Speakers
Allison Hess
Vice President Health Innovations
Amber Smits
Quality Revenue and Health Equity Supervisor
Cesar Armendariz
EML, Senior Director, Community Health, Community Health Administration
Craig W. Fisher
Director, Product Development & Growth Initiatives
Deanna Grabill
Population Health
DeLorean Ruffin
DrPH, MPH, Director of Population Health Management
Ericka King-Betts, PhD
Director of Health Equity
Erin Brigham-Gray
MPH, CPHQ, Senior Director, Quality & Population Health
Jill Alessi
RN, BSN, MHA, Chief Executive Officer
John Gorman
Founder and Chairman
Kanita Bourne, LCSW, MPA,
Manager, Social & Community Services,
Kate Tullio
MPH, MS, Director, Health Equity
Katrina Roebuck
Senior Director of Systems Integration
Kelly Nielsen
Director
Keshia Bigler
MPH, Director Social Health
Keslie Crichton
Chief Sales Officer
Lauryn M. Davin
MPH, Health Equity Specialist
Lora Council, M.D., MPH, MCHM
Chief Medical Officer
Mohamed Jalloh
Pharm D, BCPS, Health Equity Director
Nancy Wongvipat Kalev
MPH, Senior Director, Systems of Care
Nicki Venem
CPC, MSML, Director, Network Innovation
Pleasant A. Radford Jr
Health Equity Officer
Robert Mundy
Money Follows the Person Demonstration - MAP Specialist Division of Long-Term Care Services
Rosemond Sarpong Owens
MPH/CDM, Director- Racial & Health Equity,
Salma Sparklin
MPH, Business Strategy and Transformation Manager, Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder
Seiji Hayashi
MD, MPH, FAAFP, Interim Chief Medical Officer, Community Health Plan of DC, Lead Medical Director for Government Programs
Tanikka C. Price
JD, EdD, Chief Education and Equity Officer
Tara M. Davis
SVP/Chief Programs Officer
Todd Graham
President
Wendy Milligan
Vice President, Strategic Sales and Enablement
Winnie Grim
Supplemental Benefits Manager
Speaker Details
Aditya Tyag
Founder
Connect2Health
Scholars Researcher
HonorHealth
As the founder of Connect2Health, Aditya Tyagi is on a mission to break down barriers in
healthcare and ensure that underserved communities have access to the essential medical
services they deserve. Inspired by personal experiences and a deep belief that healthcare is a
basic human right, Aditya started Connect2Health to connect homeless, uninsured, and diverse
populations with vital resources. Their work goes beyond simply providing information—they
bridge the gap between communities and life-saving care, advocating for health equity through
outreach, education, and direct support. This journey has taught Aditya resilience, empathy, and
the power of collective action in the face of health disparities.
In addition to his commitment to Connect2Health, Aditya brings a similar drive and discipline to
the pool. He has been a competitive swimmer since the age of 4 and now coaches kids from
ages 2 to 16. Through his years as a swimmer and a coach, Aditya has learned the importance
of patience, responsibility, and effective communication—qualities that also help him in his work
with Connect2Health. Managing a pool full of energetic kids requires teamwork and focus, just
as coordinating health services for underserved communities requires dedication and strategic
thinking.
Whether he’s in the pool or out in the community, Aditya is passionate about making a positive
impact. Every lap he swims and every connection he builds through Connect2Health brings him
closer to his goal of making a meaningful difference, one person at a time.
Allison Hess
Vice President Health Innovations
Geisinger
Allison Hess is the Vice President of Health Innovations for Geisinger. She has been over 20 years of experience in healthcare and is responsible for the oversight and implementation of health services programming for Geisinger patients, GHP insured members and community members. She started her career in community health education/corporate wellness and has continued to expand to include innovative community-based population health initiatives driven by data analysis and clinical outcome measurements. Most recently her work has been in the social determinants of health with a focus on SDOH screenings, resources and innovative programs to address the social needs of Geisinger patients and members targeting food insecurity, health equity and quality/prevention initiatives. Ms. Hess has earned a Bachelor of science in Health Education and her MBA from Bloomsburg University. She has been the recipient of several awards focused in various areas of health including health equity, worksite wellness and innovative supply chain. She has also been recognized nationally for her work with the Fresh Food Farmacy program.
Amber Smits
Quality Revenue and Health Equity Supervisor
Network Health
Cesar Armendariz
EML, Senior Director, Community Health, Community Health Administration
Inland Empire Health Plan
Craig W. Fisher
Director, Product Development & Growth Initiatives
Jefferson Health Plans
Craig Fisher is an enterprise product leader and current director at Jefferson Health Plans who oversees Medicare Advantage and Individual & Family plans as it relates to product strategy & design, implementation and management. Also, Craig manages and ushers strategic direction and execution to achieve the enterprises overarching targets and goals. Upon alignment and execution, provides leadership across both portfolios for all implementation and go to market efforts. Prior to joining Jefferson Health Plans, Craig managed the Cross Segment Product Strategy Team while also leading enterprise roadmap efforts at Highmark Health. These programs and products aligned care journeys, member experiences with digital and non-digital solutions which created synergies to drive member satisfaction, better care outcomes, and an ROI on key benefits. These roadmap workstreams spanned commercial fully insured, ASO, Federal ACA, and MA plans. During Craig’s time at Highmark, he held several leadership roles in Medicare product development and strategy in order to design and build market competitive products to achieve enterprise enrollment targets and support all aspects of CMS bid development and new contract filing. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Craig stays busy with his wife and two young children attending sporting events, golfing, and hosting cook outs with friends and family.
DeLorean Ruffin
DrPH, MPH, Director of Population Health Management
Partnership HealthPlan of California
Deanna Grabill
Population Health
Valleywise Health
Ericka King-Betts, PhD
Director of Health Equity
Humana Healthy Horizons in Ohio
Dr. Ericka King-Betts joined Humana in 2021 as the Director of Health Equity Strategy for
Humana Healthy Horizons in Ohio, with over 20 years of experience leading organizational
efforts, working across health care, academia, non-profit, and government sectors. Ericka has
experience in strategic planning, business process improvement, cultural humility and implicit
bias training, performance management, organizational development, research and analysis,
leading health equity and DEI initiatives, quality improvement, public and media relations, and
community outreach / engagement / investments. Ericka also served as a board member and
former president of the Ohio Commission on Minority Health, a governor-appointed commission
serving all Ohioans.
At Humana, Ericka serves as a trusted thought partner with plan leadership, local communities,
state agencies, and hundreds of internal and external partners to have an impact on health
disparities at a population level by:
- Overseeing the strategic design, implementation, and evaluation of health equity efforts in the context of the population health initiatives;
- Leading, at the Market level, health equity efforts focused on improving on each of the goals established utilizing standards as defined by the National Standards for Culturally Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Health Care;
- Informing decision-making around best payer practices related to disparity reductions;
- Leading, developing & implementing strategic initiatives to support an organizational workforce / culture that is inclusive & respectful of the various backgrounds / cultures that are reflected in our members & communities we serve;
- Ensuring that community reinvestment efforts addressed at improving health equity, reducing disparities, and improving cultural competence are designed collaboratively with other Ohio Department of Medicaid-contracted managed care entities to have a collective impact for the population and that lessons learned are incorporated into future decision-making.
Erin Brigham-Gray
MPH, CPHQ, Senior Director, Quality & Population Health
CareSource
Erin Brigham-Gray is a seasoned leader in the health care industry with more than 20 years of extensive
knowledge. For the past twelve years, her efforts have focused on managed care with exposure in both
government and commercial products. Her expertise includes quality improvement, population health,
and data analytics. She has been with CareSource over 13 years and currently serves as the Sr. Director
of Population Health & Quality Improvement for the CareSource Ohio Market managing improvement
strategies for over 1.4 million Medicaid lives and 50k Marketplace lives. She is recognized statewide for
her work in designing measures of improvement to help eliminate health disparities. She has a passion
to improve maternal, infant and child health outcome in the most vulnerable populations.
Erin is currently responsible for Accreditation (NCQA), Population Health, Quality Improvement and
outreach for gaps in care. She collaborates with multiple stakeholders, both internal and external, to
develop and monitor of value-based reimbursement contract and state-wide improvement activities.
Erin also has experience in coordinating research design, implementation and evaluation both internal
to CareSource and with Wright State Boonshoft School of Medicine where she earned her Masters in
Public Health. She is currently finishing her Doctor of Healthcare Administration at Franklin University
while also serving as an Executive Board member of Health Impact Ohio, Ohio Partners for Cancer
Control, and the Central Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Health Service Executives.
Jill Alessi
RN, BSN, MHA, Chief Executive Officer
Mountain-Pacific Quality Health
Jill Alessi, RN, BSN, MHA, is CEO for Mountain Pacific, a nonprofit organization that strives to innovate solutions for better health and health care in communities across its region of service. Jill has an extensive background in health care and health care operations, including care coordination, utilization management, health service operations, chronic condition support and improving health outcomes and prioritizing quality health care. She is an accomplished leader with experience managing health service organizations across geographic regions and building effective teams by leveraging her clinical, business and compliance experience and expertise. Jill is a registered nurse who has worked as a clinical intensive care unit nurse, case manager, case reviewer and compliance specialist.
John Gorman
Founder and Chairman
Nightingale Partners
John is the Founder and Chairman of Nightingale Partners, the first venture fund to invest in early-
stage companies in the social determinants of health (SDOH) ecosystem, and which structures
tailored interventions with health insurers, local government, and provider organizations. His work
focuses on Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and Accountable Care Act strategy, governance, and
health equity.
John serves on the Board of Directors of Henry Ford Health System’s Health Alliance Plan in his
birthplace of Detroit; on the Board of Edenbridge Health, a groundbreaking company in the Program
of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE); and on the Board of RoundTrip, an innovative Non-
Emergent Medical Transport company. He serves on the Advisory Board for NationsBenefits, the
nation's leading supplemental benefits provider, and on the Medicaid Advisory Board for Icario
Health, a leading member engagement and communications firm.
John is the Founder and Former Chairman at Gorman Health Group (GHG). For 22 years he led the
development of the industry's leading consulting practice and several entrepreneurial ventures in
government health programs.
John speak at two dozen industry conferences each year, and am regularly quoted in the trade
press and national media. I serve on the editorial advisory boards of several industry publications.
Prior to founding Gorman Health Group in 1996, I was appointed by President Clinton as the first
Assistant to the Director of Health Care Financing Administration’s (HCFA, now CMS) Office of
Managed Care, where I provided day-to-day management, and served as the external liaison for the
Medicare and Medicaid managed care programs. During the 1993 debate on national health care
reform, I was chief lobbyist on health care financing issues for the National Association of
Community Health Centers, an organization of Federally-funded primary care clinics for the
medically underserved. My career in Washington began as Press Secretary and Staff Director for
U.S. Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), then-Chairman of the Government Operations
Committee.
Kanita Bourne, LCSW, MPA,
Manager, Social & Community Services,
Inland Empire Health Plan
Kanita Bourne, LCSW is an accomplished health equity leader and Licensed Clinical Social
Worker with over a decade of experience in developing and managing culturally competent
community health programs. As Manager of Social and Community Services at Inland Empire
Health Plan (IEHP), Kanita spearheads innovative initiatives aimed at reducing health
disparities, improving healthcare access, and addressing the social determinants of health in
underserved populations. She has been instrumental in driving compliance efforts to ensure
access, engagement, and equity in rural areas while fostering cross-functional collaborations that
enhance community impact.
Kanita’s expertise lies in building and executing strategic health equity plans, managing complex
projects, and driving compliance with industry standards to promote equitable care across
diverse populations. She has successfully pioneered several community-based programs,
including the establishment of maternal mental health services for underserved communities in
Los Angeles County. Additionally, Kanita’s leadership extends to workforce development,
training future social workers as an adjunct professor and leading clinical supervision for teams
delivering behavioral health services.
A thought leader and speaker, Kanita is passionate about health equity, behavioral change, and
community wellness. She holds a Master of Social Work from Loma Linda University, a Master
of Public Administration from California State University Northridge, and multiple certifications
in evidence-based therapeutic practices. Kanita is committed to advancing the mission of health
equity through innovative, data-driven solutions that uplift vulnerable communities.
Kate Tullio
MPH, MS, Director, Health Equity
CareSource
Kate has dedicated her career to improving the health of populations in Ohio. She is currently the Director of Health Equity for the Ohio market at CareSource, Ohio’s largest Medicaid Managed Care company. In her role, Kate oversees the strategic design, implementation, and evaluation of health equity efforts into quality, clinical, and population health initiatives. She also partners to inform population health strategy and target quality improvement areas, including the design of clinical programs that improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities. She helps inform decision-making around best payer practices related to disparity reductions, including the provision of health equity and social determinant of health resources and research to leadership and programmatic areas. In her role she supports the CareSource mission by helping the most people possible. Kate joined CareSource in June 2021. Prior to joining CareSource, She also has held positions at Cleveland Clinic, The James Cancer Center at Ohio State University and Ohio Department of Health investigating health disparities in cancer, diabetes, depression, and infectious disease. Kate also serves as the Co-Chair for the Ohio Partners for Cancer Control (OPCC), where she also helped initiate the OPCC Health Equity subgroup. An author of more than 50 scientific publications and frequent speaker at conferences and events, Kate earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from John Carroll University and master’s degrees in public health (epidemiology) and health information management from Ohio State University. Kate resides in Cleveland with her husband, daughter, and dog. In her free time, she enjoys running, teaching fitness classes, traveling, and cooking.
Katrina Roebuck
Senior Director of Systems Integration
Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services City of Philadelphia
Katrina Roebuck is the Senior Director of Systems Integration for the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbilities. In this role, she is tasked with working across the divisions of DBHIDS as well as system wide stakeholders including government agencies, community-based organizations, and other key partners to coordinate integrated approaches impacting population health. Over the last 20 years, Katrina has worked in various leadership positions including, Director of Operations for the City’s Out of School Time Initiatives, Deputy Director of the Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity, Director of Policy and Planning for the Office of Housing and Community Development and Deputy Director of the Office of Supportive Housing (now the Office of Homeless Services). Prior to joining the City, Katrina held progressively responsible positions with Philadelphia based non-profits and the Philadelphia Housing Authority. She earned her BS from Howard University in Washington DC and MBA from LaSalle University in Philadelphia. Linkedin – linkedin.com/in/katrina-pratt-roebuck-mba-455a48249
Kelly Nielsen
Director
Omaha Pathways Community HUB
Kelly Nielsen is the Director of the Omaha Pathways Community HUB, an initiative of the Omaha Community Foundation, driving innovative cross sector collaboration to build the first Pathways HUB in Omaha with the goal of improved community access to social, medical and behavioral resources and positive impact on health disparities. Ms. Nielsen earned a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology at Emory University in Atlanta, GA; a Master’s of applied behavior analysis at George State University; and a Master’s of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. Ms. Nielsen is currently pursuing a Doctor of Public Health degree at the University of Nebraska College of Public Health with a concentration in Advocacy and Policy. Prior to her current role, Ms. Nielsen was the Division Vice President of Strategy and Healthy Communities for the Midwest Division of CommonSpirit Health, one of the largest not-profit healthcare systems in the country with over 1,000 care sites across 21 states. The Midwest division, covered over 24 communities across Nebraska, Southwest Iowa, N. Dakota and Minnesota. In that role she applied her background in public health and strategic planning to align and drive the organization’s effort to solve for patient, community and business need in order to meet the mission of addressing social justice and creating healthier communities. Across her career, Ms. Nielsen has worked to translate research and evidence-based programs into practice as well as contribute to the broader field of clinical and public health interventions. A specific focus of her work over the years has been to build, align, and grow programs and services to address the health-related social needs of patients and community members - touching areas of violence prevention, food insecurity, housing stability and maternal health equity. She also helped launch the first Community Health Worker program within CHI Health which is operating and expanding today. In her role at the Omaha Pathways HUB, she leads a network of partners to implement a holistic, sustainable model of community-based care coordination and create alignment between health care, health plans and community-based organizations to more effectively and efficiently address community needs. The HUB aims to address disparities in birth outcomes and demonstrate a sustainable model for future growth and impact.
Keshia Bigler
MPH, Director Social Health
CareOregon
Keshia Bigler (She/Her) is the Director of Social Health at CareOregon. Prior to her current role, she served as the Director of Informatics and Evaluation and Population Health Portfolio Manager. She is trained in social program evaluation, has extensive experience in health research, systematic reviews and evidence based care, evaluation, quality improvement, population health, value based payment, Medicaid and Medicare, and health policy and advocacy. She has led the implementation of the Health Related Social Needs (HRSN) in three CCOs in Oregon, worked on projects to reduce cancer screening inequities, increase adoption and spread of HIT tools statewide, and served as the co-chair for the Oregon Community Paramedicine and Mobile Integrated Health Coalition for 7 years. She has a strong passion for health equity and believes healthcare is a human right. Keshia received her MPH from OHSU with a focus in Primary Care and Health Disparities, completed training in social program evaluation at MIT, a Graduate Certificate in Population Health Informatics from CUNY, and a Bachelor of Science in Community Health and Human Biology.
Keslie Crichton
Chief Sales Officer
Benelynk
Keslie brings a long history of strong execution and delivery for integrated solutions across risk adjustment, quality performance and eligibility and enrollment solutions in both Medicare and Medicaid. At BeneLynk, Keslie is responsible for driving enterprise growth and innovative partnerships to improve outreach strategies and health outcomes for our client’s members. Keslie works closely with BeneLynk’s product team to offer differentiated services and capabilities to maintain its market leader position. Keslie has worked in managed care for over 25 years with a focus on SDoH solutions that improve members lives but also provide a return on investment for our clients. Keslie's passion lies in working on strategies that put members at the center while ensuring we deliver accurate risk-adjusted revenue, quality performance, and member retention. Prior to joining BeneLynk, Keslie served as Vice President, Sales, and Account Management at Change Healthcare (formerly Altegra Health/Social Service Coordinators). Keslie holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Regis University and worked toward her MBA and Masters in Healthcare Administration at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.
Lauryn M. Davin
MPH, Health Equity Specialist
UCare
Lauryn Davin is an experienced public health professional with a demonstrated history in healthcare, education, and research. She is currently a Health Equity Specialist at UCare, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. With expertise in collaboration, innovative thinking, community engagement, and qualitative research, Lauryn is dedicated to advancing health equity and engaging communities and health plan members in meaningful ways - including actively promoting health access and well-being through initiatives that empower underserved populations and foster inclusive dialogue. Lauryn holds a Master's Degree in Public Health from St. Catherine University. When not at work, she enjoys time spent with family and friends, live music, distance running, hiking, and reading.
Lora Council, M.D., MPH, MCHM
Chief Medical Officer
Fallon Health
Lora Council, M.D., MPH, MHCM, is Fallon Health’s Chief Medical Officer. In this role, she is
responsible for ensuring the quality and cost-effectiveness of Fallon Health’s care services,
overseeing activities and operations within the Care Services Department, and fostering strong
relationships with provider partners.
Dr. Council joined Fallon Health in November 2023 as Vice President and Senior Medical
Director for Quality and Population Health. With nearly 15 years of experience in strategic
leadership roles in primary care, quality, and population health, she serves as a critical bridge
between the organization’s quality initiatives and clinical work, giving special attention to efforts
focused on closing the gaps in health care disparities.
Prior to joining Fallon Health, Dr. Council worked at Yuvo Health, service FQHCs in value-based
care, as its Chief Population Health Officer and Chief Medical Officer, and at Cambridge Health
Alliance, where she held several leadership roles, including Vice President of Primary Care and
Senior Medical Director. She is a faculty affiliate with the Harvard Medical School Center for
Primary Care.
Board certified in Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine. She earned her medical degree
from UMass Chan Medical School, her master’s degree in public health from The Dartmouth
Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice at the Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, and
her master’s degree in Health Care Management from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public
Health.
Mohamed Jalloh
Pharm D, BCPS, Health Equity Director
Partnership HealthPlan of California
Nancy Wongvipat Kalev
MPH, Senior Director, Systems of Care
Health Net, LLC
Nancy Wongvipat Kalev is the Senior Director of Systems of Care at Health Net responsible for organizational strategy and program design for adult and children’s systems of care, addressing social drivers of health (SDOH) and health equity, and workforce development. She was formerly the Director of Health Education and Cultural and Linguistic Services at Health Net responsible for programs focused on community health, language services, health literacy, cultural competency, SDOH and health equity, including addressing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Nancy holds a Master of Public Health degree in community health sciences and a bachelor's degree in psychobiology from UCLA. She has over 20 years of experience in health care management, program development, implementation and evaluation. Prior to Health Net, Nancy was manager for prevention programs at AIDS Project Los Angeles; evaluation consultant for the Long Beach health department’s Housing and Urban Development-funded Healthy Homes Initiative; research associate with UCLA Fielding School of Public Health focused on community research projects in women’s health; and research associate with UCLA School of Medicine in breast and ovarian cancer research. Nancy was previously a board member with ETR, a behavioral health non-profit devoted to providing science-based programs and services, driven by its mission toward health equity for youth and families. She was born in Thailand, moved to Los Angeles at the age of six, and lives with her partner, three children, and dog Zoe.
Navid Amini
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
Navid Amini resides in Minnesota and has been in healthcare for 15+ years. He has served patients from the bedside as well as operations roles within payer and provider organizations. Navid has led a $100M+portfolio of clinical programs/projects impacting growth and strategy within AI, SDOH, claims, data, innovation & provider/patient engagement. Additionally, Navid spent over a decade serving with the Mayo Clinic Medical Examiner's Office. Having managed thousands of medicolegal death investigations, he has gained unique insights into the relationship between SDOH and mortality/quality of life.
Nicki Venem
CPC, MSML, Director, Network Innovation
Independent Doctors of Idaho
Nicki Venem has worked in the Healthcare Industry for over 25 years. Nicki holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in management and leadership from Western Governors University. She also holds a Professional Coding Certification with the American Academy of Professional Coders. Nicki spent her first 20 years in healthcare with the Saint Alphonsus Medical Group working as a biller/coder, Clinic Manager and then Director of Urgent Care Services in Boise, Idaho. She then transitioned into the payer side of healthcare working for Blue Cros of Idaho for six years in the Value Based Care space helping providers find opportunities to lower the cost of high-quality care across the State of Idaho. She is currently serving as the Director of Innovation for the largest Independent Physician Association (IPA) in Idaho, continuing her work in the Value Based Care space, while also helping providers who are currently employed by the large healthcare systems, transition to Independent Practice successfully.
Pleasant A. Radford Jr
Health Equity Officer
UCare
Pleasant Radford, Jr. joined UCare in 2020 in the inaugural role of Health Equity Officer. In his
role, he develops, oversees and implements an organization-wide health equity program that
promotes and advances health equity for all members and communities.
Radford has more than 15 years driving systemic transformation through health equity
innovation in the healthcare, nonprofit, and academic sectors. He has proven leadership
spanning evaluation, training, programming, policy and advocacy realms - all grounded in trust-
based community relationships - to identify and reduce inequities in healthcare. Prior to UCare,
he led the evaluation of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Center for Prevention's multi-
million dollar portfolio of healthy eating, physical activity and commercial tobacco prevention. At
UnitedHealth Group, Radford spent four years as a consultant to streamline medical insurance
products, increase customer retention and strengthen brand recognition among Medicaid and
Medicare members. Previously, he conducted community engagement research at the
University of Chicago, advocated for Chicago Public School pregnant and parenting youth
students at the Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in
Nicaragua.
Robert Mundy
Money Follows the Person Demonstration - MAP Specialist Division of Long-Term Care Services
Maryland Department of Health (MDH)
Rob Mundy is a Health Policy Analyst with the Maryland Department of Health. Previously, he was a case manager and trauma therapist for community health programs. He has served refugees, children in foster care, people leaving radicalized hate movements, and trafficking survivors. At his current role with Maryland's Money Follows the Person program Rob addresses structural obstacles to Medicaid care access. He also supports caregivers and helpers of all kinds to be sustainable in their work.
Rosemond Sarpong Owens
MPH/CDM, Director- Racial & Health Equity
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota
Salma Sparklin
MPH, Business Strategy and Transformation Manager, Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
Seiji Hayashi
MD, MPH, FAAFP, Interim Chief Medical Officer, Community Health Plan of DC, Lead Medical Director for Government Programs
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
Dr. Hayashi is Interim Chief Medical Officer for the Community Health Plan of DC and the Lead Medical Director for Government Programs at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield that serves 3.5 million individuals and groups in Maryland and the Washington metropolitan area. Dr. Hayashi was a member of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s committee that published the seminal report, “Transforming Health Care to Create Whole Health: Strategies to Assess, Scale, and Spread the Whole Person Approach to Health.” Dr. Hayashi is board certified family physician and is an experienced leader in primary care, quality improvement, and health policy at the local and national levels. Prior to CareFirst, he spearheaded health services integration and transformation at two area federally qualified health centers. Hayashi's national health policy experience comes from his role as Chief Medical Officer for the Bureau of Primary Health Care at the Health Resources and Services Administration. He started his career at Georgetown University and at George Washington University teaching public health and conducting health policy research. Hayashi has received a number of awards and honors, including the Samuel U. Rodgers, MD Achievement Award from the National Association of Community Health Centers. Dr. Hayashi graduated with honors in Studio Art from Vassar College, received his M.D. with Alpha Omega Alpha distinction from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed his family medicine residency training at the University of California San Francisco. He received his M.P.H. from the Harvard School of Public Health while a fellow with the Commonwealth Fund/Harvard University Fellowship
Tammy Hendricks
MBA, Director of Health Equity & Outreach
Access Health CT
Founder
Hendricks Consulting and Company
Tammy Hendricks is an accomplished leader in health equity, outreach, and business
development with a passion for improving access to care for underserved populations. As the
Director of Health Equity and Outreach at Access Health CT, Tammy has led impactful initiatives
that have contributed to one of the nation’s lowest uninsured rates, earning her the prestigious
Community Legacy Leader Award.
In addition to her work in health equity, Tammy is the founder and CEO of Hendricks Consulting,
a marketing firm dedicated to empowering organizations to create meaningful community
outreach programs. She is launching a training program designed to enhance the skills of
Outreach and Community Health Workers, helping them drive greater impact in addressing
social determinants of health.
Tammy’s expertise in building partnerships and developing innovative solutions has made her a
recognized thought leader in advancing health equity and empowering community-based
organizations to improve care outcomes. Her work combines strategic vision, community
engagement, and data-driven approaches to create sustainable change.
Tanikka C. Price
JD, EdD, Chief Education and Equity Officer
Health Impact Ohio
Dr. Tanikka Price uses her training as a lawyer, her passion as a motivational speaker and the knowledge she gained during her doctoral training at Northcentral University to develop curriculum to educate and train others in caring for and taking responsibility for their own health and healing. She is currently the Chief Education and Equity Officer at the Health Impact Ohio. For over a decade, in addition to being a Family Law Attorney, she has developed and taught learning topics for pregnant women and Community Health Workers in At-risk communities in Columbus, Ohio. She was inspired to educate following the birth of her premature twins. She uses narrative and trauma-informed care to meet people where they are and empower them to change. She engages through several interactive workshops including “Love Letters,” “Writing to Heal” and “Narrative Repair.” Dr. Price is a mother of six and “Mimi” to three grandchildren. She earned a Doctorate in Education in May of 2021, researching the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences on African American women’s educational attainment at Northcentral University. She also has an American Culture degree from Vassar College and a law degree from Capital University Law School. She is a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, The Columbus Bar Association and The Ohio Bar.
Tara M. Davis
SVP/Chief Programs Officer
Central Pennsylvania Food Bank
Tara Davis joined the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank (CPFB) in 2007. Before her current role as Senior
Vice President, Chief Programs Officer, Tara began her Food Bank career planning and executing special
events. She was instrumental in several website redesigns and laying the foundation for digital
engagement. Tara then managed the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Outreach
Program and was responsible for promoting the SNAP Helpline and building and maintaining community
and agency relationships.
As the Senior Vice President, Chief Programs Officer, Tara directs a staff of 40 employees and oversees
11 primary Food Bank functions: Agency Services, SNAP Outreach, Youth Programs, Senior Programs,
Health Innovations, Nutrition Education, Fresh Express, MilitaryShare, Retail Donations, Customer
Service, and Northern Dauphin Food Pantry. She assures that the team is providing exemplary support
services to a network of more than 1,100 member agencies and other program partners of CPFB. Tara is
responsible for implementation, ongoing management, and strategic growth for CPFB Programs which
includes development, implementation, review and assessment of all programmatic outreach initiatives,
and collaboration throughout a 27-county service territory. She also oversees agency membership
policies, procedures, and guidelines relative to the distribution of donated, purchased, and government
food products as promulgated by federal and state authorities.
Tara has more than 25 years of experience in non-profit program development, marketing, and
communications. She is a graduate of Central Penn College. Tara currently serves as the Board President
of Tri-County Community Action and is a member of Tri-County Community Action’s Governance
Committee, Fund Development Committee, and Planning and Evaluation Committee. She also serves on
her local Winslett HOA Architectural Review Committee, Pennsylvania Hunger Action Coalition, United
Way of the Capital Region Basic Needs Focused Care Council, and Dasher Employe Assistant Fund
Committee. She resides in Harrisburg, PA with her husband, Chris, and two children, Evan, and
Gianna. Tara enjoys being an active volunteer in her community through her children’s schools and their
sports.
Todd Graham
President
Highmark Health Options Delaware
Todd Graham is a highly accomplished and results-oriented healthcare executive with more than 25 years’ experience driving profitability and implementing impactful change within the healthcare insurance industry. Todd’s expertise spans commercial insurance, Medicaid and Medicare, with a proven track record of success in leadership, financial management, and strategic planning. As plan President and CEO of Highmark Health Options in Wilmington, Del., Todd manages a $1.5 billion Medicaid plan, overseeing operations and leading a team of senior executives. His accomplishments in this role include successfully transitioning services in-house, redesigning the C-suite and implementing a new Total Cost of Care agreement resulting in reduced costs and improved quality. Prior to his current role, Todd served as Vice President of Finance at Health Partners Plans, where he developed key performance indicators that significantly improved organizational focus and saved millions. Throughout his career, Todd has consistently demonstrated an ability to build high-performing teams, navigate complex regulatory environments and deliver significant cost savings. He's a strategic thinker with a knack for clear communication across the enterprise who’s skilled at developing and implementing innovative financial models. His commitment to the healthcare community extends beyond his professional roles. Todd currently serves as Treasurer of the Delaware Center for Health Innovation and holds memberships in several key industry organizations. Todd graduated from Thomas Edison State College with a degree in Accounting
Wendy Milligan
Vice President, Strategic Sales and Enablement
ProgenyHealth, LLC
As Vice President of Strategic Sales and Enablement at ProgenyHealth, Wendy is responsible for driving strategic and tactical growth and partnerships. She brings nearly 30 years of experience in growth, account management, stakeholder and strategy development, operations, and product innovation in diverse areas of healthcare such as population health, behavioral health, telehealth, and maternal and infant health as her foundation to drive growth. She has helped to launch several strategic partnerships in the payor and employer space across her career. She has worked for national and regional health plans as well as various point solution organizations.
Winnie Grim
Supplemental Benefits Manager
Zing Health
Winnie Grim is a seasoned Healthcare Professional with a knack for achieving tangible results. With more than 20 years of experience in the industry, Winnie has mastered the art of driving revenue growth, optimizing operations to cut costs, and flawlessly implementing change management strategies. Winnie excels in leading diverse teams and delivering outstanding outcomes and is well-versed in healthcare, CMS, and business savvy. Her expertise spans utilization, population health, clinical operations, care management, value-based care, and analytics. With a focus on relationship management and strategic support, Winnie is a valued leader at Zing Health, where she manages the supplemental benefits. Her collaboration with the Product and Growth teams is paving the way for a promising future for the Medicare Advantage Supplemental program at Zing Health. Winnie currently resides in Virginia. She received her bachelor's degree in kinesiology from James Madison University and her master’s in healthcare administration from The University of Maryland.