Robert has extensive experience in healthcare management, developing strategic plans and directing financial, operational, and clinical initiatives.  He is currently the President of the National Cancer Treatment Alliance (NCTA) a national network of community oncology practices whose focus is to contract directly through value-based agreements with health care purchasers for oncology services.  Prior to joining NCTA Robert was the CEO of Dayton Physicians, where he merged 3 independent Physician practices (Medical Oncology/Radiation Oncology/Urology) to create a large multi-specialty practice.  

Robert received his Bachelor of Science in Education from Bowling Green State University, Master of Science in Hospital and Health Service Administration from Central Michigan University, and a Nursing Degree from Excelsior College.

Robert is married with three children and enjoys travelling, hiking, and spending time with family and friends. 

Amy Baker is the CEO of JustifyRx Collective, PBC, where she leads with a focus on transparency, ethical leadership, and patient-first solutions. With nearly 20 years in pharmacy benefit management, rebate negotiations, and healthcare strategy, Amy is committed to reforming the industry from within. Prior to JustifyRx, she served as VP of Pharmacy Networks and Clinical Integration at AffirmedRx and held leadership roles at Humana, including Director of Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Relations and Strategic Consultant. Her work has consistently balanced affordability with clinical integrity. A licensed pharmacist in Kentucky, Amy earned her PharmD from the University of Kentucky. She champions the belief that transparency is the foundation for lasting healthcare transformation.

Dr. Katherine Baker is a practicing medical oncologist and Medical Director of Value-Based Care at Tennessee Oncology. In this role, she leads some of the many care innovation efforts of the practice to provide high quality, patient-centered care. As a Georgia native, she received her undergraduate degree at the University of Georgia and her medical doctorate at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. She completed her internship and residency training in Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. In June 2024, she completed fellowship training at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, during which time she served as chief fellow for two consecutive years. She also received a Master of Management in Healthcare from the Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management.  In addition to her role at Tennessee Oncology, Dr. Baker is an active board member of the Tennessee Oncology Practice Society and the Community Oncology Alliance Fellows Board.

Dr. Sibel Blau is a Hematologist and Oncologist with special interest and expertise in breast cancer, multiple myeloma, and cell therapy.

She is the President/Executive Chair of the board at Northwest Medical Specialties, PLLC, where she also runs the clinical research and Precision Medicine program.  

She is one of the founding members and the President/CEO and Co-Chair of ONCare Alliance, LLC that is a national organization with a focus of value-based care, education, and research, as well as Exigent Research, an innovative research network of independent practices throughout the US to provide high quality, accelerated and accessible research to the communities where patients are treated.  Quality Cancer Care Alliance Network (QCCA) and National Cancer Care Alliance (NCCA) merged to form ONCare Alliance. She is a board member and the current President of Washington State Medical Oncology Society (WSMOS). She is involved in multiple committees at national organizations like ASCO, COA, ACCC.

She is also a member of All4cure, which provides a transparent platform for oncologists with comprehensive displays of their patients’ data, cutting-edge analytic tools, and a real-time learning environment to empower the delivery of expert level myeloma care via clinical pathways that open a door to cooperative learning and new paradigms for curing myeloma.

She is the founder and president of the Journey Fund which is a community-based, not-for-profit organization committed to cancer patients facing barriers that affect their treatment with donations and community resources that make it possible for us to assist cancer patients facing social, financial, or emotional obstacles, toward a courageous journey, with dignity.

As CEO and co-founder of Liviniti, LeAnn is the driving force behind the company’s marketleading
solutions that address the escalating costs and complexities of pharmacy benefits.
A leader in the national movement toward PBM reform, LeAnn is known for innovative
business practices that make prescription drugs more affordable and accessible.

After co-founding the company as Southern Scripts in 2011, LeAnn built the business
around a bold vision, to offer pass-through pricing within a fully transparent model. In 2023,
she directed a full corporate rebrand to our new name, Liviniti, to reflect the company’s
national scope, impressive roster of clients and service to more than 700,000 plan
members. Liviniti has accelerated its growth trajectory and doubled in size since 2020, with
53% of leadership roles filled by women.

On the national stage, LeAnn is a thought leader and unwavering voice for change and
innovation, regularly sharing her insights with federal and state legislators to accelerate
PBM reform. Liviniti is a founding member and valued leader of Transparency-Rx, a bipartisan
coalition promoting comprehensive pharmacy reform initiatives. LeAnn’s
contributions have been noted throughout the healthcare industry with recent recognitions
including a Modern Healthcare Women Leader Award (2024), an MM+M Pinnacle Award
(2024) and a Women in Business Stevie Award (2023).

LeAnn’s past roles include leadership positions in national healthcare organizations where
she pioneered medication management programs and specialty pharmacy solutions. She
supports her professional community through numerous board memberships, including the
American Pharmacist Association Policy Committee. A summa cum laude graduate, LeAnn
earned her PharmD from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Tammy Chambers is the Director of Health Care Strategy and Advocacy at The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, a OneOncology practice with multiple locations across North Texas. With over 30 years of experience in payer relations and managed care contracting, along with a deep understanding of the complexities of cancer treatment, Tammy has successfully navigated the intricacies of payer contracting, value-based care models, and oncology-specific reimbursement strategies. Dedicated to advancing innovation in oncology, she advocates for policies that support cost-effective, patient-centered care. Tammy also serves on the board of the Coalition of Hematology and Oncology Practices (CHOP) as well as the COA Payment Reform Committee.

Alexandra Chong, PhD, is an analyst for CMS Innovation Center.  Alexandra is currently Deputy Director of the Division of Ambulatory Payment Models, which oversees the oncology model development at the CMS Innovation Center.  She has previously served as the policy lead for the Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM) and Oncology Care Model (OCM) and has been at CMMI since 2016.  Alexandra has extensive experience and expertise in experimental design and theories in social-health psychology, the development and implementation of value-based care in oncology and its relation to Medicare payment reform. 

Marianne Fazen, PhD is Executive Director of DFW Business Group on Health (DFWBGH), a coalition of 50 North Texas employers committed to improving healthcare quality, access and affordability for employees.  Ms. Fazen also serves as President and CEO of the Texas Business Group on Health, a non-profit statewide association advocating Texas employers’ interests in state and federal healthcare policy issues. 

As part of her leadership role in DFWBGH and TBGH, Ms. Fazen also serves as Regional Director of the national Path Forward for Mental Health & Substance Use initiative, and Regional Director of the Leapfrog Group in North Texas. 

Ms. Fazen is a frequent speaker and commentator on employer-related healthcare issues.  She also is recognized as one of Dallas 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders by D CEO Magazine for seven years and as a DFW Healthcare Leader by Dallas Business Journal.

Ms. Fazen currently serves on the Board of Governors of National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions and previously on the Board of Directors of URAC, a national healthcare accreditation agency, including a term as Board Chair.  She also serves as an Officer on the Board of Directors of Equest, Inc., a non-profit equine therapy organization based in Dallas.

Prior to her role as DFWBGH Executive Director, Ms. Fazen was Manager of Marketing & Managed Care Research at VHA Hospital System.  She also was an Adjunct Professor at University of Dallas Graduate School of Management teaching healthcare management strategies and published a book on managed care terminology, entitled Managed Care Desk Reference, to familiarize business leaders and healthcare professionals with the managed care industry.

Ms. Fazen has an undergraduate degree in Medical Technology from the University of Wisconsin and a Doctorate in Communications Science & Human Development from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Nicolas Ferreyros is Managing Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Communications at the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), the only national organization dedicated solely to preserving and protecting local, affordable, and accessible cancer care. He is responsible for all internal and external communications at COA, including media relations, policy communications, and digital strategy.

A seasoned advocacy and communications strategist with more than 15 years of experience in health care, Nick specializes in developing successful campaigns to address complex issues. He has a deep understanding of the people and processes that affect America’s health care system and has a knack for translating the “wonkery” of health policy into language and concepts that resonate with policymakers, providers, patients, and voters.

Nick has engaged in nearly every major recent health policy issue before Congress and regulatory agencies, including the Affordable Care Act, the 340B Drug Pricing Program, Medicare reimbursement policy, and more. He has worked closely with policymakers on Capitol Hill, the White House, the Department of Health & Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, and National Institutes of Health. Nick’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, CBS Evening News, National Public Radio, and other leading national news outlets.

Prior to joining COA, Nick was a Managing Supervisor at GYMR Public Relations, a boutique Washington, DC communications firm specializing in health care, science, and social issues. While there, he oversaw high-profile, award-winning campaigns for clients including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, American Board of Internal Medicine, Consumer Reports, and numerous federal agencies.

A native of Houston, Texas, Nick earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He currently resides in New York City.

Dr. Annette C. Fontaine is a native of the Caribbean Island of Dominica. She received her medical training at Ross University School of Medicine on the island and then migrated to the United States. She did residency in Internal Medicine followed by a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. In 2006, she joined New Mexico Hematology Oncology Consultants, Ltd. where she cares for patients with solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Her interest in the business of medicine led her to earn an MBA from the University of Tennessee, subsequently accepting the role of Chief Medical Officer at the cancer center. 

She is passionate about making a difference in the lives of patients and her peers hence she volunteers her time on the board of trustees of the Greater Albuquerque Medical Association, Councilor of New Mexico Medical Society, President of New Mexico Society of Clinical Oncology and Medical Director of Dominica Health and Education Initiative.

She is board certified in Hematology and Medical Oncology and a member of AMA, ASCO and ASH. 

Denise Giambalvo is the Washington Health Alliance’s fifth executive director, leading the organization efforts to improve quality, affordability and accessibility of care in Washington state.

She was elevated to the role of executive director after more than three years with the WHA. She first joined WHA as its Director of Purchaser Strategies, and she most recently was WHA’s Director of Member Engagement and Business Strategy. In these roles, she spearheaded successful purchaser-focused initiatives along with expanding WHA’s offerings to include well-attended forums, workgroups and webinars.

Previously, Denise was Vice President at Midwest Business Group on Health (MBGH), where she managed the coordination and marketing of monthly educational programs, social media, newsletters, and employer benchmarking surveys. In addition, Denise led various sponsor and grant-funded projects including the National Employer Initiative on Specialty Drugs. 

Prior to MBGH, Denise served as Executive Director for the Employers’ Health Coalition (EHC) in Fort Smith, AR, where she was directly involved in contract negotiations for the PBM, Employers’ Choice Rx. Committed to carrying out the Coalition’s mission to “enhance the general health of the community,” Denise oversaw EHC’s launch of the National Diabetes Prevention Program and negotiated a discounted group rate for employer-sponsored financial well-being programs. 

Denise has led team collaborations with stakeholders on research and pilot programs including limited-fill, site-of-service, mental and behavioral health, and data analysis. Educational activities she has organized have focused on population health management, value-based benefit design, pain management, and analytics. 

Denise plays an active role in strategy for the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, where she works hand-in-hand with healthcare leaders from across the country.

Denise received her Master’s degree in Human Resource Management in 2012. 

President & CEO

Known for his wide-ranging policy expertise, and government relations experience, Shawn Gremminger brings to the National Alliance a successful record of working with coalitions, employers and other healthcare purchasers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders toward the mission of achieving high-quality, affordable, equitable healthcare.

More details:

Shawn was most recently senior vice president at Reservoir Communications Group where he led communications and public affairs strategy and execution on a range of relevant issues, including 340B and the drug supply chain, employer-sponsored insurance regulations, and Medicare payment. He has a strong history of healthcare advocacy and public affairs with employers, plans, hospitals, and consumer organizations. Shawn was previously director of health policy for the Purchaser Business Group on Health, a member of the National Alliance, where he ran efforts to improve quality and affordability for consumers and healthcare purchasers through federal policy. He has held senior leadership roles at Families USA, and America’s Essential Hospitals. Shawn began his career as a lobbyist for the Children’s Hospital Association. He achieved a Master of Public Policy from George Washington University in Washington and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA.

Phone Number: (240) 372-4261

Megan Herber partners with health care clients to develop and execute federal government affairs and policy
strategies. She works with clients across the health and life sciences industry, including health care providers,
patient advocacy organizations, and coalitions and trade associations with public health missions. She helps
clients analyze and develop both legislative and regulatory policy and then navigate congressional offices and
federal agencies. She leverages her in-depth understanding of the processes and pressure points that drive
federal health care policy to help clients adapt and thrive in an ever-changing regulatory environment.

Recognized as a telehealth policy leader in Washington D.C., Megan speaks and writes on the topic extensively,
especially as the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in significant policy changes around the delivery of remote care.
Megan is also well-versed in a broad range of federal health policy topics including Medicare, Medicaid, CMS
rulemaking, HHS agency funding through the appropriations process, the FDA’s patient-focused drug
development process and other digital health topics.

Megan is a registered lobbyist for most of her clients, but her teams offer clients much more than solely direct
lobbying. With the end goal of patient access to high quality health care always at the forefront, advocacy means
finding solutions to problems and knowing how to navigate the government to successfully resolve problems and
advance goals.

As CEO of Highlands of Oncology in NW Arkansas, Jeff Hunnicutt has demonstrated a passion for creating a work environment where people are engaged and energized to provide outstanding patient care. Specializing in comparative analytics in oncology, Jeff has helped drive the success of his practice by providing an in-depth look into the underlying data that helps give direction to operational decisions. Jeff has been distinguished for his efforts by participating on the Board of Trustees and being recognized as a service fellow for ACCC, serving as ACS Chair in NW Arkansas, serving as a board member with the COA Administrator Network as well as in his previous role as Executive Director of the Quality Cancer Care Alliance (QCCA). Jeff also serves on the Red River Region for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and as the chair for Oncology Supportive Services in NW Arkansas.

In his personal life, Jeff is married with 4 children, living in Bentonville, AR. He and his family are deeply involved in projects to bring quality education to the remote areas of Senegal, Africa, and toward raising awareness for the foster system in their state. 

Dr. Indurlal has more than a decade of experience in oncology healthcare management and value-based care, leading initiatives that bridge clinical excellence with cost-effective outcomes. Most recently, he served as the senior director of care transformation and analytics at The US Oncology Network, where he led the adoption and implementation of value-based care programs across the network. Prior to that, he was the director of clinical services and operations for Illinois Cancer Specialists, a large medical/radiation oncology practice in the Chicago region. He is experienced in medical management, healthcare strategy, operational execution, financial management, utilization management, care redesign and transformation, practice growth, healthcare quality, alternative payment models, payer relationships, and data and analytics. His research on oncology value-based care and care transformation has been presented at national conferences such as ASCO and NCCN. He has published articles in JCO, JAPhA and JNCCN, and has presented at national and industry conferences on value-based care, provider strategy, practice management, and care transformation.

Dr. Rich Ingram is a highly accomplished oncologist with over two decades of experience in advancing cancer care through compassionate patient advocacy, clinical excellence, and collaborative leadership. As an influential figure in community oncology, he has made substantial contributions at the local, state, and national levels, continually striving to improve the quality and accessibility of cancer care.

Dr. Ingram currently serves as the Payor and Care Transformation Co-Medical Director within the US Oncology Network, where he co-leads the Value-Based Care Program. In this role, he focuses on developing and implementing strategies that integrate clinical excellence with value-based care models to enhance patient outcomes and optimize care affordability. His expertise in aligning healthcare delivery with innovative care models positions him as a thought leader in the transformation of oncology practice.

In addition to his role with the US Oncology Network, Dr. Ingram is the President of the Virginia Association of Hematologists and Oncologists, the Co-founder and Chair of the Appalachian Community Cancer Alliance, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Community Oncology Alliance. In these roles, he leads initiatives that expand access to high-quality cancer care, particularly in underserved regions. His leadership has been instrumental in growing advocacy efforts and strengthening community partnerships that drive meaningful change in cancer care delivery.

At Shenandoah Oncology Associates in Winchester, VA, Dr. Ingram has served as practice president and continues to be the value-based care physician champion. In these roles, he has guided the practice in delivering comprehensive, patient-centered care while integrating innovative care models to enhance patient outcomes and optimize treatment efficiency.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Rich enjoys spending quality time with his family, exploring the vibrant arts and culture scene in his community, traveling to new destinations, and discovering culinary delights from around the world with his friends and family.

Terri has more than 30 years’ experience in the health and welfare consulting industry.
She has extensive experience working with healthcare providers in managing employee
benefits programs and understands the nuances associated with providing benefits
as both the payer and provider of care. She currently oversees strategic and tactical
consulting on the design, management and analysis of employee benefits and industryspecific
benchmarking and trends. Terri’s experience and industry-specific knowledge
allow healthcare clients to align their benefit strategies with organizational initiatives,
whether clinical, work force engagement, recruitment or retention with innovative
solutions.

AJ is a serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in pharmacy benefits, finance, and software development. As the CEO of Capital Rx, his mission is to upgrade America’s healthcare infrastructure to deliver the highest level of client service and patient engagement while reducing total cost of care. AJ has spent his career studying the pharmaceutical supply chain and developing solutions that have continually redefined the pharmacy benefit industry to achieve this goal. Before Capital Rx, AJ was a co-founder of Truveris, where he served for eight years as CEO, CIO, and a board member, leading the company to record growth (Deloitte FAST 500 and Crain’s Fast 50). Prior to Truveris, AJ co-founded SMS Partners, a joint venture with Realogy (RLGY), and in 2010 exited the partnership with a buyout. In his first venture, AJ started Victrix, a pharmaceutical supply chain consultancy, which was successfully sold to Chrysalis Solutions in 2007. 

Bryan Loy, MD, MBA is an industry recognized physician executive. He is a corporate medical director for Humana, a Fortune 100 health insurance company. Board certified in both anatomic and clinical pathology as well as hematology, he leads quality and value initiatives for oncology and other specialties. 

A nationally recognized speaker, panelist, and author, he routinely presents a variety of health care topics including the evolving landscape of health care delivery and population health initiatives. He’s helped 100,000+ member employer groups understand medical cost and utilization and created strategies improving quality of care and value while improving the associate experience.  He co-chaired the Louisville Health Advisory Board, a large public-private partnership in collaboration with leaders devoted to community based opportunities to address Social Determinants of Health, suicide prevention, health care access and inequities.

He has 20+ years of experience in evaluating drugs and biologics, medical devices, laboratory tests and innovations for effectiveness and payment. He has experience in accelerating the appropriate adoption of new technology. He is an oncology and laboratory subject matter expert for pharmacy and therapeutics  and policy development committees. He served as an advisor and co-chair for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) advisory panel designed to evaluate appropriate payment for new complex lab tests. He works with the nation's most prominent commercial labs and oncologists and other specialty groups to implement cancer quality initiatives in all 50 states. He collaborates directly with industry leading medical oncologists and practices committed to improving the patient experience. 

In previous roles, he has served as a medical director for a multi-state Medicare contractor and as Chief Medical Officer for an innovative lab focused on tailoring treatment for breast and ovarian cancer patients.

Aaron Lyss is Senior Director of Payment and Policy Innovation for OneOncology, a national partnership of independent community oncology practices. Aaron’s role at OneOncology includes implementation of policy and advocacy strategies, and the development of value-based care and risk-sharing payment models. He also leads initiatives related to community oncology-based CAR-T service line enablement and partnership strategies. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Patient Advocate Foundation. 

Prior to this role with OneOncology, Aaron was the Director of Strategy and Business Development for Tennessee Oncology, and prior to that served as healthcare policy specialist for the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies.

Aaron earned his Master of Business Administration at the Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management, and his Bachelor of Arts degree at Washington University in St. Louis.

Emily is a Senior Director of Specialty Product Development within Optum. She is responsible for developing products and services for the Pharmacy Care Services organization that optimize patient outcomes, reduce cost of care, and increase satisfaction of members and providers across the pharmacy and medical benefit.  For nearly 20 years, Emily has been a leader within Optum and the health care industry working to bring programs to market across core focus areas of population health management, customer service, benefit transparency, and provider networks.

Emily is an active participant in The Women's Health Leadership TRUST (WHLTrust) organization that supports leaders in health care.  She is native to the Midwest and currently lives in St. Paul with her family.

Dr. McAneny is a board‐certified medical oncologist/hematologist based in Albuquerque, New Mexico and
the co‐founder and CEO of New Mexico Oncology Hematology Consultants. She was the 173rd president
of the American Medical Association and used that position to encourage the AMA to file its successful
lawsuits blocking the consolidation of large insurance companies and protecting Title 10 funding. Prior to
her Presidency, Dr McAneny served for 10 years on the AMA Board of Trustees, including as Chair. As the
Delegate from ASCO, prior to her election to the Board, she served 8 years and chaired the AMA policy
committee, the Council on Medical Service. Dr. McAneny is a fellow and former member of the ASCO
Board of Directors, a past president of the New Mexico Medical Society (NMMS), the Greater
Albuquerque Medical Association and the New Mexico Society of Clinical Oncology. In 2012, Dr McAneny
received a $19.8 M award from CMMI to create COME HOME, Community Oncology Medical Home, which
was the precursor to the Oncology Care Model and many other value‐based care processes for oncology.
Dr. McAneny is the co‐chair of the board and one of the Founders of the ONCare Alliance, a network of
independent oncology practices across the United States, organized to provide collaborative, cutting‐edge
oncology care, to bring clinical trials to community practices, to develop new alternative payment models
based on sound data‐driven principles and teach young and mid‐career oncologists how to manage a
successful practice. Prior to this, she was a founding member of Oncology Circle, a group of oncology
practices using data to promote best practices and contribute data to ASCO’s Practice Net. As an early
advocate of managing the social determinants of health, she founded New Mexico Cancer Center
Foundation which helps cancer patients overcome barriers to care by providing grants to pay for their
non‐medical expenses. Now she is developing the Cancer Safety Net Foundation to help ONCare Alliance
practices address patients with their non‐medical needs so patients can focus on getting their care.
Currently she is President of New Mexico Independent Doctors, a clinically integrated network of practices
committed to improving care in New Mexico.

Kiana Mehring, MBA, is Vice President of Payer Strategy & Revenue Cycle Management at Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute. With deep expertise in managed care and strategic partnerships, she leads initiatives that foster collaboration between payers and providers to advance value-based oncology care. Kiana is recognized for designing innovative payment models and implementing holistic care strategies that enhance patient outcomes while optimizing cost-efficiency. Her leadership reflects a commitment to sustainable, patient-centric solutions in an evolving healthcare landscape.

Brian Mulherin is a hematologist-oncologist at Hematology Oncology of Indiana, a practice within the American Oncology Network (AON).  He’s been in practice since 2012.  He’s an active member of AON’s P&T Committee, and has served as AON’s medical director since January 2024.  He’s the managing partner of his Indianapolis clinic, and is an advisory board member of MiBA (Meaningful Insights Biotech Analytics), a data analytics firm aiming to transform patient care by delivering the highest quality real-world insights to healthcare providers and biopharma partners.  He’s active in expanding research opportunities within AON, and has a special focus on value-based care.  He is a member of ASCO and ASH.  He lives with his wife and four children outside Indianapolis, and in his spare time enjoys playing the piano.

Mark Newsom provides policy analysis and strategic advice to stakeholders across the healthcare continuum, with a focus on government health programs. Before joining Avalere, Mark served as deputy director of the Medicare Drug Benefit and C&D Data Group (MDBG) at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). MDBG drives Medicare Part D benefit policy and formulary reviews and the Stars quality program for both Medicare Advantage (MA). Previously, Mark held leadership and policy positions in the Medicare Plan Payment, Medicare Advantage and Hospital and Ambulatory Policy Groups at CMS. Mark has also served as an advisor at the Congressional Research Service (CRS) during the development of the Affordable Care Act. On the corporate side, Mark has held senior policy and compliance roles at Humana, CVS Health and Coventry. Mark holds an MS in health policy and administration from the University of Illinois and completed the business of healthcare program at Johns Hopkins University.

John M. O'Brien, PharmD, MPH, is President & CEO of the National Pharmaceutical Council, which serves patients and society with policy-relevant research on the value of patient access to innovative medicines and the importance of scientific advancement. We envision a world where advances in medicine are accessible to patients, valued by society, and sustainably reimbursed by payers to ensure continued innovation. 

Dr. O’Brien’s experience spanning the private sector, academia, and government gives him a unique perspective on public policy. Prior to joining NPC, Dr. O’Brien was senior advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and deputy assistant secretary of planning and evaluation during the previous Trump administration. He has also held senior roles in the life sciences and managed care industries, was a career official at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and served as a health policy fellow in the U.S. Senate.

Chris O'Dell is the Senior Vice President of Market Solutions at Turquoise Health. Chris has 15+ years of health system and life sciences leadership experience, previously leading digital health strategy at Stanford Health Care and independently advising top 50 bio-pharma companies in their market access and commercial strategies. Chris currently oversees the strategy, growth, and development of the life sciences vertical at Turquoise Health, a series B digital health data company enabling price transparency across the healthcare ecosystem.

Ted Okon is a nationally recognized expert on the policy and politics of cancer care. He is quoted extensively in the press, including guest appearances on TV and radio news shows. Ted has testified before Congress on cancer issues and is frequently on Capitol Hill discussing the nation’s cancer care delivery system. Ted’s target areas of expertise include the cost of cancer treatment, health care reform, Medicare reimbursement, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), drug shortages, and the changing landscape of cancer care delivery in the United States.

Ted has dedicated his career to healthcare business and policy. He has worked for several pharmaceutical companies including Merck and Warner-Lambert, now part of Pfizer, and IMS Health. He co-founded and took public the health care information business Medical Marketing Group. He also founded two oncology companies (an oncology clinical research network and an information network) and has traveled extensively to China, India, Singapore, the U.K., and the Middle East, analyzing and discussing cancer care delivery.

As executive director of the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), Ted oversees the strategic direction of this non-profit organization dedicated to patients and providers in the community cancer care setting, under the direction of a dedicated board of oncologists and practice administrators. Ted also travels the country speaking to state oncology societies, professional organizations, and companies about the challenges facing the nation’s cancer care delivery system. He has authored numerous articles and studies relating to cancer care policy and politics, reimbursement, and clinical issues.

Ted holds a BS degree from Fairfield University and an MBA from the Carnegie-Mellon University Tepper School of Business. His wife Susan practiced as a certified oncology nurse.

Dr. Ameet Patel is a bone marrow transplant and cell therapy provider with a strategic focus on the sustainable implementation of novel cell, bispecific antibody, and transplantation therapies. He is currently with Florida Cancer Specialists and Research Institute with an interest in providing cell therapy and bispecifics to the Florida community. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Florida and completed a hematology/oncology fellowship with a focus on hematologic malignancies, bone marrow transplant, and cellular therapy at Vanderbilt University. He also earned a Master of Management in Healthcare at the Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management, with an interest in cost analysis and payment models for CAR T therapy. During his tenure at OHC, he developed a transplantation program for Multiple Sclerosis, the only known center in the community across the US. His passion is to provide clinical innovation with financial value to cancer patients in the community. 

Dr. Patel is a practicing medical oncologist, board certified in Hematology, Oncology, and Internal Medicine.         

He is immediate past president for the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), He is past for the clinical affairs and trustee for the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC). He has published/presented over 120 papers. He is frequently interviewed and cited in mainstream newspapers including NY times, Washington Post, NPR just to name a few including on key issues like Covid 19, Healthcare disparities (CHD), value-based care. He is also frequently invited by WH team to opine of Cancer Moonshot program. He has been an advisor for the large payers including DHHS (SC), Palmetto GBA, and serves on an advisory board for Medicaid HMOs. He has a special interest in health care policy and economics. He has authored a book on the end of life care published by the Penguin Random House. www.betweenlifeanddeath.org

Additionally, Dr Patel has been working directly with cancer patients for the last twenty years as a community oncologist. He has served as chairman of several committees in numerous South Carolina hospitals. Dr. Patel has extensive legislative experience both at the local and national level and has state senate as well as has carried out capitol hill briefing.

He has been honored by the US Congress for his exceptional contribution to healthcare. Multiple journals have written about his life. He is now working with multiple national entities on CHD. He has started a foundation no one left alone www.nooneleftalone.org to address cancer health disparities. Other organization he has founded and is actively involved in running them include www.ccorn.net, www.cbcca.net, www.kashyappatel.com. 

Dr. Debra Patt is a practicing oncologist and breast cancer specialist in Austin, Texas, and an executive vice president of Texas Oncology with responsibilities in healthcare policy and strategic initiatives. She is an active leader in breast cancer and research in healthcare informatics driving digital healthcare tool adoption in clinical practice to improve the patient journey.

She is the managing partner for the central Texas, Gulf, and Rio Grande Valley regions in Texas Oncology since 2023.

Dr. Patt is the medical director for public policy for The US Oncology Network and has testified before the US Congress and Senate to protect access to care for cancer patients. She has chaired the council on legislation and the cancer committee for the Texas Medical Association.

Dr. Patt serves as the current vice president of the Community Oncology Alliance and on the ASCO Board of Directors. She also chairs the Artificial Intelligence Task Force for ASCO and is the liaison for the clinical innovation committee.

She lectures medical students and is a professor at Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin.

Kelly is an engaging, entertaining speaker with an educational approach to help attendees understand pertinent foundation, current trends, and outlook within a context of how to pragmatically apply learnings to advance their work and improve the outlook of health and benefits. She develops academic, research-based content combined with an entertaining, story-telling delivery that engages and involves an audience and leaves them empowered to action.

Kelly brings fourteen years of experience in wellness, population health, and quality improvement. She currently leads Brown & Brown’s National Mid-market Population Health Consultant Team.

She is a former board member of the Worksite Wellness Council of Massachusetts where she also served as the Programs Committee Chair. In her previous roles with Gallagher and Fred C. Church, she worked with employers of all sizes and industries to improve health outcomes and increase engagement.
 

She is a Certified Wellness Program Manager through the Chapman Institute and is Certified in Public health (CPH). She earned her Master of Public Health from the University at Albany and her Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Elizabethtown College. She has served as an examiner for Partners in Performance Excellence, using the Malcolm Baldridge excellence principles to strategically evaluate organizations.
 

She resides in Central Massachusetts with her husband and two children. She is a certified indoor cycling instructor and enjoys competing in sprint distance triathlons in her spare time.

Trevor Putnoky is the President and CEO of the Healthcare Purchaser Alliance, a nonprofit organization created by employers and public trusts with a mission of advancing healthcare quality, access, and affordability in the state of Maine. In that role, he leads the organization’s legislative, analytic, contracting, and educational programs and works directly with over 70 member organizations on strategies to reduce their healthcare costs. 

In addition to his role at the Healthcare Purchaser Alliance of Maine, Trevor serves as the Chair of Maine’s Office of Affordable Healthcare Advisory Committee and as an officer on the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalition's Board of Governors. 

Alti Rahman is the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at American Oncology Network. He holds a dual master’s degree in business administration and healthcare administration and is a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt.

His healthcare career started as a mental health case worker. Those powerful experiences shaped his pursuit of a career in healthcare administration, where he felt a tremendous gap existed in medical interventions and the alignment of public health goals.

Before joining AON, Alti spent 15 years at Oncology Consultants in Houston, TX, a thriving community oncology practice, pursuing value-based care and continuous operational, cost, and quality improvements.

Alti believes that the future of healthcare involves a multidisciplinary and unapologetically collaborative approach, keeping the patient at the center of all decisions.

Susan is the vice president of clinical innovation at AON and oversees the clinical programming function that includes care plan design, care program implementation and monitoring, and clinical integration with payers and providers.

She has over 25 years of experience in healthcare. Previously, she was the executive director of clinical strategy at Oncology Consultants in Houston, Texas, where she developed and implemented innovative clinical strategies and policies that led to the growth of the company. Susan has created clinical and operations protocols for all levels of practice to promote value-based care initiatives in both commercial and non-commercial payer populations. She has established an appropriate framework and oversight, including input into growth, strategy, resourcing, and decision-making to innovate around consumer-focused oncology programs. Developing a community-based oncology navigation program and collaborating to implement a fully integrated initiative to address social determinants of health within the practice has been significant in her role.

Susan currently sits on the COA Administrators Network Board (CAN), the COA Patient Advocacy Network (CPAN) Advisory Panel and the Houston Cancer Health Equity Collaborative. She is an advisor to the Health Equity & Access Committee for the Texas Society of Clinical Oncology (TxSCO) and sits on the COA Health Equity Committee.  

Susan holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Science in Nursing Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington. Additionally, she has the Nurse Executive Advanced Certification and has held the Oncology Nurse Certification for 16 years. 

Sherri Samuels-Fuerst is the former VP – Total Rewards at Sargento Foods Inc. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Nursing and a Masters in Industrial and Labor Relations from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.  She is a Registered Nurse and a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist through the International Foundation of Employee Benefits, as well as a Professional in Human Resources through SHRM. Sherri served as the Chair of the MBGH Board of Directors for 2 years and currently serves as an Ex-Officio. She shares her passion for employee health and wellbeing whenever she can through her work with many local community committees and coalitions and is a frequent national presenter on the topic. 

BILL SARRAILLE is a Professor of Practice at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, a regulatory consultant, and a retired senior member of the Healthcare Practice group at Sidley Austin LLP.

He is a nationally-recognized expert in health care, life sciences, drugs, medical devices, and patient access to treatments. Mr. Sarraille is widely known for his expertise in a broad array of healthcare matters, including Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, coverage and coding, pharmaceutical price reporting, issues related to the marketing and promotion of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, clinical research issues, Stark and Anti-Kickback Law compliance, Medicare and Medicaid audits, healthcare privacy and security, and coverage for new devices and services.

During his years practicing law, Bill was recognized repeatedly by The Best Lawyers in America in both Healthcare Law and Administrative Law. He was also repeatedly listed as a leader in the field of healthcare law in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business. He was listed by Nightingale's Healthcare News as one of its "Outstanding Practice Lawyers".

Bill served on the Regulatory Relief Committee for the American Hospital Association and served on the Compliance Advisory Committee for the Healthcare Financial Management Association as its Chairman.

Bill currently serves as the General Counsel of two healthcare not-for-profits, as special counsel and a policy adviser to multiple patient advocacy groups, and as the member of the board of directors for a rare disease society and Kalderos, Inc.

Dr. Latha Raja Shankar joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico (BCBSNM) as chief medical officer (CMO) in 2022.  As Vice President and Chief medical officer, Dr. Shankar is responsible for the development and clinical oversight of BCBSNM’s health care management programs. In addition, Dr. Shankar is responsible for overseeing provider relations and maintains effective relationships with physicians, hospitals and medical service companies.

Dr. Shankar has served as a physician executive for over a decade and is experienced in ambulatory, inpatient and managed care settings.  She has served in chief medical officer roles in Molina health care and Centene corporation’s subsidiary in New Mexico. 

Dr. Shankar has a medical degree from Madras Medical College in Chennai, India and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She has authored and co-authored various published articles on medical research and clinical and patient experience. Dr. Shankar currently serves on the board of the New Mexico Chapter of the American Heart Association and sat on the board of directors for many non-profit organizations including National alliance on mental illness of New Mexico, New Mexico Telehealth Alliance board and Doña Ana Wellness Institute advisory council. 

Dr. Shankar’s interests include reading, writing, speaking, practicing meditation for mindfulness, mentorship, travelling, and nature walking her three dogs Mickey, Milton and Mac. 

Joseph M. Shields, Esq. is the founder and President of Transparency-Rx, a 501c6 not-for-profit.

A trusted legal advisor and pragmatic problem-solver, Joe has served under three Governors—both Republican and Democrat—appointed as a chief executive and spearheading major initiatives spanning law enforcement, behavioral health, and community development.

His work in public policy, the law, and emerging technology has been nationally recognized, earning media coverage and innovation awards.

Shields brings seasoned experience advocating and supporting clients, causes, and companies across a broad range of sectors, including the pharmaceutical supply chain, healthcare, defense, energy, and technology.

He holds a law degree from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law and graduated cum laude from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs with dual degrees.

Transparency-Rx is a fast-growing coalition of companies led by executives and innovators committed to pass-through, transparent pharmacy benefit management and a resilient American supply chain. In just two years, Transparency-Rx represents more than 22 million covered lives--with members operating in all 50 states, serving a wide range of national and local employers and plans. To join or learn more, visit transparency-rx.com.

Serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Nevada Business Group on Health/Nevada Health Partners, Chris leads a group of public and private employers in direct contracting for health care services as well as employee and community health.

Chris has held senior leadership in diverse organizations from Health Care (Washoe Medical Center - now Renown), to Automotive (Porsche Enterprises, Incorporated), to High Tech (Intuit), to Municipal Government (City of Sparks, Nevada). 

Chris serves as Board Member and of the National Alliance of HealthCare Purchasing Coalitions.  With the National Alliance, Chris has worked diligently in several affinity groups, including assisting in the development of the first Advanced Primary Care Market Survey, and is currently leading the High Cost Claimant Advisory Group, and the Purchaser Voice Advisory Group.  Chris also serves as the Chair of the Nevada Community Board for Comagine Health. 

Chris has a degree in Managerial Sciences from the University of Nevada Reno, as well as a Certificate in Public Administration, Certificate in International Employee Benefits, Member, and Certified Compensation Professional, American Compensation Association – granted Lifetime Achievement Award, Member, Society of Human Resource Managers, Member, Senior Human Resources Forum.

Karen van Caulil, PhD, has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Florida Alliance for Healthcare Value since 2011. The Florida Alliance is a 501(c)(3) research and education organization and Florida’s only business coalition on health, representing more than 80 public and private sector employers. 

Dr. van Caulil also serves as the Executive Director of Floridians for Accountability in Health Care, a newly formed 501(c)4 affiliate of the Florida Alliance, established to strengthen the ability to advocate for policies that make health care more affordable, accessible, and accountable for Florida’s working families.  

Dr. van Caulil serves on numerous national and state boards and advisory committees including the Board of Governors of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, the Board of Directors of The Leapfrog Group, and Florida’s Consumer Health Information and Policy Advisory Council where she is the Chair.

Dr. Wilfong is Senior Vice President of Value-Based Care at Thyme Care, the leading value-based care enabler, collaborating with payers and providers to transform the experience and outcomes for individuals living with cancer. He is also a practicing medical oncologist/hematologist, at Texas Oncology in Dallas, Texas. Prior to his role at Thyme Care, he served as Senior Vice President of Payer and Care Transformation at The US Oncology Network and as Vice President of Value-Based Care and Quality programs at Texas Oncology.   

A committed advocate for community oncology, Dr. Wilfong’s mission is to transform cancer care to deliver better outcomes by aligning patient goals and values with treatment options and payment models. In his role at Thyme Care, he is helping define the future of value-based care payment reform, improving care-team coordination, optimizing actionable analytics and improving the quality of patient care. 

While at The US Oncology Network, Dr. Wilfong was instrumental in implementing both the Oncology Care Model and the Enhancing Oncology Model while driving performance in multiple commercial value-based care contracts. He previously led the Value-Based Physician Champion task force for The US Oncology Network and chaired the US Oncology Pathways Task Force. Dr. Wilfong currently co-chairs the Community Oncology Alliance Payer Reform Committee and serves on the ASCO drug shortages committee. He formerly volunteered on the ASCO quality measures task force and the ASCO guidelines committee.  While at Texas Oncology, Dr. Wilfong served as medical director of the COVID-19 Task Force and was the physician lead for their electronic medical record conversion. He has received various teaching and community service awards and has published over 50 papers and abstracts.

In 2003, Dr. Wilfong completed a fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas in hematology and medical oncology. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the same school in 2000, as well as earned his M.D. from there in 1997. He earned a B.S. degree in mathematics at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, in 1993.

Drew Wilkins is a managing director in Deloitte Consulting LLP’s commercial strategy practice. He has more than 20 years of consulting experience and focuses on commercial strategy and innovative business models for biopharmaceutical and medtech clients. He helps clients solve the strategic challenges associated with growth, innovation and ecosystem disruption. He also leads Deloitte’s efforts related to innovative financing models for advanced and emerging therapies, including cell and gene therapies.

Alexandra Zaleta, PhD, is Associate Vice President of Research and Insights at CancerCare, a national non-profit providing free support to people affected by cancer. As a research scientist, clinical psychologist, and caregiver advocate, Dr. Zaleta leads person-centered research on access, affordability, and the real-world impact of insurance barriers on people with cancer. She is a nationally recognized expert in patient and caregiver experience and is committed to translating research insights into policy and programmatic action. Dr. Zaleta completed her PhD in Psychology at Washington University in St. Louis, clinical internship at the VA Boston Healthcare System, and postdoctoral training at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. She also holds degrees from Harvard University (EdM) and Vassar College (BA).