* Indicates An OPEN MINDS Leadership & Management Course With Course Hours
Having An Impact On Health Equity—Challenges, Opportunities & Inspiration
What is the future of measuring and managing health equity issues in the health and human service field? Karen Dale, the Market President at AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia provides insights into the challenges of assuring equity in access to and delivery of health care for all members. In her presentation, she will talk about the effects of lack of equity on the AmeriHealth plan performance and their new initiatives to measure and improve health equity among their members.
AmeriHealth Caritas is a national leader in health care solutions for complex consumers, currently serving approximately 5 million members in 13 states and the District of Columbia. In her tenure as Market President, Ms. Dale has been dedicated to improving health care service delivery and outcomes.
Karen Dale
Karen M. Dale is Market President for AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia, a mission-based Medicaid Managed Care Organization in Washington, D.C., and the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for the AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies. Her focus includes applying a health equity lens to impact all levels of policies, processes, decisions, laws, and outcomes for the communities AmeriHealth Caritas serves.
She also leads a decidedly metric-driven business approach to mobilize leaders and accelerate strategies to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion inside and outside the walls of AmeriHealth Caritas. As a result, opportunities for people to experience health, wholeness, and belonging are enhanced by addressing the social, economic, and environmental conditions that are drivers of poor health.
In addressing the landscape of needs among the nation’s vulnerable populations, Dale has cultivated a focus that has helped AmeriHealth Caritas concurrently innovate, while meeting the highest levels of quality and service. These efforts include the use of digital tools to aid in the management of chronic diseases, peer-to-peer outreach using community health workers and peer specialists, and the use of a human-centered member engagement approach.
Dale’s vision is notably reflected in key programs addressing Black maternal health, racism, housing, transportation, violence interruption, and food insecurity. In addition, her philosophy that health care must evolve into a health ecosystem that promotes wellness without barriers, starting where people are, has led to several collaborative relationships with providers, community partners, philanthropists, and businesses to implement sustainable, scalable solutions with high impact.
Her hobbies include gardening, creating healthy Caribbean recipes, traveling, and watching her son’s soccer games.
Expanding Revenue Beyond Medicaid: New Funding Strategies For I/DD Providers
Sponsored By: 
As Medicaid funding remains stagnant, behavioral health and I/DD providers must explore innovative ways to diversify revenue streams. This session will uncover non-traditional funding opportunities that can enhance financial sustainability while staying true to your organization’s mission.
Drawing from real-world examples and decades of experience, this presentation will cover:
- Identifying viable alternative funding sources at the federal, state, and municipal levels
- Assessing alignment with your organization’s goals and services
- Navigating the steps to secure new revenue streams
Attendees will gain practical insights into securing government contracts, grants, and partnerships that can strengthen financial resilience and reduce reliance on traditional Medicaid funding.
Terence Blackwell
Terry Blackwell is a seasoned leader with operational expertise in managing budgets, program requirements, risk mitigation, funding, and people. Terry brings more than three decades of diverse leadership experience serving the needs of people with disabilities. A recognized thought leader among his peers, Terry is a regular presenter at the national level for Applied Behavior Analysis International.
Notably, Terry helped lead the development of the country’s only I/DD- and autism-focused ACO. During the establishment of this entity, he worked with NCQA to impact national policy to accommodate the special needs of the I/DD and ASD (Autistic Spectrum) populations.
Previously, Terry was the Chief Executive Officer for Chimes International, a large multi-service nonprofit operating in the mid-Atlantic and in partnership with Chimes Israel in Tel Aviv. He worked closely with the board of directors of the parent company and the six affiliate companies in developing a coherent voice and outward-facing presence to external stakeholders. Terry also created new and exciting program ventures within the company, consistent with the evidence-based best practices in the fields of integrated supported work I/DD, autism, and behavioral health.
Terry was also the Chief Operating Officer for Services for the Underserved (SUS), a nonprofit organization that provides services to people with autism, intellectual disabilities, behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse issues as well as veterans’ services in a variety of coordinated and integrated care models. In this role, Terry provided operational leadership and oversight for this 187-million-dollar social services agency with 2,000 employees. He also co-created and co-chaired a 2.8-billion-dollar membership group of I/DD provider organizations oriented to aligning best practices in the field for managed care impact in Pennsylvania.
Before SUS, Terry was the Vice President of Operations for Fedcap, Inc., a 75-year-old NYC-based nonprofit serving over 1,000 clients with special needs throughout the New York metropolitan area, where he identified and developed associated license and programs for persons who have lifetime disabilities that may qualify for supports through federal and state initiatives.
Terry also served as the Chief Executive Officer of Developmental Delay Rehabilitation Services, Inc., where he provided direction and oversight for fiscal, programmatic, and development function of a New York State Education Department and New York State Department of Health approved home and community-based early intervention and early childhood program. The program was referenced by key national autism experts as a “best practices publicly funded services for autism” program in the Northeast.
In addition to earning his Master of Science degree in Psychological Services from the University of Pennsylvania, including attendance at the Wharton School, Terry is a Licensed School Principal, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and Certified Addictions Specialist. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Saint Peter’s University.
Evolving Best Practice Models In Whole Person Care For People With Cognitive Disabilities: A Panel Discussion
As we embark on times of great change, organizations must reflect on where they are on the journey to whole person care, and what their strategic vision for the future is. With challenges like funding for dual eligibles and complex care individuals, organizations are looking for ways to integrate care to ensure there is “no wrong door” when consumers are receiving services.
Join a panel of experts and hear how they are addressing these challenges by shifting to integrated care models and developing innovative programs in order to serve the most complex and costliest of consumers with great outcomes and cost-savings to the system.
During this session, attendees will hear:
- Advances in whole person care models for people with cognitive disabilities, including technology, staffing, and service models of care
- The legal, governance, and programmatic strategies when implementing a whole person care model
- Solutions to integrate whole person care strategies for a more holistic and impactful approach to service delivery
Tine Hansen-Turton, MGA/MPA, J.D., FCPP, FAAN
A seasoned Healthcare and Human Services Executive with 25 years of experience in C-suite executive leadership throughout her career in Nonprofit, Private, and Government Organizations, Tine Hansen-Turton is the President and CEO of Woods System of Care (WSOC). WSOC is a leading population health and advocacy organization in PA and NJ that provides life cycle care to meet the lifelong needs of children and adults with intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A), acquired brain injuries, and /or mental health challenges who may also have complex medical and genetic conditions. She oversees 7500 staff that serves more than 52,000 individuals. Ms. Hansen-Turton also serves as the founding Executive Director and Administrator for the Convenient Care Association (CCA), the national trade association of over 3500 private-sector retail clinic industry, serving 40 million people with basic health care services across the country. Ms. Hansen-Turton formerly served as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy Officer at Public Health Management Corporation, where she oversaw and led corporate strategy, operations, business development, and M&A. Additionally, Ms. Hansen-Turton served as CEO of the National Nurse-led Care Consortium, a non-profit organization supporting the growth and development of over 500 nurse-managed and school health clinics. Ms. Hansen-Turton also teaches public and social innovations, leading nonprofits, health policy, and the social innovations lab at the University of Pennsylvania Fels Institute of Government and School of Nursing. Ms. Hansen-Turton is the founder and publisher of a social impact/innovation journal and has published eight books. She received her BA from Slippery Rock University, her Master of Government/Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania Fels Institute of Government, and her Juris Doctor from Temple University Beasley School of Law.
Simon Kimmelman
Simon Kimmelman, Esq., serves as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating and Legal Officer for the Woods System of Care. In his role as Chief Legal Officer, he heads up the Woods Legal Department and oversees all law-related matters for Woods, its affiliates, and related entities. As Chief Operating Officer, he is directly responsible for implementing the Woods Strategic Directions Plan and coordinating the Woods System of Care operations. Previously, he was a member of Sills Cummis & Gross P.C. and served as Managing Partner of the Firm’s Princeton, New Jersey office. Mr. Kimmelman’s practice was focused on business bankruptcy, health law, general corporate matters, and commercial litigation. He has represented major entities involved in many of the most significant Chapter 11 cases filed in New Jersey and several other jurisdictions. He served as the bankruptcy trustee for Kiwi International Airlines and John Z. DeLorean. He is admitted to the Bar in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He is a fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and former Chair of the Bankruptcy Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association and the Lawyers’ Advisory Committee to the New Jersey Bankruptcy Court. In recognition of his contributions to the advancement of medicine and dental medicine, he has recently been elected a Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Mr. Kimmelman has been involved in various charitable endeavors and most recently served as President of Har Sinai Temple in Pennington, New Jersey. He also served as a long-standing Member and Board Chair of the Woods Resources Board of Trustees. Mr. Kimmelman received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School.
Dr. Sailaja Musunuri
Dr. Sailaja Musunuri, MD, Executive Vice President of Integrative Medicine and Chief of Psychiatry. Dr. Musunuri is an accomplished physician, psychiatrist, and leader with over 20 years of experience in clinical practice, specializing in the care of children and adults with intellectual disabilities, autism, co-occurring psychiatric disorders, and other complex medical conditions. She currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Integrative Medicine and Chief of Psychiatry at Woods System of Care, where she is recognized for her exceptional leadership, innovative thinking, and ability to deliver results across diverse clinical settings. Double board-certified in both Adult and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Dr. Musunuri is known for her compassionate, high-quality care and her ability to think creatively, challenging conventional approaches to healthcare. Her leadership extends beyond clinical practice to include fostering key collaborations with nonprofit health organizations and pharmaceutical leaders, focusing on improving services and outcomes for individuals with intellectual disabilities. She has played a pivotal role in building trust and driving mission-critical initiatives within her organization. Dr. Musunuri is also the founder of the Mollie Woods Hare Center for Excellence in Neurodivergence – Intellectual Disability, Autism, and Mental Health, which serves as the training and dissemination hub for best practices in the field. In addition, she is an active Board Member of The Network: Toward Unity for Health (TUFH), a global non-state actor aligned with the World Health Organization. TUFH works to foster equitable, community-oriented health services and research globally, and Dr. Musunuri’s involvement further underscores her commitment to enhancing healthcare access for vulnerable populations. With her unique combination of clinical expertise, leadership, and global partnerships, Dr. Musunuri continues to drive forward the strategic goals of Woods System of Care, ensuring that individuals with disabilities receive the highest quality of care and support. Her connections across the U.S. and India are instrumental in developing new programs and partnerships aimed at improving services for people with disabilities in both regions.
Jeanne Marshall, M.Ed, MA, BCBA, LBA
Jeanne Marshall has been affiliated with the Easterseals Midwest organization since 1987 when she began volunteering and working as a classroom assistant. She graduated from the University of Missouri with a Master’s degree in Special Education in 1991. She served in a variety of program roles prior to becoming the Director of the Training Program in 1997. In 2004, Jeanne was appointed as Chief Program Officer for and continued in that role until 2024 when she was appointed President. In 2004, she completed a Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from The University of Nevada and is a Board Certified and Licensed Behavior Analyst. She also holds teaching certifications in Special Education for Learning Disabilities and Behavior Disorders.
Jeanne has served for more than 15 years as a surveyor for CARF International , a not for profit organization that reviews and grants accreditation for organizations providing services in the industry. She has served on the Board of Directors for St. Bridget of Kildare School, The Association for Aging With Developmental Disabilities, the Missouri Association for Behavior Analysis, and The Autism Collective. She currently serves on the Missouri Autism Commission and the Starling Board of Directors.
Tisha Jackson
Tisha Jackson is an experienced executive leader in healthcare operations, currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer at Abound Health. In this role, Tisha is responsible for leading operational strategies, ensuring quality and compliance, and fostering innovation.
Previously, as a Novant Health leader, she was responsible for both ambulatory and acute facility neuroscience programming. Tisha holds a Master of Science in Health Administration from Louisiana State University at Shreveport and is dedicated to advancing quality outcomes in healthcare.
Innovation From Within: Leveraging Partnerships, People & Data To Drive Real-World Results
Sponsored By: 
You don’t have to look for the “next big thing” to drive innovation at your clinic. And in today’s uncertain environment, adding risk to your clinic is off the table. In this discussion with Brad Farmer, executive director at Acadiana Area Human Services District, and Brittany Miller, pharmacist and director of partnerships at Genoa Healthcare, you’ll hear how the two organizations looked inward to find innovation, including:
- Ways to improve access to care for their consumers
- How to collaborate as one care team to improve outcomes and reduce staff burdens
- How to lean on existing data and reporting to maintain CARF accreditation and other standards
Addressing Health-Related Social Needs In Your Service Delivery: Strategies & Solutions
Social determinants of health, such as housing instability, food insecurity, and lack of access to care significantly impact overall well-being, especially for those with cognitive disabilities. Service providers across various sectors of health care, social services, and community organizations, are increasingly called upon to address these needs to improve health outcomes. In this session, we will explore effective strategies for integrating health-related social needs into service delivery for the autism and I/DD populations.
This session will cover:
- Identifying common health related social needs in persons with cognitive disabilities
- Practical strategies for incorporating screenings and assessments into service delivery
- Building collaborative partnerships with community organizations and leveraging technology to better track and address social needs.
Marco Damiani, MA, BS, ABD
Marco Damiani has spent his entire career in disability rights, fighting for full inclusion of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities into their communities. Starting as a Direct Support Professional, working for a non-profit at the Willowbrook State School as it began closing, he quickly realized the power of collective advocacy on behalf of people who are perceived as different. As Marco’s career progressed, he devoted much of his energy in working to achieve health equity for people with disabilities, playing a major role in developing integrated care models for people frequently underserved by the conventional healthcare system.
As CEO of AHRC NYC, a Forbes Best American mid-size company, he leads a staff of 5,000, supporting 15,000 individuals with IDD and their families.
Marco is an appointee to the NYU College of Dentistry Dean’s Strategic Advisory Council and is a recipient of the Kriser Medal, the College’s highest honor, a recipient of Pace University’s Opportunitas-in-Action Medal, The Arc of the United States National Convention of Executives Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award, a Certificate of Special U.S. Congressional Recognition for outstanding and invaluable service to the community, Crain’s Business and Empire BCBS Whole-Healthcare Hero and The Excellence in Autism Award from Mental Health News Education. He has also received Citations from The NYS Assembly and the Bronx Borough President for Meritorious Advocacy and Community Service.
He is a Mayoral Appointee of the NYC Community Services Board, a member of NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ Transition Team, Board Member of the Inter-Agency Council of IDD Agencies, NY Disability Advocates, Care Design NY, Metro Community Health Centers, and Cafe Joyeux U.S., an international network of cafes staffed primarily by neurodiverse people. He has published articles in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities and the Journal of Social Work in Disability and Rehabilitation, among others. Marco has a BS in psychology from Manhattan College, a Masters in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University, and is ABD in Educational Psychology from New York University.
Nia Uhlenhake
With over a decade of experience in the field of Autism and advocacy, Nia Uhlenhake is the Family Support and Community Outreach Manager at AZA United, where she has been a driving force for the past six years. Nia’s journey in this field began 12 years ago when her son, now 17, was diagnosed with Autism, ADHD, ODD, and Anxiety. Motivated by a deep desire to understand the systems of care to better support her son, she began working at the Division of Developmental Disabilities as a Support Coordinator. This early experience ignited her passion for helping families navigate complex systems and led her to AZA United.
Starting as the sole Family Support Specialist, Nia helped develop the family support program from the ground up. Soon she began leading a thriving team of five additional family support specialists. Her unwavering commitment to advocacy and her “no stone left unturned” approach has made her a trusted resource for families, ensuring they receive the support and resources they need to thrive. Nia has become a reliable community resource and has been invited to present at multiple events and serve as a panelist, sharing her expertise and experiences with a wider audience. She was also the recipient of the 2024 Arizona Peer and Family Career Academy’s Family Support Partner of the Year Award, a recognition of her dedication to supporting families in need. Nia is passionate about creating lasting positive changes in the lives of families and individuals.
The Monarch Whole Person Care Model: A Lunch & Learn Session
Blake Martin, MHA
Blake Martin, MHA, serves as Monarch’s President. Under the direction of Chief Executive Officer Dr. Peggy Terhune, Blake leads the organization’s strategic planning efforts, build and maintain relationships with state and national policymakers and oversee operations of key business units, enabling the company to continue as well as expand the delivery of exceptional care across all services.
As President, Blake is directly responsible for identifying and developing strategic opportunities and maintaining relationships with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, statewide local management entities and managed care organizations (LME/MCOs), social services agencies, licensing agencies and the people and families Monarch supports, among other key stakeholders.
Blake brings extensive experience in health care administration, operational oversight and fiscal management, having most recently served as Monarch’s Chief Strategy Officer, where he led the development and implementation of a new five-year strategic plan. He holds both a Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree and a bachelor’s degree from Pfeiffer University. He also serves as a member of Pfeiffer University’s Board of Trustees.
From Investment To Impact: How To Maximize Value In Health IT
Sponsored By: 
Maximizing the value of health IT requires more than meeting today’s needs—it takes long-term vision and a strategic plan for growth. In this session, Tricia Zerger, Senior Director of Human Services Strategy at Netsmart and Danielle Ross, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Consulting and Managed Services at Netsmart, will explore how organizations can move from reactive technology investments to intentional, impactful transformation. Tricia and Danielle will be joined by Jessica Fenchel of Access Services and Kirk Broome, PhD, Sr. Director of Transformation, MHMR of Tarrant County.
Using the HIT Value Model as a guide, this session will highlight how innovative solutions and collaborative partnerships lay the groundwork for financial sustainability, operational scalability and better care delivery. Through real-world examples and client-led innovation, attendees will gain a clear understanding of how to build and execute a meaningful technology strategy that delivers both immediate returns and long-term value.
Key Learnings:
- How to use the HIT Value Model to create a practical roadmap for technology maturity
- What makes a strategic partnership successful in driving financial and operational outcomes
- Why aligning innovation with long-term goals helps organizations scale sustainably
Kirk Broome, Ph.D.
Kirk has been conducting health services research for almost 30 years, primarily in substance abuse treatment and prevention. He has studied client retention and engagement in treatment and long-term program outcomes. He has also studied the staff working environment in treatment programs, quality improvement initiatives, program costs, and the factors that drive them. That research has been published in refereed scientific journals and books.
Kirk has particular expertise in the statistical and research methods applied in these studies. He has served as a consultant and teacher for colleagues, students, and clients.
Specialties include multilevel models for hierarchical data, structural equation models, linear and logistic regression, techniques for handling missing data, psychometric analysis, measure development, and economic cost analysis.
Experience with statistical software such as SAS, SPSS, Mplus, HLM, LISREL, and Winsteps.
Experienced manager of personnel and research projects.
Jessica Fenchel
Jessica Fenchel is the Executive Vice President and COO at Access Services, where she supports the delivery of diverse community-based programming for children, adults, and families in Eastern Pennsylvania. Access Services is a nonprofit organization building community through the delivery of services in Behavioral Health, Children and Families Services, Intellectual Disability and Autism Programming, and Housing and Homeless Services.
Jess has been key in the startup of innovative initiatives across multiple service spaces, including crisis, forensics, schools, and homelessness. Jess believes that help should be helpful and that the people we serve deserve our best. She has led in partnership building to realize integration between behavioral health and physical health, driving solutions for vulnerable populations. Jess’ work to develop new models of partnership between law enforcement and crisis systems has led to overall reductions in arrests for those experiencing mental health crises.
Jess received her undergraduate degree from Messiah College, her master’s degree from Lasalle University in Clinical Counseling Psychology, training in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas, a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Lasalle University, and a certificate from the Global Trauma Recovery Institute. Jess is an avid sports fan, especially of the Buffalo Bills, and loves being active outside with her husband, three kids, and dog.
Danielle Ross
Danielle’s experience includes over 16 years of work in leadership and consulting roles within the behavioral healthcare system in the state of Virginia. Her experience encompasses both service delivery leadership in the intellectual and developmental disability, behavioral health, and addiction treatment communities, as well as roles as vice president and virtual chief information officer. She is a sought after advisor for her skills in helping organizations to align their strategic initiatives and organizational operations with their investments in technology.
In her role as vCIO for Netsmart managed services, she provides customers with the necessary blend of IT leadership and service delivery knowledge to help them leverage their technology in the day to day operations and service delivery efforts of their organization. Her primary goal is to help clients gain the ability to focus their efforts on consumer care and service delivery by making sure their technology supports and enhances those efforts, versus creating challenges and barriers.
Tricia Zerger, MA
As Senior Director of Human Services Strategy, Tricia Zerger works closely with the clinical, development, and product teams to ensure all Netsmart technology and services align with client and market needs. This allows clients across the human services community to thrive in emerging models of care, like value-based reimbursement. She also advances Netsmart thought leadership, promoting addiction treatment, autism, behavioral health, child and family services, foster care, I/DD, and other human services markets, as well as oversees the Child and Family Advisory Council.
An active participant in advancing healthcare technology since 2003, Tricia’s career at Netsmart began in 2014. Over her tenure, she has held a variety of roles in areas such as solutions consulting, CareGuidance strategist, marketing, and specialty markets. Tricia holds a master’s degree in Professional Counseling and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Kansas. She serves as one of the Netsmart Certified Mental Health First Aid Certified Trainer. Netsmart has certified 1,000 associates in various locations across the country, with a goal of 100% certification. Tricia is a certified trainer of QPR (Question. Persuade. Refer) industry-leading approach to suicide prevention. She is helping Netsmart associates feel empowered to effectively intervene on behalf of suicidal and in-crisis people.
Measuring Outcomes In Whole Person Care
For people with cognitive disabilities, a holistic approach requires tailored methods to assess progress, identify needs, and ensure that care plans are comprehensive and individualized. During this session, explore effective strategies for measuring outcomes in whole person care for individuals with cognitive disabilities.
During this session, attendees will:
- Examine challenges and best practices in engaging individuals with cognitive disabilities in outcome measurement.
- Learn how to measure health and wellness outcomes beyond clinical indicators, incorporating factors like quality of life, social engagement, and independence
- Gain insights into how interdisciplinary teams can collaborate to measure outcomes and make adjustments to care to meet evolving needs
Kimber Bruhn
Kimber Bruhn is the National Director of Quality and Nursing Services at Vista Care. She holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and Administration. Kimber has worked in over 17 states as well as internationally to support people with disabilities over the past 20 years. She has worked in a variety of role,s including operations, project management, and quality & nursing. In her current role, she is responsible for technology supports, assistive technology, and building an electronic health record system in addition to all things Quality and Nursing.
Uncovering The Challenges & Opportunities For Reimbursement: A Payer Panel
Join our expert payer panel as they delve into the complexities of reimbursement in the Autism and I/DD market. This session will explore the key challenges and emerging opportunities for payers, providers, and stakeholders navigating this landscape. Panelists will share insights on policy changes, funding models, and innovative solutions that can help ensure accessible and effective care for the autism and I/DD populations. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how reimbursement strategies can drive improvements in care and outcomes for these complex consumers.
David Donohue, MBA
David Donohue is the Market President of CareSource’s Arkansas Market, CareSource PASSETM. Prior to joining CareSource, David served as the Executive Director of the New Hampshire Medicaid plan with WellSense Health Plan, where he led state operations. David’s dedication to Arkansas extends back to the launch of the Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity.
David has extensive experience working with people with complex needs, including individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and those with significant Behavioral Health challenges.
His passion for these populations is rooted in working for and with fee-for-service providers of services as well as hospital systems and provider practices.
He has also supported the launch of managed care programs for both traditional and complex populations across the country. His previous work includes helping to develop specialized programs for people with Intellectual and Development Disabilities, Crisis Programs, and Value-Based arrangements for a variety of provider-types.
Community involvement is a priority for David, and he regularly supports organizations focused on eliminating food insecurity and improving health equity.
David holds a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from Ball State University and an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University.
David Rogers
David Rogers is the President of Independent Living Systems (ILS) and a seasoned leader with more than 30 years of healthcare experience in both the public and private sectors. As President of ILS, Rogers is responsible for day-to-day management of the internal operations of the company as well as execution of strategies to optimize people, process, and technology across the enterprise and to continue to advance ILS as a driving force in healthcare innovation.
Prior to being named President of ILS in 2020, Rogers joined Florida Community Care (FCC), a subsidiary of ILS, as Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer in 2018. Before assuming his role at FCC, Rogers was Managing Principal of Health Management Associates (HMA) Medicaid Market Solutions where he advised and supported state agencies, health systems, health plans, and others. Rogers served as Assistant Deputy Secretary for Medicaid Operations, functioning as the Florida’s Medicaid program’s Chief Operations Officer. He has also served as Idaho’s State Medicaid Director.
David earned his Bachelor’s degree and Graduate Certificate in Health Services Administration and Public Policy from Florida State University.
Mastering Value-Based Contracting: Practical Strategies for Success
Sponsored By:
Value-based contracting stands as a critical strategy for enhancing patient outcomes and controlling costs. This session is designed for C-suite leaders seeking to deepen their understanding of value-based contracting, including how to effectively structure contracts and manage risk-bearing arrangements. Through real-world experiences from VNS Health, participants will gain practical insights into risks and ways to manage them, and actionable strategies to navigate the complexities of value-based agreements. Attendees will leave equipped with the knowledge necessary to drive organizational success in a value-based care environment.
Scott Green
Scott Green leads the Care Dimensions business unit at Netsmart. In his role, he leads a team focused on building out a comprehensive suite of solutions designed to support organizations as they digitize their operations beyond the EHR. Green has been with Netsmart for 10 years and has held many roles during that time including leading the Human Services business unit.
Prior to joining Netsmart, he spent 13 years with Pfizer where he focused on building relationships and clinical initiatives with Integrated Delivery Networks.
Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial psychology from Kansas State University and a graduate certificate in healthcare leadership from Park University.
The Future Of Value-Based Care For Consumers With Behavioral Health Disorders: The Centene Total Cost Of Care Model In Florida’s Sunshine Health Plan
For health plans, a big challenge is addressing the 5% of the member population with behavioral and cognitive conditions who use 35% of the total resources. The question is how to develop an integrated care model for those consumers that balances the quality of care with the cost of care. In this informative session, Carole Matyas, Vice President of Sunshine Health, a Centene health plan, reviews Centene’s total cost of care model – a program that assigns responsibility for the management of specific consumers to provider organization partners that can address their behavioral health, primary care, and social service needs. Ms. Matyas will discuss the challenges of advanced health plan/provider partnerships – and the future of these partner relationships in a changing health care environment.
Carole Matyas, MSW
Carole Matyas is the Vice President Operations for Sunshine Health Plan. She oversees the SMI Specialty Plan in Florida and has responsibility for overall operation of the program. Carole is accountable to assure the development of a fully integrated medical/behavioral program that is centered in whole person attention and care. She assists with representing the company externally to assure our members, providers and stakeholders have the information and support they need.
Carole has more than 30 years of behavioral health-related experience, with 20 of those years of experience in health plan operations. She joined WellCare in 2011 as VP Behavioral Health Operations at WellCare Corporate office. Previously she worked for Magellan Health Services, first as a general manager for call center operations, and then as Chief of Clinic Operations, where she led practice management and operations of 23 mental health clinics and a psychiatric urgent care center in Arizona. Her additional experience includes serving as Vice President of Public Sector Operations for Schaller Anderson, a Medicaid managed care organization and helped to develop their integrated model; and as Vice President for Value Options, a managed behavioral health care company whose contracts included carve out managed care for state and government agencies, where Carole was executive lead on a large carve out program in Texas. Carole spent her early career as a licensed social worker providing direct clinical services in a group practice, community mental health and a residential treatment center.
Carole has been recognized by Mental Health America and NAMI Texas for her dedication to mental health advocacy. Carole earned both her undergraduate and Master of Social Work degrees from Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
From Crisis Response To Long-Term Innovation: A New Era In Independent Living, Workforce Capacity & Provider Growth
Sponsored By: 
Traditional approaches to care can’t keep up and aren’t what the customer wants. As providers deliver care with a disappearing workforce, rising demand, and shifting expectations, survival requires more than patchwork solutions—it demands a fundamental redesign. This session unveils innovative solutions that significantly enhance organizational capacity while exponentially increasing revenue lines in existing service regions. Learn how GoodLife University’s nationally recognized strategies combine staffing innovations, culturally responsive benefits, and scalable neighborhood-based technology-leveraged support systems to stabilize operations and deliver the next generation of care people actually want—in their homes and communities.
Explore how organizations can:
- Use impact-driven labor models to improve margins and fill vacancies with “affordable”, well-paid full-time direct support professionals.
- Offer non-traditional benefits (like housing, transportation, and efficient, flexible schedules) that address real-life barriers and improve retention.
- Replicate “care ecosystems” that combine the best of congregate and in-home support to fill gaps in independence without sacrificing safety or sustainability.
- Leverage technologies that advance independence, self-direction, safety, life quality, and privacy.
With real-world data, policy implications, and actionable tools, this session equips leaders to move from crisis response to long-term innovation.
Mike Strouse, Ph.D.
For more than 39 years, Mike has led GoodLife Innovations, Inc., and its subsidiaries, including iLink Technologies and GoodLife University. Mike’s extensive work encompasses research, development, refinement, and dissemination of evidence-based, nationally-regarded community service models that consistently produce person-centered care and high quality-of-life outcomes and also improve the capacity of the direct support workforce. Mike earned his Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior Management and holds a courtesy faculty appointment in the Department of Applied Behavioral Science at the University of Kansas. He continues to participate in research, assist with training graduate students, and successfully nurtures this important, 50-year partnership with the University.
Megan McKinney Todd
Megan leads GoodLife University’s internal and external collaborations, driving the outreach and dissemination of innovative solutions for workforce stability and technologies. Megan leans on decades of experience in strategic planning to optimize growth, outreach, and the development of GoodLife University’s ever-expanding toolbox. With a degree in English, graduate coursework in rhetoric and professional communication, and more than 20 years of professional nonprofit and business experience, Megan thrives as an engaging and articulate ambassador of GoodLife University’s service models and approaches.
Tech-Enabled Recruiting & Retention: Best Practices For Competing For The Best Talent
In today’s competitive market, tech-driven recruiting is essential for attracting and retaining top talent. This session will showcase practical case studies from organizations that have successfully implemented and optimized Human Capital Management (HCM) systems to streamline recruitment, enhance candidate engagement, and drive financial sustainability. Attendees will gain insights into the real-world application of HCM tools and how they can be leveraged to reduce turnover, enhance efficiency, and foster long-term growth.
Key Takeaways:
- Practical examples of how HCM systems streamline recruitment and cut hiring costs
- Proven strategies for attracting and retaining top talent through technology
- Case studies highlighting the financial impact of smart hiring practices and HCM tools
Brandon Ward, Psy.D.
Brandon Ward, PsyD is a dynamic healthcare leader, bringing together deep clinical insight, experience with complex technology solutions, and an innovative and collaborative style – all in the service of transforming behavioral healthcare in Colorado and beyond. In his current role as Chief Innovation Officer and VP of Information Systems at Jefferson Center, Dr. Ward leads a team of exceptional professionals in this pursuit – partnering within the organization and throughout the community to build robust, secure, and innovative solutions to behavioral healthcare’s toughest challenges.
Transforming Your Brand Image For Maximum Consumer Engagement & Visibility: A Clarvida Case Study
Organizations that want to stand out from the crowd should first look at their brand and image through the eyes of their employees. That’s one of the key lessons learned by a comprehensive health and human services agency that embarked on a campaign to create a single company identity and culture across 17 states, 72 service lines, 27 websites, and 50 years of tradition. Join Clarvida (nee Pathways) to learn how a strategic re-branding initiative improved staff recruitment and retention, heightened employee satisfaction, and set the stage to launch their 2030 vision: doubling their community impact to 180,000 people served each year.
Attendees will learn:
- How and why to start a re-branding initiative with the end in mind
- Navigating the transition to a “single company culture” over multiple “mini-cultures”
- Practical guidance and lessons learned from creating a new company image
Whitney McChane
Whitney McChane brings over two decades of marketing, branding, and communications expertise to her role as Chief Marketing Officer at Clarvida, along with experience supporting other high-impact organizations such as United HealthGroup, the National Center for Learning Disabilities, and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. As leader of the Marketing discipline, McChane is transforming the Clarvida brand into a symbol of excellence in health and human services. She is modernizing the brand and crafting a narrative that captures the essence of Clarvida: helping everyone, clients and employees alike, achieve their personal best. In parallel, McChane is building Clarvida’s Marketing Shared Services function to bolster the company’s marketing and communications across every market and service line in order to recruit and retain the best talent for Clarvida. Her past roles in leadership positions with franchise brands like International Dairy Queen and H&R Block have informed her ability to manage and unify marketing operations effectively.
The Innovation Success Factor In A Chaotic Market
Monica E. Oss
Monica E. Oss, M.S. is the founder of OPEN MINDS and serves as its chief executive officer, executive editor of its publications and websites, and executive lead of its consulting engagements. For the past three decades, Ms. Oss has led the OPEN MINDS team and its research on health and human service market trends and its national consulting practice. She is well known for her numerous books and articles focused on the strategic and marketing implications of the evolving health and human service field – and its focus on the verticals of the field serving consumers with chronic conditions and complex support needs.
Ms. Oss has extensive experience in developing and implementing growth strategies for a wide array of organizations in the field. She has expertise in industry trend analysis, reimbursement and rate setting, and creating actionable plans for market success. In her role, she has led numerous engagements with state Medicaid plans, county governments, private insurers, and health plans, service provider organizations, technology vendors, neurotechnology and pharmaceutical organizations, and investment banking firms – with a focus on the implications of financing changes on delivery system design.
Prior to founding OPEN MINDS, Ms. Oss served as an executive with a nationally managed behavioral health organization, responsible for market development, actuarial analysis, and capitation-based rate setting. She also held a position as vice president of the U.S. risk management and underwriting division of an international insurance company.
Ms. Oss has been the keynote speaker at the conferences of dozens of national associations and has been published in a wide range of professional journals and trade publications. She has provided Congressional and state legislative testimony on issues as diverse as the financial impact of parity and payer medication access policies.
Ms. Oss has led a range of industry research and consultation initiatives, serving as principal investigator on research projects that include the examination of national managed care enrollment and service patterns, development of provider rate structures for government entities, creation of return-on-investment models for technology investments; design of performance-based compensation models within public and private health plans; and analysis of the economic impact of changes in benefit design, adoption of evidence-based practices, and new technologies.