Jena Abernathy
Senior Client Partner, CEO & Executive Search, Healthcare Board Services Sector Leader
Korn Ferry
Jena Abernathy is a Senior Client Partner specializing in executive search at Korn Ferry. She serves as the Sector Leader for Board Services in the Healthcare Practice, and she co-leads the Healthcare CEO Practice.
Ms. Abernathy spent more than 25 years in senior-level executive management roles in finance, manufacturing, and global services companies. As an organizational and performance excellence expert, she brings a unique skill set as a strategic adviser for clients seeking C-suite and boardroom talent.
Ms. Abernathy is a seasoned business leader and leadership expert. In addition to board effectiveness & development, succession, and board search assignments for Fortune 100 companies and for-profit and not-for-profit entities, she has also successfully led an extensive number of marquee CEO searches across the country, working with boards and designated search committee members to identify their next exceptional leader.
Ms. Abernathy is the author of The Inequality Equalizer, published by Ankerwycke/American Bar Association, which provides practical, real-world career advice. She served on the advisory board for MedShare and the board of directors for the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Witt/Kieffer International, and The Parkinson’s Foundation, where she served as Chair of the Compensation Committee.
Senior Client Partner, CEO & Executive Search, Healthcare Board Services Sector Leader
Korn Ferry
Jena Abernathy is a Senior Client Partner specializing in executive search at Korn Ferry. She serves as the Sector Leader for Board Services in the Healthcare Practice, and she co-leads the Healthcare CEO Practice.
Ms. Abernathy spent more than 25 years in senior-level executive management roles in finance, manufacturing, and global services companies. As an organizational and performance excellence expert, she brings a unique skill set as a strategic adviser for clients seeking C-suite and boardroom talent.
Ms. Abernathy is a seasoned business leader and leadership expert. In addition to board effectiveness & development, succession, and board search assignments for Fortune 100 companies and for-profit and not-for-profit entities, she has also successfully led an extensive number of marquee CEO searches across the country, working with boards and designated search committee members to identify their next exceptional leader.
Ms. Abernathy is the author of The Inequality Equalizer, published by Ankerwycke/American Bar Association, which provides practical, real-world career advice. She served on the advisory board for MedShare and the board of directors for the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Witt/Kieffer International, and The Parkinson’s Foundation, where she served as Chair of the Compensation Committee.
Cindy Chandler
President
Leadership Guidance Group
Cindy Chandler is a nationally recognized executive search consultant serving clients in multiple industries including healthcare and nonprofit. Over the past two decades, she has worked with clients to recruit, develop, and retain the best possible talent for their organizations. She serves boards, CEOs, C-Suite executives, and leadership teams with a portfolio of services that include C-Suite and executive search, CEO assessment and succession planning, board search, and leadership development.
She is active in the community and serves on the Advisory Board of the Board of Angel Foundation. Her past service includes the Affnetz Advisory Board, Children's Cancer Research Fund, American Diabetes Association, Women's Leadership TRUST, Tribute to the Troops, and many more.
President
Leadership Guidance Group
Cindy Chandler is a nationally recognized executive search consultant serving clients in multiple industries including healthcare and nonprofit. Over the past two decades, she has worked with clients to recruit, develop, and retain the best possible talent for their organizations. She serves boards, CEOs, C-Suite executives, and leadership teams with a portfolio of services that include C-Suite and executive search, CEO assessment and succession planning, board search, and leadership development.
She is active in the community and serves on the Advisory Board of the Board of Angel Foundation. Her past service includes the Affnetz Advisory Board, Children's Cancer Research Fund, American Diabetes Association, Women's Leadership TRUST, Tribute to the Troops, and many more.
Amy Christensen
Partner
Vistria Group; Boards: Sandstone Care; Beacon Specialized Living; Behavioral Health Group; Supplemental Health Care; Alacura; Medulla
Amy Christensen is a Senior Partner and Co-Head of Healthcare at The Vistria Group, a Chicago-based, middle-market private equity firm that invests in healthcare, education, and financial services companies. She is responsible for the sourcing, due diligence, execution, and portfolio management of Vistria’s healthcare investments.
Ms. Christensen is a board member of Sandstone Care, Beacon Specialized Living, Supplemental Health Care, Behavioral Health Group, and Chiro One Wellness Centers. She previously served on the boards of St. Croix Hospice, Angel MedFlight, and Alacura.
Prior to joining Vistria, she was an investor with NewSpring Capital, The Gores Group, and CCP Private Equity Partners. Ms. Christensen has also spent time advising health systems as a healthcare consultant with The Huron Consulting Group. She received her MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and her B.S. from Northwestern University.
Partner
Vistria Group; Boards: Sandstone Care; Beacon Specialized Living; Behavioral Health Group; Supplemental Health Care; Alacura; Medulla
Amy Christensen is a Senior Partner and Co-Head of Healthcare at The Vistria Group, a Chicago-based, middle-market private equity firm that invests in healthcare, education, and financial services companies. She is responsible for the sourcing, due diligence, execution, and portfolio management of Vistria’s healthcare investments.
Ms. Christensen is a board member of Sandstone Care, Beacon Specialized Living, Supplemental Health Care, Behavioral Health Group, and Chiro One Wellness Centers. She previously served on the boards of St. Croix Hospice, Angel MedFlight, and Alacura.
Prior to joining Vistria, she was an investor with NewSpring Capital, The Gores Group, and CCP Private Equity Partners. Ms. Christensen has also spent time advising health systems as a healthcare consultant with The Huron Consulting Group. She received her MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and her B.S. from Northwestern University.
Natasha Deckmann MD
Chief Transformation Officer
Tivity Health; Boards: Option Care Health; Two Chairs
As Chief Transformation Officer at Tivity Health, Natasha Deckmann, MD, is responsible for identifying new opportunities to expand business and enable growth across the organization. Dr. Deckmann is an experienced healthcare leader with expertise in healthy aging, payer and provider solutions, benefit management, digital technology solutions, mergers and acquisitions, strategy, and operations.
Prior to joining Tivity Health, Dr. Deckmann served as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Clinical Officer of SecureSeniorConnections, a digital platform to address social isolation and loneliness in older adults. She also was CEO of CarePoint Health System in New Jersey, a health system that included three hospitals and two medical groups, and Senior Vice President, Head of Population Health Solutions at Optum. She is on the board of directors of Option Care Health, Inc., the largest independent home and alternate site infusion services provider in the United States, and on the board of Two Chairs, a venture-backed mental health company.
Dr. Deckmann holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Michigan, a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and a Doctorate of Medicine from the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University.
Chief Transformation Officer
Tivity Health; Boards: Option Care Health; Two Chairs
As Chief Transformation Officer at Tivity Health, Natasha Deckmann, MD, is responsible for identifying new opportunities to expand business and enable growth across the organization. Dr. Deckmann is an experienced healthcare leader with expertise in healthy aging, payer and provider solutions, benefit management, digital technology solutions, mergers and acquisitions, strategy, and operations.
Prior to joining Tivity Health, Dr. Deckmann served as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Clinical Officer of SecureSeniorConnections, a digital platform to address social isolation and loneliness in older adults. She also was CEO of CarePoint Health System in New Jersey, a health system that included three hospitals and two medical groups, and Senior Vice President, Head of Population Health Solutions at Optum. She is on the board of directors of Option Care Health, Inc., the largest independent home and alternate site infusion services provider in the United States, and on the board of Two Chairs, a venture-backed mental health company.
Dr. Deckmann holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Michigan, a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and a Doctorate of Medicine from the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University.
Nandini Devi
CEO
www.mpoweredhealth.com
Nandini Devi is a senior healthcare leader, investor, board member and advisor with 25 years of experience building and scaling payer healthcare technology companies with multi-national operations. A strategic thinker, results-driven executive with a strong background in Finance, Product & Growth, Ms. Devi is passionate about building highly impactful, sustainable companies that deliver solid financial returns for shareholders while delivering positive societal impact.
She founded Mpowered Health, a consumer health engagement platform that connects 10,000+ health plans and health systems to 200M+ people in the US enabling them to share their medical records and engage with health plans, health systems and other healthcare organizations. In her new venture, currently in stealth mode, she is evaluating ideas to leverage her investments in digital healthcare engagement.
Prior to Mpowered Health, Ms. Devi co-founded ZeOmega, one of the largest independent Population Health Management companies serving Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, Commercial, ACO & Value Based Care Organizations. She helped scale ZeOmega to 500+ employees, 30+ clients, $40M+ Revenue, managing ~20% of the US population as of 2018. She led ZeOmega’s transformation into a SaaS based company with ARR >75% and GM >80%. She was responsible for scaling ZeOmega during its formative years scaling Strategy, Sales & Business Development, leading ZeOmega’s Series A, Series B funding raising rounds and its 2015 acquisition of HealthUnity. Ms. Devi has served on both public and private boards including Iridex (NASDAQ: IRIX), a medical device manufacturer, ZeOmega & Health Unity. She has experience serving on Audit, Comp & Nom Gov committees at Iridex. She was also advisor to the CEO of Hinduja Global Healthcare Solutions (now Sagility Health).
BOARD EXPERIENCE
Iridex (NASDAQ: IRIX), Member of the Board, Audit, Comp & NomGov Committee
ZeOmega Inc, Chairman, Board of Directors
ZeOmega Infotech Private Limited, Director
HealthUnity Infotech Private Limited, Director
CEO
www.mpoweredhealth.com
Nandini Devi is a senior healthcare leader, investor, board member and advisor with 25 years of experience building and scaling payer healthcare technology companies with multi-national operations. A strategic thinker, results-driven executive with a strong background in Finance, Product & Growth, Ms. Devi is passionate about building highly impactful, sustainable companies that deliver solid financial returns for shareholders while delivering positive societal impact.
She founded Mpowered Health, a consumer health engagement platform that connects 10,000+ health plans and health systems to 200M+ people in the US enabling them to share their medical records and engage with health plans, health systems and other healthcare organizations. In her new venture, currently in stealth mode, she is evaluating ideas to leverage her investments in digital healthcare engagement.
Prior to Mpowered Health, Ms. Devi co-founded ZeOmega, one of the largest independent Population Health Management companies serving Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, Commercial, ACO & Value Based Care Organizations. She helped scale ZeOmega to 500+ employees, 30+ clients, $40M+ Revenue, managing ~20% of the US population as of 2018. She led ZeOmega’s transformation into a SaaS based company with ARR >75% and GM >80%. She was responsible for scaling ZeOmega during its formative years scaling Strategy, Sales & Business Development, leading ZeOmega’s Series A, Series B funding raising rounds and its 2015 acquisition of HealthUnity. Ms. Devi has served on both public and private boards including Iridex (NASDAQ: IRIX), a medical device manufacturer, ZeOmega & Health Unity. She has experience serving on Audit, Comp & Nom Gov committees at Iridex. She was also advisor to the CEO of Hinduja Global Healthcare Solutions (now Sagility Health).
BOARD EXPERIENCE
Iridex (NASDAQ: IRIX), Member of the Board, Audit, Comp & NomGov Committee
ZeOmega Inc, Chairman, Board of Directors
ZeOmega Infotech Private Limited, Director
HealthUnity Infotech Private Limited, Director
Cathy Eddy MBA
Board Chair
Sutter Health Plan
Cathy Eddy is the chair of the Sutter Health Plan Board and previously served as chair of the Finance and Planning Committee. She is a member of the MediGold Board and chairs the Governance Committee. She serves on Strategic Advisory Boards for Curatus, NOCD, Silver Fern Healthcare, HealthCorum, RevealDx, and Spring Street Exchange. Her advisory areas include governance, innovation, provider/payer integration, and product positioning and strategy.
Previously, she served on the Presbyterian Health Plan Board from 2005-2016 and on the System Board Quality Committee until 2018. She served on the Health First Board of Trustees and the Health First Health Plan Board of Directors from 2013-2018. She has served on the advisory boards of DST, Discovery Health Partners, Fibronostics, Talix, and TractManager.
Cathy is the founder of the Health Plan Alliance, a group of provider-sponsored and independent health plans. She retired as president in April 2018. She has been a speaker and facilitator for numerous boards, addressing the challenges of health care integration, provider ownership, managed care trends, governance, accountable care, innovation, and future direction.
Board Chair
Sutter Health Plan
Cathy Eddy is the chair of the Sutter Health Plan Board and previously served as chair of the Finance and Planning Committee. She is a member of the MediGold Board and chairs the Governance Committee. She serves on Strategic Advisory Boards for Curatus, NOCD, Silver Fern Healthcare, HealthCorum, RevealDx, and Spring Street Exchange. Her advisory areas include governance, innovation, provider/payer integration, and product positioning and strategy.
Previously, she served on the Presbyterian Health Plan Board from 2005-2016 and on the System Board Quality Committee until 2018. She served on the Health First Board of Trustees and the Health First Health Plan Board of Directors from 2013-2018. She has served on the advisory boards of DST, Discovery Health Partners, Fibronostics, Talix, and TractManager.
Cathy is the founder of the Health Plan Alliance, a group of provider-sponsored and independent health plans. She retired as president in April 2018. She has been a speaker and facilitator for numerous boards, addressing the challenges of health care integration, provider ownership, managed care trends, governance, accountable care, innovation, and future direction.
Carladenise Edwards Ph.D.
Board Director
Clover Health | CancerIQ
Dr. Carladenise Armbrister Edwards has 30 years of professional experience from academia to government to healthcare and technology. She currently serves as Miami-Dade County’s Chief Administrative Officer with a portfolio that includes the Office of Management and Budget, Finance, Audit, Human Resources, Small Business Administration, Procurement, Information Technology, Internal Services, and Tax Collection.
For twelve years she served as an Executive in non-profit healthcare serving as a Chief Strategy Officer, Population Health Administrator, and Chief Contracting Officer in three different health care systems, including Henry Ford Health, Providence St. Joseph Health, and Alameda Health System. In 2022, she was recognized by Modern Healthcare and Becker’s as one of the top Women Leaders in Healthcare. Dr. Edwards was also named one of the 50 Women of Excellence by the Michigan Chronicle, and elected President of the cohort by her peers.
She serves on the board of Clover Health [NASDAQ: CLOV], CancerIQ, Mae., Sami, and Sound Physicians. She is also a strategic advisor to Parsley Health and the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics. She is most proud of her service to the community, including serving on Heluna Health’s Board of Directors, as well as a director for the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), and University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. As an experienced director and trustee, she has served as Board Chair, Finance Committee Chair, Advancement Committee Chair and as a member of Audit, Strategic Planning, Talent and Compensation, and Clinical committees.
Dr. Edwards is a contributing author to numerous publications, including Unstoppable: Inspiring Stories of Perseverance, Triumph and Joy from Trailblazing Women in Healthcare released in August 2023. She is a highly sought after speaker focused on health care economics and policy, life course development, and leadership development.
Dr. Edwards received her BA and MS.Ed. from University of Pennsylvania and her Ph.D. from the University of Florida. Dr. Edwards is currently devoting her time to community and corporate board service. When she is not working, you can find her writing, reading and spending time with her husband, Herman Edwards and two children, William and Zora and their Goldendoodle, Vinny. Her personal values are Love, Kindness and Family
and her mantra is “Life is too short to be unhappy.”
Board Director
Clover Health | CancerIQ
Dr. Carladenise Armbrister Edwards has 30 years of professional experience from academia to government to healthcare and technology. She currently serves as Miami-Dade County’s Chief Administrative Officer with a portfolio that includes the Office of Management and Budget, Finance, Audit, Human Resources, Small Business Administration, Procurement, Information Technology, Internal Services, and Tax Collection.
For twelve years she served as an Executive in non-profit healthcare serving as a Chief Strategy Officer, Population Health Administrator, and Chief Contracting Officer in three different health care systems, including Henry Ford Health, Providence St. Joseph Health, and Alameda Health System. In 2022, she was recognized by Modern Healthcare and Becker’s as one of the top Women Leaders in Healthcare. Dr. Edwards was also named one of the 50 Women of Excellence by the Michigan Chronicle, and elected President of the cohort by her peers.
She serves on the board of Clover Health [NASDAQ: CLOV], CancerIQ, Mae., Sami, and Sound Physicians. She is also a strategic advisor to Parsley Health and the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics. She is most proud of her service to the community, including serving on Heluna Health’s Board of Directors, as well as a director for the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), and University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. As an experienced director and trustee, she has served as Board Chair, Finance Committee Chair, Advancement Committee Chair and as a member of Audit, Strategic Planning, Talent and Compensation, and Clinical committees.
Dr. Edwards is a contributing author to numerous publications, including Unstoppable: Inspiring Stories of Perseverance, Triumph and Joy from Trailblazing Women in Healthcare released in August 2023. She is a highly sought after speaker focused on health care economics and policy, life course development, and leadership development.
Dr. Edwards received her BA and MS.Ed. from University of Pennsylvania and her Ph.D. from the University of Florida. Dr. Edwards is currently devoting her time to community and corporate board service. When she is not working, you can find her writing, reading and spending time with her husband, Herman Edwards and two children, William and Zora and their Goldendoodle, Vinny. Her personal values are Love, Kindness and Family
and her mantra is “Life is too short to be unhappy.”
Sharon Gabrielson
Founder and CEO
SRG Associates
Sharon Gabrielson is a global, C-level healthcare executive and independent board member with a successful track record of driving growth and building organizations at scale in both the public and private sectors. She is the Founder and CEO of SRG Associates, a C-suite and board advisory company. Sharon's experience includes leadership roles at The Mayo Clinic, Olmsted Medical Center, and LifeSource.
As a board director of public and private companies, Sharon provides valuable insights on strategic growth, M&A, digital transformation, healthcare ecosystems, ESG, risk management, and organizational change management. Through a broad strategic lens shaped by independent director roles in public, PE-backed, for-profit, and non-profit organizations, Sharon advises on growth strategies and corporate development transactions that accelerate value creation.
Sharon’s current boards include MTF Biologics and PracticeWise, where she serves as chair of the board. Past board roles include chair of the board of Sharps Compliance (NASDAQ: SMED), Catasys (NASDAQ: CATS), and Ethos Veterinary Health.
Founder and CEO
SRG Associates
Sharon Gabrielson is a global, C-level healthcare executive and independent board member with a successful track record of driving growth and building organizations at scale in both the public and private sectors. She is the Founder and CEO of SRG Associates, a C-suite and board advisory company. Sharon's experience includes leadership roles at The Mayo Clinic, Olmsted Medical Center, and LifeSource.
As a board director of public and private companies, Sharon provides valuable insights on strategic growth, M&A, digital transformation, healthcare ecosystems, ESG, risk management, and organizational change management. Through a broad strategic lens shaped by independent director roles in public, PE-backed, for-profit, and non-profit organizations, Sharon advises on growth strategies and corporate development transactions that accelerate value creation.
Sharon’s current boards include MTF Biologics and PracticeWise, where she serves as chair of the board. Past board roles include chair of the board of Sharps Compliance (NASDAQ: SMED), Catasys (NASDAQ: CATS), and Ethos Veterinary Health.
Pooja Goel
Managing Director
Ascension Ventures
Pooja Goel is Managing Director overseeing healthcare services investments for Ascension Ventures. She is responsible for creating the portfolio investment strategy and seeking out new opportunities for partnership. Within healthcare services, her focus has been value-based care, senior offerings, and tech-enabled services for chronic condition management. Her operational background and experience lend great ability to create value with emphasis on new market expansion and scale.
Prior to joining AV, Pooja was a Partner at Virgo Investment Group responsible for the healthcare practice. She has spent over two decades in the healthcare industry, grappling firsthand with healthcare megatrends and their consequences. This includes the high cost of care for patients with multiple chronic conditions, the need to address social determinants of health, the shift in payment models from volume to value, the decentralization of care, and the increasing emphasis on the patient/family experience.
Pooja worked previously as National General Manager for new business at Landmark Health. Before that, she served as Vice President for New Market Integration at DaVita and led a team that identified opportunities for new centers in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. She was also responsible for many transformational initiatives while holding several key operational roles in kidney care, international health, and population health.
Pooja began her career in hospital operations at multiple academic medical centers, including Kaiser Permanente. She holds a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and molecular genetics from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a master’s degree in health administration from the Loma Linda University School of Public Health.
Managing Director
Ascension Ventures
Pooja Goel is Managing Director overseeing healthcare services investments for Ascension Ventures. She is responsible for creating the portfolio investment strategy and seeking out new opportunities for partnership. Within healthcare services, her focus has been value-based care, senior offerings, and tech-enabled services for chronic condition management. Her operational background and experience lend great ability to create value with emphasis on new market expansion and scale.
Prior to joining AV, Pooja was a Partner at Virgo Investment Group responsible for the healthcare practice. She has spent over two decades in the healthcare industry, grappling firsthand with healthcare megatrends and their consequences. This includes the high cost of care for patients with multiple chronic conditions, the need to address social determinants of health, the shift in payment models from volume to value, the decentralization of care, and the increasing emphasis on the patient/family experience.
Pooja worked previously as National General Manager for new business at Landmark Health. Before that, she served as Vice President for New Market Integration at DaVita and led a team that identified opportunities for new centers in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. She was also responsible for many transformational initiatives while holding several key operational roles in kidney care, international health, and population health.
Pooja began her career in hospital operations at multiple academic medical centers, including Kaiser Permanente. She holds a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and molecular genetics from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a master’s degree in health administration from the Loma Linda University School of Public Health.
Veronica Hill-Milbourne
President and CEO
Spectrum Health Services, Inc; Boards: Addus Homecare, PA Assn of Community Health Centers, Health Federation of Philadelphia
Veronica Hill-Milbourne is the President and CEO of Spectrum Health Services, Inc., an acclaimed Federally Qualified Health Center recognized by the National Commission on Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Patient Centered Medical Home, serving Philadelphia’s most vulnerable for more than 55 years. Previously, Ms. Hill-Milbourne served as CEO of Pathways of PA, a private equity sponsored behavioral health services company, where she expanded clinical services by introducing a full spectrum of behavioral health solutions including home and community-based models of care, telehealth, and innovative school-based programs.
Ms. Hill-Milbourne has a unique perspective as she has worked as a provider and payor. As a payor, she held executive leadership roles at Independence Blue Cross and Health Partners Plans in Philadelphia. She also served as the SVP, Medical Services for the Health Transformation Alliance in Washington, DC, Chief Community and Compliance Officer for Inglis
Foundation and the VP of Quality, Risk Management and Compliance for the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia.
Ms. Hill-Milbourne was elected to serve as a Councilwoman in Horsham, Pennsylvania from 2018-2021. She currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Visitors for Temple University’s College of Public Health and serves as a Board Director for Addus Homecare, the Pennsylvania Association for Community Health Centers, The Health Federation of Philadelphia and Asbury.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Villanova University’s College of Nursing.
She holds a Master’s degree in Health Education from St. Joseph’s University and a Juris Doctorate from Temple University’s College of Law. As a registered nurse for more than 35 years, Ms. Hill-Milbourne has devoted her career to developing and leading home and community-based programs and services. She is passionate about community services and has been an advocate for health equality and social justice in traditionally underserved communities of color throughout her professional career.
President and CEO
Spectrum Health Services, Inc; Boards: Addus Homecare, PA Assn of Community Health Centers, Health Federation of Philadelphia
Veronica Hill-Milbourne is the President and CEO of Spectrum Health Services, Inc., an acclaimed Federally Qualified Health Center recognized by the National Commission on Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Patient Centered Medical Home, serving Philadelphia’s most vulnerable for more than 55 years. Previously, Ms. Hill-Milbourne served as CEO of Pathways of PA, a private equity sponsored behavioral health services company, where she expanded clinical services by introducing a full spectrum of behavioral health solutions including home and community-based models of care, telehealth, and innovative school-based programs.
Ms. Hill-Milbourne has a unique perspective as she has worked as a provider and payor. As a payor, she held executive leadership roles at Independence Blue Cross and Health Partners Plans in Philadelphia. She also served as the SVP, Medical Services for the Health Transformation Alliance in Washington, DC, Chief Community and Compliance Officer for Inglis
Foundation and the VP of Quality, Risk Management and Compliance for the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia.
Ms. Hill-Milbourne was elected to serve as a Councilwoman in Horsham, Pennsylvania from 2018-2021. She currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Visitors for Temple University’s College of Public Health and serves as a Board Director for Addus Homecare, the Pennsylvania Association for Community Health Centers, The Health Federation of Philadelphia and Asbury.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Villanova University’s College of Nursing.
She holds a Master’s degree in Health Education from St. Joseph’s University and a Juris Doctorate from Temple University’s College of Law. As a registered nurse for more than 35 years, Ms. Hill-Milbourne has devoted her career to developing and leading home and community-based programs and services. She is passionate about community services and has been an advocate for health equality and social justice in traditionally underserved communities of color throughout her professional career.
Jodi Hubler
Board Director
Gratum Ventures; Boards: BrainCheck; Paytient; Avio Medtech
Jodi Hubler is an insightful board director, and an accomplished venture capitalist and corporate executive best known for transforming businesses, accelerating growth, and building enviable shareholder value. Capitalizing on a near 30-year career of diverse experiences, Jodi actively divides her time between corporate governance and engaged philanthropy.
An esteemed governance leader, Ms. Hubler currently serves as an Independent Board Director for the privately held companies About, BrainCheck, Marani Health, Omcare, and Paytient. Additionally, Ms. Hubler lends her governance expertise and advocacy to various national nonprofit organizations and private equity and State of Minnesota funds.
Ms. Hubler previously served as a board director or chair of more than a dozen venture and private equity-backed healthcare companies, particularly as the CEO and Managing Director of Lemhi Ventures, a $385M healthcare service venture capital firm. This work included more than 50 financing rounds ranging from de novo startups to late-stage investment, resulting in job creation in the thousands and total value creation in the multiple billions. Her companies have redefined healthcare and payment models and have been acquired by some of the largest leaders in the sector. Her board experience includes chairing numerous compensation, audit, governance, strategy, and finance committees.
She has held executive positions in both public and private companies, including Cargill, Alcoa, Definity Health, Lemhi Ventures, and Bind Benefits. She is especially adept at leading and governing in industries facing transformative change, drawing on her experience across global organizations and multi-industry domains. With over two dozen board experiences to draw upon, Ms. Hubler’s board colleagues value her direct approach, governance expertise, and the astute perspective she brings to help companies achieve peak performance and growth goals.
Board Director
Gratum Ventures; Boards: BrainCheck; Paytient; Avio Medtech
Jodi Hubler is an insightful board director, and an accomplished venture capitalist and corporate executive best known for transforming businesses, accelerating growth, and building enviable shareholder value. Capitalizing on a near 30-year career of diverse experiences, Jodi actively divides her time between corporate governance and engaged philanthropy.
An esteemed governance leader, Ms. Hubler currently serves as an Independent Board Director for the privately held companies About, BrainCheck, Marani Health, Omcare, and Paytient. Additionally, Ms. Hubler lends her governance expertise and advocacy to various national nonprofit organizations and private equity and State of Minnesota funds.
Ms. Hubler previously served as a board director or chair of more than a dozen venture and private equity-backed healthcare companies, particularly as the CEO and Managing Director of Lemhi Ventures, a $385M healthcare service venture capital firm. This work included more than 50 financing rounds ranging from de novo startups to late-stage investment, resulting in job creation in the thousands and total value creation in the multiple billions. Her companies have redefined healthcare and payment models and have been acquired by some of the largest leaders in the sector. Her board experience includes chairing numerous compensation, audit, governance, strategy, and finance committees.
She has held executive positions in both public and private companies, including Cargill, Alcoa, Definity Health, Lemhi Ventures, and Bind Benefits. She is especially adept at leading and governing in industries facing transformative change, drawing on her experience across global organizations and multi-industry domains. With over two dozen board experiences to draw upon, Ms. Hubler’s board colleagues value her direct approach, governance expertise, and the astute perspective she brings to help companies achieve peak performance and growth goals.
Beverly Huss MS
Board Director and Strategic Advisor
Accuray, Ancora Heart, Iridex, Vicarious Surgical, InfuSystems Holdings and Clarius Health
Beverly Huss is a medical device entrepreneur, board director and mentor with more than two decades of general management and board director experience in both public and venture backed companies. She was formerly Executive Chair of Madorra, Inc. a women’s health company focused on improving the quality of life after menopause. She was co-founder and CEO of Pagonia Medical. Previously, Beverly was President and CEO of Qool Therapeutics, Inc. a tissue preservation company. Beverly was co-founder and CEO of Vibrynt, Inc. a company that developed a novel minimally invasive therapeutic device for the treatment of morbid obesity. Prior to this, Beverly was with Santa Clara, California-based Guidant since 1986, fulfilling a variety of executive roles within the company’s various medical device divisions. She managed the worldwide Endovascular Solutions business as President and quadrupled worldwide revenues to $150 million for the carotid and peripheral vascular business in four years.
Prior to this Beverly held several executive level positions as Vice President of Guidant’s Canada and Latin America operations, Vice President of Vascular Intervention Global Marketing and Vice President of the Stent Business Unit where she built the company’s coronary stent business, a market leader for 27 of 28 quarters with revenue growth of zero to $1 billion and 90% gross margins in three years. Earlier in her career, Beverly held engineering positions at both Honeywell Defense Systems Division and Jones and Laughlin Steel. Additionally, she served as chairperson of the Silicon Valley American Heart Association and as a senior advisor to Pervasis Therapeutics, a Cambridge, MA based cell therapy company.
Beverly holds a M.S. in technology management from Pepperdine University and a B.S. in metallurgical engineering from the University of Illinois. Beverly has several patents to her credit in the cardiovascular, obesity and temperature management medical device areas. Beverly serves on the boards of Accuray (chair of the Accuray compensation committee), Iridex (chair of the Iridex compensation committee), InfuSystems Holdings (co-chair of compensation committee) Ancora Heart, and Vicarious Surgical. She serves on the University of Illinois Material Science and Engineering steering Committee and Biomedical Engineering Steering Committee. She previously served on the boards of Madorra, Kalera Medical, Surefire Medical, Ulthera, Dade Behring, Inc., Wright Medical Inc., and Artes Medical. She is a business coach and mentor in the Stanford University Biodesign Fellowship Program.
Beverly was the recipient of the 2013 University of Illinois College of Engineering Alumni Award for distinguished leadership in the medical device industry. Beverly was named a 2024 Director to Watch by Directors and Boards and holds a National Association of Corporate Directors Certification.
Board Director and Strategic Advisor
Accuray, Ancora Heart, Iridex, Vicarious Surgical, InfuSystems Holdings and Clarius Health
Beverly Huss is a medical device entrepreneur, board director and mentor with more than two decades of general management and board director experience in both public and venture backed companies. She was formerly Executive Chair of Madorra, Inc. a women’s health company focused on improving the quality of life after menopause. She was co-founder and CEO of Pagonia Medical. Previously, Beverly was President and CEO of Qool Therapeutics, Inc. a tissue preservation company. Beverly was co-founder and CEO of Vibrynt, Inc. a company that developed a novel minimally invasive therapeutic device for the treatment of morbid obesity. Prior to this, Beverly was with Santa Clara, California-based Guidant since 1986, fulfilling a variety of executive roles within the company’s various medical device divisions. She managed the worldwide Endovascular Solutions business as President and quadrupled worldwide revenues to $150 million for the carotid and peripheral vascular business in four years.
Prior to this Beverly held several executive level positions as Vice President of Guidant’s Canada and Latin America operations, Vice President of Vascular Intervention Global Marketing and Vice President of the Stent Business Unit where she built the company’s coronary stent business, a market leader for 27 of 28 quarters with revenue growth of zero to $1 billion and 90% gross margins in three years. Earlier in her career, Beverly held engineering positions at both Honeywell Defense Systems Division and Jones and Laughlin Steel. Additionally, she served as chairperson of the Silicon Valley American Heart Association and as a senior advisor to Pervasis Therapeutics, a Cambridge, MA based cell therapy company.
Beverly holds a M.S. in technology management from Pepperdine University and a B.S. in metallurgical engineering from the University of Illinois. Beverly has several patents to her credit in the cardiovascular, obesity and temperature management medical device areas. Beverly serves on the boards of Accuray (chair of the Accuray compensation committee), Iridex (chair of the Iridex compensation committee), InfuSystems Holdings (co-chair of compensation committee) Ancora Heart, and Vicarious Surgical. She serves on the University of Illinois Material Science and Engineering steering Committee and Biomedical Engineering Steering Committee. She previously served on the boards of Madorra, Kalera Medical, Surefire Medical, Ulthera, Dade Behring, Inc., Wright Medical Inc., and Artes Medical. She is a business coach and mentor in the Stanford University Biodesign Fellowship Program.
Beverly was the recipient of the 2013 University of Illinois College of Engineering Alumni Award for distinguished leadership in the medical device industry. Beverly was named a 2024 Director to Watch by Directors and Boards and holds a National Association of Corporate Directors Certification.
Rita Johnson-Mills MPH/MLHR
Founder & CEO
RJMills Enterprises, LLC
Rita is an Independent Director serving on the Boards of Nyxoah S.A. (NYXH) and Owens and Minor (OMI). She also serves on the private company boards of Quest Analytics LLC and Ellipsis Health. Rita also served on the Board of Brookdale Senior Living, Inc. (BKD). She also serves as President, Southern Region for CINQCARE, a physician driven ambulatory health care provider, focusing primarily on Black and Brown communities.
Rita is a former C-suite business to consumer healthcare executive and business unit CEO for UnitedHealthcare and Centene Corporation. Rita’s background and experience include a combined 30 years of federal, state and private industry experience of which 15 years she was directly accountable for profitability of health care organizations.
Rita spent almost eleven years in progressive leadership positions with UnitedHealthcare, including CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Tennessee, a health plan serving more than 500,000 government sponsored health care consumers and over $2.7B in annual revenue.
Rita previously served as CEO of Managed Health Services and Buckeye Community Health Plan, both wholly owned subsidiaries of Centene Corporation and led the operational turnaround of each health plan. Rita possesses a strong regulatory background having spent 10 years in progressively expansive leadership roles in the State of Ohio, last of which was Chief, Bureau of Medical Assistance and almost 2 years with CMS, where she served as Director Medicaid Managed Care for the country. Rita is a 2021 SAVOY magazine Most Influential Black Corporate Director. She is a 2019 NACD Governance Fellow and a Women Inc. Magazine 2019 Most Influential Corporate Director and a 2018 Director to Watch. Rita is the recipient of numerous honors and accolades, including a 2017 Nashville Business Journal Most Admired CEO award honoree. Rita has been featured in numerous publications and journals and is a sought-after public speaker.
Founder & CEO
RJMills Enterprises, LLC
Rita is an Independent Director serving on the Boards of Nyxoah S.A. (NYXH) and Owens and Minor (OMI). She also serves on the private company boards of Quest Analytics LLC and Ellipsis Health. Rita also served on the Board of Brookdale Senior Living, Inc. (BKD). She also serves as President, Southern Region for CINQCARE, a physician driven ambulatory health care provider, focusing primarily on Black and Brown communities.
Rita is a former C-suite business to consumer healthcare executive and business unit CEO for UnitedHealthcare and Centene Corporation. Rita’s background and experience include a combined 30 years of federal, state and private industry experience of which 15 years she was directly accountable for profitability of health care organizations.
Rita spent almost eleven years in progressive leadership positions with UnitedHealthcare, including CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Tennessee, a health plan serving more than 500,000 government sponsored health care consumers and over $2.7B in annual revenue.
Rita previously served as CEO of Managed Health Services and Buckeye Community Health Plan, both wholly owned subsidiaries of Centene Corporation and led the operational turnaround of each health plan. Rita possesses a strong regulatory background having spent 10 years in progressively expansive leadership roles in the State of Ohio, last of which was Chief, Bureau of Medical Assistance and almost 2 years with CMS, where she served as Director Medicaid Managed Care for the country. Rita is a 2021 SAVOY magazine Most Influential Black Corporate Director. She is a 2019 NACD Governance Fellow and a Women Inc. Magazine 2019 Most Influential Corporate Director and a 2018 Director to Watch. Rita is the recipient of numerous honors and accolades, including a 2017 Nashville Business Journal Most Admired CEO award honoree. Rita has been featured in numerous publications and journals and is a sought-after public speaker.
Ulya Khan
Operating Partner
Virgo Investment Group; Boards: Marani Health, CHMRC (Chair)
Ulya Khan is a force for innovation in the fields of digital health, longevity, and healthy aging, with her finger on the pulse of the latest developments across the many facets within these fields. She has a true understanding of factors that drive health behavior change in older adults. Ulya has been an operating partner and advisor to private equity and venture capital firms since 2019. She has been instrumental in helping her clients with their healthcare investment thesis while also helping the portfolio companies with growth, operations, and exit strategies.
Ulya is also a founding member of the GoldenSeeds Arizona chapter, leading multiple investments and deal terms on their behalf. She serves on a number of private company boards including Marani Health, CHMRC (Board Chair), and Tramuto-Porter Foundation.
Ms. Khan has held several C-suite roles, including Chief Operating & Product Officer at Tivity Health from 2016-2018 with $550MM+ P&L, where her portfolio comprised the flagship SilverSneakers product alongside Prime Fitness and Whole Health Living products.
Ulya has a Bachelors of Science Degree in Computer Science and a Masters Degree in Management Sciences from Imperial College, London. She has completed various Executive Programs from Harvard Business School, including Business Strategy and Managing Health Care Delivery. Ms Khan is a Fellow of the Nashville Healthcare Council Fellow Program (2017).
Operating Partner
Virgo Investment Group; Boards: Marani Health, CHMRC (Chair)
Ulya Khan is a force for innovation in the fields of digital health, longevity, and healthy aging, with her finger on the pulse of the latest developments across the many facets within these fields. She has a true understanding of factors that drive health behavior change in older adults. Ulya has been an operating partner and advisor to private equity and venture capital firms since 2019. She has been instrumental in helping her clients with their healthcare investment thesis while also helping the portfolio companies with growth, operations, and exit strategies.
Ulya is also a founding member of the GoldenSeeds Arizona chapter, leading multiple investments and deal terms on their behalf. She serves on a number of private company boards including Marani Health, CHMRC (Board Chair), and Tramuto-Porter Foundation.
Ms. Khan has held several C-suite roles, including Chief Operating & Product Officer at Tivity Health from 2016-2018 with $550MM+ P&L, where her portfolio comprised the flagship SilverSneakers product alongside Prime Fitness and Whole Health Living products.
Ulya has a Bachelors of Science Degree in Computer Science and a Masters Degree in Management Sciences from Imperial College, London. She has completed various Executive Programs from Harvard Business School, including Business Strategy and Managing Health Care Delivery. Ms Khan is a Fellow of the Nashville Healthcare Council Fellow Program (2017).
Amy Langer
Independent Board Member
HealthPartners; Vireo Health (CSN: VREO); Avio Medtech Consulting
Amy Langer is an independent Board member, successful entrepreneur and industry thought leader. She started her career as an auditor with KPMG, where she was engaged in a culture that was rich in employee development and long-term relationship-based values. She then went on to Robert Half International where she excelled quickly and learned the value of doing work that she loved. In 2002, with a business partner, she co-founded Salo with a premise of valuing the relationship over the transaction. Before the gig economy existed, they saw a gap in the marketplace and went after it. Starting in a small conference room with the partners self-funding by using all of their savings, going in debt and forgoing income for 22 months the company grew to just shy of 1,000 employees before it was sold to Korn Ferry in February 2023. Amy and Salo have received many awards including the EY Entrepreneur of the year in 2007, The Fastest Growing Women Led Company in North America by Women’s Presidents Organization and induction in the Hall of Fame by the National Association of Women Business Owners, but the awards she most cherishes are the awards for being a “Top
Workplace” and “Best and Brightest Companies to Work For” which Salo was recognized time and time again.
She cares about success both in and out of the workplace by being active in civic and nonprofit organizations. Amy has served in a leadership capacity in many organizations including: GreaterMSP, Washburn Center for Children, the Michigan State University Eli Broad College of Business, Committee of 200 and Women’s Presidents Organization.
Amy is currently a Board Member for Health Partners and Executive Chair of Avio Medtech consulting. She loves being involved in an entrepreneurial space again and being part of a company that will intentionally focus on culture and relationships. Amy has 3 boys; Max, Hank and Logan and a rescue dog they adopted, Luna.
Independent Board Member
HealthPartners; Vireo Health (CSN: VREO); Avio Medtech Consulting
Amy Langer is an independent Board member, successful entrepreneur and industry thought leader. She started her career as an auditor with KPMG, where she was engaged in a culture that was rich in employee development and long-term relationship-based values. She then went on to Robert Half International where she excelled quickly and learned the value of doing work that she loved. In 2002, with a business partner, she co-founded Salo with a premise of valuing the relationship over the transaction. Before the gig economy existed, they saw a gap in the marketplace and went after it. Starting in a small conference room with the partners self-funding by using all of their savings, going in debt and forgoing income for 22 months the company grew to just shy of 1,000 employees before it was sold to Korn Ferry in February 2023. Amy and Salo have received many awards including the EY Entrepreneur of the year in 2007, The Fastest Growing Women Led Company in North America by Women’s Presidents Organization and induction in the Hall of Fame by the National Association of Women Business Owners, but the awards she most cherishes are the awards for being a “Top
Workplace” and “Best and Brightest Companies to Work For” which Salo was recognized time and time again.
She cares about success both in and out of the workplace by being active in civic and nonprofit organizations. Amy has served in a leadership capacity in many organizations including: GreaterMSP, Washburn Center for Children, the Michigan State University Eli Broad College of Business, Committee of 200 and Women’s Presidents Organization.
Amy is currently a Board Member for Health Partners and Executive Chair of Avio Medtech consulting. She loves being involved in an entrepreneurial space again and being part of a company that will intentionally focus on culture and relationships. Amy has 3 boys; Max, Hank and Logan and a rescue dog they adopted, Luna.
Kelsey Maguire
Managing Director
Sandbox Clinical Ventures and Blue Venture Funds
Kelsey Maguire joined Sandbox in 2019 and is a Partner of Sandbox Clinical Ventures and the Blue Venture Funds. She currently leads the Blue Venture Fund team. She serves as a board member of CirrusMD, Ideal Option, Insightin Health, Quilted Health, Origin Physical Therapy, Wayspring, and Wider Circle. Currently she is a board observer of Rula, and previously, she served as a board observer of PWN (acquired by Everly Health). She now helps manage the Blue Venture Funds’ investment in Everly Health.
Prior to Sandbox, Kelsey was the Head of Eligibility and Launch Operations at health insurance startup, Collective Health, where she led several teams focused on launching new clients. She was previously an associate at the growth private equity firm TA Associates and began her career as an M&A banking analyst at Deutsche Bank.
Kelsey holds an BA in History & Literature from Harvard.
Managing Director
Sandbox Clinical Ventures and Blue Venture Funds
Kelsey Maguire joined Sandbox in 2019 and is a Partner of Sandbox Clinical Ventures and the Blue Venture Funds. She currently leads the Blue Venture Fund team. She serves as a board member of CirrusMD, Ideal Option, Insightin Health, Quilted Health, Origin Physical Therapy, Wayspring, and Wider Circle. Currently she is a board observer of Rula, and previously, she served as a board observer of PWN (acquired by Everly Health). She now helps manage the Blue Venture Funds’ investment in Everly Health.
Prior to Sandbox, Kelsey was the Head of Eligibility and Launch Operations at health insurance startup, Collective Health, where she led several teams focused on launching new clients. She was previously an associate at the growth private equity firm TA Associates and began her career as an M&A banking analyst at Deutsche Bank.
Kelsey holds an BA in History & Literature from Harvard.
Pavithra Mahesh
Principal
Apax Partners; Boards: InnovAge; Eating Recovery Center
Pavithra Mahesh is a Principal in the Healthcare team. She joined Apax Partners in 2018 and is currently based in New York. Prior to joining Apax Partners, Pavithra was a member of Goldman Sachs’ Principal Investing Area, where she focused on buyouts and growth equity investments in healthcare services and IT. She started her career in Goldman Sachs’ healthcare investment banking team.
Pavithra holds a BA in Behavioral Economics, magna cum laude, from Duke University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Pavithra serves on the board of Eating Recovery Center (ERC), InnovAge and previously served on the board of Kepro.
Principal
Apax Partners; Boards: InnovAge; Eating Recovery Center
Pavithra Mahesh is a Principal in the Healthcare team. She joined Apax Partners in 2018 and is currently based in New York. Prior to joining Apax Partners, Pavithra was a member of Goldman Sachs’ Principal Investing Area, where she focused on buyouts and growth equity investments in healthcare services and IT. She started her career in Goldman Sachs’ healthcare investment banking team.
Pavithra holds a BA in Behavioral Economics, magna cum laude, from Duke University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Pavithra serves on the board of Eating Recovery Center (ERC), InnovAge and previously served on the board of Kepro.
Mary Anne Mason
Chief Executive Officer
Mason Strategic Advisors
Mary Anne Mason brings over three decades of experience helping healthcare companies grow, scale, and exit successfully. Her experience spans whiteboard startups to large publicly traded companies, including Caremark, Baxter International, and Axia Health Management, widely known for the SilverSneakers® Fitness Program.
Mary Anne works with private equity firms as a board member and advisor to their portfolio companies. She guides these companies to tackle strategic challenges, enhance go-to-market strategy, attract A-player talent, connect with opportunities in the market, and accelerate growth. She has served as an operating partner and independent director. As a “been-there-done-that” entrepreneur, Mary Anne deeply understands the DNA of these companies and what it takes to accelerate growth and value creation. Her unparalleled network and unique ability to identify and foster strong relationships make her an invaluable resource.
Mary Anne served as a founding partner of Axia Health Management, beginning at startup, scaling, and later participating in the successful sale to Healthways for $450 million. She led business development for Caremark, a company that grew from a startup physician practice management business to $1 billion in revenue in just four years. She was general manager with P&L responsibility for a $300 million division of Baxter International.
Mary Anne’s board service includes AccessOne, a portfolio company of Frontier Growth at the intersection of healthcare and fintech; Linkwell Health, a member engagement company backed by HLM Ventures and Spark Capital; and Tridiuum (exited to New Directions Behavioral Health), a digital behavioral health company, backed by Fresenius, Sopris Capital, and Martinson Ventures. She is an independent director on the board of The Vitality Group. She serves on the board of WBL and is a former Board Program faculty mentor. Mary Anne is a frequent speaker and advocate for women on their journey to board service.
Chief Executive Officer
Mason Strategic Advisors
Mary Anne Mason brings over three decades of experience helping healthcare companies grow, scale, and exit successfully. Her experience spans whiteboard startups to large publicly traded companies, including Caremark, Baxter International, and Axia Health Management, widely known for the SilverSneakers® Fitness Program.
Mary Anne works with private equity firms as a board member and advisor to their portfolio companies. She guides these companies to tackle strategic challenges, enhance go-to-market strategy, attract A-player talent, connect with opportunities in the market, and accelerate growth. She has served as an operating partner and independent director. As a “been-there-done-that” entrepreneur, Mary Anne deeply understands the DNA of these companies and what it takes to accelerate growth and value creation. Her unparalleled network and unique ability to identify and foster strong relationships make her an invaluable resource.
Mary Anne served as a founding partner of Axia Health Management, beginning at startup, scaling, and later participating in the successful sale to Healthways for $450 million. She led business development for Caremark, a company that grew from a startup physician practice management business to $1 billion in revenue in just four years. She was general manager with P&L responsibility for a $300 million division of Baxter International.
Mary Anne’s board service includes AccessOne, a portfolio company of Frontier Growth at the intersection of healthcare and fintech; Linkwell Health, a member engagement company backed by HLM Ventures and Spark Capital; and Tridiuum (exited to New Directions Behavioral Health), a digital behavioral health company, backed by Fresenius, Sopris Capital, and Martinson Ventures. She is an independent director on the board of The Vitality Group. She serves on the board of WBL and is a former Board Program faculty mentor. Mary Anne is a frequent speaker and advocate for women on their journey to board service.
Anne McGeorge MS, CPA
Board Member
The Oncology Institute
Anne is the former managing partner of Grant Thornton, LLP’s Global Health Care and Life Sciences Practices. She helped launch this focus within the organization and grew it to a $250 million global business in 10 years.
Prior to joining Grant Thornton, LLP, Anne was Partner in charge of Southeast Health Care Tax Practice at Deloitte from 2002 to 2005, and Arthur Andersen from 1994 to 2002. Anne’s 35-year career spans all aspects of finance and transformational change, including strategy, M&A, joint ventures, financial statement audits, corporate restructuring, governance, talent acquisition, executive compensation, IRS matters, and risk management.
Anne is currently on the board of directors for two public companies: Dianthus Therapeutics (NASDAQ: DNTH) and The Oncology Institute (NASDAQ: TOI), two private (PE-backed) companies: CitiusTech and Nimbus Therapeutics, and two non-profit companies: The National Marrow Donor Program and the Business School Foundation at William & Mary. She chairs the Audit Committee for each of her corporate boards. She is also on the advisory board for FCA Health Innovations, a $100 million venture capital fund.
Anne is a member of WBL, Women on Boards 50/50, and Women Corporate Directors. She is on the adjunct faculty at the Gillings School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. Anne has a B.B.A. in Accounting from William & Mary and an M.S. In Accounting/Taxation from the University of Virginia.
Board Member
The Oncology Institute
Anne is the former managing partner of Grant Thornton, LLP’s Global Health Care and Life Sciences Practices. She helped launch this focus within the organization and grew it to a $250 million global business in 10 years.
Prior to joining Grant Thornton, LLP, Anne was Partner in charge of Southeast Health Care Tax Practice at Deloitte from 2002 to 2005, and Arthur Andersen from 1994 to 2002. Anne’s 35-year career spans all aspects of finance and transformational change, including strategy, M&A, joint ventures, financial statement audits, corporate restructuring, governance, talent acquisition, executive compensation, IRS matters, and risk management.
Anne is currently on the board of directors for two public companies: Dianthus Therapeutics (NASDAQ: DNTH) and The Oncology Institute (NASDAQ: TOI), two private (PE-backed) companies: CitiusTech and Nimbus Therapeutics, and two non-profit companies: The National Marrow Donor Program and the Business School Foundation at William & Mary. She chairs the Audit Committee for each of her corporate boards. She is also on the advisory board for FCA Health Innovations, a $100 million venture capital fund.
Anne is a member of WBL, Women on Boards 50/50, and Women Corporate Directors. She is on the adjunct faculty at the Gillings School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. Anne has a B.B.A. in Accounting from William & Mary and an M.S. In Accounting/Taxation from the University of Virginia.
Krista McKerracher
Managing Director
Fig Advisory LLC
Krista McKerracher is a retired biopharmaceutical leader with 35+ years of experience spanning Canadian, U.S. & global commercial and development roles. She is known for bringing a strong commercial orientation to the drug development process.
In her last corporate role, McKerracher was VP, Head of Hemoglobinopathy Programs at CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CRSP) where she took the first CRISPR-edited autologous cellular program through IND and into the clinic. Previously, McKerracher was Vice President & Global Program Franchise Head at Novartis Oncology, where she directed a large cross-functional team of drug development professionals. Prior to Novartis, McKerracher held a series of roles over 14 years at the Johnson & Johnson family of companies in Canada and the US.
In 2017, McKerracher founded FIG Advisory LLC, a consultancy serving early-stage companies on development and fund-raising strategy. She serves on the Board of Nervgen Pharma (TSXV: NGEN, OTCQX: NGENF; Chair, Nomination & Governance Committee; member, Compensation and Science Committees). She serves on Advisory Boards to Hemex Health, Cureleads, and BioAxone Biosciences, and is a mentor at Springboard, an incubator for female-led healthcare and technology companies. She previously served on the Alumni Council and the Capital Campaign Committee at the University of Waterloo.
McKerracher holds a BSc (Hon) in Applied Health Studies from the University of Waterloo and an MBA from York University. She is an avid skier, golfer, and boater who loves to cook and learn all she can about wine.
Key boards: Nervgen Pharma (TSXV: NGEN, OTCQX: NGENF) (Nomination & Governance Committee Chair; Compensation and Science Committees), Hemex Health Advisory Board, Cureleads Advisory Board, BioAxone Biosciences Advisory Board
Managing Director
Fig Advisory LLC
Krista McKerracher is a retired biopharmaceutical leader with 35+ years of experience spanning Canadian, U.S. & global commercial and development roles. She is known for bringing a strong commercial orientation to the drug development process.
In her last corporate role, McKerracher was VP, Head of Hemoglobinopathy Programs at CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CRSP) where she took the first CRISPR-edited autologous cellular program through IND and into the clinic. Previously, McKerracher was Vice President & Global Program Franchise Head at Novartis Oncology, where she directed a large cross-functional team of drug development professionals. Prior to Novartis, McKerracher held a series of roles over 14 years at the Johnson & Johnson family of companies in Canada and the US.
In 2017, McKerracher founded FIG Advisory LLC, a consultancy serving early-stage companies on development and fund-raising strategy. She serves on the Board of Nervgen Pharma (TSXV: NGEN, OTCQX: NGENF; Chair, Nomination & Governance Committee; member, Compensation and Science Committees). She serves on Advisory Boards to Hemex Health, Cureleads, and BioAxone Biosciences, and is a mentor at Springboard, an incubator for female-led healthcare and technology companies. She previously served on the Alumni Council and the Capital Campaign Committee at the University of Waterloo.
McKerracher holds a BSc (Hon) in Applied Health Studies from the University of Waterloo and an MBA from York University. She is an avid skier, golfer, and boater who loves to cook and learn all she can about wine.
Key boards: Nervgen Pharma (TSXV: NGEN, OTCQX: NGENF) (Nomination & Governance Committee Chair; Compensation and Science Committees), Hemex Health Advisory Board, Cureleads Advisory Board, BioAxone Biosciences Advisory Board
Lauren McMurry
Partner
Aon Talent Solutions
Lauren McMurry is a partner with the Executive Compensation practice at Aon in Connecticut and is the Life Science Market Leader.
For 17 years, Lauren has been working with compensation committees and senior executives in all executive compensation matters. In particular, Lauren assists clients with incentive program designs and assessments; IPO planning; employment, severance, and change-in-control contract and policy reviews; regulatory requirements; and director compensation assessments. Lauren specializes in advising clients in the life sciences industry, including commercial and pre-commercial biotechs, medtech, tools, and diagnostics companies. Lauren has assisted clients in all life cycle phases, from start-up to IPO to mature public company.
Prior to joining Aon, Lauren practiced as an attorney and worked for a major consulting firm advising clients on retirement benefit programs.
Lauren earned a B.S. Management Science from MIT and a J.D. from Rutgers School of Law ̶ Newark.
Partner
Aon Talent Solutions
Lauren McMurry is a partner with the Executive Compensation practice at Aon in Connecticut and is the Life Science Market Leader.
For 17 years, Lauren has been working with compensation committees and senior executives in all executive compensation matters. In particular, Lauren assists clients with incentive program designs and assessments; IPO planning; employment, severance, and change-in-control contract and policy reviews; regulatory requirements; and director compensation assessments. Lauren specializes in advising clients in the life sciences industry, including commercial and pre-commercial biotechs, medtech, tools, and diagnostics companies. Lauren has assisted clients in all life cycle phases, from start-up to IPO to mature public company.
Prior to joining Aon, Lauren practiced as an attorney and worked for a major consulting firm advising clients on retirement benefit programs.
Lauren earned a B.S. Management Science from MIT and a J.D. from Rutgers School of Law ̶ Newark.
Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice
President and CEO
Morehouse School of Medicine
Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, FACOG, provides a valuable combination of experience at the highest levels of patient care and medical research, as well as organizational management and public health policy. Marrying her transformational leadership acumen and strategic thinking to tackle challenging management issues, she has a track record of redesigning complex organizations’ infrastructures to reflect the needs of evolving strategic environments and position the organization for success through sustainability tactics.
The sixth president of Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) and the first woman to lead the freestanding medical institution, Montgomery Rice serves as both the president and CEO. A renowned infertility specialist and researcher, she most recently served as dean and executive vice president of MSM, where she has served since 2011.
Prior to joining MSM, Montgomery Rice held faculty positions and leadership roles at various health centers, including academic health centers. Most notably, she was the founding director of the Center for Women’s Health Research at Meharry Medical College, one of the nation’s first research centers devoted to studying diseases that disproportionately impact women of color.
Dedicated to the creation and advancement of health equity, Montgomery Rice lends her vast experience and talents to programs that enhance pipeline opportunities for academically diverse learners, diversifies the physician and scientific workforce, and fosters equity in health care access and health outcomes.
Montgomery Rice has received numerous accolades and honors. She was named to the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans and received the 2017 Horatio Alger Award. For three consecutive years (2016-2018) Georgia Trend Magazine selected Montgomery Rice as one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians. Other honors include the following: The Dean Griffin Community Service Award from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Girls Inc. 2019 Smart Award, The National Medical Association OB/GYN 2019 Legend of the Section Award, The Turknett Leadership Character Award (2018), Visions of Excellence Award, Atlanta Business League (2018), Links Incorporated Co-Founders Award (2018), Trumpet Vanguard Award (2015), The Dorothy I. Height Crystal Stair Award (2014), National Coalition of 100 Black Women - Women of Impact (2014), YWCA – Women of Achievement of Atlanta-(2014) and Nashville(2007), American Medical Women’s Association Elizabeth Blackwell Medal (2011) and Working Mother Media Multicultural Women’s Legacy Award (2011).
President and CEO
Morehouse School of Medicine
Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, FACOG, provides a valuable combination of experience at the highest levels of patient care and medical research, as well as organizational management and public health policy. Marrying her transformational leadership acumen and strategic thinking to tackle challenging management issues, she has a track record of redesigning complex organizations’ infrastructures to reflect the needs of evolving strategic environments and position the organization for success through sustainability tactics.
The sixth president of Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) and the first woman to lead the freestanding medical institution, Montgomery Rice serves as both the president and CEO. A renowned infertility specialist and researcher, she most recently served as dean and executive vice president of MSM, where she has served since 2011.
Prior to joining MSM, Montgomery Rice held faculty positions and leadership roles at various health centers, including academic health centers. Most notably, she was the founding director of the Center for Women’s Health Research at Meharry Medical College, one of the nation’s first research centers devoted to studying diseases that disproportionately impact women of color.
Dedicated to the creation and advancement of health equity, Montgomery Rice lends her vast experience and talents to programs that enhance pipeline opportunities for academically diverse learners, diversifies the physician and scientific workforce, and fosters equity in health care access and health outcomes.
Montgomery Rice has received numerous accolades and honors. She was named to the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans and received the 2017 Horatio Alger Award. For three consecutive years (2016-2018) Georgia Trend Magazine selected Montgomery Rice as one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians. Other honors include the following: The Dean Griffin Community Service Award from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Girls Inc. 2019 Smart Award, The National Medical Association OB/GYN 2019 Legend of the Section Award, The Turknett Leadership Character Award (2018), Visions of Excellence Award, Atlanta Business League (2018), Links Incorporated Co-Founders Award (2018), Trumpet Vanguard Award (2015), The Dorothy I. Height Crystal Stair Award (2014), National Coalition of 100 Black Women - Women of Impact (2014), YWCA – Women of Achievement of Atlanta-(2014) and Nashville(2007), American Medical Women’s Association Elizabeth Blackwell Medal (2011) and Working Mother Media Multicultural Women’s Legacy Award (2011).
Debby Morris
COO-CFO
AccessHope; Boards: Biote; Rexford Industrial
Debby Morris is a strategic, operational, and financial leader with depth and breadth of expertise in healthcare through an accomplished 30+ year career in leadership in private, public, national, and global companies. She is passionate about driving growth and profitability while improving the patient and customer experience. Debby currently serves as an executive with AccessHope, which connects employees who have been diagnosed with cancer and their community-based oncologists to renowned cancer experts from National Cancer Institute (NCI)–Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers. Before that, she served as CFO of Apria Healthcare (former NASDAQ: APR), one of the nation’s larger providers of home healthcare equipment. Debby has extensive experience scaling and transforming organizations through digital innovation, process improvement, and increasing workforce efficiency during rapid growth, industry consolidation, and other business complexities.
Debby currently serves on two public boards: Rexford Industrial Realty (NYSE: REXR), a leading industrial real estate firm, and Biote (Nasdaq: BTMD), a leading innovator of therapeutic wellness. She recently served on the board and chaired the audit committee of EverDriven Technologies, an alternative student transportation platform, from PE firm’s initial investment in 2020 through growth into a national platform and sale to Charlesbank Capital Partners in 2024. Debby has been involved in numerous board scenarios including two successful exits, rebuild of the executive team, CEO succession, and more!
COO-CFO
AccessHope; Boards: Biote; Rexford Industrial
Debby Morris is a strategic, operational, and financial leader with depth and breadth of expertise in healthcare through an accomplished 30+ year career in leadership in private, public, national, and global companies. She is passionate about driving growth and profitability while improving the patient and customer experience. Debby currently serves as an executive with AccessHope, which connects employees who have been diagnosed with cancer and their community-based oncologists to renowned cancer experts from National Cancer Institute (NCI)–Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers. Before that, she served as CFO of Apria Healthcare (former NASDAQ: APR), one of the nation’s larger providers of home healthcare equipment. Debby has extensive experience scaling and transforming organizations through digital innovation, process improvement, and increasing workforce efficiency during rapid growth, industry consolidation, and other business complexities.
Debby currently serves on two public boards: Rexford Industrial Realty (NYSE: REXR), a leading industrial real estate firm, and Biote (Nasdaq: BTMD), a leading innovator of therapeutic wellness. She recently served on the board and chaired the audit committee of EverDriven Technologies, an alternative student transportation platform, from PE firm’s initial investment in 2020 through growth into a national platform and sale to Charlesbank Capital Partners in 2024. Debby has been involved in numerous board scenarios including two successful exits, rebuild of the executive team, CEO succession, and more!
Miriam Paramore
Founder & CEO
RxUtility
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Miriam Paramore has been influencing the direction of the healthcare technology industry for more than 30 years. Her contributions have had a significant impact on the major healthcare business sectors – providers, payers, pharma, and, most importantly, patients. It has been Miriam’s life's work to improve the U.S. healthcare system through the power of information. She is an expert in healthcare IT as well as healthcare data and the rules that govern it.
Miriam is an operating advisor at Goldman Sachs and a senior advisor at Sixth Street growth equity. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Medsphere, a private health IT company that provides EHR, RCM, and other IT solutions for providers.
Miriam is the immediate past President and Chief Strategy Officer of OptimizeRx (NASDAQ: OPRX), a digital health company that connects life sciences, physicians, and patients in order to improve access, affordability, and adherence. She oversaw all initiatives to diversify the organization’s workforce by founding its first DEI program. She led the company’s corporate development function working with the investment community on, buy, and partner opportunities.
Previously, Miriam held C-suite roles in several health tech companies. Notably, she ran enterprise-wide strategy and product development as executive vice president for Emdeon, now known as Change Healthcare. Her previous board of director and advisory board roles include RxRevu, a prescription decision support technology company; CareSource, a Medicaid managed care plan; HIMSS; the Louisville Health Information Exchange; and the eHealth Committee for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
As an investor, Miriam connects health tech entrepreneurs with capital partners and puts her money to work with great people to drive ideas she believes in. She is currently invested in several early-stage health tech companies. Miriam was a founding investor at NueCura, a Nashville-based healthcare angel investment group, where she sourced deals and advised several portfolio companies.
Key boards: Medsphere, Human-Centered Health
Founder & CEO
RxUtility
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Miriam Paramore has been influencing the direction of the healthcare technology industry for more than 30 years. Her contributions have had a significant impact on the major healthcare business sectors – providers, payers, pharma, and, most importantly, patients. It has been Miriam’s life's work to improve the U.S. healthcare system through the power of information. She is an expert in healthcare IT as well as healthcare data and the rules that govern it.
Miriam is an operating advisor at Goldman Sachs and a senior advisor at Sixth Street growth equity. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Medsphere, a private health IT company that provides EHR, RCM, and other IT solutions for providers.
Miriam is the immediate past President and Chief Strategy Officer of OptimizeRx (NASDAQ: OPRX), a digital health company that connects life sciences, physicians, and patients in order to improve access, affordability, and adherence. She oversaw all initiatives to diversify the organization’s workforce by founding its first DEI program. She led the company’s corporate development function working with the investment community on, buy, and partner opportunities.
Previously, Miriam held C-suite roles in several health tech companies. Notably, she ran enterprise-wide strategy and product development as executive vice president for Emdeon, now known as Change Healthcare. Her previous board of director and advisory board roles include RxRevu, a prescription decision support technology company; CareSource, a Medicaid managed care plan; HIMSS; the Louisville Health Information Exchange; and the eHealth Committee for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
As an investor, Miriam connects health tech entrepreneurs with capital partners and puts her money to work with great people to drive ideas she believes in. She is currently invested in several early-stage health tech companies. Miriam was a founding investor at NueCura, a Nashville-based healthcare angel investment group, where she sourced deals and advised several portfolio companies.
Key boards: Medsphere, Human-Centered Health
Robyn L Peters
CEO
Sapere Health
Robyn L Peters is a global life sciences and healthcare executive with 30 years of experience leading large-scale commercialization efforts and critical turnarounds across biopharmaceutical and provider areas including Pfizer, Inc., Walgreens Company, and Biogen. Robyn has deep expertise in payer and government markets, market access and reimbursement, and provider segments.
Robyn is the Chief Executive Officer for Sapere Health, a boutique consulting firm focused on changing the treatment paradigm. They advance rare and ultra-orphan assets through unique commercialization and distribution strategies and provide consulting services to payer and provider organizations to support and enhance value-based patient care.
Prior to Sapere Health, Robyn served as Executive Vice President for Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc., the nation’s largest independent specialty pharmacy and infusion provider (acquired by UnitedHealth Group); and was Vice President, Market Access & Reimbursement at Biogen. Robyn was formerly Group Vice President, Pharmacy Health & Wellness at Walgreens Company; and led as Vice President, National Accounts, Corporate & Government Customers at Pfizer, Inc. Robyn also held senior roles at Boehringer-Ingelheim and Schering-Plough Corporation.
Robyn is an Independent Board Director for Kalderos, a Bain Capital Ventures company; and Sempre Health, a Cencora and Echo Health Ventures company. Robyn was also an Independent Board Director for private equity-backed Edenbridge Pharmaceuticals. Robyn’s commercial expertise spans biotech, retail & specialty pharmacy, payer, and hospital & integrated health systems – managing from $3B to $50B P&L oversight. She has experience in enterprise risk management, internal audits and SOX requirements, compensation, M&A, and corporate restructuring. Robyn advises CEOs and boards of directors and has extensive experience providing board-ready materials and information for investor meetings, quarterly earnings, annual reports, and risk, audit, and financial committees.
Robyn earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Rhode Island and currently serves as a mentor for the College of Pharmacy. She is also a faculty mentor for the WBL Board Program.
CEO
Sapere Health
Robyn L Peters is a global life sciences and healthcare executive with 30 years of experience leading large-scale commercialization efforts and critical turnarounds across biopharmaceutical and provider areas including Pfizer, Inc., Walgreens Company, and Biogen. Robyn has deep expertise in payer and government markets, market access and reimbursement, and provider segments.
Robyn is the Chief Executive Officer for Sapere Health, a boutique consulting firm focused on changing the treatment paradigm. They advance rare and ultra-orphan assets through unique commercialization and distribution strategies and provide consulting services to payer and provider organizations to support and enhance value-based patient care.
Prior to Sapere Health, Robyn served as Executive Vice President for Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc., the nation’s largest independent specialty pharmacy and infusion provider (acquired by UnitedHealth Group); and was Vice President, Market Access & Reimbursement at Biogen. Robyn was formerly Group Vice President, Pharmacy Health & Wellness at Walgreens Company; and led as Vice President, National Accounts, Corporate & Government Customers at Pfizer, Inc. Robyn also held senior roles at Boehringer-Ingelheim and Schering-Plough Corporation.
Robyn is an Independent Board Director for Kalderos, a Bain Capital Ventures company; and Sempre Health, a Cencora and Echo Health Ventures company. Robyn was also an Independent Board Director for private equity-backed Edenbridge Pharmaceuticals. Robyn’s commercial expertise spans biotech, retail & specialty pharmacy, payer, and hospital & integrated health systems – managing from $3B to $50B P&L oversight. She has experience in enterprise risk management, internal audits and SOX requirements, compensation, M&A, and corporate restructuring. Robyn advises CEOs and boards of directors and has extensive experience providing board-ready materials and information for investor meetings, quarterly earnings, annual reports, and risk, audit, and financial committees.
Robyn earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Rhode Island and currently serves as a mentor for the College of Pharmacy. She is also a faculty mentor for the WBL Board Program.
Irem Rami MBA
Principal
Norwest
Irem Rami brings over a decade of investing and operating experience across various stages of healthcare services and healthcare technology companies. At Norwest Venture Partners, she focuses on venture and growth equity opportunities across healthcare services, healthcare IT, pharma services, and digital health.
Previously, Irem worked at Summit Partners where she focused on healthcare growth stage businesses and was a board member or observer for four companies across risk-based providers and healthcare tech-enabled services. She was also a Principal at McKesson Ventures where she led investments, helped source or served as a board observer for Landmark Health (acquired by Optum), Aledade, IVX Health (recapped by Great Hill Partners), OncoHealth (formerly Oncology Analytics), SHYFT Analytics (acquired by Medidata), Aetion, Curana Health (formerly AllyAlign), Komodo Health, Kyruus and Evariant (acquired by Healthgrades).
Before McKesson, Irem was part of the founding team at Burd Health where she led the development and implementation of value-based initiatives for self-insured organizations across network management, pharmacy benefit management, and wellness products. She also held product and business development roles with healthcare startups Omada Health and Caremerge and was an intern at Andreessen Horowitz where she focused on digital health. Irem started her career as an investment associate at Madison Dearborn Partners and an investment banking analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
Irem holds a BS in biomedical engineering and economics, magna cum laude, from Duke University and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she was an Arbuckle Leadership Fellow and Co-President of the Healthcare Club.
Key boards: Clever Care (Board observer), Monogram Health (Board observer)
Principal
Norwest
Irem Rami brings over a decade of investing and operating experience across various stages of healthcare services and healthcare technology companies. At Norwest Venture Partners, she focuses on venture and growth equity opportunities across healthcare services, healthcare IT, pharma services, and digital health.
Previously, Irem worked at Summit Partners where she focused on healthcare growth stage businesses and was a board member or observer for four companies across risk-based providers and healthcare tech-enabled services. She was also a Principal at McKesson Ventures where she led investments, helped source or served as a board observer for Landmark Health (acquired by Optum), Aledade, IVX Health (recapped by Great Hill Partners), OncoHealth (formerly Oncology Analytics), SHYFT Analytics (acquired by Medidata), Aetion, Curana Health (formerly AllyAlign), Komodo Health, Kyruus and Evariant (acquired by Healthgrades).
Before McKesson, Irem was part of the founding team at Burd Health where she led the development and implementation of value-based initiatives for self-insured organizations across network management, pharmacy benefit management, and wellness products. She also held product and business development roles with healthcare startups Omada Health and Caremerge and was an intern at Andreessen Horowitz where she focused on digital health. Irem started her career as an investment associate at Madison Dearborn Partners and an investment banking analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
Irem holds a BS in biomedical engineering and economics, magna cum laude, from Duke University and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she was an Arbuckle Leadership Fellow and Co-President of the Healthcare Club.
Key boards: Clever Care (Board observer), Monogram Health (Board observer)
Tissa Richards
CEO
Marketing Logix; Boards: Tequila Cabal, Throughline, Inc.
Tissa Richards is a repeat software founder & CEO, TedX and keynote speaker and leadership expert who works with global F500 companies and fast-growing startups. She helps organizations directly connect leadership development to desired outcomes: revenue, innovation, and engagement.
Tissa regularly delivers keynotes and workshops to some of the largest private equity, investment, and technology firms in the world. Her book, “No Permission Needed” has won multiple awards and is an Amazon best-seller. Tissa guides hundreds of diverse candidates to public and private board positions each year. Learn more at www.tissarichards.com.
CEO
Marketing Logix; Boards: Tequila Cabal, Throughline, Inc.
Tissa Richards is a repeat software founder & CEO, TedX and keynote speaker and leadership expert who works with global F500 companies and fast-growing startups. She helps organizations directly connect leadership development to desired outcomes: revenue, innovation, and engagement.
Tissa regularly delivers keynotes and workshops to some of the largest private equity, investment, and technology firms in the world. Her book, “No Permission Needed” has won multiple awards and is an Amazon best-seller. Tissa guides hundreds of diverse candidates to public and private board positions each year. Learn more at www.tissarichards.com.
Patty Riskind MBA
CEO
Orbita
Patty Riskind is CEO of Orbita, a conversational AI company, focused on automating workflows in healthcare and life sciences. Patty was previously Head of Global Healthcare for Qualtrics, an experience management technology company. She has served on several venture-backed private boards as well as a public (non-physician) board member of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) on its compensation, audit, and finance committees.
Previously, Patty was Chief Client Experience Officer at Press Ganey Associates. Prior to Press Ganey, Patty was the Founder and CEO of PatientImpact LLC, the first e-survey SaaS company in the healthcare industry. Press Ganey acquired PatientImpact in 2009.
Before starting PatientImpact, Patty co-founded and was CEO of 3d Health, Inc., an ambulatory strategy consulting firm; was COO of Tiber Group, now part of Guidehouse Consulting; served as Executive Director of Business Development for Health Forum, a subsidiary of the American Hospital Association; was VP Operations for Dorenfest & Associates, a healthcare IT market research firm acquired by HIMSS Analytics; and VP Product Development for Sachs Group, a health care predictive modeling software firm.
Patty has a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Brown University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
CEO
Orbita
Patty Riskind is CEO of Orbita, a conversational AI company, focused on automating workflows in healthcare and life sciences. Patty was previously Head of Global Healthcare for Qualtrics, an experience management technology company. She has served on several venture-backed private boards as well as a public (non-physician) board member of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) on its compensation, audit, and finance committees.
Previously, Patty was Chief Client Experience Officer at Press Ganey Associates. Prior to Press Ganey, Patty was the Founder and CEO of PatientImpact LLC, the first e-survey SaaS company in the healthcare industry. Press Ganey acquired PatientImpact in 2009.
Before starting PatientImpact, Patty co-founded and was CEO of 3d Health, Inc., an ambulatory strategy consulting firm; was COO of Tiber Group, now part of Guidehouse Consulting; served as Executive Director of Business Development for Health Forum, a subsidiary of the American Hospital Association; was VP Operations for Dorenfest & Associates, a healthcare IT market research firm acquired by HIMSS Analytics; and VP Product Development for Sachs Group, a health care predictive modeling software firm.
Patty has a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Brown University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Eleanor Rosiak
CEO
WBL
Eleanor Rosiak is the CEO of the Women Business Leaders of the U.S. Health Care Industry Foundation based in Washington, D.C. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization and the organization’s governance activities. Additionally, she focuses on WBL’s corporate governance-related initiatives, such as working with board search firms and other individuals to seek out corporate board opportunities for WBL’s members.
She authored a chapter of Answering the Call, WBL’s publication about the duties, risks, and rewards of corporate governance. Eleanor joined WBL’s staff in 2004 as a Research Assistant. She holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia where she graduated with Honors with a minor in Politics. She enjoys Mexican food, riding bikes that go nowhere, and spending time with her husband and two young daughters.
CEO
WBL
Eleanor Rosiak is the CEO of the Women Business Leaders of the U.S. Health Care Industry Foundation based in Washington, D.C. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization and the organization’s governance activities. Additionally, she focuses on WBL’s corporate governance-related initiatives, such as working with board search firms and other individuals to seek out corporate board opportunities for WBL’s members.
She authored a chapter of Answering the Call, WBL’s publication about the duties, risks, and rewards of corporate governance. Eleanor joined WBL’s staff in 2004 as a Research Assistant. She holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia where she graduated with Honors with a minor in Politics. She enjoys Mexican food, riding bikes that go nowhere, and spending time with her husband and two young daughters.
Jean Rush MBA
Board Director
Addus Homecare
Jean Rush is an experienced CEO and Director with extensive experience in dramatically increasing business, profit, and market share growth for several companies within multi-billion dollar corporations. Her expertise encompasses government, commercial, and international healthcare. She was most recently the Executive Vice President of Government Markets at Highmark where she had P&L responsibility for Highmark’s $7B highly regulated government businesses, including Medicare, Medicaid, Individual and Small Group markets. In this role, Ms. Rush was responsible for the $1B financial turnaround of Highmark’s government businesses within a two-year period.
Prior to joining Highmark, Ms. Rush was Senior Vice President of Complex Care for Centene Corporation, with P&L responsibility for the Long Term Care and Medicare/Duals business across all Centene markets. In this role, she completed an operational turnaround of Centene’s Medicare business, positioning it for future growth including the successful launch of five Dual Demonstration projects. Prior to this position, Ms. Rush served as Senior Vice President of Health Plan Operations for Centene where she had P&L responsibility for six Medicaid and Medicare health plans across the country. Ms. Rush has served as the CEO and Plan President of Kentucky Spirit (a start-up health plan), and as the President of CIGNA Government Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of CIGNA, where her company won several large government procurements, launched a joint venture with BCBS of Tennessee, and was awarded the prestigious Excellence (Baldrige) Award for the state of Tennessee.
Ms. Rush earned her BA from Boston College and her MBA from the University of Connecticut. She recently earned the CERT Certificate in Cyber-Security Oversight from Carnegie Mellon University. Ms. Rush currently serves on the Board of Directors for Addus HomeCare (Nasdaq: ADUS) and is on the Audit and Compensation Committees of the Board. She is also on the Board for Eventus WholeHealth (where she serves on the Audit Committee and Chairs the Compliance Committee), Women Business Leaders in the US Healthcare Industry (where she serves on the Compensation Committee), Little Spurs Pediatric Urgent Care (where she serves on the Audit Committee and Chairs the Compliance Committee) and HomeFree Pharmacy Services. In addition, Ms. Rush is on the Advisory Boards for Aarete and The Hangout Spot, two privately owned companies in the healthcare space.
Key boards: Addus HomeCare (Nasdaq: ADUS) (Audit and Compensation Committees), Eventus WholeHealth (Audit and Compliance Committees), Little Spurs Pediatric Urgent Care (Audit and Compliance Committees)
Board Director
Addus Homecare
Jean Rush is an experienced CEO and Director with extensive experience in dramatically increasing business, profit, and market share growth for several companies within multi-billion dollar corporations. Her expertise encompasses government, commercial, and international healthcare. She was most recently the Executive Vice President of Government Markets at Highmark where she had P&L responsibility for Highmark’s $7B highly regulated government businesses, including Medicare, Medicaid, Individual and Small Group markets. In this role, Ms. Rush was responsible for the $1B financial turnaround of Highmark’s government businesses within a two-year period.
Prior to joining Highmark, Ms. Rush was Senior Vice President of Complex Care for Centene Corporation, with P&L responsibility for the Long Term Care and Medicare/Duals business across all Centene markets. In this role, she completed an operational turnaround of Centene’s Medicare business, positioning it for future growth including the successful launch of five Dual Demonstration projects. Prior to this position, Ms. Rush served as Senior Vice President of Health Plan Operations for Centene where she had P&L responsibility for six Medicaid and Medicare health plans across the country. Ms. Rush has served as the CEO and Plan President of Kentucky Spirit (a start-up health plan), and as the President of CIGNA Government Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of CIGNA, where her company won several large government procurements, launched a joint venture with BCBS of Tennessee, and was awarded the prestigious Excellence (Baldrige) Award for the state of Tennessee.
Ms. Rush earned her BA from Boston College and her MBA from the University of Connecticut. She recently earned the CERT Certificate in Cyber-Security Oversight from Carnegie Mellon University. Ms. Rush currently serves on the Board of Directors for Addus HomeCare (Nasdaq: ADUS) and is on the Audit and Compensation Committees of the Board. She is also on the Board for Eventus WholeHealth (where she serves on the Audit Committee and Chairs the Compliance Committee), Women Business Leaders in the US Healthcare Industry (where she serves on the Compensation Committee), Little Spurs Pediatric Urgent Care (where she serves on the Audit Committee and Chairs the Compliance Committee) and HomeFree Pharmacy Services. In addition, Ms. Rush is on the Advisory Boards for Aarete and The Hangout Spot, two privately owned companies in the healthcare space.
Key boards: Addus HomeCare (Nasdaq: ADUS) (Audit and Compensation Committees), Eventus WholeHealth (Audit and Compliance Committees), Little Spurs Pediatric Urgent Care (Audit and Compliance Committees)
Lynn Shapiro Snyder JD
Senior Member
Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.
Lynn Shapiro Snyder is a Board Member and Senior Member of Epstein Becker Green in Washington, D.C., a law firm with one of the largest health care and life sciences practices in the country. There, she advises clients about federal, state, and international health law issues, including Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, compliance, and managed care issues. Her clients include health care providers, payors, pharmaceutical/device manufacturers, and those companies and financial services firms that support the health care industry, including management and separate board representations. She publishes extensively and is a frequent speaker, particularly on topics related to health reform, enterprise risk, and compliance. She has been at Epstein Becker Green for over 40 years.
Additionally, Lynn is the Founder, Chairperson, and President of the Women Business Leaders of the U.S. Health Care Industry Foundation (WBL), a non-profit that connects and convenes senior executive women from all across the health care industry. WBL’s focus is on helping these women expand their leadership, such as by serving on a board of directors. The organization has helped to propel hundreds of women to board directorships and C-suite positions.
Named a “Director to Watch,” Lynn is a leader in the governance arena, currently serving on the boards of EBG, Trustmark Companies, PT Solutions (a General Atlantic Company) and WBL. She also is on the advisory board of the Nashville Health Care Council and was most recently on the board of Apria (a Blackstone Company) before its sale. She authored Advancing Women in Business: 10 Best Practices and co-authored Answering the Call: Understanding the Duties, Risks and Rewards of Corporate Governance.
Senior Member
Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.
Lynn Shapiro Snyder is a Board Member and Senior Member of Epstein Becker Green in Washington, D.C., a law firm with one of the largest health care and life sciences practices in the country. There, she advises clients about federal, state, and international health law issues, including Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, compliance, and managed care issues. Her clients include health care providers, payors, pharmaceutical/device manufacturers, and those companies and financial services firms that support the health care industry, including management and separate board representations. She publishes extensively and is a frequent speaker, particularly on topics related to health reform, enterprise risk, and compliance. She has been at Epstein Becker Green for over 40 years.
Additionally, Lynn is the Founder, Chairperson, and President of the Women Business Leaders of the U.S. Health Care Industry Foundation (WBL), a non-profit that connects and convenes senior executive women from all across the health care industry. WBL’s focus is on helping these women expand their leadership, such as by serving on a board of directors. The organization has helped to propel hundreds of women to board directorships and C-suite positions.
Named a “Director to Watch,” Lynn is a leader in the governance arena, currently serving on the boards of EBG, Trustmark Companies, PT Solutions (a General Atlantic Company) and WBL. She also is on the advisory board of the Nashville Health Care Council and was most recently on the board of Apria (a Blackstone Company) before its sale. She authored Advancing Women in Business: 10 Best Practices and co-authored Answering the Call: Understanding the Duties, Risks and Rewards of Corporate Governance.
Michael Sherry
Partner
Aon
Michael Sherry is a Partner in Aon’s Human Capital Solutions practice and has more than 20 years of consulting experience on a wide range of executive and employee compensation, board of director remuneration, and related governance issues. Michael has expertise in developing compensation programs for both public and private companies with a strong focus in the life science and technology industries.
Michael has been a frequent speaker and author on compensation and corporate governance topics for relevant industry groups and organizations such as World at Work, NASPP, The Conference Board, and Global Equity Organization (GEO).
Michael holds a B.S. in Finance and International Business from the NYU Stern School of Business.
Prior to joining Aon, he worked as a Managing Director at Steven Hall & Partners and began his career at Pearl Meyer & Partners.
Partner
Aon
Michael Sherry is a Partner in Aon’s Human Capital Solutions practice and has more than 20 years of consulting experience on a wide range of executive and employee compensation, board of director remuneration, and related governance issues. Michael has expertise in developing compensation programs for both public and private companies with a strong focus in the life science and technology industries.
Michael has been a frequent speaker and author on compensation and corporate governance topics for relevant industry groups and organizations such as World at Work, NASPP, The Conference Board, and Global Equity Organization (GEO).
Michael holds a B.S. in Finance and International Business from the NYU Stern School of Business.
Prior to joining Aon, he worked as a Managing Director at Steven Hall & Partners and began his career at Pearl Meyer & Partners.
Catherine Sohn Pharm.D.
Board Member
Altimunne (ALT); Maze Therapeutics; BioEclipse Therapeutics; Life Sciences Cares Philadelphia
Dr. Catherine Sohn is an independent Director on the Board of Altimmune, Maze Therapeutics, and BioEclipse Therapeutics. Dr. Sohn is Chair of the Compensation Committee at Altimmune and is Chair of Nom/Gov Committee at Maze. Dr. Sohn particularly enjoys advising CEO and boards of private biotech companies.
Dr. Sohn has deep industry knowledge with thirty years of U.S. and global experience in the biopharmaceutical and consumer healthcare industries, and a reputation as a strategic thinker with the ability to foster a strong interface between research and development and marketing. Her areas of expertise include US and global business development, product strategy, and commercialization.
SOHN was named Distinguished Alumnus of the Year by the University of California, San Francisco in 2000, was recognized as Woman of the Year by the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA) in 2003, and received the Licensing Executive Society's Frank Barnes Mentoring Award (2009) and the HBA Euro-Excellence Award (2012). In 2016, Dr. Sohn was recognized as one of the PharmaVoice 100 most inspiring people in the life science industry.
Dr. Sohn received a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of California, San Francisco; a Corporate Director Certificate from Harvard Business School; a Certificate of Professional Development from the Wharton School; a Certificate from Berkeley Law for ESG: Navigating the Board's Role; and is a Certified Licensing Professional Emeritus.
Board Member
Altimunne (ALT); Maze Therapeutics; BioEclipse Therapeutics; Life Sciences Cares Philadelphia
Dr. Catherine Sohn is an independent Director on the Board of Altimmune, Maze Therapeutics, and BioEclipse Therapeutics. Dr. Sohn is Chair of the Compensation Committee at Altimmune and is Chair of Nom/Gov Committee at Maze. Dr. Sohn particularly enjoys advising CEO and boards of private biotech companies.
Dr. Sohn has deep industry knowledge with thirty years of U.S. and global experience in the biopharmaceutical and consumer healthcare industries, and a reputation as a strategic thinker with the ability to foster a strong interface between research and development and marketing. Her areas of expertise include US and global business development, product strategy, and commercialization.
SOHN was named Distinguished Alumnus of the Year by the University of California, San Francisco in 2000, was recognized as Woman of the Year by the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA) in 2003, and received the Licensing Executive Society's Frank Barnes Mentoring Award (2009) and the HBA Euro-Excellence Award (2012). In 2016, Dr. Sohn was recognized as one of the PharmaVoice 100 most inspiring people in the life science industry.
Dr. Sohn received a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of California, San Francisco; a Corporate Director Certificate from Harvard Business School; a Certificate of Professional Development from the Wharton School; a Certificate from Berkeley Law for ESG: Navigating the Board's Role; and is a Certified Licensing Professional Emeritus.
Jhaymee Tynan MBA
Principal, Healthcare Services and Member of the Board and CEO Practice
Korn Ferry; Boards: Springboard Women's Health Council; Emory University Alumni Board
Jhaymee Tynan serves as Principal, Healthcare Services at Korn Ferry, a leading global organizational consulting firm. In her role, she provides executive search and leadership advisory services for academic medicine, hospitals, health systems, private capital, and for-profit healthcare services organizations. She is an active member of Korn Ferry’s Board and CEO Center of Excellence (COE), Human Resources COE, and the Marketing Officers COE. Passionate about health equity, Jhaymee enjoys working with leadership teams across the healthcare ecosystem to bring greater representation of diverse talent into executive-level roles.
Previously, Jhaymee was Enterprise Assistant Vice President, Integration at Atrium Health (now Advocate Health), an academic healthcare system where she led multi-billion-dollar post-merger integrations for health system mergers and acquisitions (M&A) across the Southeast. She was also a Manager at Deloitte Consulting, focused on business model transformation in healthcare, and a Consultant at another global executive search firm.
In addition to her full-time work, Jhaymee serves on the Emory Alumni Association Board. She has received numerous industry awards for her work in healthcare strategy and M&A and for championing sponsorship for women of color, including Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Emerging Leaders, Becker’s Healthcare 70 African American Leaders in Healthcare to Know, Diversity MBA’s Top 100 Executives under 50, and Bizwomen’s Headliners in Healthcare.
Jhaymee is also a published author and regularly presents on the importance of sponsorship in healthcare leadership. Her first book, Inclusive Sponsorship – A Bold Vision to Advance Women of Color in the Workplace was published in 2022.
Jhaymee holds a BS in Finance from Virginia Tech and an MBA from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University. She is also board-certified in healthcare management as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Principal, Healthcare Services and Member of the Board and CEO Practice
Korn Ferry; Boards: Springboard Women's Health Council; Emory University Alumni Board
Jhaymee Tynan serves as Principal, Healthcare Services at Korn Ferry, a leading global organizational consulting firm. In her role, she provides executive search and leadership advisory services for academic medicine, hospitals, health systems, private capital, and for-profit healthcare services organizations. She is an active member of Korn Ferry’s Board and CEO Center of Excellence (COE), Human Resources COE, and the Marketing Officers COE. Passionate about health equity, Jhaymee enjoys working with leadership teams across the healthcare ecosystem to bring greater representation of diverse talent into executive-level roles.
Previously, Jhaymee was Enterprise Assistant Vice President, Integration at Atrium Health (now Advocate Health), an academic healthcare system where she led multi-billion-dollar post-merger integrations for health system mergers and acquisitions (M&A) across the Southeast. She was also a Manager at Deloitte Consulting, focused on business model transformation in healthcare, and a Consultant at another global executive search firm.
In addition to her full-time work, Jhaymee serves on the Emory Alumni Association Board. She has received numerous industry awards for her work in healthcare strategy and M&A and for championing sponsorship for women of color, including Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Emerging Leaders, Becker’s Healthcare 70 African American Leaders in Healthcare to Know, Diversity MBA’s Top 100 Executives under 50, and Bizwomen’s Headliners in Healthcare.
Jhaymee is also a published author and regularly presents on the importance of sponsorship in healthcare leadership. Her first book, Inclusive Sponsorship – A Bold Vision to Advance Women of Color in the Workplace was published in 2022.
Jhaymee holds a BS in Finance from Virginia Tech and an MBA from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University. She is also board-certified in healthcare management as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Karen Walker Johnson
Independent Director
The Oncology Institute (TOI); Clever Care Health Plan, a Norwest Ventures company; Adeii Health; March of Dimes
Karen Johnson served at March of Dimes as Interim President and CEO until August 2023 and currently serves as an advisor for the organization. As Interim CEO, she led the organization in the fight for the health of all moms and babies, and was responsible for all aspects of March of Dimes’ strategy, vision, and operations.
With more than 35 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Karen is a change catalyst and innovative problem solver with a proven track record of driving organizational transformation. Recognized for her strategic and business acumen, her passion is leadership development and positively impacting and improving the health status of vulnerable populations.
Prior to retirement in 2022, Karen was previously the Medicare Officer for Health Net, a Centene Corporation (CNC) company and Fortune 20 enterprise, where she managed a $3.5B+ revenue-generating multiproduct business. She also served on the Enterprise Diversity and Inclusion Council and Corporate Health Equity Task Force.
Karen has held executive leadership roles for UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, WellCare, Health Essentials, Cleveland Clinic, and Lake Health. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of Michigan in 1982 and a Juris Doctorate from Michigan State College of Law in 1986. She also holds an Executive Certificate from the Wharton School of Business.
Karen currently serves as a corporate director, Nominating/Governance Chair, and Compliance Committee member on the board of The Oncology Institute of Hope and Innovation (TOI). She also serves on the boards of Clever Care Health Plan and Bon Secours Mercy Health Foundation, and is a National Trustee of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Karen works with private equity firms and is currently an adviser to several early and mid-stage startup healthcare tech companies.
Independent Director
The Oncology Institute (TOI); Clever Care Health Plan, a Norwest Ventures company; Adeii Health; March of Dimes
Karen Johnson served at March of Dimes as Interim President and CEO until August 2023 and currently serves as an advisor for the organization. As Interim CEO, she led the organization in the fight for the health of all moms and babies, and was responsible for all aspects of March of Dimes’ strategy, vision, and operations.
With more than 35 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Karen is a change catalyst and innovative problem solver with a proven track record of driving organizational transformation. Recognized for her strategic and business acumen, her passion is leadership development and positively impacting and improving the health status of vulnerable populations.
Prior to retirement in 2022, Karen was previously the Medicare Officer for Health Net, a Centene Corporation (CNC) company and Fortune 20 enterprise, where she managed a $3.5B+ revenue-generating multiproduct business. She also served on the Enterprise Diversity and Inclusion Council and Corporate Health Equity Task Force.
Karen has held executive leadership roles for UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, WellCare, Health Essentials, Cleveland Clinic, and Lake Health. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of Michigan in 1982 and a Juris Doctorate from Michigan State College of Law in 1986. She also holds an Executive Certificate from the Wharton School of Business.
Karen currently serves as a corporate director, Nominating/Governance Chair, and Compliance Committee member on the board of The Oncology Institute of Hope and Innovation (TOI). She also serves on the boards of Clever Care Health Plan and Bon Secours Mercy Health Foundation, and is a National Trustee of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Karen works with private equity firms and is currently an adviser to several early and mid-stage startup healthcare tech companies.
Karen Wilson
Board Member
Elicio Therapeutics, Connect Biopharma, Lava Therapeutics
Karen J. Wilson is a global biopharmaceutical executive who serves on the boards of private and public life science companies. Karen is currently Independent Director and Chair of the Audit Committee for Elicio Therapeutics (ELTX) (formerly Angion Biomedica), Connect Biopharma (CNTB) and Lava Therapeutics (LVTX). Elicio Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a pipeline of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. Connect is a clinical-stage company focused on the discovery and development of next-generation immune modulators for the treatment of serious autoimmune diseases and inflammation. Lava Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a portfolio of bispecific gamma-delta T cell engagers for the treatment of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Karen was previously independent Director and Chair of the Audit Committee for Vaxart, Inc. (VXRT), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing oral recombinant vaccines that are administered by tablet rather than by injection.
Karen has more than 35 years of industry and leadership experience in life science companies across finance, strategy and risk management. She has extensive public and private company experience as a chief financial officer, principal accounting officer and finance executive, and has been responsible for financial risk management, global accounting, Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance, execution of financings, procurement, workplace operations, investor relations, SAP implementation and information technology.
Most recently, Karen served as Senior Vice President of Finance at Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ: JAZZ), an international biopharmaceutical company, and also as Principal Accounting Officer. During her tenure at Jazz from February 2011 to September 2020, she built a global finance team, worked closely with the Audit Committee and the company’s accounting firm, led financial due diligence and execution of numerous M&A integrations, and contributed to Jazz’s rapid growth from $0.2B to $2.2B of revenue. Prior to Jazz, from 2009 to 2011, Karen served as Principal Accounting Officer and Vice President of Finance at PDL BioPharma, Inc., a life sciences company. From 2005 to 2009, she served as a principal at Wilson Crisler LLC, a consulting firm. From 2001 to 2004, she was Chief Financial Officer of ViroLogic, Inc., a biosciences company. Prior to joining ViroLogic, Ms. Wilson served as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Operations for Novare Surgical Systems, Inc., a medical device manufacturer. Prior to Novare, Ms. Wilson worked for Deloitte & Touche LLP, a professional services firm, for ten years, serving clients in both the life sciences and technology industries.
Karen is a Certified Public Accountant and received a B.S. in Business from the University of California, Berkeley.
Board Member
Elicio Therapeutics, Connect Biopharma, Lava Therapeutics
Karen J. Wilson is a global biopharmaceutical executive who serves on the boards of private and public life science companies. Karen is currently Independent Director and Chair of the Audit Committee for Elicio Therapeutics (ELTX) (formerly Angion Biomedica), Connect Biopharma (CNTB) and Lava Therapeutics (LVTX). Elicio Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a pipeline of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. Connect is a clinical-stage company focused on the discovery and development of next-generation immune modulators for the treatment of serious autoimmune diseases and inflammation. Lava Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a portfolio of bispecific gamma-delta T cell engagers for the treatment of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Karen was previously independent Director and Chair of the Audit Committee for Vaxart, Inc. (VXRT), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing oral recombinant vaccines that are administered by tablet rather than by injection.
Karen has more than 35 years of industry and leadership experience in life science companies across finance, strategy and risk management. She has extensive public and private company experience as a chief financial officer, principal accounting officer and finance executive, and has been responsible for financial risk management, global accounting, Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance, execution of financings, procurement, workplace operations, investor relations, SAP implementation and information technology.
Most recently, Karen served as Senior Vice President of Finance at Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ: JAZZ), an international biopharmaceutical company, and also as Principal Accounting Officer. During her tenure at Jazz from February 2011 to September 2020, she built a global finance team, worked closely with the Audit Committee and the company’s accounting firm, led financial due diligence and execution of numerous M&A integrations, and contributed to Jazz’s rapid growth from $0.2B to $2.2B of revenue. Prior to Jazz, from 2009 to 2011, Karen served as Principal Accounting Officer and Vice President of Finance at PDL BioPharma, Inc., a life sciences company. From 2005 to 2009, she served as a principal at Wilson Crisler LLC, a consulting firm. From 2001 to 2004, she was Chief Financial Officer of ViroLogic, Inc., a biosciences company. Prior to joining ViroLogic, Ms. Wilson served as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Operations for Novare Surgical Systems, Inc., a medical device manufacturer. Prior to Novare, Ms. Wilson worked for Deloitte & Touche LLP, a professional services firm, for ten years, serving clients in both the life sciences and technology industries.
Karen is a Certified Public Accountant and received a B.S. in Business from the University of California, Berkeley.
Michelle Wright
President - Principal
Certus Consulting, LLC
Michelle is a seasoned director, advisor, and health care executive. She has spent the last three decades transforming health care companies and delivering exceptional results for payors, providers and PE companies. She brings to the boardroom 20 years of experience serving on and supporting boards; as well as deep knowledge of organizational change, integration and governance needed to help growth companies build a foundation for success. She has varied background that includes Human Capital, Finance, M&A, Integration, and Value Based Care.
Michelle served as the CHRO of a $9b multi-state payor where she created an internal and external value proposition that raised engagement and organizational health levels to top quartile, and implemented locally and nationally recognized DE&I, compliance and ethics programs.
As part of the largest PCMH program in the country at the time, she ran a wellness and disease management product line across commercial risk, self-insured, government and direct to consumer segments.
Today, she is an advisor and board member for PE backed growth-oriented providers and service providers within the industry. She has has advised on strategy related to transformation, organizational performance, integration, provider recruitment & engagement, and value-based care. Michelle has helped growth-oriented companies grow into their full value through integrations, transformation, value-added product expansion, and practical governance.
Boards: Caravel Autism, United Way of Central Maryland (Investment Committee)
President - Principal
Certus Consulting, LLC
Michelle is a seasoned director, advisor, and health care executive. She has spent the last three decades transforming health care companies and delivering exceptional results for payors, providers and PE companies. She brings to the boardroom 20 years of experience serving on and supporting boards; as well as deep knowledge of organizational change, integration and governance needed to help growth companies build a foundation for success. She has varied background that includes Human Capital, Finance, M&A, Integration, and Value Based Care.
Michelle served as the CHRO of a $9b multi-state payor where she created an internal and external value proposition that raised engagement and organizational health levels to top quartile, and implemented locally and nationally recognized DE&I, compliance and ethics programs.
As part of the largest PCMH program in the country at the time, she ran a wellness and disease management product line across commercial risk, self-insured, government and direct to consumer segments.
Today, she is an advisor and board member for PE backed growth-oriented providers and service providers within the industry. She has has advised on strategy related to transformation, organizational performance, integration, provider recruitment & engagement, and value-based care. Michelle has helped growth-oriented companies grow into their full value through integrations, transformation, value-added product expansion, and practical governance.
Boards: Caravel Autism, United Way of Central Maryland (Investment Committee)