Executive Healthcare Summit Speakers

Courtney Bain
Chief Administrative Officer, Digestive Health Specialists, P.A.
Friday, November 6 | 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM
When the Unexpected Happens: Unscripted Responses
Courtney Bain is an accomplished healthcare executive with over a decade of leadership experience in medical practice administration, business development, and strategic operations. As Chief Administrative Officer at Digestive Health Specialists, P.A., she oversees all non-clinical aspects of the organization, including; Operations, IT, facilities, marketing, credentialing, and financial performance. Courtney plays a key role in driving organizational growth through innovative service line development, operational streamlining, and strategic partnerships that enhance patient care and community engagement.

Before joining Digestive Health Specialists, Courtney served as Project Manager for Dayton Gastroenterology, Inc., where she successfully led multimillion-dollar initiatives such as the development of an in-house specialty pharmacy and the implementation of one of the nation’s first GI telemedicine platforms on Anthem’s Live Health Online. Her efforts in operational improvement, patient experience enhancement, and business planning have consistently resulted in measurable growth and efficiency gains.

Reda Chouffani
Chief Strategy Officer
New Charter Technologies
Friday, November 6 | 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Three-part AI in Healthcare Deep Dive - From Hype to the Bedside: What AI Can Actually Do for Your Health System
Reda Chouffani is the Chief Technology Officer at New Charter Technologies, where he spearheads innovative tech initiatives for a diverse range of clients. With over 20 years in the technology field, Reda originally founded Biz Technology Solutions to help businesses solve real-world challenges through infrastructure, software development, and integration solutions.

As a seasoned public speaker and thought leader, Reda frequently addresses topics like digital transformation, AI, and industry-specific tech trends. He has spoken at fintech panels and medical conferences, advocating for how technology can improve patient care and business efficiency. His insights appear on platforms like CIO.com and TechTarget.com, where he shares the latest in technology trends and business applications. In recent years, Reda has focused heavily on AI, leveraging his deep technical expertise in software development, data management, and business intelligence.

Sarah Clark
Healthcare Consultant and Speaker
Sarah Clark Consulting
Thursday, November 5 | 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM
What the World's Happiest and Healthiest Countries Can Teach Healthcare Leaders
Sarah Clark is a healthcare consultant and speaker with over 30 years of experience in healthcare, including 14 years dedicated to helping independent medical and dental practices thrive. With a background in Sports Science from Elmira College and a Master’s Degree in Kinesiology, Sarah is also a Certified Athletic Trainer. Her diverse career has given her a unique perspective, allowing her to understand the challenges independent practices face from nearly every role in the office. This well-rounded experience enables her to identify pain points and implement collaborative solutions that drive meaningful change.

Sarah’s mission is to transform chaos into calm by streamlining operations, improving patient experiences, and creating compassionate, efficient workflows. She has witnessed firsthand how small, independent practices often lack the efficiencies and shared resources of larger healthcare organizations, requiring physicians and staff to wear multiple hats—some outside their expertise. Instead of seeing this as a disadvantage, Sarah views it as an opportunity to empower practices to operate at their best, improve profitability, and enhance patient care through strategic guidance and operational improvements.

Ron Howrigon
President and CEO
Fulcrum Strategies
Thursday, November 5 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
The Future of Healthcare: Executive Leadership Roundtable
Ron Howrigon is President and CEO of Fulcrum Strategies, a consulting firm that represents physician practices across the U.S. in their dealings with managed care companies. Prior to founding Fulcrum, Ron spent 18 years in the managed care industry as a negotiator and network manager, holding senior management positions with Kaiser Permanente, Cigna, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Ron is the author of the book “Flatlining: How Healthcare Could Kill the U.S. Economy,” which presents a concise, comprehensible overview of the critical issues and challenges facing the economics of healthcare. Ron earned a Bachelors of Business Administration degree from Western Michigan University and a Master of Economics degree from North Carolina State University.

Matt Johnson
Chief Administrative Officer, Wake Internal Medicine Consultants
Friday, November 6 | 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM
When the Unexpected Happens: Unscripted Responses
Matt Johnson has worked as a clinician and administrator in the healthcare industry for over thirty years. He received his first Master's in Speech-Language Pathology at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. After several years as a practicing clinician, he moved into a full-time management role for a large multi-specialty physician group and a community hospital in southeast Ohio. Matt furthered his education with increased administrative responsibilities by receiving his second Master's Degree, a Healthcare MBA from the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

In June 2014, Matt joined Wake Internal Medicine Consultants, Inc. as the new Chief Administrative Officer for one of the premier physician-owned multi-specialty groups in Raleigh, North Carolina. Since assuming this new role, the group has been instrumental in forming one of the first and largest ACOs in the country.

Craig Kilgore, CMPE
Chief Executive Officer, HealthLinks Consulting, LLC
Thursday, November 5 | 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Executive Exchange: What's Working Now in Medical Practice Leadership
After graduating Cum Laude from East Tennessee State University with a BS in business with accounting emphasis, Craig began his Medical Practice Management career with Holston Medical Group in Kingsport TN. Starting as Director of IT, then CFO, and eventually Chief Administrative Officer during his 23 years with the 150+ provider multi-specialty physician owned practice.

In August of 2023, Craig accepted the position of CEO for Coastal Vascular & Vein Center, PA based in Charleston. With over 8 providers, 6 locations a new Ambulatory Surgical Center and three OBL’s, CVVC continues to provide comprehensive outpatient vascular care.

August 2026, HealthLinks Consulting, LLC was formed in partnership with HealthLinks Marketing. Focusing on helping independent healthcare organizations improve operational performance and provide for growth and stability during challenging times.

Bill Lopez
Chief Strategy Officer
New Charter Technologies
Friday, November 6 | 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Three-part AI in Healthcare Deep Dive - The State of AI in Ambulatory Healthcare
Bill Lopez is a healthcare technology executive, entrepreneur, and Chief Strategy Officer who has spent more than 25 years at the intersection of business, healthcare, and technology.

As Co-Founder of Strategic Solutions, a New Charter company, Bill has built his career around a fundamental belief: technology should do more than keep a business running—it should make the business better.

Today, he is leading the charge to help ambulatory healthcare organizations rethink the role technology plays in their business. His focus is on using AI, automation, cybersecurity, cloud, data, and emerging technologies to drive four measurable outcomes: growth, profitability, operational efficiency, and a better patient experience.

Eric Monda
President
Cyber74
Friday, November 6 | 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Three-part AI in Healthcare Deep Dive - The Unmanaged Employee: Rethinking AI Security
Eric Monda helped launch Cyber74 in 2022 and currently serves as its President. With over 20 years in the IT space and more than a decade dedicated to cybersecurity, Eric has a deep understanding of the industry. His vast experience includes penetration testing, detection engineering, leading forensic analysis and incident response, and conducting Security Risk Assessments. Eric remains a truly hands-on cybersecurity professional, passionate about growing his knowledge and staying abreast of industry changes, trends and technologies so he can inform, educate, and assist clients. He enjoys collaborating with organizations to strategize and help mitigate risk to their businesses and remediate security issues.

Dr. Stephanie Rosener, MD, FAAFP, IBCLC
Chair of Family Medicine, Mountain Area Health Education Center
Friday, November 6 | 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM
When the Unexpected Happens: Unscripted Responses
Stephanie Rosener, MD, IBCLC, FAAFP, joined Mountain Areas Health Education Center (MAHEC) in April 2024 as Chair of Family Medicine. MAHEC is the largest AHEC in North Carolina and in the United States. In addition to 7 clinical sites, the Department of Family Medicine sponsors 3 residency programs and 4 fellowships at 3 academic sites in Western North Carolina.

In addition to her role at MAHEC, Dr. Rosener is Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at the UNC School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, NC. She is a published author and award-winning researcher with a focus on maternal child health, reduction in birth disparities, quality improvement, and innovation in residency education.

Tina Ruark-Baker
Revenue Growth Advisor, LinkedIn Strategist, Fractional Executive Leader, Keynote Speaker
Friday, November 6 | 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Scaling Leadership: The Cost of Staying Stuck
Tina Ruark-Baker is a seasoned C-level executive turned Revenue Growth Advisor and Fractional Leader with 25+ years of experience driving transformational results across sales, marketing, talent strategy, and business development. A three-time business owner who has successfully built, scaled, and sold companies, Tina brings the rare combination of entrepreneurial grit and enterprise-level leadership to every client engagement.

After building an impressive C-level career in corporate America, Tina made a bold decision to walk away from the boardroom to do something far more impactful: help coaches, consultants, fractional leaders, and business owners build thriving businesses of their own. Today, she channels every lesson from two decades of leading high-performing teams, managing multi-million-dollar budgets, and driving revenue growth into a mission-driven practice that delivers real, measurable results.

A true entrepreneur at heart, Tina is equal parts strategic thinker, super connector, and straight-talking advisor who leads with honesty and shows up with purpose. When she is not helping clients unlock their next level of growth, you will find her on the golf course or behind a canvas creating abstract art. In business and in life, Tina plays to win.

Clarisa Thomas
Director of Clinical Operations, Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center
Thursday, November 5 | 3:00 PM - 4:00 M
Executive Exchange: What's Working Now in Medical Practice Leadership
Clarisa Thomas is a healthcare leadership coach, executive, and founder of CRT Consulting Solutions. With more than 20 years in nursing and healthcare management, she leads from the floor up. Clarissa is Director of Clinical Operations at Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center in Charlotte, NC, where she oversees clinical operations across 16 locations in one of the region’s top multi-site private practices. Through CRT Consulting Solutions, Clarisa helps healthcare entrepreneurs, practice owners, executives, and clinical leaders build stronger teams. Her work covers staffing strategy, team development, crisis leadership, and AI integration.

She shares that work in three places: she hosts the podcast Preside + Prevail, publishes the newsletter The Floor, and leads Brunch & Blueprint, a small-group, one-day workshop where healthcare leaders build a custom hiring blueprint and learn how to use AI to save time, cut costs, and keep good people. She serves as Vice President of the Metrolina Chapter of the Medical Group Management Association and is a past honoree of The KNOW Women. She is also a member of the North Carolina Nursing Association and the American College of Healthcare Executives. She is based in Charlotte, NC.