submissions, and improvements in clinical documentation. Her work leverages product knowledge management to enhance efficiencies, improve accuracy, engage customers, and ensure compliance.
In her free time, Michelle enjoys assembling LEGO sets, selecting bourbon barrels for pick groups, as well as cooking and baking for family, friends, and colleagues.