Fellows: Class of 2018

University of California, San Francisco at Zuckerberg San Francisco General 
Associate Dean for Administration and Finance, University of California, San Francisco at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital

Margaret Damiano is responsible for managing the financial, capital, and personnel aspects of the affiliation agreement between the two organizations. Prior to this role, Damiano worked for UCSF at ZSFG for approximately 11 years in leadership roles in multiple departments. Before joining UCSF, Damiano worked at various consulting firms and industries in the Bay Area. Damiano received her BBA degree from the University of Michigan and her MBA from the University of San Francisco.

Henry Ford Health System
Retired- Chief Nurse and Operations Executive, Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital

Karen Harris retired with over 29 years of experience in healthcare and earned both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and her Master of Science in Nursing degrees from Wayne State University. She has been a consultant for AWHONN Consulting Group, and Dynamics Research Corporation, where she performed site assessments, perinatal risk assessments, lectures, and training on teamwork behaviors. For many years, Harris served as a clinical nurse specialist for intrapartum, antepartum, and women’s health for an organization that had over 6,600 births. She is certified as a women’s health nurse practitioner and served as a regional perinatal coordinator. Harris has held various leadership positions with the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses including: 2015 national president; Michigan section chair; and 2008 AWHONN Convention co-chair. Harris is a published author in peer-reviewed nursing journals and has lectured throughout the nation.

University of Pennsylvania Health System
Vice President, Patient Access

As of July 2021, Philynn Hepschmidt serves as the vice president of Patient Access for UPHS. She is formerly the associate VP of EHR Transformation and was responsible for the strategic design and execution of EHR Optimization and Enterprise-Wide Program Management with focus on optimal use of technology to improve workflow, outcomes, and provider efficiency. Hepschmidt led the design of a clinician-focused EHR optimization team responsible for providing advanced education and support to 10,000 plus end-users. In addition, through her strategic leadership, Penn Medicine has continued focus on development of the patient portal to improve patient access, engagement and satisfaction, and quality of clinical care. Hepschmidt has worked over 15 years in healthcare, and prior to her current role at Penn Medicine, she was the senior director of ambulatory applications, responsible for leading the successful implementation of EPIC across 170-plus ambulatory specialty practices, and 1,800 physicians. Hepschmidt brings unique skill in not only a solid understanding of technical functionality and capability, but similarly deep understanding of operational workflows, provider behavior and perhaps most importantly, stakeholder management. She is known for her ability to foster collaboration, lead complex projects and provide a results-driven presence to any situation. Hepschmidt has a Master of Education from Arcadia University and an undergraduate degree in Public Health from West Chester University.

(Fellowship sponsored by BDC Advisors)
Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital 
Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer

Marissa Kiefer accepted the position of senior vice president and CEO of Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, as of March 2021. Previous, she was vice president of strategy at Riley Children’s Health and was responsible for developing the statewide strategic platform for maternal and pediatric healthcare that distinguished Riley Children’s Health as the provider of choice for the full spectrum of care in the state of Indiana for expectant moms and children. Kiefer was a part of the IU Health organization since 2005 and started with the employed physician practice group, IU Health Physicians. Prior to IU Health, Kiefer held a variety of roles at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Kiefer received her Bachelor of Science in Public Health, majoring in health administration, from Indiana University in Bloomington and her Master of Health Services Administration from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Rush University Medical Center
Attending Physician, Director Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Division, Residency Director, Assistant Professor Rush University Medical Center

Dr. Monica Kogan currently practices at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush where she serves in a leadership capacity as residency director at Rush University Medical Center in the department of orthopaedic surgery. She did her orthopaedic surgery residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and then a pediatric orthopaedic surgery fellowship at Primary Children’s Hospital/Shriner’s for Sick Children in Salt Lake City, Utah. She began her career as an attending surgeon at Children’s Hospital Oakland in 2001 and then moved to Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush in 2006. She has been involved with the Perry Initiative program, mentoring female high school student and medical students to the world of orthopaedic surgery. She became the residency director in 2013 and also serves as an Oral Board examiner for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. She has led two consecutive surgical mission trips to the Dominican Republic, and has been very active with the resident’s curriculum. She has an interest in identifying ways to improve the resident education in order to teach both surgical skills and interdisciplinary teamwork necessary to be an effective and compassionate physician.

John Muir Health
Senior Vice President/System Chief Nurse Executive, John Muir Health

Michelle Lopes currently has leadership accountability for the Patient Care Services Division of John Muir Health’s two acute care hospitals. John Muir Health is a community not-for-profit health system in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is especially proud to be leading this organization of extraordinary nurses and clinical support staff, as she was born and raised in Walnut Creek and is honored to serve the community where she grew up. Professionally, Lopes is passionate about hospice care and early education for children (especially those that are underserved) and currently serves on the board of Hospice of the East Bay as well as CocoKids, whose mission is to champion and advance quality childcare and early education. Lopes holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from St. Mary’s College/Samuel Merritt College of Nursing, a Master’s in Nursing Administration and a Nurse Executive, Advanced Certification from the American Nurse’s Credentialing Center. Lopes and her husband have two grown sons, who are the lights of her life and live in the community in which she serves.

John Muir Health
Former Vice President, Chief Clinical Officer Value Based Care 

Dr. Elizabeth M. Mahler, a board-certified internist-hospitalist and physician executive, was the vice president, and chief clinical officer of value-based care at John Muir Health. Formerly she was the vice president of patient health management at Sutter and led Sutter Health’s enterprise strategy and clinical transformation efforts related to the delivery of clinically integrated, personalized, patient-family engaged care, particularly for high-need, vulnerable populations. She oversaw the Sutter Center for Integrated Care, which defines and implements core care delivery practices to ensure person-centered, health-literate care delivery. Mahler also sponsored and supported enterprise wide Clinical Improvement Communities related to Hospital Medicine and Palliative & Advanced Illness Care, and was the executive sponsor of Sutter’s Management and Clinical Excellence program. Mahler was previously a founding shareholder, chief medical officer and interim-president of the Sutter East Bay Physicians Medical Group (SEBMG), a multi-specialty medical group located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mahler received her bachelor’s degree in mass communication from the University of California, Berkeley. She earned her medical degree and residency from the University of California, San Francisco.

Johns Hopkins Medicine
President and CEO, Suburban Hospital

Jessica T. Melton was named president and CEO of Suburban Hospital starting in April 2021. She was previously COO of Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Prior to Sentara, she worked at Duke Health for over 10 years serving in a variety of operational and strategic positions. Prior to her position as vice president of medical surgical and critical care services at Duke University Hospital, Melton served as the vice president for emergency services and patient flow since 2012. Additionally, she held the roles of administrative director of emergency preparedness and trauma for Duke Hospital, and the director of the Duke Preparedness and Response Center. Melton received both her Bachelor of Science degree and her Master of Healthcare Administration, with concentrations in finance and community preparedness and disaster management, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Melton additionally completed a hospital administrative fellowship at Duke University Hospital in 2009. Melton and her husband are proud parents of twins, Isaac and Vivian.

Trinity Health
(Retired) Senior Vice President, Mercy Clinics, Mercy Medical Center North Iowa/Trinity Health

Dr. Teresa Mock is a graduate of University of Iowa School of Medicine and completed her family medicine residency at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City, Iowa. Following several years in private practice, Mock joined Trinity Health as senior vice president of Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa. She has executive responsibility over North Iowa Mercy Clinics, a network of 45 primary care clinics in North Iowa, the Accountable Care Organization, Mercy Home Care and durable medical equipment and Mercy Skilled Nursing facility. Recently, Mock assumed responsibility for the behavioral health service line, and is currently leading a $11.2 million project for expansion of behavioral health facilities at Mercy North Iowa. Dr. Mock retired in 2021.

Dartmouth Health System
Chief Medical Officer, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Dr. Maria Padin is an ob-gyn and currently the chief medical officer of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical center. Padin assumed this role in 2015. Prior to becoming CMO at the Lebanon Campus, Padin was the medical director for the Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinic in Concord NH. Padin has been an active member of ACOG holding various leadership roles. She has four adult children. She enjoys boating, cooking, and spending time with family.

Trinity Health
Vice President, Population Health, Trinity Michigan

Shaun Raleigh is responsible for overseeing care delivery transformation for 207,000 lives in alternative payment model contracts valued at almost $1 billion. Shaun is a subject matter expert in the field of population health and financial model innovation with experience in the payer, provider, and hospital milieu and has engaged in local and national speaker events on these topics. Raleigh received the Healthcare Valor award from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan in 2014 and was a Lakeshore Athena Award Nominee in 2012, recognized for her work and passion in addressing social determinants of health and promotion of gender equity. Raleigh received her MBA from the University of Phoenix and is a Registered Medical Assistant. In her free time, Raleigh supports local schools, successfully leading a parent committee that supported the passing of the largest school bond issue on the ballot in Michigan in 2016. Raleigh is passionate about fitness, and recharges by spending quality time with her family, enjoying the beauty of living in Western Michigan.

Providence St. Joseph Health
Associate Vice President, Strategy and Operations, Community Partnerships
CEF Alumnae Network Chair

Meredith Sciarrio is Associate Vice President of Strategy and Operations for the Community Partnerships Division at Providence, a not-for-profit healthcare system and affiliate family spanning seven states. As the division’s strategy officer, she provides leadership in strategic thinking and implementation, business and financial acumen, and people and process management to ensure caregivers across the system and regions thrive and that divisional outcomes are met. She also oversees an innovation incubator fund to accelerate pilot projects that innovate services across Providence and its communities with key outcome measures and proof points to create sustainable, scalable impact for caregivers, patients and communities. She earned her BA from Boston College and her MBA from University of Washington. 

Sutter Health
Chief Operating Officer, Sutter Surgery Center Division, Sutter Health

Melody States joined the SSCD in 2017 after serving 19 years as executive director for the Palo Alto Medical Foundation’s Division of Ambulatory Surgery Centers. States grew up in South Africa, where she began her career as a nurse working in the operating theater. She moved to California in 1985. In 2016, the Silicon Valley Business Journal recognized her with its “Silicon Valley Women of Influence” award. States is a visionary leader with strategic thinking and strongly believes in developing others to reach their full potential. States feels her success in part may be attributed to the adoption of Lean and Daily Engagement Systems (DES) thinking.

Kaiser Permanente
Vice President, Government Relations, Kaiser Permanente

Julie Hutcheson Stoss has extensive experience in public policy, advocacy, and navigating the legislative and regulatory process at the federal and state level. Since 1999, she has worked for Kaiser Permanente (KP) in Oakland, California, and is currently the vice president for government relations. In this role, she leads the development of KP’s national policy positions and principles to advance KP’s strategic objectives, including improving access to care, creating a regulatory environment to meet the health and care needs of KP’s 12 million members, and promoting KP’s unique model of integrated care and financing. An enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, Julie was recognized by Diversity MBA Magazine as one of the Top 100 Under 50 Diverse Executive & Emerging Leaders in 2014. Stoss earned a bachelor’s degree in political science with highest honors from the University of California at Berkeley and a law degree cum laude from Harvard University.

Yale New Haven Health System
Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Yale New Haven Health and Yale School of Medicine

Lisa S. Stump is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and The Ohio State University, a fellow of the American Society of Health System Pharmacists and was named a Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Most Influential Women in Health IT. Stump is a goal-oriented leader who has successfully directed large-scale information technology initiatives and sets strategy for technology, digital medicine and analytics supporting the patient care, teaching and research missions of YNHHS and YSM. She lives in Southington, Connecticut, with her husband and three children.

Geisinger Health System
Vice President of the Geisinger Women and Children’s Institute, Geisinger Health System

Andrea Wary has extensive experience in clinical operations, including 21 years of operational leadership within Geisinger Health System. Wary has demonstrated transformational leadership, driving value-based care processes, while optimizing patient outcomes. Key initiatives have included Perinatal Proven Care and more currently Emergency Care and Primary Care redesign. The focus included increasing patient access to care, while driving down overutilization of the seven emergency departments and two urgent-care centers for which she is responsible. Wary’s responsibilities have previously included oversight of the health system-owned Life Flight air ambulance program consisting of nine aircraft and six air bases. She additionally has overseen operations of Geisinger Health System’s ground EMS program. She is responsible for an operating budget of more than $200 million in revenue annually. Wary is grateful for the opportunity to support an outstanding staff of physicians, nurses, and support personnel to accomplish best practices, which exceed both patient and provider expectations. Wary enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters enjoying the outdoors.

Rush University Medical Center
Chief, Division of Nephrology

Dr. Monnie Wasse is the chief of Nephrology, a new program at Rush University, focused on the planning and maintenance of dialysis vascular access for patients with kidney disease. She will oversee a division responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease and conditions related to kidney care. A distinguished physician and scientist, Dr. Wasse received her MPH and MD at the University of Washington in Seattle, and formerly directed the Interventional Nephrology program at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. She has served as principal investigator of studies funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Wasse is president of the American Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology and serves in other executive positions for professional societies nationally.

Marshfield Clinic Health System
Chief Philanthropy Officer, Marshfield Clinic Health System Foundation

Teri Wilczek has 16 years of progressive responsibility at Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS). She has worked to enrich lives by transforming philanthropy throughout the system of care. She was instrumental in establishing the MCHS Foundation in 2016, integrating fundraising efforts for the health system. She is responsible for leading philanthropic initiatives for all 52 locations throughout their service area, generating $5.5 million annually to support research, patient care and education priorities. Recently, she has implemented a formal clinician engagement program and led the acquisition of a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital program. She works closely with her MCHS Foundation board of directors on strategic goals and serves on the MCHS leadership team. Wilczek earned her undergraduate degree from UW La Crosse and her masterʼs from Capella University; she is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE). She and her husband, along with their three young children, are extremely active community leaders and volunteers.