VP of Pharmacy
UC Health
Dr. Akers is the Vice President of Pharmacy at UC Health in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is active in the pharmacy profession and 340B advocacy. Dr. Akers has been involved with 340B operations, informatics, and administration for over 20 years. He has served on numerous government and professional committees and boards in relation to pharmacy practice and medication use.
Dr. Akers is a 1993 graduate of the University of Kentucky, College of Pharmacy where he received a Bachelor of Science (BSPharm) and a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) with Distinction. In 1998, Dr. Akers graduated with a Masters in Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree from the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. In 2000, Dr. Akers became a Board Certified Pharmacotherapeutic Specialist (BCPS) as granted by the Board of Pharmacotherapeutic Specialties. In 2023, Dr. Akers was granted the status of a Certified Pharmacy Executive Leader (CPEL) by the American Society of Health System Pharmacy (ASHP).
Corporate Director of Pharmacy
Community Hospital Corporation
Gwendolyn Alexis serves as Corporate Director Pharmacy Clinical Integration for CHC Supply Trust. In this role, she supports and educates CHC Supply Trust members regarding contract integration and compliance, and she helps to optimize our GPO portfolio. Gwendolyn brings more than 10 years of pharmacy experience to this position.
Before joining CHC, Gwendolyn was with Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans, where she served as Director of Pharmacy. In that role she oversaw the pharmacy operations for two hospital campuses. There she implemented a new workflow system, upgraded the medication management system; monitored and improved pharmacy performance metrics; and led a team of 50 full-time staff members.
Earlier in her career, Gwendolyn gained experience as a Pharmacy Operations manager for Memorial Hermann in Houston and for Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas in Beaumont, Texas.
Gwendolyn holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Texas Southern University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Houston, TX, a Master of Science degree in Pharmacy Administration from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, TX and a Bachelor of Arts in Health Administration from Eastern Washington University.
She is a Registered Pharmacist in Louisiana and Texas, a Texas Licensed Pharmacy Preceptor and an IV Certified Pharmacist. She also holds American Pharmacists Association Immunization Certification.
VP Strategic Sourcing
HealthTrust Performance Group
Kim Allen has over twenty-five years of Strategic Sourcing and Supply Chain Management experience in the Healthcare, Hospitality, Restaurant and Manufacturing industries. Currently, Kim serves as VP, Strategic Sourcing Commercial Products and Services for HealthTrust where she leads the sourcing teams responsible for managing all Indirect, Treasury, IT, Logistics, and Food categories. Prior to joining HealthTrust, she held various management positions at Marriott International, Cracker Barrel, General Motors, Tenneco Automotive and private consulting. Her expertise encompasses the management of the total supply chain process, including manufacturing, physical distribution, strategic sourcing, and commodity management.
Kim graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Supply Chain Management with dual concentrations in Purchasing and Physical Distribution.
Executive Director of Pharmacy Services
Beacon Health System
Jeanne Anderson serves as the Executive Director of Pharmacy Services at Beacon Health System, overseeing pharmacy operations across multiple locations. With more than 20 years of experience, she is a proven leader in optimizing pharmacy services, driving operational efficiencies, and implementing strategic healthcare initiatives.
Since joining Beacon in 2013, Jeanne has held key roles, including Pharmacy Manager and Director of Pharmacy. Her notable achievements include leading the integration of Beacon Specialty Pharmacy, optimizing 340B program savings, and spearheading innovative pharmacy design projects.
A dedicated advocate for advancing pharmacy practice, Jeanne values collaboration and innovation to enhance patient care.
Senior Partner
Flagship Pioneering
Junaid Bajwa is Senior Partner, Head of UK, and Science Partner at Pioneering Intelligence.
He brings over two decades of experience across primary care, secondary care, and public health settings. He has worked as a payer and policy maker in the UK, specializing in informatics, digital transformation, and leadership. He joined Flagship from Microsoft Research where he served as Chief Medical Scientist focusing on how AI can transform the practice of medicine. He was previously the Global Lead for Strategic Alliances and Solutions for the Global Digital Centre of Excellence at Merck Sharp & Dohme where he led a range of strategic initiatives to improve patient care including the establishment of internal partnerships across the enterprise and external partnerships across the health care ecosystem. Junaid cofounded VelocityHealth and has consulted for health care systems across the US, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the Middle East, and Europe.
VP Strategic Sourcing
Premier, Inc.
Joe Bichler is the Vice President of Strategic Sourcing at Premier Inc., where he leads teams focused on portfolio competitiveness, value optimization, and supplier collaboration. He sets strategic direction to drive innovative sourcing strategies and strengthen supplier partnerships across the healthcare ecosystem.
Previously, Joe served as Associate Vice President at Advocate Health, where he architected and implemented an enterprise-wide Value Analysis Program, securing adoption across the system. He also guided contracting strategy by prioritizing value relative to clinical and operational complexity, aligning stakeholders post-merger. In parallel, he partnered on technology solutions to standardize intake, improve compliance, and enhance formulary visibility.
Joe has supported ERP and distribution conversions and contributed to organizations consistently ranked in Gartner’s Top 25 Healthcare Supply Chains. He holds a BS in Business Management, is completing his MBA at North Dakota State University, and is a Certified Clinical Value Analysis Professional and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
Founder and advisor
LeAnn R. Born Advisory Solutions
LeAnn Born is the founder and advisor of LeAnn R. Born Advisory Solutions, where she advises suppliers, providers, GPOs, and other industry partners about the healthcare supply chain. As a supply chain thought leader, she helps clients drive strategies focused on improved population health, enhanced care experience, reduced cost, workforce well-being, and advanced health equity. Her background includes three decades of executive leadership of major health system supply chain services, program development with group purchasing organizations, and guidance to medical suppliers on effective sales strategies with customers. Before her consulting practice, LeAnn served as Vice President of Supply Chain at Fairview Health Services/M Health Fairview, Vice President of Contract, Program Services and Customer Contracting at Novation (now Vizient), and several positions leading up to interim Vice President of Supply Chain at Allina Health. Clients rely on her expertise in a range of situations, from resolving urgent needs to long-term strategic planning.
VP of Contracts and Strategic Sourcing
Partners Cooperative, Inc.
Jonathan Brockmann is the Vice President of Contracts and Strategic Sourcing at Partners Cooperative, Inc., where he leads initiatives to drive value through strategic supplier relationships, contract optimization, and innovative sourcing strategies. With over two decades of healthcare industry experience, Jonathan brings a strong blend of operational insight and supplier-side expertise.
Before joining Partners Cooperative, Jonathan spent 12 years with Medline Industries in various sales and management roles, developing deep knowledge in healthcare distribution, customer engagement, and leadership. Prior to that, he served for 10 years at Athens Regional Medical Center in Athens, Georgia, primarily in supply chain operations, where he was instrumental in improving procurement practices and internal logistics.
Jonathan’s cross-functional experience—from provider to supplier to group purchasing—gives him a unique perspective on healthcare supply chain dynamics. He is passionate about delivering sustainable value and forging strategic partnerships that benefit members and their patients.
Chief Medical Officer
Advantus Health Partners
As Chief Medical Officer of Advantus Health Partners (a subsidiary of Bon Secours Mercy Health), Dr. Chung is responsible for all clinical engagement strategies, as well as leadership, growth, and operational oversight of clinical transformation processes and innovations, with a specific focus on standardization and alignment balanced with clinical quality and outcomes. He has spoken at numerous conferences around the country as an expert on clinical integration of supply chain and development of physician leadership in optimizing the cost, quality, and outcomes of health care. Prior to joining Advantus Health Partners, he served as Associate Vice President, Perioperative Portfolio for Providence St. Joseph Health, where he was responsible for system-wide development and integration of perioperative processes and clinical value analysis of perioperative products, using physician-specific cost and quality data analytics.
Executive Director, Excelerate Clinical Partnerships
Cleveland Clinic/Excelerate (Ex)
Michelle Clouse joined Cleveland Clinic as Executive Director Excelerate Clinical Partnerships in July 2023. As a member of Cleveland Clinic’s supply chain team, Michelle is instrumental in leading Excelerate’s strategic expansion, growth, and program development efforts.
With over 30 years of healthcare experience, Michelle began her career as a registered nurse. She transitioned to supply chain in 2001 as a Sales and Marketing Leader for Seneca Medical / Concordance. Her leadership transformed teams while working directly with providers, suppliers, GPOs, and industry organizations to create efficiencies through strategic partnerships, streamlined processes, and the development of impactful solutions.
Michelle previously worked with Supply Chain Sherpas as an Executive Sales Leadership & Development Consultant, providing educational and advisory support to Suppliers and Distributors throughout the industry. Michelle volunteers on the HIDA Pricing Accuracy Steering committee and as a mentor and Vice Chair of Content for PWH Summit committee. She values education, mentorship, and promotion of others.
Director, Sourcing and Contracting
HonorHealth
Joseph Cook is an accomplished healthcare supply chain leader with 18 years of experience driving operational excellence and cost optimization in the industry. He currently serves as the Director of Strategic Sourcing for HonorHealth, where he oversees strategic sourcing initiatives, supplier partnerships, and value-driven procurement strategies that support high-quality patient care. Throughout his career, Joseph has developed expertise in contract negotiations, supplier relationship management, and process improvement, consistently delivering measurable results and fostering collaboration across clinical and operational teams. Outside of work, Joseph enjoys golfing and spending time with his wife and three children. He is passionate about advancing healthcare supply chain practices and implementing innovative solutions that enhance efficiency and improve patient outcomes.
Director of Pharmacy
Advocate Health
Megan A. Corrigan, Pharm.D., MPH, BCPS, FASHP, is Director of Pharmacy and Emergency Management at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, Illinois, where she leads pharmacy services at a Level I trauma center and champions operational excellence, system resilience, and innovation. With close to twenty years at Advocate Health, she holds an MPH from Benedictine University, completed a PGY2 in Emergency Medicine, and was named a Fellow of ASHP in 2023. Corrigan serves as Director-at-Large for ASHP’s Section of Clinical Specialists and Scientists, an Illinois delegate to ASHP, and has held leadership roles with ICHP. She is also a federal WI-1 DMAT pharmacist, adjunct professor, preceptor, and active contributor to local and national public health and emergency response efforts.
In addition to her extensive responsibilities, Corrigan also leads Advocate’s Pharmacy Implementation Team, guiding the successful integration of pharmacy services and initiatives across the health system. Her leadership in this area further strengthens operational efficiency and fosters collaborative innovation throughout Advocate Health.
Executive Director, ReCon General Management
Cummins, Inc.
Patricia Covington is the Executive Director and General Manager of Cummins ReCon, leading the global remanufacturing business with over 2,000 employees across facilities in the U.S., Brazil, Mexico, India, and Europe. With 28 years at Cummins, she has held leadership roles across Planning, Logistics, Operations, and Customer Support, and is widely recognized for her ability to solve complex problems and lead through crisis.
Her international experience includes spearheading major distribution initiatives in Southeast Asia, including the development of Cummins’ India Parts Distribution Center and optimizing operations in Singapore. She has led global teams delivering significant cost savings and previously guided North America Logistics and Global Transportation through the pandemic. Her leadership inspires cross-cultural teams to drive operational excellence.
A first-generation college graduate, Patricia holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Memphis, a master’s in human resources management from Webster University, and an Executive MBA in Global Supply Chain from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Director of Pharmacy
Carilion Clinic
Mike is a director of Pharmacy at Carilion Clinic. He earned his pharmacy degree at Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science and a PhD in Pharmacology at the University of Michigan. At Carilion Clinic he is responsible for financial, operational, and clinical aspects of Carilion New River Valley Medical Center. Within the Pharmacy service line, he leads monthly discussion of system-wide initiatives and serves on the project prioritization committee. Mike also helped expand the ambulatory pharmacy program at Carilion through a CMS HCIA award that demonstrated improved outcomes in patients who received pharmacist consultation in the primary care setting, which also provided significant cost savings for the health care system.
Managing Partner
Medical Strategies International
Dennis Daar has been in the medical supply and device industry for over 40 years. For the past 24 years, he has been the Managing Partner for Medical Strategies International, (MSI). MSI is an outsource corporate accounts firm that helps clients develop their National Accounts strategy, then works toward gaining and implementing agreements with GPOs, IDNs, RPCs, Equipment Planners, and Government Sales. Prior to this, he held senior management positions at Stryker, SSI/Hill-Rom, Inc., STERIS/Hausted, and Skytron. His diverse responsibilities range from developing and implementing National Accounts, Equipment Planning Relationships, Government Contracts, Sales Management Strategies, and International Operations.
Dennis has been the past Chairperson of the Federation of American Hospitals Exposition Advisory Committee, part of Association of the National Accounts Advisory Committee (ANAE), Past Chairperson of HSCA/HISCI/HIDA, and of HISCI's Educational Committee. Also, he was a member of the Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals (AHVAP) IBEC Committee.
Dennis has been both a speaker and has appeared in print on assorted topics including healthcare, government sales, sales management, national accounts, and international issues. He consulted and appeared on the TV Show “ER”. In 2022, he received the first-ever Life-Time Achievement Award from the Federation of American Hospitals.
Chief Supply Chain Officer
Vanderbilt Health
In addition to serving as the Chief Supply Chain Officer for the Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Teresa Dail is the President of three LLC’s wholly owned by VUMC: Vanderbilt Health Supply Chain Solutions, Vanderbilt Health Purchasing Collaborative and Carefluent Connect. The focus of the three LLC’s is to extend the influence and value that supply chain can bring to healthcare organizations across the continuum of care.
Teresa is a registered nurse whose healthcare career included leadership roles in the ICU, Perioperative nursing, and practice administration. Dail started her supply chain career as a Clinical Resource Manager introducing the concept of value analysis and clinical collaboration to a seven-hospital system. Teresa was recruited to Vanderbilt to focus on the development of a high performing supply chain to support the tripartited mission of the organization of clinical care, education and research.
Healthcare Executive
Dave Edwards is a veteran healthcare executive with over 40 years of experience in sales, strategy, and leadership. He has held senior roles at Baxter, Premier, Siemens Healthineers, and Omnicell, and helped lead Premier to its IPO. Dave has built strategic sales models, led multibillion-dollar partnerships, and spearheaded innovation in diagnostics, imaging, and pharmacy automation. Now retired, he splits his time between Atlanta and Charleston with his wife of 40 years, Andrea, and remains an active voice in healthcare transformation.
VP of Supply Chain and Support Services
Adventist Health
Justin Freed is a seasoned healthcare executive with over a decade of experience specializing in Supply Chain. He began his career at Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he spent 6.5 years, followed by 4 years at Providence Health. For the past 5.5 years, Justin has served as the Vice President of Supply Chain and support services role at Adventist Health.
His passion lies in building and mentoring high-performing supply chain teams—fostering innovation, streamlining processes, and strengthening cross-functional partnerships. Justin is committed to driving operational excellence that supports more affordable, accessible care for the communities his organizations serve.
CEO, Pharmacy Services
Banner Health
Russ Funk, Pharm.D., MHSA, serves as Chief Executive Officer of Banner Pharmacy Services. Funk oversees clinical services, acute care pharmacies, retail pharmacies, specialty pharmacy services, drug preparation and dispensing and pharmacy benefit management at Banner Health.
Funk previously held leadership roles within the continuum of care that focused on innovative strategies and developing new products and solutions to enhance the quality of life for both patients and caregivers.
Prior to Banner Pharmacy Services, Funk served as strategic customer vice president for 11 years at Becton Dickinson. Previously he held roles in clinical and operational pharmacy leadership, product management, and leading sales and marketing teams.
Funk earned his Pharm. D. from Creighton University and a Master of Healthcare Services Administration from the University of Kansas.
VP Strategic Development
Alliant Purchasing
Fred Genter has been with Alliant for just under 2 years. Before joining the Alliant team, he served as Vice President of Finance and Vice President of Supply Chain for 27 years at Med Center Health where he oversaw sourcing, contracting, logistics, Food Services, Environmental Services and more for a diverse healthcare network, including hospitals, sub-acute facilities, DME, physician practices, EMS, and various services.
Now at Alliant, Fred has taken on a broader role as he leads acute and non-acute member recruitment, expands the physician preference program, develops critical strategic partner relationships, enhances member engagement and fosters the Alliant Brand.
A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a Council of Supply Chain Executives member, Fred earned his undergraduate degree from Anderson University and his graduate degree from Louisiana State University in Shreveport
AVP, Strategic Sourcing (Surgery)
HealthTrust Performance Group
Junette Grant is the Assistant Vice President of Strategic Sourcing at HealthTrust with responsibility of the national Surgery portfolio. With over 15 years of expertise in strategic sourcing in healthcare for large IDN’s and group purchasing organizations. Junette has led large scale strategic and operational initiatives that drive cost savings, standardization, supply expense management and clinical value in medical devices products, equipment and purchased services.
Junette holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Political Science and a Master’s of Science in Management from St. Thomas University, Miami.
Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer
Froedtert Health
Jake Groenewold currently serves as an executive advisor to Froedtert ThedaCare Health after retiring from his role on March 1st. In his role, Jake planned, directed, and managed the enterprise supply chain activities for this regional health system. This included overseeing more than 225 personnel in key areas such as the Integrated Service Center, procurement, logistics, and distribution.
With more than 35 years of experience in healthcare, Jake previously served as the area vice president and chief resource officer for AMITA Health in Illinois and Wisconsin, where he was responsible for supply chain management contracting, operations, and logistics services for the 19-hospital system. Prior to AMITA, Jake served as the system vice president of supply chain at Presence Health in Chicago. Earlier in his career, Jake also held executive level positions with Vizient, Consorta, Premier, Owens and Minor, and Lutheran General Health System.
VP Pharmacy Operations
Allina Health
Kristi Gullickson is the Vice President, Pharmacy Operations at Allina Health in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Gullickson is responsible for strategy and operational performance across the Allina Health pharmacy enterprise, in collaboration with the Chief Pharmacy & Laboratory Officer. The pharmacy enterprise is comprised of ~700 FTE and an annual drug budget of $600M. Gullickson is accountable for pharmacy services across 12-hospital campuses (including a 700 staffed-bed quaternary teaching hospital); system oncology operations and infusion centers; over 200 HOPD clinics and a free-standing emergency department, investigational drug service, drug diversion prevention, medication safety, regulatory/compliance, and multi-site pharmacy residency and education programs.
Partner
HealthCare Links
Maria Hames joined HealthCare Links in March 1999.
She has over 25 years of experience in the healthcare market. Her background includes working with companies in senior management roles in the arena of healthcare corporate development and national sales management. Ms. Hames has been involved in start-up and acquisition, operational/sales management, strategic planning, accreditation, practice management, managed care contracting and risk contracting.
As a partner in HealthCare Links, her responsibilities include IDN sales and contract implementation on behalf of HealthCare Links clients. She simplifies very complex sales processes at some of the largest healthcare organizations in the country. More importantly, her relationships are built on trust with a sincere desire to see all parties’ benefit.
Her educational experience includes a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Michigan and a Master's Degree in business management from Pepperdine University.
SVP, Supply Chain and Sustainability
Avera Health
Sara Henderson is the System Vice President of Supply Chain and Sustainability for Avera Health, an integrated health system comprised of more than 300 locations in 100 communities across the Upper Midwest.
Sara has over 20 years of experience in finance, supply chain and healthcare leadership. She supports a transparent, metrics-driven approach to supply chain management while developing and aligning key stakeholders, including healthcare administrators, physicians and clinicians, to develop solutions for deployment across the organization for the benefit of the patient. She leads the supply chain category management and strategic sourcing, contracting, purchasing, distribution center, courier, inventory management and hospital supply chain operations. Within the scope of supply chain contracts includes IT software and equipment, medical equipment and building service agreements and select clinical purchased services categories.
Sara received her Economics BS and MBA from the University of South Dakota.
SVP, Pharmacy Spend Management Delivery
Vizient, Inc.
Joel Hennenfent leads Vizient’s pharmacy spend management delivery team. The team strategically partners with providers to deliver value through Vizient pharmacy solutions. The pharmacy program helps health systems in transforming their pharmacy program to manage cost and improve quality outcomes for patients.
Before joining Vizient in December 2021, Hennenfent served as Vice President of Pharmacy and Professional Health Services at University Health in Kansas City, Missouri, leading pharmacy, laboratory, medical imaging, and joint venture dialysis center. He held a variety of leadership positions at Broadlane/MedAssets at Ascension Health, Saint Louis University Hospital, and Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
Hennenfent holds Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from St. Louis College of Pharmacy, completed residency at Barnes-Jewish hospital, and master’s degree in business administration from Saint Louis University.
He serves as a member and secretary of the Board of Trustees at University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis along with the American Society of Health System Pharmacists.
Senior Vice President, Supply Chain Management
Trinity Health (Ret.)
Ed Hisscock retired as the Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer at Trinity Health, a leading catholic healthcare ministry. He is a lifelong Healthcare Supply Chain Practitioner having spent 40 years serving in the supply chain and IT disciplines with fortune 50 companies, healthcare supplier and healthcare provider organizations. Ed has founded two healthcare companies and personally served over 100 healthcare provider organizations in the US and Europe.
Ed holds an Engineering degree in Electronics, a Bachelors degree in Behavioral Science, and a Master's degree in Supply Chain from Michigan State University.
System Director - Sterile Drug Compounding Operations
Ochsner Health
Dr. Hunter is the System Director – Sterile Drug Compounding for Ochsner Health, encompassing oversight for forty-seven hospitals, and their associated oncology and non-oncology infusion centers. His practice expertise includes sterile compounding and health-system automation. His focus is to automate processes, in a system setting, which allow for a data driven approach to ensure medications are delivered safely, and in a timely manner.
In the state of Louisiana, Dr. Hunter serves on the ASHP House of Delegates, and Chair of the Membership and Marketing Committee for the Louisiana Society of Health-System Pharmacists. In this setting, he is an advocate for hospital pharmacist and is striving to increase Louisiana Pharmacist participation in LSHP.
Chief Supply Chain Officer
Bon Secours Mercy Health
Dan Hurry is a lifelong transformation agent with a passion for pushing the envelope and taking performance to the next level. As President of Advantus Health Partners, Dan oversees the strategic vision, growth and operational management of the cutting-edge supply chain solutions company. His experience in the food, energy and retail industry crosses manufacturing, product development, logistics, procurement, and merchandising. In 2010, motivated by a personal desire to improve processes, he ventured into healthcare. Since then, he has successfully implemented innovative supply chain strategies resulting in significant cost savings and improved services. In addition to his role at Advantus, Dan also serves as the Chief Supply Chain Officer for Bon Secours Mercy Health, the fifth-largest Catholic health system in the United States. Dan has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the State University of New York at Fredonia and an MBA from the University of Texas, San Antonio.
Vice President, Supply Chain
Intermountain Healthcare (Retired)
Brent Johnson has been a successful and well recognized supply chain leaders in healthcare. He has over 30 years experience developing supply chain strategies for major companies in 3 industries.
From 2005 to 2015 Brent was Vice-President of Supply Chain at Intermountain Healthcare, creating an industry “Top 25 Garner” Supply Chain Organization that achieved over $700 million in savings over ten years. In 2012 Intermountain Healthcare opened a new $50M 325,000 sq. ft. Supply Chain Center considered on of the best in the industry.
In 2014 Brent was inducted into the Bellwether League. In August 2015 AHRMM named Brent the recipient of the 2015 George R Gossett Leadership Award. In 2022 he received the Chuck Lauer Award from the IDN Summit. He has served on several boards including the AHRMM Board from 2012-2015, SMI Board from 2011-1015 and the Amerinet/Intalere Board from 2011 to 2016.
Brent and his wife Leila celebrated 50 years of marriage in 2024. Since retirement they have spent 18 months in Oaxaca, Mexico as service missionaries for their church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). They have four children and nineteen grandchildren.
Senior Director Analyst
Gartner
Salil Joshi is a Senior Director Analyst in Gartner's Supply Chain practice, providing research insights, advice and thought leadership to Healthcare Provider clients. His research coverage includes supply chain strategy, procure to pay, master data management, track and trace initiatives and regulation requirements for healthcare providers.
He focuses most of his time with healthcare providers and advises them on maturity model development, best practices for managing their supply chain data and systems, and performance metrics to measure supply chain success.
His previous experience includes Supply chain consulting (data management, partnership development, business process improvement, ERP optimization, and project management).
Founder
Digital Health Foundry
Tarun Kapoor, MD, MBA, is Founder of Digital Health Foundry, an advisory group with a tenacious focus on helping companies transform ideas into meaningful and effective solutions.
Most recently, Dr. Kapoor was senior vice president and chief digital transformation officer at Virtua Health. In that role, he oversaw Virtua’s Digital Transformation Office and orchestrated Virtua’s enterprise-wide master plan in support of an intuitive care journey for all consumers. During his 17-year tenure at Virtua, he served in additional executive roles, including as the chief medical officer for Virtua’s multi-specialty medical practice, and as the head of population health.
Dr. Kapoor trained in internal medicine at The George Washington University Hospital, where he stayed on to serve as chief resident and clinical instructor. He obtained his medical degree from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson, his undergraduate degree in government and chemistry from Cornell University, and his executive Master of Business Administration from the Fox School of Business of Temple University.
VP Supply Chain Operations
Lifepoint Health
As Vice President for LifePoint Health’s supply chain operations, Jay Kirkpatrick provides strategic oversight for the management of all medical-surgical supplies, services and equipment for the organization. In his role, he leads the development of supplier/distributor relationships, oversees facility-based materials management activities, develops supply improvement and standardization initiatives and provides direction on acquisitions-related transition and due diligence processes.
Jay has been a leader in the healthcare supply chain space for more than 30 years. Before joining LifePoint Health in 2019, he served as regional chief executive officer for HealthTrust, where he oversaw group purchasing relationships with 17 healthcare systems with a total spend of $10 billion. Prior to that, he served in several roles for HCA Healthcare, including CEO of Nashville Supply Chain Services.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business: Production & Operations Management and Procurement Management from Miami University and a Master of Business Administration from Eastern Kentucky University. A Certified Materials Resource Professional (CMRP), he is a past president of the Association for Health Care Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM) and the recipient of both the AHRMM George R. Gossett Leadership Award and the GHX Supply Chain Leadership Award.
Independent Pharmacy Consultant & Columnist
Bonnie is a Health Care Consultant with senior management experience in the Pharmacy section of large corporate health care organizations, teaching hospitals and the pharmaceutical industry. She has a particular interest in reimbursement issues, specialty pharmacy, and patient safety, and in using technology to solve issues in each of these areas. She has proven success in developing and managing national pharmaceutical programs and strong leadership skills with expertise in strategic planning and in forging alliances between hospitals, physicians, pharmaceutical companies and distributors and has spoken extensively in these areas. She writes monthly columns on finance and reimbursement for Pharmacy Practice News and BioSupplyTrends quarterly that have a positive influence on pharmacy practice nationally. She is the 2015 Latiolias Leadership Award recipient from The Ohio State University. Bonnie shares her time between Boulder, CO and Breckenridge, CO where she is the Past President of the National Repertory Orchestra Board of Trustees, and served on the Board of Directors of the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance.
VP, Strategy and Program Lead, Vizient Reserve
Vizient, Inc.
Katie Korte currently serves as the Vice President of Vizient Reserve at Vizient. Through this program, she connects providers to Vizient's best-in-class Assurance program, ensuring that they have access to essential products and support to enhance their operations and achieve their resiliency goals. Prior to her resiliency work, Katie held the position of Senior Director of Pharmacy Member Services at Vizient. In this role, she provided support to over 400 providers, assisting them in maximizing their pharmacy value.
Katie previously served as Director of Pharmacy at University Health in Kansas City. Katie's educational background includes a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, School of Pharmacy, and a Master's degree in Health Administration from the University of Missouri. Katie completed a Pharmacy Practice (PGY1) Residency and a Critical Care (PGY2) Residency at University Health. She is a Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS) and Board-Certified Critical Care Pharmacist (BCCCP).
EVP and System Chief Medical Officer
Fairview Health Services
Dr Kumar is a board-certified internist and nephrologist. She joined Fairview as the system Chief Medical officer and President of Fairview Health Medical Group in May of 2024. As the medical officer of the fourth largest employer in Minnesota, she leads a network of over 5,000 providers and 34,000 employees.
She has over 20 years of healthcare leadership experience, more recently she served as the CMO for HCA HealthONE Swedish Medical Center in Denver. Dr. Kumar has a remarkable and extensive track record in healthcare leadership, quality improvement, physician engagement, health equity advancement, and the development of effective multidisciplinary teams. Kumar received her medical degree from King George’s Medical University and trained at The State University of New York (SUNY); the University of California, San Francisco; and the University of Arkansas. She has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Tennessee. Recognized for her leadership and dedication to community health initiatives, she was honored as "Outstanding Woman in Business" by the Denver Business Journal in 2022. At Fairview, her contributions have been invaluable, showcasing strong operational and people leadership. Dr. Kumar also serves on the board of directors for the Twin Cities American Heart Association and enjoys volunteering in the community.
Associate Director
UPMC
Molly J. Billstein Leber is the Director, Pharmacy Procurement and Business Operations at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Her oversight includes drug use policy, formulary management, and pharmaceutical sourcing. This oversight includes budget mitigation, safety initiatives, regulatory compliance, and payment controls.
Leber received her PharmD degree from the University of Montana and completed a PGY1 residency at Yale New Haven Hospital. Leber has also completed the ASHP Pharmacy Leadership Academy (PLA) and received her Master's of Business Administration from New England College.
EVP and Chief Transformation Officer
Fairview Health Services
As Chief Transformation Officer, Kathy LeBrew leads our strategic transformation, identifying and capturing opportunities to improve outcomes and operations. Joining Fairview in 2021, Kathy has built and led teams in health systems and physician organizations across the country for over 35 years, with a proven track record of improving net revenue, experience, and sustainable outcomes. Kathy has served as the chief system revenue cycle officer and vice president of information technology at University Hospitals in Ohio and the corporate vice president of both revenue cycle operations and information technology at West Penn Allegheny Health System in Pennsylvania. Kathy holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Robert Morris University and executive leadership certificates from both Advisory Board and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
CEO
Nancy J. LeMaster Consulting
Nancy LeMaster parlayed her years of healthcare supply chain experience into the formation of Nancy J. LeMaster Consulting. She currently leads the AHRMM Learning UDI workgroups, which are focused on expanding UDI adoption and utilization. In addition, LeMaster serves as Chair of the ISM Hospital Business Survey Committee. LeMaster spent most of her career at BJC HealthCare in St. Louis where she served for 18 years as Vice President of Supply Chain Operations and was responsible for the strategic direction and general management of all supply chain related activities.
Nancy was a founding member of Vizient’s Large IDN Service Network (LISN) and SMI where she served on the board for seven years. She was inducted into the Bellwether League Supply Chain Hall of Fame in 2015, and has received leadership awards from GHX, YWCA and BJC HealthCare.
Partner
Excelerant Consulting
Jeff Little is a Partner at Excelerant Consulting. With more than three decades of healthcare industry and hospital-related experience, Jeff is a recognized thought-leader in various aspects of the hospital supply chain, purchased services, hospital operations, facilities and construction, and medical capital equipment.
His primary role at Excelerant is to be a “growth engine” for clients seeking to expand their footprint by gaining greater access to the market and to key stakeholders within. Jeff offers clients a unique perspective and is well-connected throughout the healthcare industry, having worked in clinical settings within world-class hospitals, and multiple Integrated Delivery Networks [IDN] and Group Purchasing Organizations [GPO]. He is able to educate clients on the subtleties and nuances of the complex healthcare ecosystem and excels at developing commercial strategies.
Chief Growth Officer, Premier Applied Sciences
Premier, Inc.
Myla Maloney is the Chief Growth Officer for Premier Applied Sciences, the technology and services platform of Premier. With 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Maloney supports Premier’s mission of transforming healthcare by leading population health improvement collaboration between Premier Applied Sciences and life sciences organizations. Maloney has been with Premier for the last eight years and previously served as Premier’s Chief Commercial Officer, PAS and Vice President of Strategic Supplier Engagement, where she partnered with leading biopharmaceutical and IT companies.
Myla received her B.S. in business administration and MBA from East Carolina University.
Senior Director Purchased Service Supplier Engagement
Premier, Inc.
Pamela Marshall has over 30 years of Healthcare, GPO and Supplier experience including a diverse background in Purchased Services both in Business Development and Operations Management. Having a deep knowledge of the Supply Chain focus on Indirect Spend within Health Systems, she currently is a Senior Director of Purchased Service Supplier Engagement at Premier, Inc. and leads a team responsible for driving overall member value through strategic suppliers, portfolio optimization and innovative sourcing strategies.
Prior to joining Premier, Inc, she held numerous Director level roles at Sodexo, Aramark, Crothall Healthcare and Ecolab, Inc. Her expertise lies in relationship management, contracting and strategic negotiations, project management and developing functional programmatic Purchased Service solutions for Health Systems and IDN’s.
Having worked with a vast number of Health Systems and IDN’s across the country and coupled with her cross functional background, Pamela has a unique perspective when working with Supply Chain Leaders in optimizing indirect spend opportunities and overcoming obstacles that come with change.
SVP, Supply Chain Management
Houston Methodist
Tim Miller is the Chief Supply Chain Officer and Senior Vice President of Supply Chain at Houston Methodist, where he leads enterprise-wide supply chain strategy, operations, and transformation across one of the nation’s top academic medical centers. With over 25 years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare, Tim has led large-scale initiatives that drive operational excellence, cost savings, and clinical integration.
He has deep expertise in self-distribution and played a key role in designing and operationalizing a comprehensive consolidated service center to centralize logistics, purchasing, and inventory management. Tim is widely recognized for building high-performing teams, advancing digital transformation, and aligning supply chain strategy with system priorities.
He holds a Master of Business Administration from Grand Canyon University, with a concentration in organizational leadership. A collaborative and forward-thinking leader, Tim is passionate about supply chain innovation, mentoring emerging leaders, and improving service delivery through data-driven, strategic decision-making.
President and CAO
Capstone Health Alliance
Yolandi Myers is the President and Chief Administrative Officer of Capstone Health Alliance, where she is committed to driving growth and innovation to deliver exceptional service and value to Capstone Members, all while navigating the complexities of the healthcare supply chain. Yolandi joined the Capstone Executive Leadership team in 2021 as Chief Customer Officer, where she spearheaded strategic engagements and expanded Capstone's reach, fostering collaboration among industry partners.
With two decades of operational experience in the healthcare GPO sector, Yolandi has successfully led diverse cross-functional teams and developed strong partnerships throughout the industry, delivering tailored solutions across the healthcare landscape. She holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership from The Pennsylvania State University and resides in the Cleveland, Ohio area with her husband and two teenage daughters.
CEO
Mountain Independent Hospital Alliance (MIHA)
Janelle Nelson, RN, BSN, MBA, is CEO of Mountain Independent Hospital Alliance.
The facilitator of her passion: Connecting for Success! Janelle’s experience includes over 30 years of healthcare industry interactions with key stakeholders: patients, patient’s families and caregivers, providers, care teams, leaders, vendor and supply partners, and payers.
Janelle is grateful for 48 years of life experiences including connecting ideas, people, lessons learned, knowledge, education, communication, listening, coaching, and being coached.
Her soul fills when success is achieved through connection, sharing ideas, best practices, and meaningful innovative communication.
Janelle is a transformational leader through being “in it”, asking curious questions, seeking innovation, and disrupting the status quo with new ideas. She intentionally incorporates laughter, humor and brings a positive outlook and high energy every day!
Executive Medical Director
Vanderbilt Health
Bill Obremsky has expertise in musculoskeletal trauma outcomes, fiscal analysis, and study design. He served as the Chairman of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association Evidenced Based Medicine Committee for 10 years. He has authored four chapters on Outcomes in orthopaedic trauma and three meta-analysis articles on orthopaedic trauma conditions as well as > 320 articles. He has served on the Steering committee of the Major Extremity Trauma Research Consortium (METRC) that has been awarded $130 million to conduct nine prospective randomized trials for the Department of Defense. Dr. Obremskey has been the principal investigator on four DoD projects. He is currently PI on a $4.5 million grant on early weight bearing of ankle and tibia plateau fractures and on PO vs IV antibiotics for infected nonunions. He has a clinical and research interest in Knee Dislocations, Scapula fractures and Necrotizing Fasciitis. He has a strong record of mentorship for orthopaedic trauma fellows, orthopaedic residents, and medical students.
Strategic Advisor, Healthcare Supply Chain
Eric O'Daffer is a Strategic Advisor in the Healthcare Supply Chain. A supply chain lifer, Mr. O'Daffer's focus is on the end-to-end healthcare supply chain with a true north of serving healthcare providers to improve patient outcomes, deliver strategic value to health systems and enhance the reliability of service. Eric has written over 100 research notes on the healthcare supply chain, delivered 50+ conference presentations and taken over 4000 individual advisory calls with healthcare supply chain stakeholders. Mr. O’Daffer led Gartner’s Healthcare Supply Chain Top 25 program for 15 years, Gartner’s All-Industry Innovation Research for 10 years and started Gartner’s IDN Supply Chain Benchmarking Program leading it for 8 years. Previous roles with Esurg and Cardinal Health focused on innovative distribution and manufacturing models serving acute and non-acute care.
Partner
K&L Gates LLP
Mark Ogunsusi is a partner and a member of the Healthcare and FDA practice group. Prior to joining the firm, Mark was a senior associate at a Washington, DC-based law firm. Mark has extensive experience with regulatory matters involving pharmaceutical pricing and, specifically, the 340B federal drug discount program. He is a doctor of pharmacy and has over 10 years of experience as a pharmacist that inform his health law practice. Mark also regularly advises an array of healthcare entities on the nuances of the 340B program, the Medicaid drug rebate program, federal pharmacy law, food and drug law, and state pharmacy law.
Founder and CEO
Jevan Consulting
Lisa (Thakur) Risser is the Founder and CEO of Jevan Consulting. An esteemed leader with a legacy of nearly three decades in healthcare financial and operational management, Lisa leverages her wealth of experience and proven success, committed to offering unparalleled expertise in healthcare financial and operational consulting, executive leadership, and education and training.
VP Pharmacy Services
Yankee Alliance
Bob Ritchie is the Vice President of Pharmacy at Yankee Alliance in Andover MA where he is responsible for strategy, pharmacy contracting and member support. He received his BS in Pharmacy from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and his MBA from Northeastern University. Bob has spent much of his career, about 30 years, in hospital pharmacy operations as a staff pharmacist, pharmacy manager and director of pharmacy.
In 2018, Bob’s interest in the business of pharmacy led him to transition out of operations and into pharmacy contracting and supply chain, taking a position with one of Boston’s largest healthcare providers as the Director of Pharmacy Contracting and Business Strategy.
In 2019 Bob came to Yankee as the Director of Pharmacy Operations and was eventually promoted to VP of Pharmacy.
AVP, Supply Chain Pharmacy and Lab
Orlando Health
Chris Saboura, RPh, MBA, serves as the Vice President of Pharmacy Services with Ardent Health, a leading provider of healthcare in communities across the country. Through its subsidiaries, Ardent owns and operates 30 hospitals and 200+ sites of care with more than 1,400 aligned providers in six states.
Chris brings over 20 years of pharmacy leadership to his role. Previously, he worked for HealthTrust, HCA and WellStar Health System. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy where he received a bachelor’s degree and Kennesaw State University where he received his MBA degree. He is passionate about patient safety and the profession of pharmacy and is excited to see where it is going in this ever-evolving health delivery world we live in.
President
Ovation Healthcare
Josh Sandler currently leads Elevate, Supply and Expanse Management Solutions, a division of Ovation Healthcare. In his role he has responsibility for supply operations, strategic sourcing, pharmacy services, account management, and other expense management solutions, such as workforce optimization, benefits programs, capital lifecycle management, and other support service functions across Elevate’s 170 members with over 120 locations. Prior to this role, Josh was a Vice President of Strategic Sourcing at Healthrust, and held various other roles at ROi, most recently Vice President of Strategic Sourcing, prior to HealthTrust’s acquisition of ROi. Before starting in healthcare, Josh was a Naval Officer, doing multiple deployments to the Persian Gulf.
National Security Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Research Institute; State Department Diplomacy Consultant (2006-2023); Expert on Geopolitical Risk, Global Affairs, and American Politics
John Sitilides is Principal at Trilogy Advisors LLC in Washington, D.C., specializing in U.S. government relations, geopolitical risk, and international affairs, and is a National Security Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.
He is a professional speaker at corporate, investor, and industry conferences, and before government, military and intelligence community audiences, on geopolitical risk management and the business impacts of international security policies. He explores the complex geopolitical and geo-economic decisions that impact markets in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and worldwide, helping corporate executives, investment managers and civic audiences better understand, anticipate, and mitigate risk.
Under a U.S. government contract under Presidents Biden, Trump, Obama, and Bush, Sitilides was Southern Europe Regional Coordinator at the Foreign Service Institute, the State Department's professional development and diplomacy academy for American foreign policy professionals. He was Board Chairman of the Woodrow Wilson Center Southeast Europe Project (2005-2011), following seven years as Executive Director of the Western Policy Center, an international relations institute specializing in U.S., NATO & EU interests in Europe and the Middle East until he negotiated its 2004 merger with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
He has testified before Congress and is a frequent national security commentator on U.S. and international media such as Bloomberg News, CNN, FOX News, CNN International, and NewsNation, and has been interviewed or cited in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, Washington Times, The National Interest, Politico, National Public Radio, Asia Times, Institutional Investor, Tagesspiegel, South China Morning Post, and other leading print and digital media.
His domestic client portfolio includes industry leaders in real estate development, home construction and agribusiness, along with aviation and emerging technology companies, with a specialization in environmental regulatory reform and private property rights protection. He launched his career in the U.S. Senate and on a series of successful political campaigns.
Sitilides serves on the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees of Leadership 100, a national Orthodox Christian foundation. He served on the Board of Directors of 3doo, Inc., a VR/AR media technology company, and of Biovest International, developing personalized cancer immunotherapies; the Board of Directors of International Orthodox Christian Charities, a global humanitarian organization; and the Board of Governors of the Advanced Imaging Society, promoting the global motion picture industry’s arts and technologies.
He is a member of the Association of International Risk Intelligence Professionals, the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, the Columbia University Club of Washington, D.C., the Empire State Forum, and the Association of Former Senate Aides. Sitilides holds a Master’s Degree in International and Public Affairs from Columbia University. His wife is an attorney and businesswoman, and they have four sons.
Pharmacy Executive
Vizient, Inc.
Mandy Slinde is a pharmacy executive at Vizient supporting the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) member hospitals. In this role, she serves as a strategic partner and advocate for pediatric pharmacy initiatives, leveraging Vizient tools, analytics, and member data to identify contracting opportunities and drive measurable value across the CHA network. Mandy collaborates closely with CHA staff, member pharmacists, and pharmaceutical suppliers to expand Vizient’s custom contract portfolio and improve pediatric pharmacy practice through data-informed strategies and clinical insight.
With more than eight years at Vizient and two years in a national pediatric-facing role, Mandy brings deep experience in health system consulting, pharmacy analytics, and member engagement. Her focus areas include cell and gene therapy, pediatric formulary optimization, 340B strategy support, opportunity presentation, and facilitation of C-suite–level pharmacy discussions for CHA institutions.
Prior to Vizient, Mandy served as a pediatric clinical pharmacist at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, and Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, where she also completed an ASHP-accredited Pharmacy Practice Residency at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from North Dakota State University and is Board Certified in Pediatric Pharmacy (BCPPS).
Mandy is passionate about advancing collaborative, data-driven pharmacy solutions that improve outcomes and optimize medication use for pediatric populations nationwide.
System Sterile Compounding Services Specialist
Prisma Health
George R. Smith, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCSCP, is the System Sterile Compounding Services Specialist at Prisma Health, overseeing 25 compounding areas including two centralized compounding suites and six ambulatory oncology infusion centers. With more than 20 years of leadership experience in home infusion, sterile compounding automation, and health-system pharmacy, he holds BCPS and BCSCP certification from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties. Prior to rejoining Prisma Health in 2023, he directed and consulted on robotic sterile compounding automation for six years, honing expertise in cleanroom design, USP <797> Category 3 operations, process validation, product development, and GMP in the 503B outsourcing arena. Dr. Smith was appointed to the USP Compounding Expert Committee (2025–2030 cycle) and serves as a Clinical Instructor in Sterile Compounding for the Kennedy Pharmacy Innovation Center at the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy. He is an AJHP peer reviewer and field-tester for ASHP’s Compounded Sterile Preparation Studies for Recertification.
Veteran, Paralympian, Mom, Inspirational Speaker
At first glance, Melissa Stockwell may appear to be the quintessential Midwestern All-American mom, but she is far more. She is an American war hero who has triumphed over personal tragedy to achieve greatness and World Champion status. She has dedicated her life to chasing remarkable accomplishments while giving back to others, particularly those who face similar challenges.
Stockwell graduated from the University of Colorado and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. She deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, where a blast from a roadside bomb struck her Humvee, causing the loss of her left leg above the knee. After enduring numerous infections and surgeries, Stockwell was medically retired from the Army. She is the first female soldier ever to lose a limb in active combat and has been awarded both The Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.
Following her accident, sports became Stockwell’s road to recovery. In 2008, she became the first Iraqi War Veteran to qualify for the Beijing Paralympics, where she was honored by her fellow Team USA athletes as the flag bearer of the Closing Ceremony. After Beijing, Stockwell turned to Paratriathlon and is now a three-time World Champion. On September 11, 2016, at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Stockwell raced in honor of her fellow soldiers and their families who had given the ultimate sacrifice to serve and protect America. After a grueling race, she ended the day on the podium as the newly crowned Paralympic Bronze Medalist.
Six weeks before the 2021 Paralympics, Stockwell broke her back in a training accident, derailing her hopes of winning a gold medal. Nevertheless, despite the pain, she managed to compete at the Paralympic Games, finishing 5th. She is set to compete again for a Paralympic Gold Medal at the Paris Games in 2024. With her friends Keri Serota and Dan Tun, Stockwell co-founded Dare2tri, a non-profit organization dedicated to removing barriers to sports and fitness. Specializing in adaptive sports, the organization encourages recreation, racing, and competition while cultivating a community for all athletes of all abilities. Stockwell is among 20 athletes to receive the P&G Athletes for Good grant to help expand her organization’s reach.
In 2020, Stockwell published “The Power of Choice: My Journey from Wounded Warrior to World Champion,” detailing her story. Stockwell continues to share her experiences and the inspiring insights she has gained along the way to standing ovations across the country for Fortune 500s, military bases, professional organizations, small businesses, and schools.
Principal
Barbara Strain Consulting LLC
Barbara Strain is the Principal of Barbara Strain Consulting. Her extensive healthcare experience delivers insights to assist providers and suppliers in reaching their value driven strategic goals.
Previously, Barbara was the Director of Value Management at University of Virginia Health where she collaborated with executive leadership, physicians, clinicians, and suppliers across the care continuum establishing the value improvement infrastructure. She also directed Supply Chain Operations, Surgical Supply, Equipment and Linen Distribution. Professionally she is a founding member and past president of AHVAP- Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals and is active in AHRMM- Association of Healthcare Resource & Material Management.
She is a 2021 Honoree of the Bellwether League Foundation’s Hall of Fame for Healthcare Supply Chain Leadership and serves as Chair of their Board of Directors Barbara frequently shares her insights on healthcare value, supply chain, and the med tech industry on panels and podcasts.
AVP Support Services
Ochsner Health
Howard J. Terrell is an accomplished healthcare executive with more than 20 years of experience in operations management, purchase services, and healthcare administration. He has held progressive leadership roles in both urban and community-based health systems, where he has successfully led initiatives focused on operational efficiency, vendor strategy, operational excellence, and quality improvement.
Howard’s approach integrates data-driven decision-making, frontline team engagement, and a commitment to high-reliability operations. He is known for building collaborative relationships across clinical and non-clinical departments, delivering measurable improvements in service quality, cost containment, and system-wide standardization. Howard has played key roles in launching facility-wide service contracts, driving facility readiness, and enhancing internal stakeholder communications.
A trusted partner to both executive leaders and frontline staff, Howard is enthusiastic about mentoring emerging talent and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. He holds a degree from Samford University, and his work reflects a deep commitment to advancing Purchase Service delivery in ways that support both financial outcomes and operational excellence.
Division Chair
Mayo Clinic
Eric Tichy obtained his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Connecticut, completed his postgraduate pharmacy residency training at Yale New Haven Hospital and received a Master of Business Administration from Yale University School of Management. He currently works for the Mayo Clinic where he is Division Chair, Supply Chain Management responsible for the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain and Associate Professor of Pharmacy at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.
Dr. Tichy’s professional interests include leadership, immunology, plasma protein therapeutics and supply chain management. He is immediate past chair of the End Drug Shortages Alliance and contributing editor in therapeutics for the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy.
Dr Tichy has held leadership positions in state and national pharmacy and medical organizations, is a Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and the American Society of Transplantation, has published over forty journal articles and book chapters and regularly presents research at national medical meetings.
Chief Supply Chain and Support Services Officer
Ochsner Health
Régine Villain, MPH, is the Senior Vice President, Supply Chain Network & Chief Supply Chain Officer at Ochsner Health System.
Previously she served as the Vice President of Supply Chain Operations at NYU Langone Health System in New York City, where she was responsible for the continuum of the supply chain operation for the Health System. Régine began her career in healthcare at New York Presbyterian Hospital where she spent 10 years mastering her skills with increased responsibilities along the continuum of supply chain.
After a yearlong intro to general studies at the Interamerican University of San Germán in Puerto-Rico, Régine earned her Bachelor's Degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Florida. She then pursued her Master's in Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy Management at Columbia University in New York before obtaining a certificate in Business Studies at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.
Chief Supply Chain Officer
Orlando Health
Cairo Wasfy serves as Vice President of Supply Chain Services and Chief Supply Chain Officer, leading Orlando Health’s execution of strategic initiatives and operations for the organization’s supply chain. He collaborates with clinical, hospital and ambulatory leadership to reduce the cost of care while enhancing clinical outcomes and patient experience.
Prior to joining Orlando Health in 2024, Cairo was chief resource officer with Ardent Health in Nashville, Tennessee. There, he oversaw enterprise-wide supply chain services for the system’s 30 hospitals and more than 200 care sites across six states. Cairo’s previous roles include chief operating officer of supply chain and pharmacy for HealthTrust Purchasing Group and its HCA Healthcare East Florida division, as well as leadership positions with Ascension Health Resource Group.
Cairo earned bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance and an MBA from the University of West Florida in Pensacola.
AVP, Value Analysis
Jefferson Health
Kacey Wear is the Associate Vice President of Value Analysis at Jefferson Health, bringing over two decades of leadership experience in healthcare. With a clinical background spanning the Operating Room, Emergency Department, Pediatrics, and Critical Care, she combines frontline insight with strategic expertise.
Kacey has led numerous high-impact value analysis initiatives, including system-wide product conversions and cost-saving strategies at both Jefferson Health and St. Luke’s Health System. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Excelsior College and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Boise State University.
A Certified Emergency Nurse and Certified Value Analysis Healthcare Professional, Kacey is passionate about driving clinical and financial outcomes through collaborative, evidence-based decision-making.
VP, Core Tenet Programs
Vizient, Inc.
Judy Webb-Hapgood is an accomplished supply chain executive and former U.S. Air Force officer with over 25 years of distinguished leadership across the defense, healthcare, academic, and Fortune 500 sectors. She currently serves as Vice President of Vizient’s Core Tenet Programs which consist of Sustainability, Responsible Sourcing, Supplier Performance, and Assurance. She drives strategic initiatives that enhance value and performance across member and supplier organizations.
Previously, Judy served as Chief Supply Chain Officer at the University of Miami, the Miller School of Medicine, and University of Miami Health System. In this role, she led integrated supply chain operations and support services, fostering a culture of operational excellence through servant leadership and collaborative engagement across dynamic academic and healthcare campuses.
Her extensive career also includes senior executive roles at the University of Wisconsin Health System and the University of Oklahoma, where she spearheaded major transformations, mergers, and capital programs valued in the billions. A highly decorated military veteran, Judy held prestigious positions including Chief of Staff to both the Secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force Surgeon General, playing a pivotal role in military construction, infrastructure, and acquisition initiatives.
Judy’s contributions have earned her national recognition, including being named one of the Top 25 Chief Supply Chain Officers in the U.S. (2024), One of 100 Successful Women in Business (2024), and among the Top 50 Women Leaders of Miami (2025). A respected speaker, lecturer, and published author, she frequently appears on podcasts and industry panels.
She holds degrees in Biology (Southwestern Oklahoma State University), Nursing (University of Oklahoma), and an MBA in Aviation and Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Senior Vice President
Novant Health
Mark Welch is the Senior Vice President of Supply Chain at Novant Health, responsible for non-labor expenditures, supply chain logistics, operations, procurement, sourcing, and clinical supply chain engagement. In this role, Welch has managed cost control initiatives, introduced new programs, and addressed team member retention.
Welch also chairs the Board of MNS Network LLC, an organization consisting of three integrated networks that collaborate to reduce supply chain costs through volume, spending, and shared expertise.
Since joining Novant Health in 2005, Welch has held positions such as Vice President of Supply Chain Operations, Vice President of the Novant Health Logistics Center, and Vice President of Strategic Sourcing. He has overseen changes within the supply chain division, implementing solutions to address challenges in organization, delivery, and value-based operations.
Welch holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Ohio State University and a master’s degree in healthcare administration from Pfeiffer Universit
VP, Clinical Services
Capstone Health Alliance
Anita Zado is the Vice President of Clinical Services at Capstone Health Alliance. Her extensive understanding of GPOs, Suppliers, and Member organizations enables her to play a crucial role in managing clinical processes across the Capstone Membership.
Before Capstone, Anita had a 25-year career as a registered nurse, specializing in Emergency Room, Interventional Radiology and Oncology care before transitioning to Premier where she held leadership roles, including Director of Nursing Contract Services and Senior Director of Product Development at S2S Global. During her tenure, Anita worked across various specialties, focusing on customer retention, member education, product development, and value analysis.
Anita continues to be an active member of the Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals and leads Surgical Services and Value Analysis committee meetings for Capstone Health Alliance Members.
Manager, Strategic Sourcing
Kaleida Health
Steve Zdziebko is Strategic Sourcing Manager at Kaleida Health in Buffalo, NY. Steve has been with Kaleida Health for 18 years and has significant experience in Procurement/ Sourcing, Value Analysis and Supply Chain. He currently manages the Strategic Sourcing team of 10 employees and contracting across the system.
Prior to becoming Strategic Sourcing Manager, he led the Peri-operative Value Analysis Team for 13 years at Kaleida contributing to over $20 million in realized savings for the Peri-Operative Value Analysis Team. During his career, Steve has collaborated closely with key hospital leadership, physicians, GPO leadership and suppliers in order build meaningful relationships to drive cost savings and contract compliance.
Steve received his undergraduate degree at the State University of New York at Fredonia. He earned his Bachelors of Science in Business Administration. Steve presented at Premier Breakthrough 2024 “Implementing a New Product and Technology” as well as the IDN Summit in 2017, 2019 and 2023.