Featured Speakers
Janine V. Angel,
Senior Director, Medicare Strategic Business Operations & Compliance,
Jotham Cortez,
Sales Director,
Omar Daoud,
Senior Director of Pharmacy,
Kristyn Greifer, MD, SVP,
Chief Medical Officer,
Kaleb Holt,
Director of Medicare Products,
Sheri Johnson,
Vice President Billing & Enrollment,
Jenn Kerfoot
Chief Strategy & Growth Officer
Jordan Krouse,
Manager, Data Science,
Christine Leo,
Executive Director, Medicare Products,
Jessica McTier, MBA,
Manager, Product Solutions,
Pooja Naithani,
Vice President Risk Adjustment & Quality,
Julie Smith, MPH, RN,
Vice President, Value Strategy & Clinical Operations,
Max Sungurov,
Chief Medical Officer, Medicare Advantage
Benjamin Vicidomina,
VP Analytics & Quality Improvement,
Gretchen Wagner,
Associate Vice President-Risk Management,
Dan Weaver,
Senior Vice President, Stars & Quality,
Michael Bagel,
Associate Vice President of Public Policy,
Andrew Bell,
Medicare Stars Practice Leader,
Julia Friedman, FSA, MAAA,
Principal and Consulting Actuary,
Jenny Graham,
Partner,
Julie Hughes,
Chief Compliance and Consultancy Officer,
Rebecca Jacobson,
CEO, President and Co-Founder,
Sesha Mudunuri,
Chief Operating Officer,
Andrew Schwab,
Founder,
Justin Skerbetz,
Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, Healthcare Transformation Leader,
Virginia “Ginny” Whitman,
Associate Director, Public Policy,
Ivan Yen, ASA, MAAA,
Associate Actuary,
Speaker Details
Janine V. Angel,
Senior Director, Medicare Strategic Business Operations & Compliance,
Centene
Upon joining Health Net in 2005, I focused on supporting the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement Enrollment, Eligibility and Premium Billing Teams. My concentration was on process improvement initiatives including increasing operational consistency, efficiency, reducing enrollment related errors, and decreased plan-controlled transaction rejections to 0%. In 2010, I led the business and IT teams to convert the day-to-day operation to a paperless environment. I joined our Enterprise Process Change Organization in late 2011 to managing four (4) states regulatory changes for Medicare, Medicaid and Commercial lines of business across. From 2018 to the end of 2022, I provided operational oversight and strategic leadership for our CA MMP product and managed the transition of its members along with 42K Wellcare MA Plan duals in CA to the Exclusive Aligned Enrollment (EAE) Dual Special Needs plan (D-SNP). Beginning in 2023, I have the privilege of caring for every Wellcare Medicare Advantage member in the state of CA where over 40% are dual eligible. I take to heart our vision- to transforming the health of the community, one person at a time.
Prior to my health insurance career, I worked for beverage distributors focusing on wine, beer and spirits in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Currently, I call West Hills, CA my home along with my husband, two teenage boys, two ragdoll cats and a crazy hyper puppy. In my community, I serve as an executive on the Board of Directors of HAMAKOM, a local synagogue. My addiction to Costco and Amazon drives my husband insane and I strive to not kill the many fruit trees and vegetables we grow so I may share with my neighbors and those less fortunate.
Jotham Cortez,
Sales Director,
Devoted Health
Jotham’s journey in Health Insurance began over 25 years ago where he worked for an Insurance Agency in Mid-Missouri. He later moved to the carrier side working for companies such as Anthem BCBS and United Healthcare before spending ten years at Essence Healthcare/Lumeris. Jotham began his current role with Devoted Health in April 2024 where he successfully led the launch of the Medicare Advantage products into Missouri, Arkansas and Kentucky. During his career, he has led Sales Distribution, both internally and externally, as well as Sales Operations which include overseeing application processing, commission processing, the producer support call center, all sales systems and the producer portal. Additionally, Jotham has launched new Medicare Advantage plans in markets across the nation from California to Virginia, Michigan to Florida, and more states in between. When he is not working his day job, he can be found at the baseball field watching his son throw a filthy curveball, at a convention center watching his daughter flip across the stage as a competitive cheerleader or on a mountain hiking a back-country trail. Jotham has had the opportunity to speak coast to coast on various topics, including Medicare Advantage, and brings humor and excitement to the platform to keep the audience engaged in the conversation
Omar Daoud,
Senior Director of Pharmacy,
Community Health Plan of Washington
Omar joined Community Health Plan of Washington, CHPW, as the Director of Pharmacy in 2019 after
sixteen years with Walgreens Co., where he led Specialty Pharmacy operations for the Pacific Northwest
Region.
Omar has extensive experience in Specialty Pharmacy, Managed Care including government programs,
and Clinical Pharmacy quality initiatives. Omar’s current role is focused on PBM relationship oversight,
clinical pharmacy integration, and utilization management of medical and prescription drug benefits.
Omar received his Doctorate of Pharmacy Degree from the University of Washington in 2005 and
continues to reside in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Kristyn Greifer, MD, SVP,
Chief Medical Officer,
Sentara Health Plans
Dr. Kristyn Greifer has a dual role as SVP, Chief Medical Officer, Sentara Health Plans and SVP, Enterprise Care Management and Utilization, Sentara Health. Dr. Greifer’s role includes clinical oversight and leadership for utilization management, population health, quality, accreditation, and pharmacy operations for Sentara Health Plan as well as responsibility for all aspects and clinical program development in Care Management including Health Plan, Inpatient, Ambulatory and Clinical Integration. In addition, she leads the Sentara Health Physician Advisor Program and has responsibility for Behavioral Health at the health plan and across the health system. Dr. Greifer has more than 25 years of experience as a practicing internal medicine physician and leader in the industry with a passion for population health, value-based care, clinical improvement, and quality.
Prior to joining Sentara, she served as the VP, Chief Medical Officer, BayCare Health Plan and BayCare Physician Partners (CIN) in Clearwater, FL. Her previous experience also includes time as VP, Chief Medical Officer, Memorial Hermann Health Plan and Population Health in Houston; VP, Population Health Management, WellStar Health System, and Medical Director for Piedmont- Wellstar Health Plan in Atlanta. She spent 15 years at Kaiser Permanente in Georgia, most recently serving as Associate Medical Director for Resource Stewardship, Hospital and Acute Care.
Dr Greifer received her B.A. in Chemistry at Temple University, and completed Medical School and Residency at the University of Pennsylvania. She is the proud mother of 2 adult children and a fur baby.
Kaleb Holt,
Director of Medicare Products,
Select Health
Sheri Johnson,
Vice President Billing & Enrollment,
Formerly with UCare
Sheri Johnson is a seasoned healthcare executive with over 30 years of experience in both payer and provider organizations. Recognized for her dynamic leadership, she excels in creating engaged teams and leveraging storytelling to build relationships. Sheri's expertise spans multiple functional areas including operations, project management, process improvement, human resources, contact centers and revenue cycle. Sheri holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master's in Organizational Leadership. She has a passion for leadership development and enhancing employee and customer experience.
Jenn Kerfoot
Chief Strategy & Growth Officer
DUOS
Jenn is a visionary healthcare leader with deep expertise in Medicare Advantage and Value-Based Care. She leverages her extensive background in healthcare policy, regulation, and business development to drive strategic growth and innovation at DUOS, developing tailored solutions that meet the evolving needs of Medicare Advantage plans. A seasoned podcast host, Jenn regularly explores critical issues like the looming threat of Medicare insolvency, the challenges of financing care for an aging population, the impact of rising healthcare costs, and disparities in care access. With previous leadership roles at FarmboxRx, Excelera Health, and NationsBenefits, Jenn has a proven track record of navigating complex healthcare regulations and aligning strategies with market demands. Beyond her executive role, she is a recognized thought leader and advocate for progressive healthcare practices, advising venture capital and private equity firms on investments in transformative healthcare solutions. Jenn’s pragmatic optimism and relentless problem-solving approach are key to her success in fostering collaboration and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in healthcare.
Jordan Krouse,
Manager, Data Science,
Louisiana Blue
An accomplished healthcare analyst with a background in business, Jordan Krouse leverages advanced analytics solutions to implement efficiencies that drive better care and improve health outcomes for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana members. Krouse leads the data science team that is responsible for Louisiana Blue’s internally owned artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions. His expertise includes generative AI and retrieval augmented generation applications, predictive modeling, and physician compensation and reimbursement. Krouse has led Louisiana Blue efforts to build and align systems guided by the AI lifecycle and responsible AI frameworks, as well as developed predictive churn models and conducted profitability analyses for Medicare Advantage. He has served with Louisiana Blue for more than five years, including time within Provider Network Operations. Krouse earned his master’s degree in analytics from Louisiana State University.
Christine Leo,
Executive Director, Medicare Products,
Formerly with Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC)
Christine joined Cigna Medicare in 2015 and is responsible for the oversight of Cigna's Medicare Advantage group and individual products. She is responsible for innovation, new product development, and the implementation and performance of Cigna's Medicare Advantage plans.
Christine has been integral in advancing innovation within the Medicare line of business throughout her career and is an expert within the industry. Her experiences both as caregiver, as well as dealing with her own health issues, serve to drive her passion to improve healthcare.
She has more than 25 years of Medicare and Medicaid experience. Christine previously worked at Aetna where she was National Head of Product Strategy for Medicare Advantage at Aetna. She also held leadership roles in national contracting, network contracting, operations and dental.
Christine began her managed care career with HealthPASS, one of the first managed Medicaid programs in Pennsylvania.
A graduate of the University of New Mexico with a degree in Dental Hygiene, Christine also holds a Master’s in Business Administration from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. Christine lives in Philadelphia with her husband and daughter.
Jessica McTier, MBA,
Manager, Product Solutions,
Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC)
In her role, Jessica oversees the development and delivery of CMS mandated supplemental benefit reporting and works cross functionally to identify the value that supplemental benefits have on health outcomes and member satisfaction. Jessica is responsible for producing Part C Supplemental Benefit Utilization and Cost reports, Mid-Year Enrollee Notifications of Unused Supplemental Benefits and more. By working closely with Analytics, Information Technology, Product, and Vendor partners she develops scalable and sustainable processes to meet evolving reporting requirements and identifies opportunities to leverage the analytic and reporting insights to inform strategic business decisions. Jessica received her MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and currently resides in Charlotte, NC.
Pooja Naithani,
Vice President Risk Adjustment & Quality,
Clever Care Health Plan
Julie Smith, MPH, RN,
Vice President, Value Strategy & Clinical Operations,
Sanford Health Plan
Julie Smith is a health plan leader with a passion for improving healthcare outcomes and enhancing the delivery of services to individuals and communities. Julie holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from South Dakota State University. She brings clinical experience across acute, post-acute, home and community-based services, population health, and healthcare innovation. Since 2021, Julie has served as the Vice President of Value Strategy and Clinical Operations at Sanford Health Plan. In this role, she oversees care management, population health, medical economics, system integration, clinical programs and innovation, utilization management, quality, and accreditation—focusing on clinical strategy that advances both improved health outcomes and cost-effective solutions.
Max Sungurov,
Chief Medical Officer, Medicare Advantage
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
Board Certified Internal Medicine, MD with years of experience of work in outpatient private practice and inpatient settings in both large academic institutions and community medical centers in multiple states. Board certified in Healthcare Quality Management, Physician Advisor, with years of experience and thousands of case reviews for multiple healthcare delivery institutions. Seasoned healthcare executive with years of work for Medicaid, Commercial and Medicare MCOs.
Benjamin Vicidomina,
VP Analytics & Quality Improvement,
Louisiana Blue
With 15 years of experience in healthcare informatics, Benjamin Vicidomina leads healthcare analytics at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. He has helped build the organization as a leader among health insurers in predictive analytics and outcomes research that drive greater affordability, better health outcomes, improved access to behavioral health services and improved member experience. And he has been instrumental in driving Blue Cross to a 4.5 Medicare Advantage Star rating. He also has nearly 10 years’ experience leading risk adjustment solutions at Blue Cross.
Among the examples of Vicidomina’s commitment to helping improve the health and lives of Louisianans are when he and his team shared their technological capabilities and expertise beginning in March 2020 to inform the state’s COVID-19 response. He led the Blue Cross partnership with the Louisiana Department of Health. According to the department’s secretary, these efforts have made Blue Cross invaluable and “informed many of the difficult decisions that state leaders have made.” The governor numerous times spoke of the “truly unique” public- private collaboration with Blue Cross.
Vicidomina’s work and collaborations have been shown in over 20 publications on subjects such as improving health outcomes, reducing healthcare costs and improving patient experience in the healthcare ecosystem. He has an extensive background in software design, consulting, computer systems auditing, and decision support systems. Vicidomina earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of New Orleans and later taught middle school mathematics in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina at a disaster-affected school.
Gretchen Wagner,
Associate Vice President-Risk Management,
Humana
Gretchen is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and a Certified Risk Management Auditor (CRMA) with over 20 years of broad experience in quality assurance, education, compliance, and audit. Gretchen obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Richmond and her Master of Arts degree from New York University. She is also a graduate of SACUBO’s College Business Management Institute (CBMI). Gretchen joined Humana in 2012 as part of the Internal Audit Consulting Group where she performed audits, oversight and consulting for the Owned Provider and Clinical segments, with a large focus on Humana at Home, Special Needs Plan (SNP) Compliance, Humana Behavioral Health, and Humana’s Owned Provider Practices. Gretchen joined Healthcare Services Compliance and Risk Management in 2017 as the Director of Risk Management aligned to Home Solutions with support for all Home Solutions audit activity including, CMS audit readiness and execution, risk identification and mitigation, and compliance implementation activities. Gretchen currently serves as Associate Vice President, Risk Management, supporting all first line risk management functions for Humana’s Care Management line of business, as well as overseeing the quality compliance and SNP Governance functions supporting Humana’s Insurance segment.
Dan Weaver,
Senior Vice President, Stars & Quality,
Zing Health
Daniel Weaver recently joined Zing Health, a tech-forward health plan based in Chicago, as the Senior Vice President of Stars and Quality. With over 25 years of experience in Operations and Star Ratings strategy, Daniel has previously served as VP, Government Quality Programs at Highmark Wholecare (formerly Gateway Health Plan) and Director of Stars Programs at Highmark Health, helping both organizations achieve and maintain their first 4.5 Star Ratings. In his career, Dan has overseen the development and implementation of many analytics-driven and beneficiary-focused programs, has adopted continuous improvement and operational excellence philosophies for sustained success, and embraces innovation focused on overcoming socioeconomic barriers to achieving health equity and optimal quality outcomes. In his new role with Zing Health, Daniel will focus on implementing a high-performing Stars infrastructure to support the organization’s rapid growth with a focus on servicing special needs members in several states.
Michael Bagel,
Associate Vice President of Public Policy,
Alliance of Community Health Plans
Michael is a public policy expert with more than 15 years of working with federal policymakers and lawmakers to advance regulatory and legislative activities. He previously served as a senior policy advisor at the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Secretary, attorney with the Office of Management and Budget, and as a law clerk at the US Department of Labor and Health Policy Associate with the Senate Finance Committee.
Andrew Bell,
Medicare Stars Practice Leader,
ProspHire
Andrew is the Medicare Stars Practice Leader at ProspHire, a national management consulting firm exclusively dedicated to healthcare. Specializing in delivery and execution, Andrew’s work has focused on the Payor Space supporting clients with go-to-market strategic planning, new product development, growth and transformation activities, post-acquisition integration efforts, and other strategic initiatives for MCOs. One of his key areas of expertise is Medicare Stars where he takes a lead role in guiding health plans through the program, enabling long-term sustainable success. He has a passion for staying at the forefront of policy changes, regulatory changes, and trends related to managed care, particularly in context to the Medicare Stars Program. Being an emerging thought leader in the field, he actively engages with new developments and industry changes, positioning himself and ProspHire as leaders in healthcare consulting.
Julia Friedman, FSA, MAAA,
Principal and Consulting Actuary,
Milliman
As a principal and consulting actuary at Milliman, Julia is passionate about providing her clients with insights to live up to Milliman's mission: to serve our clients to protect the health and financial well-being of people everywhere. With over 15 years of experience working with a range of healthcare organizations—including health plans, Medicare Advantage/Part D, Managed Medicaid, provider systems, union groups, and organizations in the investment space—she delivers on providing strategic actuarial and market insights that support her clients in better understanding the financial and long-term impacts of the ever-changing Medicare Advantage landscape. Julia’s expertise covers key areas critical to the helping my clients achieve their business aims:
- Medicare Advantage bid development and support
- Medicare Advantage competitive analysis and insights
- Regulatory impacts
- Risk adjustment models and predictive analytics
- Pricing models, rating strategies, and benefit relativities
- Benchmarking review
Leadership and collaboration: As a leader, Julia thrives on building strong, collaborative relationships with both her clients and internal teams. She is passionate about leading high-performing teams and mentoring emerging actuaries in their career development. Her enthusiasm for the Medicare Advantage market fuels her commitment to spearheading research at Milliman, focusing on innovative strategies to help our clients navigate new and emerging challenges. Empowering informed decisions: Julia understands that healthcare decision-making involves aligning diverse stakeholders—from clinicians to policymakers—and she excels at working across these groups to deliver timely, impactful results. By combining strategic vision with data-driven insights, Julia empowers clients to make informed decisions. Her goal is to ensure that her clients succeed in achieving their goals with sustainable and well-developed solutions while operating in the rapidly changing Medicare Advantage marketplace.
Jenny Graham,
Partner,
Zelus Consulting Group
Jenny has over 20 years of experience developing and implementing innovative operational strategies to improve overall business performance and utilization. As a founding partner, Jenny has led engagements for clients in healthcare and government and her functional expertise includes customer service, correspondence, claims, medical management, enrollment, brokerage servicing, policy management, underwriting operations, requirements development, and information technology. Jenny’s passion is developing strategic recommendations that make a positive impact on the customer experience by vastly improving internal processes and management.
Julie Hughes,
Chief Compliance and Consultancy Officer,
Imagenet
Julie Hughes serves as Chief Compliance and Consultancy Officer for Imagenet. She leads enterprise-wide compliance strategy and consulting services, with a focus on Medicare Advantage, FDR oversight, and regulatory readiness. Julie brings extensive expertise in building and optimizing compliance frameworks, fraud, waste, and abuse programs, and operational governance for health plans. Her background spans legal, administrative, and consulting roles, enabling her to drive integrated compliance solutions that support quality and performance. Julie holds a Juris Doctor from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law, a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from St. Joseph’s University, and a BA in Anthropology and Sociology from Tulane University. She is also a Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC) and a Certified Professional Coder (CPC).
Rebecca Jacobson,
CEO, President and Co-Founder,
Astrata
Dr. Rebecca Jacobson is the visionary co-founder, CEO, and President of Astrata, a groundbreaking digital quality company revolutionizing healthcare measurement. With over 25 years of experience as both a physician and informaticist, she is at the forefront of the shift to value-based care. A pioneer in Natural Language Processing, Dr. Jacobson previously served as Vice President of Analytics at UPMC Enterprises and as a Professor of Biomedical Informatics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. An elected fellow of the American College of Medical Informatics, she actively contributes to the National Quality Forum's AI in Quality Measures Technical Expert Panel and the NCQA Industry Council, shaping the future of healthcare quality.
EJay Lockwood,
Senior Vice President,
Prospect Medical Holdings
CEO,
Prospect Provider Group of Connecticut
Ejay Lockwood is Senior Vice President, Prospect Medical Holdings, and
CEO of Prospect Provider Group of Connecticut. His responsibilities
include Payer Contracting (FFS and Value Based), Population
Management and Care Management initiatives. Ejay has a history of
working within Payer, Provider, and IT/Data Analytics in leading efforts to
increase the efficiency and impact of Value Based programs as they
continue to integrate with the resources available within Providers,
Payers and the broader support and care community.
[email protected]
Sesha Mudunuri,
Chief Operating Officer,
Imagenet
Sesha Mudunuri is Chief Operating Officer at Imagenet, where he leads enterprise operations and drives strategic initiatives to enhance service delivery, scalability, and performance across the organization. He brings more than two decades of experience in healthcare operations and technology, having previously served as COO at Commonwealth Care Alliance and Magnolia Health Plan, a Centene subsidiary. His leadership has spanned IT, claims processing, and member and provider services, with a proven track record of accelerating growth and implementing value-based care strategies. Sesha holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas and a Bachelor’s in Engineering from Osmania University.
Andrew Schwab,
Founder,
Platform Government Strategies
Andrew Schwab is the Founder & CEO of Platform Government Strategies, a strategic government health policy, advocacy and messaging firm built to “platform” healthcare organizations inside our national health policy debate. His deep experience includes having spent the past two decades in and around national health policy and politics, first as a staffer in the United States Senate and New Jersey Legislature, and then as a Washington, DC government affairs leader at trade and member associations, nonprofits and public companies.
Andrew began his career as Deputy Press Secretary to U.S. Senator Jon Corzine (D-NJ) where he worked on public affairs implementation of the Medicare Part D drug benefit. As he continued his public service, for seven years, Andrew was Chief of Staff to the New Jersey Legislature’s Chairman of the Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee, passing 23 laws and guiding efforts during the 2008 financial crisis, state implementation of the Affordable Care Act and what became first-in-the-nation leadership on surprise billing legislation. In 2013, Andrew was recruited to lead federal advocacy at AARP in the areas of Medicare Advantage, Medigap, employer insurance and the ACA. He then moved on to heading federal government affairs at the Alliance of Community Health Plans where he served during 2017’s ACA repeal and replace debate. During COVID-19, Andrew was Director of Policy, Federal Affairs & Partnerships at United States of Care, a nonprofit established by former Obama and Biden Administration official Andy Slavitt. Immediately prior to establishing his own firm, Andrew built the first government affairs function at Oak Street Health where he led efforts to preserve the ACO REACH program from termination, establish the Health Equity Index Reward Factor in Medicare Advantage, and led the department’s transition after the $10.6 billion acquisition by CVS Health.
Andrew holds dual undergraduate degrees in Policy Studies and History from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and a Masters of Public Administration from Rutgers University.
Justin Skerbetz,
Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, Healthcare Transformation Leader,
Insightin
Justin Skerbetz is a visionary healthcare transformation executive who has spent two decades breaking through conventional barriers to enhance healthcare experiences for millions of members. As Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at Insightin Health, he has orchestrated revenue growth while pioneering AI-driven engagement strategies that fundamentally reimagine how health plans connect with their members.
Prior to Insightin Health, Justin's leadership catalyzed remarkable results at local, regional and national health plans, where his innovative approach to member engagement consistently shattered growth targets while strengthening operational foundations. His groundbreaking work earned him the Healthcare Innovation Awards for advancing health equity through personalized member experiences.
Justin's unique expertise lies at the intersection of predictive analytics, behavioral science, and healthcare operations—a combination that has enabled him to develop engagement frameworks that activate members at twice the industry standard rates. He has repeatedly demonstrated that by understanding the human factors behind healthcare decisions, organizations can create profoundly more effective member journeys.
A thought leader in healthcare transformation, Justin brings an unparalleled perspective on how strategic innovation can reshape healthcare delivery while delivering measurable business results.
Virginia “Ginny” Whitman,
Associate Director, Public Policy,
Alliance of Community Health Plan (ACHP)
Ivan Yen, ASA, MAAA,
Associate Actuary,
Milliman
Ivan is an Associate Actuary at Milliman who has experience working with regional health plans, nationwide carriers, provider groups, PBMs, and private equity firms. He supports clients in understanding the strategic and financial impacts within the Medicare Advantage landscape. His expertise covers several business areas, including:
- MA-PD and PDP bid development and support
- Medicare Advantage competitive analysis and insights
- Regulatory impacts
- Pricing models, rating strategies, and benefit relativities
- Provider risk sharing arrangements