2026 Executive War College Agenda
As session topics and speakers are confirmed, they will be posted on this page.
Watch this site regularly to catch all the new topics and speakers.
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Agenda development is well underway for EWC 2026, where we anticipate featuring almost 80 sessions and 150 speakers.
As of this stage, here’s a look at the sessions and speakers we have planned so far. Check back frequently, since our agenda will continue to grow in the coming weeks. Specific days, times, and locations for each session will be announced in the future.
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Under OIG Scrutiny: Translating 2025 Enforcement Trends Into Actionable Strategies for Laboratory Compliance, Test Utilization Optimization, and Enterprise-Wide Risk Mitigation in 2026
Andrew Fletcher
Founder,
Eutilogic
Danielle Tangorre
Partner,
Robinson & Cole
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Transforming Pathology at Scale: NYU Langone’s Achievement of a Fully Digital Workflow in One Year to Accelerate Diagnosis, Collaboration, and AI-Enabled Innovation
Christina Olesnycky
Senior Administrative Director of Laboratory Services,
NYU Langone Health
Syed T. Hoda, MD
Director of Digital Pathology, Director of Bone & Soft Tissue Pathology, Clinical Professor,
NYU Langone Health
SESSION
Schedule TBD
The Slippery Slope to Enforcement: How Payor Audits Trigger Government Action—and How to Identify Compliance Risk Early
Edward Heath
Chair,
Robinson & Cole
Seth Orkand
Co-Chair, Healthcare Enforcement Team,
Robinson & Cole
Danielle Tangorre
Partner,
Robinson & Cole
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Recognizing Laboratory Leadership and Excellence: A Designation Program That Elevates Patient Care, Professional Development, and the Field of Laboratory Medicine
Alexandra Brown
Interim CEO,
ASCP
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Transforming Revenue Cycle Management with Agentic AI: A New Model for Laboratory Reimbursement That Optimizes Decision-Making and Drives Higher Financial Performance
Ellen Beausang
President, Chief Revenue Officer,
Lighthouse Lab Services
Jeff Carmichael
Senior VP of Engineering,
XiFin, Inc.
Heather Agostinelli
VP, Head of Strategic Revenue Operations,
XiFin, Inc.
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Laboratory Outreach Program Dynamics: Where Are You Now, What Challenges Are Holding You Back, and What Do You Need to Be Doing to Advance Your Program, Expand Outreach, and Strengthen System-Wide Impact?
Jane Hermansen
Manager, Outreach and Network Development,
Mayo Clinic
SESSION
Schedule TBD
The Hidden Profit Center: Stop Leaving Money on the Table by Leveraging Laboratory Operations and Excess Capacity for Enterprise-Wide Financial Results
Jonathan Burgart
Director US Marketing,
Abbott
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Bridging Bench and Bytes: Practical Strategies, Core Concepts, and Real-World Case Studies in Software Implementation for the Non-IT Laboratorian
Josh Kramer
Founder, Managing Partner,
Leap Consulting Group
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Transforming Laboratory Revenue Integrity: Standardizing Charge Reconciliation to Strengthen Financial Performance and Enterprise Data Quality
Lauren McDonald
Senior Beaker Consultant,
Honeydew Consulting
Shelly Barnes
Lab Operations Manager,
Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System
SESSION
Schedule TBD
From Open Scopes to Fully Staffed Positions: Winning Data-Driven Pathology Recruiting Strategies in a Highly Competitive, Candidate-Driven Market
Rich Cornell
President & Founder,
Sante Consulting
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Breaking the Traveler Cycle: How to Replicate Proven, High-Impact Workforce Strategies to Achieve Sustainable, Long-Term Laboratory Staffing and Operational Stability
Stefanie Davidson
Laboratory Director,
Foundation Health
SESSION
Schedule TBD
The 3 P’s Powering a Resilient and High Performance Lab Workforce that Drives Quality and Reduces Cost
Walter McAndrew,
MB(ASCP), SSGB
Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory Manager,
MD Anderson
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Succession Planning: Strategies to Identify, Develop, and Retain High-Potential Talent, Build a Resilient Leadership Pipeline, and Safeguard Long-Term Stability for Your Future Organizational Success
Curtiss McNair
VP Operations,
PanGIA Biotech
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Beyond the Transition: Leveraging Analytical Tools to Preserve Laboratory Performance, Optimize Operations, and Ensure Success During LIS Migration
Kathleen T. Ohrt
Senior Program Manager,
Lab Excellence,
Visiun, Inc.
Marieke de Klerk
Business Operations Reporting Analyst,
Ochsner Medical Center
SESSION
Schedule TBD
2026 Payor Denial Impact Report: Unveiling the Latest Trends and Recommended Practices for Optimizing Clinical Lab, Hospital Outreach, Molecular and Pathology Claim Denials and Appeals
Diana Richard
AVP, National Accounts,
XiFin, Inc.
Stephanie Denham
VP, RCM Systems and Analytics,
XiFin, Inc.
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Maximizing Value in Digital Pathology: A Comprehensive ROI Analysis of Whole‑Slide Image Optimization to Reduce Costs, Accelerate Diagnostics, and Support Scalable Adoption
David Braxton, MD
Chief of Molecular Pathology,
Hoag Hospital
Mark Lloyd
VP of Pathology,
FujiFilm
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Zero-Failure E-Orders: Sentara’s Blueprint for Closing the EMR-to-LIS Loop to Guarantee Lab Revenue and Operational Accuracy
Kristen Keenan
Senior Director,
Laboratory Services-Outreach,
Sentara Health
Gregg Church
President,
4Medica
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Unlocking the Value of Excess Lab Capacity: Generate Net New Revenue While Reducing Patient Costs and Reinforcing Local Healthcare Access
Ashley Rene
Director of Network Operations,
Collaboratory.US
Ronald Sparks
Executive Director,
Collaboratory.US
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Integrating AI in Pathology: Real-World Strategies for Balancing Regulatory Authorization and Reimbursement Challenges in Laboratory-Developed Tests and Software as a Medical Device
Amanda Lowe
Chief Commercial Officer,
Artera
Jennifer Archer
Senior Director Market Access
Artera
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Panel — From Policy to Practice: Navigating Biomarker Legislation, Translating Regulatory Change into Laboratory Strategy, and Leveraging Precision Diagnostics to Drive Sustainable Growth and Enterprise Impact
Michael Ryan
Partner,
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
Pam Traxel
Senior Vice President, Alliance Development and Philanthropy,
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Derek Maetzold
Founder, President & CEO,
Castle Biosciences
Noreen Manning
Vice President, Reimbursement,
Castle Biosciences
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Building Trust in AI Adoption for Pathology: A CAP AI Studio Immersive, Hands-On Experience Exploring Validated AI Tools in Real-World Clinical Scenarios
Rajendra Singh, MD
Professor of Pathology,
University of Pennsylvania
Co-Founder,
PathPresenter
Kevin Schap
Director, Clinical Informatics Initiatives,
College of American Pathologists (CAP)
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Digital Pathology at Scale: Versant Diagnostics’ Multi-Site, Cloud-Based Deployment Strategy, Platform Evaluation, and Business Case Justification
Lola Leibensperger
Vice President Operations,
Versant Diagnostics
Doug Olson
CIO,
Versant Diagnostics
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Developing AI Image Analysis Algorithms from Digital Pathology Images—Including Slides More than 100 Years Old to Improve Diagnostic Accuracy, Faster Turnaround Times, and Operational Efficiency
Joel Moncur, MD, PhD, MS, FCAP,
Deputy Director & Chief Medical Officer,
The Joint Pathology Center
SESSION
Schedule TBD
AI and Scalable Digital Pathology: Fully Autonomous Imaging for Precision Capture, Optimized Storage, and Workflow Transformation
Felix Faber
CEO & Founder,
MindPeak
Prasanth Perugupalli
VP and General Manager of Digital Pathology,
College of American Pathologists (CAP)
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Governing the Data Backbone of the Modern Laboratory: How to Ensure Secure, Compliant, and Validated Patient Data Across the Entire Laboratory Data Lifecycle
Todd Stabelfeldt
CEO & Founder,
Solutions by C4
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Winning the Reimbursement Battle for Infectious Disease PCR and PGx Testing: Understanding Policy, Payer Behavior, Audit Risk, and How to Succeed Across All Five Levels of Appeals
Ashley Zarling
Director of Business Development & Marketing,
Doc Lab, Inc.
John Warren
Owner and Principal,
Gettysburg Healthcare Consulting
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Building a Multi-Dimensional Framework Using Alternative Metrics and Strategies to Enhance Financial Performance while Strengthening Clinical Impact and Driving Laboratory Value
Robin Herbner
Chief Administrative Officer,
Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories
Chief Financial Officer,
Atalan
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Unlocking Payor Rate Transparency to Benchmark Contracts, Enhance Market Access, and Improve Financial Outcomes Through Data Driven Strategic PRTM Insights
Clarisa Blattner
Senior Director,
Revenue & Payor Optimization,
XiFin, Inc.
Debbie Windsor
Vice President,
Payer Contracting and Market Access,
Mayo Clinic Laboratories
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Deals in the Headwinds: How Market Pressures, Capital Discipline, and New Partnership Models Are Reshaping Laboratory Mergers & Acquisitions
Christal Contini
Member,
McDonald Hopkins
Cory A. Roberts, MD, MBA
CEO,
Sonic Healthcare USA
Jim Billington
CEO,
Versant Diagnostics
Anil Asnani
Vice President,
Labcorp
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Stronger Together: How Unified Cross-Association Advocacy Is Influencing Laboratory Reimbursement, Regulatory Frameworks, and Federal Health Policy Outcomes
Annie Scrimenti, MS
Director, Public Policy and Advocacy,
Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP)
Matthew Schulze
Senior Director, Center for Public Policy,
American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
Jane Pine Wood
President,
New York State Clinical Laboratory Association (NYSCLA)
Clarisa Blattner
Senior Director, Revenue & Payor Optimization,
XiFin, Inc.
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Leading with the Lab: How Froedtert & ThedaCare Used Laboratory Integration to JumpStart Their Merger and Deliver Immediate Value
Steve Serota
President,
Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratory
CEO, Atalan
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Navigating the Accreditation Landscape: Hot Topics and Forward-Looking Priorities from CAP, COLA, A2LA, and The Joint Commission
Nora Hess
Owner,
Next Horizon Consulting LLC
Melany Williams
Director, SME Laboratory Accreditation
Joint Commission
Denise Driscoll
Vice President, Laboratory Accreditation Programs
College of American Pathologists
(CAP)
Kim Ogren
Director of Clinical Accreditation,
COLA, Inc.
Sarah Dorris
Accreditation Manager,
A2LA
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Modernizing Laboratory Compliance: Unifying Automation, AI‑Aligned Documentation, and Digital Training Systems to Eliminate Redundant Work and Achieve Continuous Audit‑Ready Performance
Unika Alexander, MSc, MLS (ASCP)
CEO,
The Proficient Lab
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Z‑Codes, MolDX, and the Future of Genetic Test Reimbursement: What Clinical Laboratories Must Know for 2026
Gabriel Bien-Wilner, MD, PhD, FCAP
Chief Medical Officer,
Palmetto GBA
SESSION
Schedule TBD
From the Lab to the Living Room: How Leaders Are Reimagining the Lab Enterprise to Drive Value for Patients and Communities
Robin Divine
CEO,
TriCore
Bart Buxton
President, CEO,
McLaren Management Group
Jake Crampton
CEO,
MedSpeed
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Reinventing Phlebotomy with Autonomous Robotics: From Core Technology to Real-World Clinical Evidence, Preference Studies, and Future Advancements
Brooke M. Katzman, PhD
Assistant Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Director of Hospital Clinical Laboratory, Central Clinical Laboratory, Point of Care, and Laboratory Services,
Mayo Clinic
Luuk Giesen, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Vitestro
SESSION
Schedule TBD
The New Age of Growth in the Diagnostic and Pathology Market: Strategic Considerations for Mergers, Acquisitions, Organic Growth, and Emerging Technologies
Cory A. Roberts, MD, MBA
CEO,
Sonic Healthcare USA
SESSION
Schedule TBD
From Complexity to Connectivity: How Intermountain Health Modernized Enterprise Interoperability
Emily Shake
Director of Commercialization, Laboratory Services,
Intermountain Health
Marci Dop
VP Enterprise Lab Operations,
ELLKAY
SESSION
Schedule TBD
A Groundbreaking Approach to Scaling Laboratory Performance: Leveraging PDI Analytics and Benchmarking to Drive Operational Excellence and Clinical Value Across Health Systems
Scott Koepsell, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor and Vice Chair of Clinical Operations,
The University of Nebraska Medical Center
Sachin Gupta, PhD, MBA, ASCPi, (MLS,MB), LSSBB, CPHQ
Scientific Director,
ASCP
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Powering the Revenue Cycle Engine Through Machine Learning Driven Workflow Automation to Drive Faster, More Predictable Reimbursement and Cash Velocity
Lynn Brock
CIO,
SagisDx
James Anderson
Director, Data Science,
Medical AR Management, LLC
Maci Simmons
Data Scientist,
Medical AR Management, LLC
SESSION
Schedule TBD
What FDA LDT Policy Leaves Unaddressed: Regulatory Gaps, Pathology Software Oversight, and the Breakthrough Device Pathway
Valerie Palmieri
CEO, Founder,
Momentum Consulting
Courtney Tito
Shareholder,
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, PC
Jane Pine Wood
President,
New York State Clinical Laboratory Association (NYSCLA)
SESSION
Schedule TBD
From Risk Scores to Real-World Risk: Building Defensible Opioid Testing Programs that Withstand Payor Audits and Reimbursement Denials
Ellen Beausang
President, Chief Revenue Officer,
Lighthouse Lab Services
Michael Sprintz, DO, DFASM
CEO and Founder,
Cellarian
Elizabeth Sullivan, JD
Member,
McDonald Hopkins
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Digital Pathology’s Full Market Adoption as an Inevitable Shift: Governance, Data Strategy, Emerging Technologies, and the Operational Outcomes Leaders Must Deliver
Lisa-Jean Clifford
President,
Gestalt
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Creating Diagnostic Management Team Consultations Using AI with Increasing Accuracy and Speed: A Step‑by‑Step Description of How It Is Done to Improve Clinical Decision‑Making and Patient Outcomes
Michael Laposata, MD, PhD
Professor, Department of Pathology,
University of Texas Medical Branch
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Optimizing High‑Risk LIS Contracts: Integrating Operational, Legal, and Cybersecurity Requirements Into Vendor Negotiations to Reduce Vulnerabilities and Deliver Reliable, Audit‑Ready System Performance
Dennis Winsten
President,
Dennis Winsten & Associates, Inc.
Emily Johnson, JD
Member,
McDonald Hopkins
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Mobilizing High-Performance Quality Teams to Close Care Gaps, Strengthen Compliance, and Deliver Measurable Clinical and Financial Results
April Young
Director, Laboratory Operations,
Stanford Health Care
Jenny Tran
Director, Laboratory Quality,
Stanford Health Care
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Capitalize on AI-Enabled Image Management for Primary Diagnosis to Enhance Throughput, Accuracy, and Workflow Performance
Renuka Kulkarni, MD
Chief Medical Officer,
Gestalt
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Revolutionizing Diagnostics Through Real-Time Anemia Management to Improve Patient Identification, Strengthen Outcomes, and Elevate the Strategic Role of the Laboratory
Katy Loos, MSN, CRNP
Director, Patient Blood Management, Hematology,
Jefferson Health
Amy Della Penna, RN
Registered Nurse,
Jefferson Health
Melissa Hollo
Director, Clinical Solutions,
hc1
SESSION
Schedule TBD
The New IVD Power Structure: M&A, Research Platform Integration, and the Precision Oncology Catalyst
Bob McGonnagle
Publisher,
CAP TODAY
Robert Lacroix
Executive Director, Global Strategy,
AI & Next Generation Solutions,
LTC LLC – Healthcare, Diagnostics
& Life Science
Bruce Carlson
Publisher,
Eye on IVD
Lawrence Worden
Principal,
IVDLogix
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Mastering POL Evolution for Growth, Stage Advancement, and Franchise Reclamation in a Large Physician Office to Unlock Strategic and Operational Insights
Harold Kisner
General Manager,
MediPath LLC
President,
NECAPS Inc
Maria Mendoza
Director of Field Operations & Logistics,
MediPath LLC
Gina Salazar
Director of Administrative Services,
MediPath LLC
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Advancing Brain Tumor Diagnosis and Management with High‑Performance CSF Liquid Biopsy for Faster, More Accurate Profiling
Honey Reddi, PhD, FACMG,
Chief Laboratory Officer,
Belay Diagnostics
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Scaling at Speed: A Real-World Enterprise LIS Transition at Sonora Quest Laboratories — Customization Strategy, Performance Gains, and Measurable Operational Impact
Sonny Varadan
CIO,
Sonora Quest Laboratories
Gilad Brand
Chief Business Development Officer,
LabOS
SESSION
Schedule TBD
AI at the Edge of Revenue — Transforming the Forces Reshaping Healthcare into Catalysts for Growth, Denial Reduction, and Workforce Efficiency
Lâle White
Executive Chairman & CEO,
XiFin, Inc.
Kyle Fetter
COO,
XiFin, Inc.
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Decoding Legal Trends and Emerging Considerations in Laboratory Data with a Focus on Value, Clarifying Ownership and Access Rights, Protecting Data, and Strategically Monetizing Information
Elizabeth Sullivan, JD
Member,
McDonald Hopkins
Emily Johnson, JD
Member,
McDonald Hopkins
SESSION
Schedule TBD
Shifting the Paradigm: Converting Routine Diagnostic Data into Strategic Assets for Precision Medicine, AI Biomarkers, and Companion Diagnostics
Jennifer Fralick
Vice President Anatomic Pathology & Clinical Laboratories,
Stanford Health Care
SESSION
Schedule TBD
An AI Playbook for Laboratories: Stakeholder Alignment, Prioritization, and Scalable Deployment from Workflow Automation to Enterprise Implementation
Derek Welch, MD
President & Chief Medical Officer,
PathGroup
BENEFACTOR SESSION
Schedule TBD
Getting Paid: How to Support Science, Nail Reimbursement, and Create Flexible Policies to Maximize Collections
Reimbursement failures are rarely the result of poor billing alone. More often, they stem from misalignment between scientific decisions, coverage policy, market access strategy, and operational execution. Laboratories invest heavily in high-quality science and advanced diagnostics, yet those investments frequently fail to translate into payment due to disconnects that occur long before a claim is submitted.
In this interview-style executive session, Abby Wright, Founder & CEO of PHAZE 4 Medical, a Fractional Market Access Firm, and Sarah Stewart, Vice President of TELCOR Revenue Cycle Services, explore how reimbursement breaks down for otherwise sound science and how labs can correct course. The discussion will examine how early decisions in test design, clinical evidence development, documentation standards, and internal policy creation directly influence payer behavior, cash flow, and collections.
Attendees will gain insight into why billing teams and systems are often unfairly blamed for reimbursement challenges that originate upstream, and how tighter alignment between market access, scientific leadership, and billing is essential for sustainable reimbursement success. The session will provide practical, cross-functional strategies for building flexible reimbursement policies that protect scientific integrity, support payer expectations, and reduce revenue leakage without compromising patient care.
By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Identify where reimbursement commonly breaks down despite strong clinical science.
- Understand how scientific, market access, financial, and operational decisions collectively impact collections.
- Recognize why misalignment between Market Access and Billing leaves revenue on the table.
- Apply practical strategies to better align test design, documentation, and payer requirements.
- Build flexible reimbursement policies that support sustainable revenue while preserving scientific rigor.
Abby Wright
Founder and CEO,
PHAZE 4 Medical
Sarah Stewart
Vice President, Revenue Cycle Services,
TELCOR
Special Learning Opportunities
Choose From These
Exceptional Sessions
Day 3 Sessions
Thursday, April 30, 2026
SESSION 1
8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
This focused, one-day program provides a deep dive into digital pathology workflows, artificial intelligence, data integration, and the technologies transforming today’s pathology labs. Attendees will gain insight into real-world implementation strategies, current and emerging technology discussion, and hear from organizations actively advancing digital pathology adoption.
SESSION 2
8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
This workshop provides laboratory leaders with practical Lean tools where you’ll learn how to apply Lean principles directly to the challenges labs face every day. Whether you’re leading a multi‑site system, managing rapid growth, or navigating staffing and reimbursement pressures, this workshop gives you the tools and frameworks to build a more resilient, efficient, and high‑performing laboratory.