Rise

Cassi Birnbaum, MS, RHIA, CPHQ, FAHIMA Board Strategist, Advisor, Consultant, Educator

Ms. Birnbaum recently led Stanford Health System’s enterprise coding division, as Administrative Director of Hospital and Professional Coding from 2022 through May of 2024, where she had responsibility for strategic direction and oversight of all coding activities for its hospitals, ambulatory activities and its physician practices. Prior to Stanford Health Care, she guided PeaceHealth in transforming its health information management (HIM), coding and clinical documentation integrity (CDI). Ms. Birnbaum spent five years at UC San Diego Health as enterprise-wide director of HIM/revenue integrity, where she also provided leadership and strategic direction for both professional and facility coding.  She served as senior vice president of HIM and consulting for Peak Health Solutions, and HIM/Coding, and CDI director as well as its chief privacy officer at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, and director of quality resource management at Scripps Health. Since 1990, Cassi has been an adjunct baccalaureate HIMS faculty member for San Diego Mesa College.

Ms. Birnbaum was appointed as a Board Member of the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) in 2019, and presently serves as its immediate Past-Board Chair.  In June of 2024, she was appointed as an Advisory Board member for Maverick Medical AI, and she was appointed to the University of San Diego’s Health Informatics Advisory Board in June of 2023. She served as board member and officer of SDHC Board (San Diego Connect – Regional Health Information Exchange) from 2010 – 2022. 

As a Past Board Chair/President of AHIMA (2014 – 2016), Cassi was able to successfully lead the industry, profession, and its members to realizing its vision with a successful transition to ICD-10, Information Governance, and adoption of its Global Curriculum. Cassi was previously an AHIMA Director from 2009 – 2012, and she was honored to receive the 2019 AHIMA Distinguished Member Award, and the 2017 Distinguished Health Professions Alumna recipient for the University of Kansas Medical Center.

She accepted on behalf of PeaceHealth 3M Healthcare’s Professional Fee Coding Award, and while at UCSD, 3M’s 2018 Innovator of the Year for accomplishments associated with Professional Fee and Single Path Coding. Cassi is a Past President for California Health Information Association from 2006 -2008, and she received its prestigious Distinguished Member Award in 2009.

Jon Burow Vice President, Customer Experience & Digital Transformation

Independent Health

Jon Burow is a technologist, futurist, and daring innovator in experience design and artificial intelligence. With a career spanning healthcare, retail e-commerce, messaging platforms, and the Internet of Things (IoT), Jon has delivered impactful solutions for over 10 million monthly active users. His client portfolio includes Liberty Global, AT&T, CenturyLink, Paula Deen Foods, and SoftScience (from the makers of Crocs).

At Independent Health, Jon spearheads customer-centric, digital-first business transformations to make care delivery more enjoyable, effective, and efficient. As a founding leader of Independent Health’s AI Council, he has been instrumental in driving development of AI-powered solutions to optimize customer experiences, improve operational efficiency, and unlock new insights in healthcare in safe and trustworthy ways. Jon’s passion lies in harnessing the power of technology to create meaningful connections and lasting impact.

Helen Chow, PhD, RAC

Mayo Clinic

Shannon Decker, MBA, MBA, MEd., MEd, PhD Founder & CEO

VBC One

Dr. Shannon Decker is Founder & CEO at VBC One, a consulting firm assisting physician groups, health plans and vendors maximize the performance of their value based contracts and offerings. Dr. Decker has more than 25 years experience in health care and most recently led teams in risk, quality, data and analytics, telehealth, COVID response and delegation compliance. Of her more than 25 years of experience in healthcare--17 include working with risk adjustment, quality and Medicare. Dr. Decker has a PhD. in Interdisciplinary Studies, dual MBA degrees--in Finance and in Marketing, as well as an M.Ed. in Secondary Education and a M.Ed. in Administration and Leadership. Dr. Decker is on the faculty at Arizona State University and is also an associate professor in the social and behavioral sciences for Walden and Capella Universities where she chairs and oversees the dissertations of doctoral students. An author of two books and several peer-reviewed articles, and a prolific national public speaker, her interests include the study of human behavior and how social and behavioral theories may be brought to bear in value based care and population health management as a whole. 

Rose T. Dunn, MBA, RHIA, CPA, FACHE, FHFMA Chief Operating Officer

First Class Solutions, Inc.

Ms. Dunn is Chief Operating Officer of St. Louis-based First Class Solutions, Inc. Rose’s career started at Barnes Hospital, the flagship of BJC Healthcare, where she ultimately was Vice President and responsible for 1,600 employees.

After Barnes, she worked for MetLife as national AVP, where she gained a solid understanding of managed care. Rose also served as the CFO of an Illinois dual-hospital system and participated in their bond issue.

Rose is an AHIMA Distinguished Member, Legacy, and Outstanding Service award recipient and has served as the elected President and employed interim CEO of the 80,000-member professional association. She has served on numerous AHIMA committees, councils, and the Foundation.

She is active in ACHE, AICPA, HFMA, HIMSS, ARMA International, and AHIMA.

Rose has authored more than a dozen texts including ACHE/HAP’s Dunn & Haimann’s Healthcare Management, published 200+ articles, and made numerous healthcare related presentations. She authored and supports the Fundamentals of HCCs course for Libman Education.

In her spare time, she bakes cheesecakes and tends to feral cats.

Maria-Kristina Hayden Founder & CEO

OUTFOXM

Ken Huang, CISSP AI Expert, Advisor, Author, and Chair Member Co-Chair, AI Safety Working Groups and AI STR Working Group

Karen Marie Joswick President/CEO

Benevolence Health

Karen Marie Joswick, MHA, is the Founder and President of Benevolence Health. With over 20 years in healthcare, including health system executive leadership roles, she is a recognized thought leader in payment innovation and health system operations. 

Karen's expertise spans value-based care, clinical program growth, and technology integration across various payer models: Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial plans. She holds multiple professional certifications in health IT and clinical informatics, serves as a faculty member at Jefferson University, and has been on the Board of Directors for the National Association of ACOs. As an advisor to VC/PE capital firms, she brings her expertise to guide investment decisions in promising startups and emerging technologies.  

Her most cherished roles are those of wife, mother, and daughter. Having navigated the health delivery system professionally and personally, she possesses a unique perspective on healthcare challenges. This firsthand experience fuels her passion for improving healthcare accessibility and quality for all. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmjoswick/  

Diana Kelley AI Expert, Advisor, Board Member and Instructor  Former Cybersecurity Field CTO, Microsoft  Former Global Executive Security Advisor, IBM Security

Diana Kelley is the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for Protect AI. She also serves on the boards of WiCyS, The Executive Women’s Forum (EWF), InfoSec World, CyberFuture Foundation, TechTarget Security Editorial, and DevNet AI/ML. Diana was Cybersecurity Field CTO for Microsoft, Global Executive Security Advisor at IBM Security, GM at Symantec, VP at Burton Group (now Gartner), a Manager at KPMG, CTO and co-founder of SecurityCurve, and Chief vCISO at SaltCybersecurity. 

Her extensive volunteer work has included serving on the ACM Ethics & Plagiarism Committee, Cybersecurity Committee Advisor at CompTIA, CTO and Board Member at Sightline Security, Advisory Board Chair at WOPLLI Technologies, Advisory Council member Bartlett College of Science and Mathematics, Bridgewater State University, and RSAC US Program Committee. 

She is a sought-after keynote speaker, the host of BrightTALK’s The (Security) Balancing Act, co-author of the books Practical Cybersecurity Architecture and Cryptographic Libraries for Developers, instructor for the LinkedIn Learning class on Security in AI and ML, has been a lecturer at Boston College's Masters program in cybersecurity, a 2023 Global Cyber Security Hall of Fame Inductee, the EWF 2020 Executive of the Year and EWF Conference Chair 2021-Present, an SCMedia Power Player, and one of Cybersecurity Ventures 100 Fascinating Females Fighting Cybercrime. 

Zachary Kirby Senior Data Scientist, Advanced Analytics

Louisiana Blue

Karen June Kuipers CEO

Incentivize Consulting Inc.

Karen June (KJ) is a strategic leader and the driving force behind Incentivize Consulting, where she specializes in empowering organizations to achieve AI-driven transformation. With a proven track record in building high-performing delivery teams, KJ ensures her clients—ranging from innovative startups to global enterprises—are positioned for success through foundational AI practices.

KJ’s expertise includes the healthcare industry, where she has been involved in transformative initiatives across the payer, pharmaceutical, immunotherapy, and academic sectors. In 2021 KJ led her first AI project and has expanded her experience by completing the AI for Healthcare certification through the MIT Sloan School of Management and the Strategic Healthcare Leadership Program through Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.

Her approach in delivering technology and AI solutions combines strategic foresight, operational excellence, and a commitment to ethical practices. This focus has helped organizations streamline operations, enhance outcomes, and unlock the potential that AI can bring when addressing challenges. As an AI for Good advocate, KJ is dedicated to leveraging artificial intelligence capabilities to improve healthcare outcomes, enhance patient care, and establish trustworthy, responsible AI systems.

Her thought leadership in AI shines through the publication series, AI and the Future of Business. The most recent installment, Artificial Intelligence in the Healthcare Industry: Care meets Code, explores the role AI can play in transforming health care.

Beyond her consulting work, KJ is a passionate community builder and innovator. She also shares her insights on technology, business, and industry trends as the host of her new podcast, Minding One’s Own Business. Through her work, she is not only contributing to shaping the future of business and its use of AI but also plays an active role in inspiring the next generation of innovators and changemakers.

Brenna Loufek Regulatory Affairs Manager

Mayo Clinic

Brenna Loufek is the SaMD Regulatory Affairs Manager in the Center for Digital Health - Data & Analytics at Mayo Clinic. Brenna collaborates with user-innovators to create regulatory strategies that offer the least burdensome pathway to market for digital health technologies developed at Mayo Clinic. Her subject matter expertise is in the nuanced application of US FDA regulatory policies for AI/ML-enabled software functionalities. 

 Brenna brings extensive experience guiding teams through domestic and international regulations and standards. With previous roles at Medtronic and Philips, Brenna has managed complex regulatory submissions and advised on studies for digital health products including AI/ML-based technologies, telehealth platforms, and in-clinic management tools. In addition to program support, Brenna has served as a cross-departmental liaison to provide training for and interpretation of FDA's current positioning on digital health products.  

 Brenna has a master’s degree in Patient Safety & Healthcare Quality from Johns Hopkins. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Evidence-Based Healthcare from the University of Oxford with a research focus on the efficacy of regulatory and ethical frameworks within healthcare institutions to manage AI/ML-enabled clinical decision support software. 

Mac Marlow Chief Information Officer

Southwestern Health Resources

Mac Marlow leads Southwestern Health Resources (SWHR) Technology, representing a strong combination of information technology and analytics expertise. This team has an eye toward strengthening the technology relationship with Texas Health Resources and UT Southwestern Medical Center to optimize current systems and accelerate value-based care, while increasing the clinical efficiency for physicians and clinicians across the network. 

Before joining SWHR, he served as vice president for software applications at Lehigh Valley Health Network. While there, he led several important initiatives, including the implementation of electronic medical records across contracted and acquired entities, the rationalization of the software application portfolio and the development of new lines of business. 

With 30 years in IT and more than 15 years in IT and analytics leadership roles, Marlow knows how to quickly respond to technology trends and the evolving needs of a growing organization like SWHR. 

Marlow earned his undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech, a master’s of business administration (MBA) from Averett University and completed the leadership and management program at The Management Institute at Roanoke College. In addition, he is a certified healthcare chief information officer (CHCIO), a certified project management professional (PMP) and a certified scrum master (CSM). 

Jason Ouyand Director of Analytics

Louisiana Blue

Jay Patel Associate VP, Product Management

Humana

Joel Radford Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Engagys

Joel Radford is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Engagys. Joel has worked in technology and healthcare for decades serving Big Pharma, health plans, and hospital systems and prior to founding Engagys, leading professional services and product teams for Welltok (formerly Silverlink). His roles have included population health campaign design and deployment, call center operations, CRM design and deployment, corporate strategy, corporate marketing, mergers and acquisitions, business process transformation and software development oversight—all in healthcare. He has worked with health plans and PBMs to address business challenges related to member-centric data management, adherence, gaps in care, and chronic condition management. Joel’s clients have included both Fortune 100 and startup companies, and he worked for Johnson and Johnson and Ernst & Young early in his career.

Aisha Rahim, MD Medical Director

Johns Hopkins HealthCare

Laura Sheriff Contracting Risk Adjustment Specialist

MSN with 10 years’ experience in Medicare, Medicaid, and Marketplace Managed Care with proven success in Risk Adjustment. Confirmed track record in operations, program management and process improvement. Demonstrates effective leadership, innovative problem solving techniques, and goal oriented focus to execute business objectives and meet performance expectations. Designed and coordinated all team activities including provider education, training, auditing, data mining, and data analysis to steer program success and achieve performance metrics. 

Dr. Sterling Thomas Chief Scientist | Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics

U.S. Government Accountability Office

Dr. Sterling Thomas is GAO’s Chief Scientist in Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics.
Prior to joining GAO, he was the Chief Scientist at Noblis, a Reston, VA based research institute overseeing their applied research programs for the past 13 years. Sterling has also served as a principal investigator for research programs funded by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, and Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity. His work has included creating new methods regarding synthetic biology, strategies for decoupling qubits for improving error correction in quantum computing, methods for using artificial intelligence to detect decentralized coordinated cyber-attacks, and network-based optimization algorithms to detect abnormalities in public equities markets.
He also worked with the institute’s executive council to develop their five- and ten-year research strategy. Sterling also served as the Deputy Chief Technology Officer and collaborated with the institute’s professional development department to create data science and cyber analytics training programs in partnership with George Mason University (GMU) and George Washington University. Additionally, he is an adjunct professor at GMU, sits on the Dean’s Advisory Board at GMU’s College of Engineering and Computing, along with sitting on Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center for Biological Data Science Advisory Board.
Sterling’s contributions have been recognized across industry including by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers for best paper utilizing machine learning methods in detecting breast cancer, and at his former institute where he received the Science and Technology Achievement award. He has also been awarded four patents and has multiple pending patent applications. Sterling earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Integrated Life Sciences from VCU, a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University, and Bachelor of Science from Old Dominion University.

Khalid Turk Chief Healthcare Info Tech Officer

County of Santa Clara

Nakis Urfi Senior Manager

Abbott