Presenter Bios A-H

Doug Aldeen is an Austin, TX based health care and ERISA attorney who recently served as ERISA counsel on behalf of the Berkeley Research Group in New York City to the $7.7 billion May 2016 acquisition of Multiplan and its medical bill repricing product Data Isight by the private equity firm Hellman and Friedman. Since 1997, he currently and has represented reference base pricing organizations, a bundled payment software platform, PPO networks, medium to small self-funded plans, TPA’s and provider sponsored HMO’s in various capacities including Herdrich v. Peagram which was argued before the United States Supreme Court in 2001. Moreover, he serves as a resource to national news organizations regarding issues on health care and in addition as a consultant with the Governmental Relations Committee at the Self-Insured Institute of America in Washington D.C. and as an advisor to RIP Medical Debt which has abolished over $1.2 billion in medical debt. Doug received his JD from the University of Illinois.

 Bill L Andersen started his health insurance career formally in 1983. That decision was born however, many years before at the age of 10. Bill was an adopted child, raised by a mother that had significant health problems. As a 14 year old girl, she had rheumatic fever, that destroyed her immune system, her ability to have children and more. Today Bill’s mom at 85, has had over 75 surgeries, has battled 5 major diseases, survived COVID and more. That moment at the age of 10 as he was watching her learn to walk again after one of those surgeries, set him on a path that continues more aggressively today, than ever before. Bill’s background spans nearly 40 years, within the partial self funded and self funded space. He has always supported and believed in the independent TPA, Independent Re-Insurer, and the ability to plug only companies offering best practices, and offerings, into his clients plans. As an Independent Agency, TPA, Re-Insurance Carrier, and Consulting Company Partner, Bill’s expertise is invaluable when you are building outside the traditional box, the world of the BUCA’s has programmed the industry to be. Bill’s clients will attest the fact that Bill gets things done. Creativity, in todays market place is what Aspirational Health is all about. As one of the Founders of Aspirational Health, Bill’s role is to assist in helping clients and brokers ask the right questions, and to obtain real cost saving outcomes. One cannot expect those who created the problem to begin with, to create a solution today. New thinking is required by all those that desire change. Bill’s decision to make a difference for his mom and other moms, still is his primary focus today. Making change is why we’re here.   We can only do it together.  

Rae Barton is an adventurer at heart, a UK native, has studied music, and art at multiple universities, but finally graduated from BYU with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2021. Since graduating she has worked as the HR Administrator, Office Manager, Travel and Events Planner, as well as Product Support Manager at Redlist Software.  

Steve Bayer,  Chief Experience Officer for Nice Healthcare 

Lindsay Blazynski, PHR has over 15 years of experience as a Human Resources professional. She is a force who continues to advocate for employees’ total wellbeing and healthy workplaces. Lindsay brings warmth, empathy, and energy to help people and organizations move forward. Lindsay attended Johnson & Wales University’s College of Business for an undergraduate degree and obtained her Master’s of Business Administration from Louisiana State University Shreveport.

Brittney Bello is the President of SolV Independent Insurance Associates. Brittney leads SolV’s operational development, the account management staff, and provides consultative advice to clients on compliance, strategy, and efficient uses of benefits resources & technology. 

Prior to joining SolV, Brittney worked at Edgewood Partners Insurance Center (EPIC) where she was distinguished as one of the youngest Account Executives in the firm’s history. During her tenure at EPIC, she participated in many of the firm’s best practices committees as well as the development of several client-facing compliance tools. Brittney holds a NAHU certification in PPACA, the CSFS® designation, and is a Health Rosetta Advisor.

Dr. David Berg has served as President and Co-Founder of Arrowhead Health, and now Redirect Health alongside Janice and Paul since our inception. Prior to co-founding Redirect Health, Dr. Berg established and maintained successful healthcare clinics both in Canada and the United States. With Redirect Health he has leveraged his decades of healthcare leadership experience to make healthcare simple and affordable for businesses throughout the country. Dr. Berg is the author of The Business Owner's Guide to Ending the Fight with Healthcare, a how-to guide that helps business owners leverage healthcare as a competitive advantage. In 2018, the Phoenix Business Journal honored Dr. Berg with the “Healthcare Heroes Innovator Award” for creating a transformative healthcare member experience that eliminates barriers for people to get affordable healthcare. He holds degrees in Physics and Biology from the University of Toronto as well as a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from The Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College.

Louis Bernardi is the original Benefit Optimization Officer.

Lou has been in the benefits arena for 30 years and he’s seen it all. The displacement of indemnity plans by Managed Care, Community Rating, The Affordable Care Act, and the deterioration of employer sponsored health plans. But things are looking up and a healthcare revolution is under way!

Lou is proud to be among the first 150 advisors accepted into Health Rosetta; an eco-system of forward-thinking advisors and solution partners that share his passion for helping people and businesses customize health plans that enhance benefits, improve outcomes, and reduce costs. In addition to the Health Rosetta, Lou is a member of Aspirational Healthcare, the Talent Champions Council, the Forbes Business Council and Free Market Medical Association.

Lou is the innovator behind BritePath, the benefit strategy that helps employers Build Health Plans with Heart that Elevate People and Empowers Business. BritePath helps benefit decision makers reset their expectations with advanced analytics & insights that make them and their members more informed health care consumers capable of changing the trajectory of the cost and quality of their employer sponsored health insurance plan. Pay More, Get Less is replaced by a High-Performance Health Care Plan that allows them to finally start winning.

David Contorno is Founder of E Powered Benefits. As a native of New York, David began his career in the insurance industry at the age of 14 and has since become a leading expert in the realm of employee benefits over the last 21 years.

Among his many accolades, David received a Broker Spotlight in 2004 and was recognized as an outstanding Broker of Service in 2005 through 2014 by Blue Cross Blue Shield. He has continually received the Echelon Award by United Healthcare since 2003, reserved for the top 1% of agents nationally, and was a 2015 “40 Under 40” Award Winner presented by Charlotte Business Journal. Most recently, David was Benefits Selling Magazine’s 2015 Broker of the Year and, in March 2016, Forbes deemed him “One of America’s Most Innovative Benefits Leaders.”

David is a member of the Board of Directors for both the Charlotte Association of Health Underwriters and Healthreach Community Clinic. He served on the NC Insurance Commissioners Life and Health Agent Advisory Committee, as well as participated in the Technical Advisory Group that helped with the Market Reforms required under the Affordable Care Act in North Carolina. He is a long-time member of the Lake Norman and South Iredell Chambers of Commerce as well as the National, North Carolina, New York and Long Island Associations of Health Underwriters. David contributes to numerous publications, including Forbes, Benefits Selling Magazine, Business Leader Magazine and Insurance Thought Leadership.

David is committed to giving back to his community and actively participates in the membership drive for the United Way, assisting the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, and supporting The Dove House Child Advocacy Center. When he is not working, he enjoys boating and traveling.

Dr. Tony Dale, M.D., is committed to changing healthcare for the better. As founder and Chairman of The Karis Group and Sedera, Tony has directly impacted the lives of millions of patients seeking the best possible care at fair and affordable prices.

His interest in tackling the business side of healthcare began following his rude introduction to the American medical system when he injured his knee playing basketball and needed knee surgery. After being quoted an initial price and then receiving a significantly larger bill, Tony determined to find a way to help people find better access to quality and affordable care.

Tony founded The Karis Group in 1996 to help patients negotiate their exorbitant medical bills. In 2014, recognizing the unmet needs in the traditional health insurance industry, Tony founded Sedera as an alternative Medical Cost Sharing solution.

Prior to moving to the United States in 1987, Tony practiced family medicine in London’s East End. Dr.’s Tony and Felicity Dale both trained at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London.  They live in Austin, TX where they are kept busy working with Sedera, writing, speaking and enjoying children and grandchildren.

His most recent book, The Cure For Healthcare: An Old-World Doctors Prescription For The New-World Health System is due to be published in the summer of 2021. Available now on pre-order via Amazon.com

 Juliet Dill is Head of Sales Development & Education at Sedera and has her own personal story to share.

Dr. Wayne Dysinger, M.D., MPH is a lifestyle, preventive and family medicine physician who currently serves as physician, chair and founder of Lifestyle Medical, a new model group of primary care clinics built around Lifestyle Medicine principles. He is also the co-founder of the Lifestyle Medicine Network, a collaboration of primary care practices throughout the United States that all have a Lifestyle Medicine foundation.  Additionally, he is the Chair of both the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine and the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine.  He is an active faculty at Loma Linda University and consults, teaches and participates in research on Lifestyle Medicine issues around the world. 

Dr. Dysinger is a past President of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and past Medical Director for the Complete Health Improvement Program. He has previously worked in various capacities with the American Medical Association, the American College of Preventive Medicine and the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research.  Prior to his current position, Dr. Dysinger was Chair, Department of Preventive Medicine, Loma Linda University, and faculty/co-founder of both the Family and the Preventive Medicine residencies at Dartmouth. He has also worked in faculty, patient care and service capacities in Atlanta and Guam. 

Dr. Dysinger earned his M.D. degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine (1986), and his MPH from Loma Linda University School of Public Health (1990). He is a Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the American College of Preventive Medicine, and the American Academy of Family Physicians. 

Darren Fogarty is the Executive Director of the Committee for Fee-Only Benefits Advisors, a group of healthcare industry leaders coming together in a volunteer effort to make transparent, fee-only compensation the benefits industry gold-standard. Its vision is to make the benefits advisor profession renowned for client-first, fiduciary principles.

Darren also serves as a Director at the Institute for the Fiduciary Standard, a nonprofit thinktank in Washington, DC, where he has spent seven years researching fiduciary advice and fee-only advisor compensation in the financial services industry. He has (co)authored over a dozen articles on the nature of sales, advice, fiduciary duty, and health care/insurance. Lastly, Darren is a Business Development Analyst at SolV, a healthcare benefits consulting firm with an emphasis on transparency, integrity, and serving employers and employees first.

Robin Foust is an award-winning health scientist, analyst, and architect in the field of health and human performance. Robin is the recipient of several leadership awards and recognition for health and financial outcomes achieved by her clients -- including as principal designer of programs receiving; 2 C. Everett Koop awards for her pioneering work in maternity and condition management, a Leadership Award in the field of Wellness, and awards in the field of Health and Human Performance for getting optimal outcomes. Foust was the first to bring capitation to the field of population health management in the 1980s.

Known for creative problem solving, the company she leads (myCatalyst) turns data analytics into meaningful and actionable reporting. Foust pioneered; Maternity and other health management programs, integration of productivity data (Workers' Comp, Short/Long Term Disability, and Absence), and provider data, for monitoring and analysis, and others. Foust’s solutions help achieve best population health and productivity outcomes for employers served, one population at a time – one individual at a time. Clients attest to the outstanding results they get exceeding expected return on investment (ROI) and return on outcomes (ROO).

Foust is a degreed Health Educator, with 30+ years in the healthcare field, and is on faculty of the Institute for Healthcare Communication. IHC’s mission is to enhance the quality of healthcare by improving communication between clinician and patient. The Institute trains clinicians to use communication techniques or integration of these techniques into systems of care to facilitate desired behavior change for optimal outcomes in patient satisfaction and health status. 

Robin is published, a thought leader in healthcare and a highly rated speaker on various healthcare topics. Robin’s publications include but not limited to: Engagement Strategies in Health & Disease Management: Best Practice in Boosting Participation; Special Report on Best Practices for Evaluating Healthcare Outcomes by Dorland Health (2011), "Health Information Exchange"; published in the May 2011 Journal of The State of SC Chamber of Commerce, "The Path Toward Clinical Integration and Meaningful Healthcare Reform in the July/August 2011 Volume 6, No 7 issue of The Group Practice Journal; chapter 9 in the DMAA Managing Disease Management: A Comprehensive Guide (2007), and an article in Managed Care Outlook (2007). Copies are available upon request.

Jenny Gray is the Clinical Training Manager for Orriant, responsible for continuous quality improvement, performance management, and behavioral skills training within the Orriant Coaching Department.

Jenny has over a decade of behavioral change experience. She is known for developing department trainings emphasizing motivational interviewing as the primary style of communication along with facilitating an in depth clinical knowledge of how to not only connect with others but truly help them make healthy changes. Jenny’s influence consisting of impeccable professionalism, a witty, dry sense of humor, vast personal life experiences, and a true clinical intelligence has greatly improved the quality of Orriant’s Health Coaches.

She also recently began co-hosting a quarterly webinar where she introduces hundreds of attendees to different meditative and stress management practices and closes each webinar with a fully guided practice for all listeners to participate in. This is in direct response from popular demand after her initial introduction and presentation of the subject.

Jenny understands there is frequently a disconnection between intention and action. She believes behavior change is best facilitated by taking a strength-based approach by honing in on a person's singular strengths and abilities and helping them engage those strengths in order to reach their personal health goals.

Jenny has a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Brigham Young University specializing in Exercise Physiology and Wellness. She is also a CDC Certified Diabetes Prevention Coach and an active mother of three. When not reading the latest self-help book, she can be found hiking with her Bernese Mountain dog, seeking out all-ability playgrounds, or supporting local scholastic causes. 

Patrick Gangemi is Principal and Senior Client Executive at OneDigital, the nation's leading insurance brokerage, financial services and HR consulting firm.

Patrick has over thirteen years of experience in the insurance industry. Prior to joining OneDigital, Patrick was Managing Principal of Trinity Benefit Advisors, an employee benefits consulting firm headquartered in Philadelphia with offices in Tampa, FL. He has a wealth of expertise and experience in relationship management, business development, account management and client service. Alongside his partners, Patrick led a team of employee benefits professionals working with some of the most reputable organizations in their markets.

 Gangemi received his bachelor’s Degree from Temple University studying at their Fox School of Business for Risk Management, one of the country’s leading insurance programs. During his time at Temple, Patrick worked in the athletic department and over the last 12 years has volunteered his time for the Matthew Mullin Memorial Foundation raising funds to help local families in need.

 Patrick believes nothing is more important than family and spends much of his time with his own family and many friends. Patrick enjoys raising his four children Ellie, Matthew, Luke, and Beau with his wife Molly. He spends his time in both Philadelphia, PA and Saint Pete Beach, FL.

Since the age of 22 after undergoing open-heart surgery, Bryce has been entrenched on the payer side of the healthcare industry providing plan sponsors (employers) with professional guidance and strategy consulting for how they purchase and deliver healthcare coverage to employees and families. Following the passing of the Affordable Care Act, Heinbaugh joined forces under a merger with multiple other independently owned insurance firms throughout Ohio to form IEN Risk Management Consultants, LLC where he is currently acting CEO and Managing Partner.
 

In 2017, Bryce joined a national movement of professionals driven to help systemically change the way healthcare coverage is purchased by employers throughout the country. The organization is known as Health Rosetta. Rosetta replicates a set of strategies practiced among the country's largest employers yet perhaps lacking in the middle market space. As an Accel member of Health Rosetta, Bryce helps lead the charge among 200+ accredited advisors around the country with the same mission and vision. Mr. Heinbaugh has been featured in national publications for his work including Automotive News, Patients Rising Now, Patients-Rights Advocacy, and Employee Benefit Advisor magazine.

 

Jay Hoffman is the Director for Walmart Health Virtual Care. A career professional in the healthcare industry serving in positions of President/COO, VP of Sales and Sales Director, that cover the healthcare continuum from home to hospital and home again with multiple leading health technology and device companies. 

Holding positions that have led to building and mentoring growth teams and being a key resource of solutions and connections for his clients is his passion. As a result of taking professional risks, he has turned those career choices into a multi-faceted, career progression that extends throughout the healthcare business ecosystem. 

As part of his life lessons, he has learned to lead consistently with an open mind and positive attitude while also having a highly interactive and collaborative style of engagement. His need to solve challenges, build relationships and closely protect his integrity has offered an incredibly satisfying career trek. 

In his latest position, Jay is looking to disrupt healthcare with the world’s most recognized and influential company, and a Forbes #1 company Walmart in the Walmart Health and Wellness division. He looks to create and support the solutions that will drive the costs of care down, while expanding the access and reach to high quality care so that everyone may lead a healthier and better life.

 

Jeff Lawhead, Regional Manager for Costco Health Solutions, has over twenty-five years’ experience at the regional and national level with PBM’s, Managed Care Organizations and Employee Benefits Consultants. Prior to joining Costco Health Solutions, Jeff served as a senior sales executive for United Health Group’s PBM, OptumRx. While there he was responsible for national account business development and sales. He also held business development roles with CatalystRx, CIGNA Pharmacy Management and United Drugs. He has consulted with corporate clients of all sizes, state governments, school systems and managed care organizations. Previous clients developed include Miami-Dade Schools, Government of the Virgin Islands, Home Depot and numerous mid-market self-funded plan sponsors.

Jeff is a graduate of Auburn University and has completed post graduate studies with The American College. He is a member of the Academy Of Managed Care Pharmacy and holds professional licensure in Life Accident and Sickness products with the State of Georgia. He resides in Newnan Georgia.