2025 Executive War College Agenda
Here is the 2025 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.
We look forward to seeing you in New Orleans!

These are the speakers and the sessions that are confirmed to appear during the 2025 Executive War College. Specific days, times, and locations for each session will be announced in the future.
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Pursuing the Opportunities and Overcoming the Challenges for Clinical Labs, Genetic Testing Companies, and Anatomic Pathology Groups.
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Funding, Creating, and Operating the Nation’s first Diagnostic Center: Elevating the Value of Laboratory Medicine to Improve Patient Care in a Financially-Sustainable Model

Michael Laposata
MD, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Pathology,
Univ. of Texas Medical Branch,
Galveston, Texas
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Harnessing Innovation to Successfully Improve Lab Operations, Engage Vendors, Deliver More Value to Physicians and Patients

David Dexter
President/CEO,
Sonora Quest Laboratories,
Tempe, AZ
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Creating WOWS by embedding innovation as a strategy, leading to all things digital and the introduction AI

Sam Terese
CEO & President,
Alverno Laboratories,
Gary, IN
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Questions and Answers about Organizing and Operating a Diagnostic Center: Secrets, Successes, and Useful Insights

Michael Laposata
MD, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Pathology,
Univ. of Texas Medical Branch,
Galveston, Texas
SESSION

Schedule TBD
2025 Payer Denial Impact Report: Unveiling the Latest Trends and Recommended Practices for Optimizing Clinical Lab, Hospital Outreach, and Pathology Claim Denials and Appeals

Diana Richard
AVP, National Accounts, Path/Rad/Health Systems,
XiFin, Inc.
San Diego, CA

Stephanie Sessions
VP, Revenue Cycle Operations,
XiFin, Inc.
San Diego, CA
SESSION

Schedule TBD
MolDx and Z-Codes: What’s New, What’s Changing and What’s Coming Next

Gabriel Bien-Willner
MD, PhD,
Program Medical Director, MolDX;
Chief Medical Officer, Palmetto GBA Columbia, SC
SESSION

Schedule TBD
From Surgery to Slide: Implementing a Lean-Based Histology System to Track, Automate, and Produce High Quality Slides In Support of Fully-Digital Pathology Labs

Michelle Bell
HT/QIHC(ASCP)CM,
Applications and Service Manager,Milestone Medical,
Austin, TX

Elia Rosetta
CEO,
Milestone Medical Technologies, Kalamazoo, MI

Vanessa Visinoni
Vice President,
Milestone SRL,
Sorisole, Italy
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Orchestrating Three Paths to Clinical Lab Success: Combining Staff Career Ladder and Productivity to Optimize Lab Performance to Support Value Based Care

Jennifer Fralick
Vice President, Anatomic Pathology & Clinical Laboratories
Stanford Health Care,
Standford, CA
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Winning with Hospital Lab Outreach: Today’s Proven Ways to Increase Test Volume, Improve Patient Outcomes, and Generate More Revenue

Jane Hermansen
Director,
Outreach and Network Development,
Mayo Clinic,
Rochester, MN
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Bringing Blood Drawing Into the Automation Age: A First Look at the World’s First Autonomous Robotic Phlebotomy Device Now in Clinical Use

Brian Joseph
CEO,
Vitestro, Inc.,
Utrecht, The Netherlands

Thijs van Holten
PhD,
Clinical Chemist,
St. Antonius Hospital,
Nieuwegein, The Netherlands

Brooke Katzman
Dr.,
Medical Director of the Hospital Clinical Laboratory,
Point of Care, and Laboratory Services at Mayo Clinic Rochester
PANEL

Schedule TBD
Panel: Big Changes in Washington, DC: New Congress, New Administration, FDA, CMS, OIG, and More
Moderator: John Kolozsvary
Panelists: Susan Van Meter, Russell Ring, Zach Rothstein, Erin Morton

John Kolozsvary
Chief Executive Officer,
Joint Venture Hospital Laboratories, Allen Park, MI

Susan Van Meter
President,
American Clinical Laboratory Association,
Washington, DC

Russell Ring
Vice President, Government Affairs,
Roche Diagnostics,
Washington, D.C.

Zach Rothstein
Executive Director of AdvaMedDx,
Washington, D.C.

Erin Morton
Partner,
CRD Associates,
Washington DC
PANEL

Schedule TBD
Opportunities for Anatomic Pathology Labs to Collaborate with Pharma, Biotech, CROs: What Has Value for All Parties, Structuring Relationships, Identifying Productive Business Models
Moderator: William Morice
Panelists: Jennifer Quigley, Jay White, Omar Perez

William Morice
MD, PhD
President and CEO,
Mayo Clinic Laboratories,
Rochester, Minnesota

Jennifer Quigley
Head of Precision Health & Partnerships,
BioNTech,
Mainz, Germany

Jay White
PhD, MPH
Sr. Director,
Precision Medicine & Diagnostics,
Lilly Oncology,
Indianapolis, IN

Omar Perez
MD,
Head of Medical Diagnostics,
US Medical Affairs Oncology, AstraZeneca,
Washington, DC.
PANEL

Schedule TBD
Important Developments in Laboratory Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance Requirements
Chair/Moderator: Charles Dunham
Panelists: Danielle Sloane, Andrew J. Weissenberg

Charles Dunham
Healthcare Attorney,
Greenberg Traurig LLP,
Houston, TX

Danielle Sloane
Partner,
Bass, Berry & Sims, PLC,
Nashville, Tenn.

Andrew J. Weissenberg
Counsel,
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC,
Washington, DC

Caitlyn Forsyth
Attorney,
Davis Wright Tremaine,
Seattle, WA
PANEL

Schedule TBD
Panel: Eye on IVD Industry: New Trends in How Labs Buy Automation, Analyzers, IT, and AI
Chair/Moderator: Bob McGonnagle
Panelists: Bruce Carlson, Lawrence Worden

Bob McGonnagle
Publisher, CAP TODAY,
College of American Pathologists,
Northfield, IL

Bruce Carlson
Publisher,
Eye On IVD LLC,
New York, NY

Lawrence Worden
Principal,
IVD LOGIX LLC,
Dallas, Texas

Rob LaCroix
Executive Director,
LTC LLC Healthcare,
Diagnostics & Life Science,
New York, NY
SESSION

Schedule TBD
State of Market Adoption for Digital Pathology By Largest Lab Organizations in the United States

Lisa-Jean Clifford
COO & Chief Strategy Officer,
Gestalt,
Spokane, WA
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Looking around the corner: The next big things in American Healthcare.

Ted Schwab
Innovator,
Schwab Tremblay Solutions,
Los Angeles, CA
PANEL

Schedule TBD
Panel: Healthcare’s Ongoing Transformation: What’s Changing for Labs and Ways to Address Pre-Analytical Issues in Support of Patient Consumerism, Improved Test Quality and Use of AI
Chair & Moderator: Jake Crampton
Panelists: Sam Terese, Eric Carbonneau, Jennifer Fralick

Jake Crampton
CEO,
MedSpeed,
Elmhurst, Illinois

Sam Terese
CEO & President,
Alverno Laboratories,
Gary, IN

Eric Carbonneau
Chief Operating Officer,
Tricore Reference Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM

Jennifer Fralick
Vice President, Anatomic Pathology & Clinical Laboratories
Stanford Health Care,
Stanford, CA
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Successful Hospital Laboratory Outreach Program Launches from a Standing Start and on a Budget by Exceeding Physicians’ Expectations and Delivering Clinical Value

Angela Vetch
MPH, DLM,
Director, Laboratory Services,
Kootenai Health,
Coeur d’Alene, ID
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Moving Lab Data and Digital Pathology Images to the Cloud: Why It’s Happening, Who’s Competing for Your Business, What You Should Know When Buying This Service

Chandra Holback
Director Business Development,
Optum,
Prairie, MN

Lisa-Jean Clifford
COO & Chief Strategy Officer,
Gestalt,
Spokane, WA
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Achieving “One Organization, One Application”: Using a Single, Front-End IT Platform to Eliminate All Paper, Unlock Savings, while Boosting Productivity, and enhancing employee and patient Satisfaction

Sonny Varadan
Chief Information Officer,
Sonora Quest Laboratories
SESSION

Schedule TBD
New Opportunities in Testing Hemostasis and Coagulation: Using Automation to Speed Time to Answer, Reduce Labor Costs, and Boost Physician Satisfaction

Jayton Zachary
Clinical Laboratory Assistant Director,
University Medical Center,
Lubbock, TX
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Anatomic Pathology’s New Specialist Business Model: Aligning Services that Deliver Value to Referring Physicians, Payers, and Subspecialist Pathologists Seeking More Independence

Tiffani Milless
MD,
Pathologist,
Goldfinch Laboratory,
Des Moines, Iowa

Jared Abbott
MD, PhD,
Pathologist and Founding Owner,
Goldfinch Laboratory,
Urbandale, IA
SESSION

Schedule TBD
FDA’s Legal Framework for AI: How it applies to Digital Pathology, Image Analysis Algorithms, Software, and Clinical Decision Support Systems

Gail Javitt
Director,
Hyman, Phelps & McNamara,
Washington, DC

Lisa Baumhardt
Principal,
Hyman, Phelps & McNamara,
Washington, DC
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Combining Lean & 100% Digital Pathology to Produce Faster, More Accurate Diagnoses with Increased Productivity of Staff & Pathologists: Transforming anatomic pathology delivery in the UK NHS

David Clark
MD,
Consultant Haematopathologist, Clinical Lead for Digital Pathology, Nottingham University Hospitals
NHS Trust,
Nottingham, England, UK

Paul Chenery
Head of Quality, Training & Strategic Improvement Improvement within Pathology,
Nottingham University Hospital
NHS Trust,
Nottingham, England, UK
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Effective Ways to Meet Today’s Lab Staff Recruiting and Retention Challenge: Educating High Schoolers, Leveraging Social Media, Career Paths in the Lab, plus Some Secrets

Mike Baron
Executive Director of Clinical Laboratory Operations,
Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories
Milwaukee, WI
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Achieving Successful CLIA Inspections in 52 Health System Labs in 14 days: Using the Power of Informatics, Teamwork, and Collaboration to Create a New Inspection Paradigm

Jen Umscheid
Senior Director, Quality, Innovation, & Performance Excellence,
Sonora Quest Laboratories/Laboratory Sciences of Arizona,
Tempe, AZ
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Data Monetization: How to Stop Others from Using Your Lab Data. How to Sell Data. How to Avoid Giving Rights to Your Data to Others.

Emily Johnson
Member,
McDonald Hopkins LLC,
Cleveland, Ohio

Elizabeth Sullivan
Chair,
Healthcare Practice Group,
McDonald Hopkins,
Cleveland, Ohio
SESSION

Schedule TBD
New Revenue from Direct-to-Consumer Testing: Best Tests to Offer, Automating Processes, Engaging Physician Orders & Oversight, Tracking Consumer Payments, and Results Reporting

Patrick Schaffer
Chief Business Officer,
Lifepoint Informatics,
Glen Rock, NJ

David Pellegore
Director of IT,
MaineHealth / NorDx,
Scarborough, MN
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Transforming Histology with 21st Century Solutions: What’s New in Automation, AI Workflow Management, and Even Telehistology

Eric Feinstein
President & CEO,
Clarapath,
Hawthorne, NY
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Achieving High Performance Workflow in the Core Lab by Tighter Integration of Automation, Analyzers, Data Tools, and Continuous Improvement

Jamel Giuma
President & CEO,
JTG Consulting Group,
Miami, FL
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Saving Staff Time and Money with Novel Solutions for Validation and Verification of Laboratory Instruments and Methods

Tim Bickley
VP, U.S. Sales,
BYG4lab, Inc.,
Chicago, IL
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Using a Unified View of Clinical, Genetic, and Anatomic Pathology Results to Add Value for Physicians, Case Managers, Payers, Pharma, and Other Stakeholders

Gregg Church
President,
4Medica Inc.,
Marina del Rey, CA
PANEL

Schedule TBD
Optimizing Revenue & Reducing Costs Through Interoperability and RCM Collaboration
Moderator: Greg Stein
Panelists: Aaron Liston, Adrian Brown

Gregory Stein
Founder, CEO,
Shadowbox, Inc.,
Carlsbad, CA

Aaron Liston
CEO,
AIMA Business and Medical,
Cary, NC

Adrian Brown
RCM Billing Manager,
Providers’ Choice Laboratories,
Houston, TX
PANEL

Schedule TBD
Panel: Taming the Lab Logistics and Courier Beast: New Approaches that Accelerate the Specimen Journey, Enhance Specimen Integrity, and Even Improve Home Specimen Collection

Robin Hooker
Senior Vice President of Marketing & Strategic Partnerships,
BioTouch,
Atlanta, Georgia

Ken Bahk
Chief Strategy Officer,
Neurogen Biomarking,
Chicago, ILL
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Transforming the Patient’s Clinical Laboratory Experience: Novel Specimen Collection Solution Now Offered in Retail Pharmacies and Clinics also Gives Labs a Unique Way to Add Value, Build Test Referrals

Eric Olson
Founder, Chief Operating Officer,
and Chairman
Babson Diagnostics,
Austin, TX
WORKSHOP

Schedule TBD
Third-Day Workshop: Lean for Lab Leaders: Proven Ways to Swiftly Slash While Boosting Productivity and Improving Staff Retention

Katja Lehmann
Director Lead Practice,
Lean Focus, LLC.,
Scottsdale, AZ
WORKSHOP

Schedule TBD
Third-Day Workshop: What’s Changing in CLIA Compliance and Inspections: Essentials for Lab Quality Officers and CLIA Lab Directors
Chair & Moderator: Nora Hess

Nora Hess
MBA, MT (ASCP), PMP,
Senior Consultant,
Hc1,
Sarasota, FL

Kathy Nucifora
MPH, MLS (ASCP),
Chief Operating Officer,
COLA Inc.,
Columbia, MD

Denise Driscoll
MS, MT(ASCP)SBB,
Vice President,
Laboratory Accreditation Programs,
College of American Pathologists,
Northfield, IL

Danielle Tangorre
Esq.,
Partner,
Robinson+Cole,
Albany, NY

Lindsay Strotman
PhD,
Laboratory Director,
Lighthouse Lab Services,
Louisville, KY

Silka Clark
MLS,
Healthcare Consultant
hc1 + Accumen,
Aurora, CO

Melany Williams
MBA, MLS(ASCP),
Director, Laboratory Accreditation, Subject Matter Expert,
The Joint Commission,
Oakbrook Terrace, IL
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Cyberattack! Lessons from Our Labs Response to Ransomware Shutdown of Academic Medical Center

Christina Wojewoda
Director, Clinical Microbiology, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, Vermont
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Demystifying AI in Healthcare: Key Risks, Real-World Benefits, and Strategic Considerations

Thomas Seay
Executive Director, AI Catalyst,
The Health Management Academy,
Arlington, VA
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Using Simple, Off-the-Shelf Digital Tools to Speed Processing of Lab Claims, Reduce Manual Touches, Increase Clean Claims, and Generate More and Faster Reimbursement

Rick VanNess
Co-Founder, Wuscott LLC.,
Albuquerque, NM

Orus Guerra
CEO,
Southwest Labs,
Albuquerque, NM
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Lab Testing Close to Where Patients Live and Work: How Our Lab Supports Urgent Care Clinics Tied to Freestanding Emergency Rooms

Kathleen David
MT,
Associate Director,
Near Patient Testing,
TriCore Reference Laboratories,
Albuquerque, NM
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Breaking the Mold with Hemostasis-dedicated Automation: How Two Large Academic Centers Are Revolutionizing Testing for Efficiency and Quality

Ryan Mize
DCLS, MHA,
Medical Director,
Massachusetts General Hospital,
Cambridge, MA.
SESSION

Schedule TBD
In a Red-Hot Market: How Smart Labs Recruit and Retain Young Pathologists

Jen Barna
MD,
Senior Executive Recruiter
(Pathology Division),
Santé Consulting,
St. Louis, MO
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Enabling Physicians to Order Genetic Testing Directly from the EHR: How it Works and Why It Benefits Patients and Labs.

Mel Gamble
Director,
Digital Health Adaptive, Biotechnologies Corp.,
Seattle, Wash.
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Creating Profitable Pharma-Pathology Relationships: What Pharma Wants, What Pathologists Have, and How to Craft Win-Win Agreements

Kyle Dunn
Founder & CEO,
Hyperdrive Bio,
Rancho Santa Margarita

Julie Ramage
Principal and Founder,
Harbor Precision Genomics Consulting,
Gig Harbor, WA
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Our Journey to Primary Diagnosis with a Fully-Digital Pathology Workflow while Partnering with Radiology

Ulysses Balis
MD, Director,
Division of Informatics,
Dept. of Pathology,
Michigan Medicine Ann Arbor, MI

Mustafa Yousif
Assistant Professor,
Breast Pathology,
Informatics Dept. of Pathology, Michigan Medicine,
Ann Arbor, MI
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Career Coaching: Powerful Ways It Can Propel the Management Effectiveness of You and Your Lab Team

Peggy McKee
CEO,
PHC Consulting,
Corsicana, TX
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Challenges and Best Practices in Anatomic Pathology Charging: Connecting Beaker and EPIC EHR to Automate Data Collection to Improve Coding, Billing and Collections

Marshall Brett
Senior Lab Systems Analyst,
Wellstar Health,
Atlanta,GA

Lily Sandler
Senior Beaker Consultant,
Honeydew Consulting,
Houston, TX

Zak Keir
Senior Analyst,
Honeydew Consulting,
Houston, TX
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Latest Developments with FDA Oversight of LDTs: Court Cases, How Labs Will Need to Comply, Steps to Take Now, and Analyzing the Financial Impact of Compliance

Jane Pine Wood
Counsel,
McDonald Hopkins, LLC,
Cleveland, OH

Valerie Palmieri
CEO/Founder,
Momentum Consulting,
Monroe, CT

Sheila Walcoff
Founding Principal & CEO,
Goldbug Strategies, LLC,
Gaithersburg, MD
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Serving Rural Patients Using Specimen Self-Collection: What’s Working with Micro-Collection and What’s Coming Next

Tracy George
MD,
Chief Scientific Officer,
ARUP Laboratories,
Salt Lake City, UT

Benjamin Bradley
Medical Director, Virology and Molecular Infectious Diseases,
ARUP Laboratories,
Salt Lake City, UT

Erwin Berthier
Co-founder and
Chief Technology Officer,
Tasso, Inc.
Seattle, Wash.

Leo Lin
MD, PhD,
Medical Director,
ARUP Laboratories,
Salt Lake City, UT
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Revolutionizing Diagnostics: Utilizing Algorithms and AI to Transform Modern Laboratory Practices

Peter McCaffrey
MD, MS, FCAP,
Chief Artificial Intelligence (AI) Officer, UTMB,
Galveston, TX

Matthew Prime
BSc, MBBS, PhD,
MRCS International Business Leader for CDS and Algorithms Roche Information Solutions,
RotKreuz, Germany
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Making Patient Data Uniform, Portable, Accessible, and Searchable Across AllParticipating Healthcare Organizations: What’s Working and What’s Coming

Paul Wilder
Executive Director,
CommonWell Health Alliance,
New York, NY
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Making the Case for Adopting Digital Pathology and Achieving a Healthy ROI: Update on Digital Scanning CPT Codes, Plus Structuring a Department Fund to Support AI and DP

Robert Tessier
Panelist,
Panel of National Pathology Leaders, Woodbridge, CT

Allegra E. Klein
MBA, Executive Director,
Panel of National Pathology Leaders, Woodbridge, CT
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Harnessing New Digital Tools to Speedily Automate Existing Manual Work Processes in Support of Dynamic Hospital Laboratory Outreach Business Launch

Brice Bruno
Vice President of Laboratory Services, Wellstar Health,
Lawrenceville, GA

Al Hirari
Co-Founder, Chief Revenue Officer,
1Health,
San Francisco, CA
SESSION

Schedule TBD
Solutions to Histotechnologist Shortage and Histology Backlogs: Blending Recruitment with Short-Term and Long-Term Outsourcing

James Madory
DO,
Director of Pathology Informatics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

Tom Schofield
Founder and CEO,
Splice Histology, Inc.,
Worcester, MA
BENEFACTOR SESSION

Schedule TBD
TELCOR
Benefactor: How to Overcome Common Barriers to Reimbursement
Low collections are often attributed to two major challenges: flawed software that limits collections potential, and difficulties in finding skilled professionals or competent billing services. Addressing these barriers requires a strategic approach tailored to the unique needs of your laboratory.
For years, technology has lagged behind the growing complexities imposed by payers. Billing teams remain reliant on manual processes and outdated tools to manage prior authorizations, missing information, denials, and appeals. Deciding on the right software is critical but can be overwhelming. Should you opt for a cost-effective practice management system that may lack specialized functionality? Should you invest heavily in a robust solution with long-term ROI potential? Or should you consider an “out-of-the-box” solution that meets current needs but may lack scalability as your lab grows or regulations evolve?
Simultaneously, building a high-performing billing team has become increasingly difficult. The pandemic reshaped workforce dynamics and finding experienced revenue cycle professionals can feel like an uphill battle. While outsourcing billing operations to another country might seem like a quick fix, this approach often introduces new risks, including potential compliance challenges, data security concerns, and diminished control over operations. To succeed, leaders must adopt innovative approaches to recruitment—prioritizing skills, adaptability, and cultural fit over traditional criteria. This is equally crucial when vetting external billing services.
In this session, we’ll explore how to align your laboratory’s reimbursement strategy with the right technology and talent to maximize collections and streamline operations.
Key Takeaways:
- Strategically assess your lab’s billing needs to identify software solutions that meet operational, financial, and regulatory demands.
- Compare software options of practice management systems, enterprise solutions, and customizable platforms—to find the best fit for your organization’s maturity and growth trajectory.
- Reimagine workforce strategies by evaluating innovative recruitment practices and selecting billing partners who align with your lab’s goals.
- Understand the risks of offshore outsourcing and why keeping billing operations local ensures compliance, security, and greater operational control.

Darla Wanitschke
Vice President,
Customer Success,
TELCOR,
Lincoln, NE

Rick Roark
Consultant
BENEFACTOR SESSION

Schedule TBD
Quadax
Stronger Together: How Labs & RCM Teams Partner to Achieve Financial Excellence
Success in lab billing isn’t just about the technology or service you choose; it’s about the partnership. Too often, labs view Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) as a vendor relationship rather than a strategic alliance that drives financial success. In this session, we’ll uncover why a true partnership between labs and RCM is essential for maximizing revenue and reducing costs. Join us to discover how labs that shift from a transactional vendor mindset to a collaborative RCM approach see measurable improvements in reimbursement and cost reduction. We’ll highlight real-world success stories and share critical benchmarking metrics to assess your lab’s financial health and transform revenue.
Key Takeaways:
- RCM as a Partnership – Shifting from a vendor mindset to a true RCM partnership fosters transparency, collaboration, long-term solutions, and stronger financial outcomes.
- The Foundation of Financial Stability – Preventing denials through proactive claim strategies and automation leads to faster reimbursements and drives cost savings.
- Turning Denials into Revenue – A structured denial management strategy, backed by analytics, can significantly improve reimbursement and optimize revenue recovery.
- Measuring & Maximizing Your Lab’s Financial Health – Tracking key reimbursement metrics and benchmarking against industry standards helps labs optimize their revenue cycle for long-term success.

Chad Miles
Director,
Reimbursement Management,
Quadax

Patti Grey
AVP RCS implementation & Application Support,
Quadax

Shawna Burdick
Senior Director,
RCM Optimization,
Baylor Genetics
BENEFACTOR SESSION

Schedule TBD
XiFin
Changing the Narrative on Prior Authorization: A Collaborative, Programmatic Approach Is Essential
Navigating the increasingly complex prior authorization (PA) process presents significant challenges, especially for advanced molecular and genetic diagnostic testing, specialty medical devices, and remote patient monitoring services. While point solutions may offer an efficient first step for routine testing, a more programmatic approach is essential for addressing the intricacies of PAs for complex procedures. This session will illustrate how integrating PA strategies into the broader revenue cycle management (RCM) process provides the visibility and coordination necessary to achieve meaningful results.
Attendees will gain insights into:
- The challenges patients and providers face due to aggressive and opaque PA policies and how to advocate for coverage, patient access, and responsible reimbursement.
- Data-driven perspectives on tracking PA success: Does higher PA success correlate to improved payment outcomes? How many claims are denied for unrelated reasons?
- The critical role of specialized expertise, such as genetic counselors, in improving claim accuracy and reimbursement outcomes. Learn how deploying niche skill sets at strategic workflow points reduces rework and drives financial success.
- The improved operational and financial performance achieved by one XiFin customer who has adopted a collaborate, programmatic approach to managing prior authorizations.
- Recommend best practices shared by XiFin’s new PA partner, careviso, for maximizing PA success and overcoming common obstacles.
Join us to examine how a collaborative, programmatic approach to prior authorization can transform your RCM processes, optimize reimbursement, and deliver better patient and provider outcomes

Heather Agostinelli
VP, Head of Specialty RCM,
XiFin, Inc.

ELLEN Beausang
Chief Commercial Officer,
BioReference

Perry Dimas
Co-founder and
Chief Business Officer,
Careviso
BENEFACTOR SESSION

Schedule TBD
Leica Biosystems
Realized Benefits of Digital Pathology
Digital pathology is becoming the new standard of care, transforming the practice of pathology with many new laboratories adopting this technology. Leica Biosystems invites you to join our interactive session with industry experts as they share their insights on optimizing your digital pathology investment. Additionally, we’ll discuss building a practical business case for digital pathology, maximizing ROI benefits inside and outside the laboratory, and leveraging AI to boost productivity and efficiency.
Panel Topics:
- Building a Practical Business Case for Digital Pathology
- Maximizing ROI Benefits Inside and Outside the Laboratory
- Leveraging AI to Boost Productivity and Efficiency
- Optimizing Your Digital Pathology Investment
Moderator: Mark Frushone,
Panelists: Orly Ardon, Cory A. Roberts, Derek C. Welch

Mark Frushone
Global Director,
Digital Pathology,
Leica Biosystems

Orly Ardon
PhD, MBA, Director,
Digital Pathology Operations, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Cory A. Roberts
MD, MBA,
Chief Executive Officer,
Sonic Healthcare USA,
Austin, Texas

Derek C. Welch
MD,
President, Chief Medical Officer, PathGroup
WORKSHOP

Schedule TBD
Whole Genome Sequencing and Genetic Testing for Community Hospitals
Chair & Moderator: Honey Reddi

Honey Reddi
PhD,
SVP and Medical Director,
Belay Diagnostics,
Chicago, IL

Brian Coe
Chief Executive Officer,
Belay Diagnostics, LLC,
Chicago, IL

Julie Hirschhorn
PhD, HCLD,
Molecular Microbiology System Director, Geisinger,
Danville, PA

Annie Scrimenti
Director,
Public Policy & Advocacy,
Association for Molecular Pathology,
Rockville, MD

Shashi Shetty
PhD, Director Cytogenetics and CLIA Laboratory Director,
University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University, Nation Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center
Cleveland, Ohio

Arezou Ghazani
M.Sc, PhD, FACMG,
Brigham and Women’s Hospital/ Harvard Medical School,
Boston, MA
WORKSHOP

Tuesday, 1:30 PM
Laboratory & Pathology Merger and Acquisition Workshop
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM
Panel—Business and Marketing Strategies for Laboratories in Changing Times
Chair: Elizabeth Sullivan
Panelists: Brad Bostic, Julie Ramage

Elizabeth Sullivan
Chair,
Healthcare Practice Group,
McDonald Hopkins,
Cleveland, Ohio

Brad Bostic
President and CEO,
hc1 + Accumen,
Indianapolis, Indiana

Julie Ramage
Principal and Founder,
Harbor Precision Genomics Consulting,
Gig Harbor, WA
2:15 PM – 3:00 PM
Panel—Behind the Curtain: Buyers Share What Drives Lab Valuations
Chair: Emily Johnson
Panelists: Patrick Walsh, Jim Billington, John Erwin

Emily Johnson
Member,
McDonald Hopkins LLC,
Cleveland, Ohio

Patrick Walsh
Managing Director,
Ziegler,
Nashville, Tennesse

Jim Billington
CEO,
Versant Diagnostics,
Grapevine, Texas

John Erwin
Partner,
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton,
Raleigh, NC
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Panel—Current Market for Hospital Lab Outreach Transactions: Structuring the Deal and Management Service Arrangements
Chair: Cristal Contini
Panelists: Ken Cerney, Laura Davis

Cristal Contini
Chair,
M&A Practice Group,
McDonald Hopkins,
Cleveland, Ohio

Ken Cerney
Vice President – Commercial Operations, Health Systems,
Labcorp,
Burlington, NC

Laura Davis
3:45 PM – 4:35 PM
Panel—Lab Valuation Trends: Factors That Drive High Values and Multiples in Acquisitions of Independent Labs, Genetic Labs, and Pathology Groups
Chair: Rick Cooper
Panelists: Chris Jahnle, Anil Asnani, Cory A. Roberts

Rick Cooper
Partner,
Advanced Strategic Partners,
Cleveland, Ohio

Chris Jahnle
Managing Director,
Haverford Healthcare Advisors,
Paoli, PA

Anil Asnani
Senior VP,
Strategy & Corporate Development,
Labcorp,
Burlington, NC

Cory A. Roberts
MD, MBA,
Chief Executive Officer,
Sonic Healthcare USA,
Austin, Texas
2025 Post-Conference Workshops
Thursday, May 1, 2025
WORKSHOP 1

8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Breaking Pathology’s Glass Slide Updated! Ways to Build Revenue with Digital Pathology, Whole Slide Images, AI Diagnostic Tools, and More
WORKSHOP 2

8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Lean for Lab Leaders: Proven Ways to Swiftly Slash Costs While Boosting Productivity and Improving Staff Retention
WORKSHOP 3

8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
What’s Changing in CLIA Compliance and Inspections: Essentials for Lab Quality Officers and CLIA Lab Directors