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!

Executive War College 2025 Agenda graphic

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.

Robert Michel, President, The Dark Intelligence Group.

Robert Michel
President, 
The Dark Intelligence Group,
Austin, TX

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, Professor and Chair of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston

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, Alverno Clinical Laboratories, Hammond, Indiana

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, Professor and Chair of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston

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, Sr. Director, Pathology and Strategic Development, XIFIN, San Diego, CA

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, Medical Director, M0IDX program, Palmetto GBA

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, Service and Applications Manager, Milestone Medical Technologies, Austin, TX

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

Elia Rosetta
CEO,
Milestone Medical Technologies, Kalamazoo, MI

Vanessa Visioni, Vice President, Milestone SRL

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

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

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 at Joint Venture Hospital Laboratories

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

Susan Van Meter, President, American Clinical Laboratory Association

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

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

Zach Rothstein Director of AdvaMedDx, 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, President and CEO, Mayo Clinic Laboratories

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

Jennifer Quigley, Sr. Director Global Precision Diagnostics, Novartis

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

Jay White

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

Executive War College Speaker

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 at Bass, Berry & Sims in Nashville, TN

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

Andrew J. Weissenberg

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

Executive War College Speaker

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

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 Diagnostics, Spokane, Wash

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

Jake Crampton
CEO,
MedSpeed,
Elmhurst, Illinois

Sam Terese, CEO, Alverno Clinical Laboratories, Hammond, Indiana

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

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

Chandra Holback
Director Business Development,
Optum,
Prairie, MN

Lisa-Jean Clifford, COO & Chief Strategy Officer, Gestalt Diagnostics, Spokane, Wash

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

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, Goldfinch Laboratory, Urbandale, 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

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, Consultant Haematopathologist, Clinical Lead for Digital Pathology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

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

Paul Chenery Nottingham University Hospital

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 Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories

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, Attorney, McDonald Hopkins

Emily Johnson
Member,
McDonald Hopkins LLC,
Cleveland, Ohio

Elizabeth Sullivan

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

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, Inc., Hawthorne, New York

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 Gluma JTG Consulting Group

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

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

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 CEO, Shadowbox, Encinitas, CA

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

Aaron Liston, Chief Executive Officer, Aima Business and Medical Support, LLC

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

Adrian Brown, RCM Billing Manager, Providers Choice Laboratories

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 - Sales & Marketing, BioTouch

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

Executive War College Speaker

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 Lean Practice, Lean Focus, LLC

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, Senior Consultant at Accumen.

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

Kathy Nucifora Chief Operating Officer Cola, Inc.

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

Denise Driscoll, Senior Director, Accreditation and Regulatory Affairs, College of American Pathologists

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

Danielle Tangorre, Partner, Robinson+Cole

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

Lindsay Strotman, Laboratory Director at Lighthouse Laboratory Services

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

Silka Clark, MLS, HC1 + Accumen

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

Melany Williams

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

Christi Wojewoda MD Director, Clincial Microbiology University of Vermont 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

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 Point of Care TriCore Reference Laboratories

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, DCLA, MHA, Medical Director at Massachusetts General Hospital

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

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

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

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

Executive War College Speaker

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

Executive War College Speaker

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

Executive War College Speaker

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

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

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

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

Zak Keir, Senior Analyst, Honeydew Consulting

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, JD, Counsel, McDonald Hopkins

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

Valerie Palmieri, CEO & Founder, Momentum Consulting

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

Sheila Walcoff

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

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

Benjamin Bradley, ARUP Laboratories

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

Executive War College Speaker

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

Executive War College Speaker

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

Matthew Prime

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

Executive War College Speaker

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

Executive War College Speaker

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

Executive War College Speaker

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

Executive War College Speaker

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

Executive War College Speaker

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

Executive War College Speaker

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, Director of Customer Success, TELCOR

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

Rick Roark, consultant

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, Middleburg Heights, OH

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

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

Executive War College Speaker

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

Executive War College Speaker

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 an Executive War College Speaker

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

Brain Coe, Chief Executive Officer, Belay Diagnostics, LLC.

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

PhD, HCLD, Molecular Microbiology System Director, Geisinger

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

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

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

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

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

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, Attorney, McDonald Hopkins

Emily Johnson
Member,
McDonald Hopkins LLC,
Cleveland, Ohio

Patrick Walsh, Managing Director, Ziegler

Patrick Walsh
Managing Director,
Ziegler,
Nashville, Tennesse

Jim Billington, CEO, Versant Diagnostics

Jim Billington
CEO,
Versant Diagnostics,
Grapevine, Texas

John Erwin, Partner Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton Raleigh, NC

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

Christal Contini, Attorney, McDonald Hopkins, Cleveland,OH.

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

Ken Cerney, Vice President - Commercial Operations, Health Systems, Labcorp

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

Executive War College Speaker

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

Richard Cooper, Partner, McDonald Hopkins, Cleveland, OH.

Rick Cooper
Partner,
Advanced Strategic Partners,
Cleveland, Ohio

Christopher Jahnle, Managing Director, Haverford Healthcare Advisors, Radnor, PA

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

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

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

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

Special Learning Opportunities

Choose From These
Exceptional Workshops
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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

Who Attends the Executive War College

Health Systems and Hospital Clinical Laboratory and Pathology Leadership

Hospital C-Suite Administrators

Laboratory Vice Presidents

Pathology Lab Directors/Administrators

Laboratory Directors

Molecular and Genetic Lab Leaders

Precision Medicine & Genetic Program Directors/Administrators

Laboratory Section Managers/Leaders/Supervisors

Representative Labs:

  • ACL Laboratories/Advocate Health
  • Cleveland Clinic Laboratories
  • Medical University of South Carolina
  • Johns Hopkins Medicine
  • Baptist Health South Florida
  • Banner Health
  • Intermountain Health Outreach Labs
  • Baylor Scott & White Health
  • Cedars Sinai
  • Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center
  • Fabric Genomics
  • Kaiser Permanente

Independent Laboratories and Pathology Groups

Laboratory Owners/C-Suite/Vice Presidents/Directors

Pathology Group Owners/Directors

Pathology Group Practice Administrators

Physician Group Lab Owners/Directors

Public Health/Population Health VP’s/Directors

Life Sciences/Research Labs

Representative Labs:

  • Mayo Clinic Laboratories
  • ARUP (Reference Lab)
  • LabCorp (Reference Lab)
  • TriCore (Reference Lab)
  • GeneDx
  • Sonic Labs (Reference Lab)
  • Michigan Pathology Specialists (Pathologist Group)
  • Pacific Pathology Labs (Pathology Group)
  • NorDX (Animal Reference Lab)
  • Novartis (Research Pharm (Life Sciences)
  • AstraZeneca (Pharm/Life Sciences)
  • Caris Life Sciences (Pharm/Life Sciences)
  • Sonora Quest (Population Health Division)

Partners and Suppliers to Laboratory and Pathology Groups

In Vitro Diagnostic Manufacturers

LIS/Pathology LIS/LIMS/RCM/IT

Diagnostic Instrument, Product & Technology

Informatics Products and Services

Suppliers of Automation, Analyzers, and Assays

Revenue Cycle Management (RCM), Coding, Billing, and Collections

Legal, Regulatory & Compliance

Representative Companies:

  • Abbott (Diagnostics)
  • Epic Corporation (EMR/LIS)
  • Clinisys LIS
  • Cerner LIS
  • Telcor (Technology)
  • XIFIN (Technology/Informatics)
  • LifePoint Informatics
  • Change Health Care (RCM/billing)
  • HC1 (RCM)
  • Diagnostic Laboratory Services, Inc. (RCM)
  • COLA (Regulatory)
  • College of American Pathologists (Regulatory)
  • Beckman Diagnostics (Diagnostics)
  • Bio-Rad Laboratories (Diagnostics)
  • Hologic (Diagnostics)
  • Cardinal Health (Product & Technology)
  • Davis Wright Tremaine LLP (Legal)