2023 Keynote Speakers
Motivational, inspirational, & funny. Delivering a one-of-a-kind, uplifting message.
Larry Weaver is a nationally-touring motivational speaker and clean comedian backed by years of professional experience. His easy-going demeanor, Southern charm, and quick wit have won the hearts of audiences across America.
Larry grew up in the rural village of Saxapahaw, NC and started performing at a young age. After majoring in accounting at the University of North Carolina, Larry left his CPA dreams behind to pursue a career in stand-up comedy. He has shared the stage with entertainment legends like Faith Hill, Chris Rock, and "Weird Al" Yankovic – just to name a few. You can hear him daily on Sirius XM radio's "Laugh USA" and "Jeff and Larry's Comedy Roundup."
A true veteran of the stage, Larry has delivered thousands of keynotes at corporate events, conventions, annual meetings, and conferences across the United States.
Specializing in independent healthcare research and policy analysis.
Paul H. Keckley is Managing Editor of The Keckley Report, a healthcare policy analyst and widely known industry expert.
He is a frequent speaker and advisor to healthcare organizations focused on long-term growth, sustainability and advocacy strategies.
In addition to weekly Keckley Report, he has published three books and 250 articles. During the period preceding the passage of the Affordable Care Act, he facilitated sessions between White House Office of Health Reform and major health industry trade groups as private sector input was sought in the legislation.
He serves on the board of Tivity Health and as an advisor to Western Governors University, Erdman, Sullivan Cotter and the Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy. He is a member of the Health Executive Network and Healthcare Financial Management Association.
Previously, he served as Managing Director of the Navigant Center for Healthcare Research and Policy Analysis (2014-2015), Executive Director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions (2006-2013), executive administration at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (1998-2006), Chief Executive Officer of PhyCor Management Corporation-the IPA Subsidiary of PhyCor Inc. (1994-1998) and Managing Partner of The Keckley Group, a health care research and policy analysis firm (1974-1994). He also served as Independent Chairman of Interdent, a California dental practice management company (1992-1996) and as an Adjunct Professor in the Schools of Medicine, Business and Health Policy at Georgetown University and Vanderbilt University.
He completed his B.A. at Lipscomb University, his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Ohio State University, and a fellowship in economic policy at Oxford University. He resides in Nashville, Tennessee, and enjoys golf, jogging, and the search for great coffee.
2023 Speakers
Adrienne Lloyd, MHA, FACHE
Adrienne Lloyd, MHA, FACHE, helps healthcare leaders and practice owners build top-tier organizations with empowered teams and optimized processes, so they can decrease burnout and scale to serve more patients while achieving their personal and professional goals. Lloyd worked as a healthcare executive for over 20 years, including substantial time at Mayo Clinic and Duke Health, serving as the Chief Administrative Officer for Duke Eye Center from 2013 to 2020. She spent most of her career helping turn around organizations, while driving integrations and building teams that worked together to improve the experience for the patient and the entire organization. Given these turnaround efforts and the results she helps her clients achieve, Lloyd has generated over $250M in financial improvements, as well as countless improvements in patient care and team experience. Lloyd founded Optimize Healthcare, LLC and Optimize Flow, LLC so she and her team can help other practice leaders create the dream organizations they deserve. Her signature Day Zero Blueprint™ program is transforming both leaders and organizations as they shift the belief that as a leader, they need to do it alone or sacrifice what is important to them. Lloyd incorporates her training as a John Maxwell Certified Coach and Lean/Six Sigma Expert to provide program participants and audiences with time-saving strategies and templates so they, as leaders, can lean into their authentic style, engage and empower their teams, and optimize the processes around them so they can do more and make more, with ease. Lloyd also loves spending time with her family and finding new adventures to learn and stay challenged.
Amanda Proctor, CPC, CPCO, CDEO, CPMA, CRC, AAPC Approved Instructor
Amanda Proctor, CPC, CPCO, CDEO, CPMA, CRC, AAPC Approved Instructor, has over a decade of experience in risk adjustment working directly for providers, ACO/MCOs, health plans, and vendors. Most of her work has involved provider education, clinical documentation improvement, quality, and compliance. Proctor has received numerous recognitions from her employers as a subject matter expert, has a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and is working on a master’s degree in health leadership.
Amy Pritchett, CPC, CPCO, CDEO, CPMA, CRC, CPC-I, CANPC, CASCC, CEDC, AAPC Fellow
Amy Pritchett, CPC, CPCO, CDEO, CPMA, CRC, CPC-I, CANPC, CASCC, CEDC, AAPC Fellow, is a senior consultant with Pinnacle Enterprise Risk Consulting Services with more than 20 years of medical billing and coding experience. Her high-level auditing skills encompass both facility and professional fee services. Specializing in revenue cycle management, inpatient/OP/OBS/ANC/ED/SDS, her broad expertise includes RAC reviews, charge master reviews, inpatient MS-DRGs and APR-DRGs, outpatient coding assessments, and clinical documentation improvement. Having managed large coding departments and teams, Pritchett is an exceptional leader and trainer. She brings to Pinnacle vast experience and talent that can transform entire coding departments and achieve improved performance, quality, and accuracy. She is also exceptional at locating areas for improvement and developing processes that address specific issues to maximize individual and team potential. Prior to Pinnacle, she held several director, management, and lead educator positions, where she was responsible for facility coding, auditing, and review, P/L, revenue cycle, and the managing of pro-fee audit for specialty clients including physician evaluation and management leveling. Pritchett was also responsible for the oversight of hundreds of coders and multiple locations, where she provided staff with ongoing training. She is a certified ICD-10-CM/PCS instructor and serves as an adjunct professor of medical billing and coding within the University of South Alabama Medical Billing and Coding program, where she has taught for seven years. In addition, she has had several speaking engagements with AAPC. She also volunteers several nights a week with Volunteers of America, where she teaches medical coding and billing in a program created for local members of the community.
Amy Lee Smith, CPC, COC, CPMA, MBA, CHFP, CIA, CRMA, CHIAP
Amy Lee Smith, CPC, COC, CPMA, MBA, CHFP, CIA, CRMA, CHIAP, is a director of internal audit for Bon Secours Mercy Health, an integrated, multi-state Catholic health system based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Smith leads a team that performs revenue cycle, coding, documentation, billing audits, and data analytics. Since earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business with concentrations in finance from The College of William and Mary in Virginia. Smith has spent most of her career in healthcare finance and audit and now has over 27 years of experience in the industry. She is a frequent speaker at both the regional and national level and has authored several articles for various professional journals. In addition to AAPC, Smith is an active member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, the Institute of Internal Auditors, and the Association for Healthcare Internal Auditors, for which she serves on the board of directors and the editorial board. She is also the president of her local AAPC chapter. Smith is an avid W&M Tribe sports fan, an active leader on the local alumni board, a former Special Olympics swim coach, and a lifelong swimmer. She is a proud dachshund mom and a native and current resident of the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.
Astara N. Crews, MJ, CPC, CPEDC, CHC, CHPC, CHIAP
Astara N. Crews, MJ, CPC, CPEDC, CHC, CHPC, CHIAP, serves as the chief compliance officer at Essen Health Care, New York. As an executive officer of Essen Health Care’s senior leadership team, she oversees the company's corporate compliance program and regulatory governance. Crews has a Bachelor of Science degree in anthropology, biology, and chemistry (pre-medicine) and a law degree specializing in health law from Loyola University of Chicago Law School. She began her 20-year career as a revenue cycle manager, and then quickly rose to senior healthcare administration positions at several prominent hospitals and tertiary institutions. Crews prides herself on her vast knowledge of health and regulatory law, including the Anti-kickback/Stark statutes, clinical documentation integrity, fraud and abuse laws, and HIPAA and OSHA. She has served as the president of the Lower Westchester New York local chapter and sits on the 2022-2025 AAPC National Advisory Board.
Brenda Beal, RN, CPC, CPIP
Brenda Beal, RN, CPC, CPIP, has 33 years of experience in healthcare. For the past nine years, she’s been working in fraud, waste, and abuse for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Office of Inspector General (HFS OIG) as a medical audit supervisor. Beal has assisted in writing several National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association (NHCAA) fraud briefs.
Britany Parker, MD
Britany Parker, MD, is a family medicine physician who is also trained in surgical and advanced obstetrics. She practices in Gainesville, Georgia, in both inpatient and outpatient settings and serves as a core faculty member for the Northeast Georgia Medical Center Family Medicine Residency. Outside of training and teaching residents and taking care of patients, Parker and her husband stay busy with their children’s activities and traveling.
Brittany Rambino, CPC-P
Brittany Rambino, CPC-P, has more than 17 years of experience in directing revenue cycle management, along with comprehensive billing and reimbursement strategy. Rambino has a diverse background with commercial, Medicare, Medicaid, and managed care payers. Prior to joining Ambry, Rambino owned her own revenue cycle management company which specialized in molecular diagnostic laboratory billing, prior authorization strategy, contract management, and comprehensive coding. She is accomplished in commercialization of new molecular diagnostic tests and implementing new orphan drug programs for specialty pharmacies and new behavioral health clinical programs, including full billing system configuration setup and automation.
Catherine Keegan, BSBM, CCS-P, CPC
Catherine Keegan, BSBM, CCS-P, CPC, has more than 28 years of progressive, results-driven experience in all facets of academic and private practice revenue cycle management. Keegan spent 20 years at the University of California San Diego Health System as the Director of Clinical Operations for the department of medicine before joining Duke University Health System as the Director of Hospital Billing and Collections. Keegan currently works as the Director of Revenue Integrity for Integrated Dermatology Group, one of the largest independent dermatology practices in the country. In addition to her degree in business management, Keegan also maintains coding certifications with AHIMA and AAPC, is contracted with AAPC as a dermatology subject matter expert, and has worked as an approved AAPC and AHIMA trainer.
Christopher Chandler, MHA, MBA, CPC, CGSC
Christopher Chandler, MHA, MBA, CPC, CGSC, works on a system-wide level to consult, educate, and present to providers, staff, and operational leaders in his role as technical manager of documentation and coding for lntermountain Healthcare. He specializes in surgery, non-physician practitioners, and GME documentation and coding guidelines. Chandler has presented at AAPC’s HEALTHCON and regional conferences and teaches a physiology and coding class at a local college.
Christopher A. Parrella, ESQ, CPC, CHC, CPCO
Christopher Parrella, ESQ, CPC, CHC, CPCO, is the founding partner of Parrella Health Law in Boston, Mass. The firm focuses exclusively on healthcare defense and compliance. He travels the country on behalf of a wide range of healthcare organizations, lecturing on a variety of topics affecting their industries. Parella is also a member of AAPC’s National Legal Advisory Board and Ethics Committee.
CJ Wolf, MD, M.Ed., CPC, COC
CJ Wolf, MD, M.Ed., CPC, COC, has been involved in healthcare for over 22 years beginning with his years in medical school. Dr. Wolf made a career change to healthcare administration, reimbursement, and compliance. He has worked in various coding, reimbursement, or chief compliance officer roles for lntermountain Healthcare, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the University of Texas System, and an international medical device company. He currently holds faculty appointments at two universities and provides coding, compliance, and training services through Compliance Reality.
Cokethia Rachel, CPC, CCS, CPMA, CCMA, SSBBP, Approved AHIMA ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer
Cokethia Rachel, CPC, CCS, CPMA, CCMA, SSBBP, Approved AHIMA ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer, is an Atlanta, Georgia native with over 16 years of experience in health information management (HIM). Rachel currently works as a director in the HIM department at Shepherd Center in Atlanta and is also the proud owner of Coding Connection, LLC, where she leverages her years of experience to help subject matter experts properly position themselves in the HIM industry through coding education and training. Rachel previously served as a coding roundtable coordinator for GHIMA, was on the GHIMA mentoring committee from 2018 to 2019, and was GHIMA’s director and advocacy chair from 2021 to 2022. She’s a former NGHIMA nominating committee member and has held positions of president, secretary, and development officer in her Marietta, Georgia, local chapter.
Colleen Gianatasio, CPC, CPCO, CPC-P, CDEO, CPMA, CPPM, CRC, AAPC Approved Instructor
Colleen Gianatasio, CPC, CPCO, CPC-P, CDEO, CPMA, CPPM, CRC, AAPC Approved Instructor, has over 20 years of experience in all aspects of the business of healthcare. In her current role, she is responsible for provider engagement and clinical documentation improvement for accurate coding. Gianatasio specializes in developing innovative coding curricula and instruction to support compliance with federal guidelines and appropriate reimbursement processes. She enjoys teaching a variety of coding, documentation, and auditing classes, and is president of the 2022-2025 AAPC National Advisory Board.
Corella Marie Lumpkins, CPC, CPCO, CDEO, CPB, CPPM, CPC-I
Corella Marie Lumpkins, CPC, CPCO, CDEO, CPB, CPPM, CPC-I, has over 35 years of experience in all aspects of the healthcare revenue cycle, including medical auditing, billing, coding, claims adjudication, practice management, physician/staff/student education, and implementing corporate compliance programs. She works extensively with providers and manages the auditing, coding, and CDI units at a large accountable care organization.
Courtney Tito
Courtney Tito is a member of McDonald Hopkins, LLC and counsels and represents clients in the health law industry, including federal and private payer audits and disputes, reimbursement matters, enrollment revocations, payment suspensions, internal investigations, compliance and regulatory matters, and in responding to federal subpoenas and civil investigative demands.
Daria Malan, RN, MBA, LNHA, RAC-CT, CPC
Daria Malan, RN, MBA, LNHA, RAC-CT, CPC, is an established leader with extensive experience in leadership and management, hospital administration, critical care, orthopedic, rehabilitation, LTACH, behavioral health, residential treatment, SNF/LTC, ambulatory, ASC, home health, hospice, and medical practice settings. She is also a medical record auditor who reviews documentation, coding, and billing requirements.
David Zielske, MD, COC, CIRCC, CCC, CCVTC, CCS, RCC
David Zielske, MD, COC, CIRCC, CCC, CCVTC, CCS, RCC, has educated coders and doctors on documentation and coding guidelines in interventional radiology, cardiology, and vascular surgery for the past 21 years. Dr. Zielske has participated on the AAPC National Advisory Board and enjoys attending and speaking at AAPC meetings.
Dawn Cook
Dawn Cook is a licensed registered nurse who has worked with catastrophic illness and injury for over 40 years. Cook is a life care planner who holds the certified life care planner and certified nurse life care planner designations. In 2022, Cook received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Association of Nurse Life Care Planners.
Edna Maldonado, CPC, ACS-UR, AHIMA ICD-10-CM Trainer
Edna Maldonado, CPC, ACS-UR, AHIMA ICD-10-CM Trainer, has over 30 years’ experience in urology. She is a coding education trainer for the American Urological Association (AUA) and is currently a coding manager for United Urology Group. Maldonado has conducted more than 20 customized coding seminars and is a faculty speaker for the annual coding seminars for the AUA.
Edward Baker, JD
Edward Baker, JD, is a whistleblower attorney in Constantine Cannon’s District of Columbia office. He has extensive experience with healthcare fraud cases under the False Claims Act and currently represents relators alleging FCA violations by managed care plans, providers, and vendors. Baker previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in California.
Ellen Hinkle, CPC, CDEO, CPMA, CRC, CEMC, CFPC, CGSC, CIMC, COBGC, CPCD, AAPC Approved Instructor
Ellen Hinkle, CPC, CDEO, CPMA, CRC, CEMC, CFPC, CGSC, CIMC, COBGC, CPCD, AAPC Approved Instructor, has over 20 years of experience in the medical billing and coding industry. She has worked in various roles including billing, accounts receivable, collections, charge entry, auditor, educator, and coding consultant. Hinkle currently works as a manager of provider compliance and has contributed her expertise to the industry by serving as a local chapter officer and presenting at local and national AAPC chapters.
Emily Schmidt Barnette, RHIA, CCS, CPC, CPC-P, CDEO, CPB, CPMA, CRC, CPC-I
Emily Schmidt Barnette, RHIA, CCS, CPC, CPC-P, CDEO, CPB, CPMA, CRC, CPC-I, has spent the last 12 years working in healthcare, beginning in a receptionist role and working her way up through coding, coding education, and auditing. She currently leads a team of 30 internal auditors and spends the majority of her time at work discussing her favorite topic: coding guidelines!
Heather Rothstein, CPCO
Heather Rothstein, CPCO, is a highly accomplished healthcare executive with over 10 years of experience in healthcare administration, operations development, revenue cycle, and compliance. She is currently earning her master’s degree in healthcare administration.
Holly Ridge, BSN, RN, CPC, CPMA
Holly Ridge, BSN, RN, CPC, CPMA, is a registered nurse turned professional coder and medical auditor with nearly 15 years of payer, professional, and hospital revenue cycle experience.
Jaci Kipreos, CPC, COC, CDEO, CPMA, CRC, CPC-I, CEMC
Jaci Kipreos, CPC, COC, CDEO, CPMA, CRC, CPC-I, CEMC, has been in the field of medical coding and auditing for over 30 years and received a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Virginia Tech. She has worked in a variety of practice settings and has expertise in coding for family practice, urgent care, obstetrics and gynecology, general surgery, and Medicare’s teaching physician guidelines, with an emphasis on compliance with evaluation and management guidelines. Kipreos has been an instructor for various AAPC workshops for the past 10 years and is a frequent speaker at AAPC’s national and regional HEALTHCON conferences. She has also provided presentations for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners state event in Virginia and the national event for the American Association of Medical Assistants. Kipreos is a past president of the Richmond, Virginia and Charlottesville, Virginia local chapters, and served as president of AAPC’s National Advisory Board from 2015 to 2018.
Jacob Swartzwelder, CPC, CIC, CRC, CEMC, AAPC Approved Instructor
Jacob Swartzwelder, CPC, CIC, CRC, CEMC, AAPC Approved Instructor, brings over 15 years of healthcare experience working in private offices, hospitals, consulting firms, and international coding companies. He specializes in E/M auditing, risk adjustment, operational risk reduction, and leadership development. Swartzwelder is a SAFe 5 Practitioner and an AAPC 2022-2025 National Advisory Board member and co-chair of the Career Advancement committee. He also owns and manages Compliant Approach Partners, LLC.
Jean R. Pryor, CPMA, CPC, CPCO, CPB, CPMA, CRC, CPC-I, CIMC
Jean R. Pryor, CPMA, CPC, CPCO, CPB, CPMA, CRC, CPC-I, CIMC, has over 30 years of medical coding and billing experience and has been a CPC® since 1994. Pryor has been a master coder and auditor reviewing Medicare Advantage data for hierarchical condition categories, risk adjustment processing system, secondary payments, and duplicative payment activities. She is a member of the Cigna Government Services Provider Outreach Education Advisory Group.
Jennifer McNamara, CPC, CPMA, CRC, CPC-I, CGSC, COPC, CCS
Jennifer McNamara, CPC, CPMA, CRC, CPC-I, CGSC, COPC, CCS, has been in healthcare 19 years and has worked in various specialties including gastroenterology, general surgery, orthopedics, plastic surgery, and many others. As the owner of Ozark Institute, she offers CPC® education as an approved education site with AAPC and she hosts the podcast “Life as a Coder.” McNamara currently serves as the education director for OncoSpark.
Jennifer Simmons, MBA, CPC, CPC-I
Jennifer Simmons, MBA, CPC, CPC-I, is a graduate of Charleston Southern University and Southern Wesleyan University, holding a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s in management. She has over 20 years of healthcare experience in corporate compliance, medical coding, and auditing. Simmons has been teaching at the college level for 17 years.
Jessica Miller, CPC, MHA
Jessica Miller, CPC, MHA, has 15 years of experience in the ambulatory surgery centers industry. She participated in the development of AI/machine learning software to help coders increase efficiency and accuracy in code selection.
Jessyka Burke, BSHA, CPC, COSC, CASCC
Jessyka Burke, BSHA, CPC, COSC, CASCC, has more than 25 years of experience in healthcare, including jobs from front desk to management. Her passions are coding, appeals, and mentorship. Currently the lead coder and physician/staff educator for a private orthopedic practice in Auburn, Wash., Burke also serves as a subject matter expert for Oncospark, Decision Health, and many others.
Julie Chicoine, JD, BSN, CPC
Julie Chicoine, JD, BSN, CPC, is the director of compliance, privacy, and risk management for Adventist Health Castle, a non-profit organization located in Kailua, Hawaii, where she oversees day-to-day program operations for the Adventist Health Hawaii campus. Prior to joining Castle, Chicoine served as compliance and policy law specialist for the Qatar Foundation in Doha, Qatar, guiding the development of its foundational compliance program and code of conduct. She also has several years of experience advising academic medical centers, both in private practice and as in-house counsel on matters including compliance, research, employment, risk management, and healthcare reimbursement. In addition to the practice of law, Chicoine is a former registered nurse, accredited as a Certified Professional Coder, and has served on AAPC’s Ethics Committee and Legal Advisory Board for many years. Chicoine earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Houston Law Center. She also holds a Bachelor of Science and a nursing degree from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston.
Kaitlyn Brack, CPC, CEMC, CFPC, CPEDC, AAPC Approved Instructor
Kaitlyn Brack, CPC, CEMC, CFPC, CPEDC, AAPC Approved Instructor, is a medical coding quality analyst and CEMC exam committee member at AAPC. Her coding strengths include Medicare wellness, evaluation and management, family practice, and pediatrics, with experience in endocrinology, rheumatology, palliative care, NH/AL/SNF, rural health, IP/OP, and oncology. Brack has a Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics and Information Management and is a subject matter expert in evaluation and management.
Karen Perry, CPC, CPB, CPC-I, OCS
Karen Perry, CPC, CPB, CPC-I, OCS, has been a certified medical coder for 19 years in various specialties such as ob-gyn, orthopedics, ophthalmology, family practice, pediatrics, cardiology, and sports medicine. She has held the offices of vice president, secretary, and treasurer with her local chapter and provides CPC® review classes and presentations for chapter members.
Karlene Dittrich, CBCS, CPC, CPMA, CECCS
Karlene Dittrich, CBCS, CPC, CPMA, CECCS, provides complex claims, recovery, and advanced ERISA/PPACA appeal services in a niche market of denial management. She shares her vast knowledge of relevant ERISA and ACA laws and provider rights as a compliant defense strategy to equip revenue cycle/billing teams to strengthen the appeal process and compel claims payments.
Kathryn Williamson, CPC, CDEI, CCVTC, CIC, AAPC Approved Instructor
Kathryn Williamson, CPC, CDEI, CCVTC, CIC, AAPC Approved Instructor, is an outpatient coding educator/auditor for Yale New Haven Health with a passion for inpatient coding, documentation improvement, and pathophysiology. Williamson has more than 12 years of experience in the healthcare industry, which includes being the sole onsite coder for a 40-bed, full-service hospital, and is a subject matter expert for AAPC. Williamson has published a variety of content, including webinars, articles, lectures, and inpatient course development for AAPC. She currently serves on the coding advisory committee and is pursuing a degree in health information management.
Kathy Burkhardt, MSL, RHIA
Kathy Burkhardt, MSL, RHIA, graduated from Stephens College with a bachelor’s degree in health information administration and a master’s degree in strategic leadership. She has served on the Florida Health Information Management Association (FHIMA) board and received the FHIMA Outstanding New Professional Award in 2016. Burkhardt has held various positions with the Gulf Coast Regional Health Information Management Association and serves on the Ultimate Medical Academy Advisory Board. Mentoring new professionals is a passion of Burkhardt’s, and she is currently mentoring three Directors in Training in her position as a Regional Health Information Management Director in Florida.
Kathy Rowland, BSN, RN, CHC, CPC, CPC-I, CEMC
Kathy Rowland, BSN, RN, CHC, CPC, CPC-I, CEMC, has over 25 years in the areas of healthcare administration and management. For the last 20 years, her consulting practice has focused on the development and implementation of practice-based compliance plans, auditing, education, and litigation support. Rowland has a consulting practice, Integrity Compliance LLC, located in Franklin, Tenn.
Kelly Loya, CPC, CPC-I, CHC, CPhT, CHIAP, CRMA
Kelly Loya, CPC, CPC-I, CHC, CPhT, CHIAP, CRMA, has over 30 years of experience in billing, reimbursement, compliance, and operations in physician practices. Her background includes staff-level support and leadership roles in nonprofit academic medical centers and teaching hospital settings. Loya is an author and technical editor for AAPC.
Kelly Shew, RHIA, CPC, CPCO, CDEO, CPB, CRC, AAPC Approved Instructor
Kelly Shew, RHIA, CPC, CPCO, CDEO, CPB, CRC, AAPC Approved Instructor, made the switch to healthcare about 12 years ago. Since then, she’s spent some time billing, coding, and auditing, but her happiest places are in education and risk adjustment. Shew is a member of the AAPC Documentation Advisory Committee and currently serves as the education officer for the Ann Arbor, Mich., local chapter.
Khushwinder Singh, MD, MHA, CDIP, CPC, CPCO, CPMA, CRC
Khushwinder Singh, MD, MHA, CDIP, CPC, CPCO, CPMA, CRC, is a trained clinician, coder, auditor, and experienced healthcare management professional, with over 18 years of health information management (HIM), Medicare, managed care, and regulatory experience. As a seasoned clinician, Singh is always determined to meet higher goals and is committed to improving the health of patients, as well as helping medical providers manage health information coding data, minimize errors, and reduce waste. He drives healthcare forward every day with a focus on improving the overall quality of healthcare delivery to patients, as well as a focus on the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Triple Aim. Singh has helped several providers operationalize their risk adjustment programs, optimizing risk scores to recapture strategies and enabling them to succeed in their risk-sharing, value-based care arrangements. Singh has a passion for value-based care and risk adjustment, finding ways to leverage the hidden power of healthcare data and help physicians deliver better care while reporting diagnosis data accurately. Over the past several years, Singh has worked as a consultant on numerous projects, acting as a subject matter expert for risk adjustment for encounter data submissions, risk adjustment operations and process improvement, HCC suspect analytics, and other coding compliance expertise. Singh has worked with Medicare Advantage health plans and ACOs, EMR companies, risk adjustment vendors developing NLP-based solutions, AI companies developing advanced HCC analytics solutions, and several billing, coding, and revenue cycle management entities. He has also engaged with physician practices, providing them with risk adjustment education and quality- and value-based care-focused managed care expertise, as well as helped several clients clean up their HCC coding recapture workflows, resolved RAPS and EDPS submission-related problems, and leverage the clinical documentation improvement process to recapture appropriate and accurate HCC risk scores.
Kristen Taylor, CPC, CHC, CHIAP
Kristen Taylor, CPC, CHC, CHIAP, has almost 30 years of experience in coding, revenue cycle processes, and compliance for physician and hospital reimbursement models. She conducts operational assessments, attorney-client privilege investigations, coding reviews, and education to providers and coders. Taylor’s coding expertise includes diagnostic and interventional radiology, pathology, primary care, radiation oncology, and anesthesia.
Laurie Bouzarelos, MHA, CPC
Laurie Bouzarelos, MHA, CPC, is a revenue cycle consultant for private practice physicians and providers. Bouzarelos has years of experience improving practice profitability and addressing compliance shortfalls for psychiatrists and behavioral health providers. She helps providers understand their revenue, improve payer agreements, and facilitate operational changes to meet payer requirements.
Lawrence Simon, MD, MBA
Lawrence Simon, MD, MBA, has been involved in CPT® for 10 years, serving as the CPT® advisor for AAO/HNS and on both the CPT® Assistant Editorial Board and the CPT® Editorial Panel. He currently sits on the Executive Committee of the CPT® Editorial Panel and co-chairs the Molecular Pathology Advisory Group.
Leonta Williams, MBA, RHIA, CPC, CPCO, CRC, CEMC, CHONC, CCS, CCDS
Leonta Williams, MBA, RHIA, CPC, CPCO, CRC, CEMC, CHONC, CCS, CCDS, is director of education at AAPC. She holds multiple credentials across several professional organizations and has more than 20 years of health information management experience as a coding director, auditor, educator, trainer, practice manager, and mentor. Williams is founder and past president of the Covington, Ga., local chapter and served as secretary on AAPC’s 2018-2021 National Advisory Board.
Linda Martien, CPC, COC, CPMA, CRC, CPC-I, AAPC Fellow
Linda Martien, CPC, COC, CPMA, CRC, CPC-I, AAPC Fellow, brings more than 35 years of experience in coding, billing, auditing, management, and consulting to the table, in addition to her clinical history. She has a varied background, working in and managing solo and group practices, hospital inpatient and outpatient business departments, and healthcare information management offices and serving as a consultant to both national and international clients. Martien is a nationally recognized author and instructor on chronic wound care and is the owner and president of Medical Revenue Cycle Consulting. She is a past member of AAPC’s National Advisory Board and past member and chairman of the AAPC Chapter Association Board of Directors. Martien is a past member and officer of the Columbia, Mo., local chapter and is currently a member of the Jefferson City, Mo., local chapter. She and her husband Roger enjoy spending time with their large family and traveling.
Lisa Castillo, JD, CPC-A
Lisa Castillo, JD, CPC-A, has over 18 years of experience as an attorney, focusing her career in the government sector. She was worked in law enforcement as a prosecutor and with the inspector general’s Medicaid integrity audit unit specializing in the detection of fraud, waste, and abuse.
Lisa Howard, CRC, CPMA, ROCC
Lisa Howard, CRC, CPMA, ROCC, has 22 years of coding experience and provides education to group practices.
Lori Cox, MBA, CPC, CPMA, CPC-I, CEMC, CGSC, CHONC
Lori Cox, MBA, CPC, CPMA, CPC-I, CEMC, CGSC, CHONC, has over 20 years of experience working in the business side of healthcare. She began her career working as a patient accounts representative and then transitioned to the billing department. Cox was promoted to billing supervisor and later became the compliance officer, where she was responsible for maintaining the compliance plan and educating staff on fraud and abuse. Currently, Cox works for AAPC Services as a regional director, performing audits and education for clients across the United States. Cox was previously the Member Relations Officer of the AAPC National Advisory Board and has written many articles for Healthcare Business Monthly. Cox has spoken at HEALTHCON and regional conferences and has traveled the country speaking to coders and providers on topics such as hem/onc, E/M guidelines, and proper coding. Her other specialties include rad/onc, auditing, general surgery, internal medicine, family practice, and pediatrics. Cox has a Masters in Business Administration from Quincy University.
Louis Jimenez, RRT, CHT
Louis Jimenez, RRT, CHT, has experience spanning adult, pediatric, and neonatal critical care. In addition, Jimenez has worked in cardiopulmonary invasive and noninvasive diagnostics, as well as in the field of hyperbaric medicine. Jimenez was also a professor teaching cardiopulmonary physiology, diagnostics, advanced life support, and critical care medicine.
Marco Unzueta, BSHIM, CPC, CCS, CIC, CDEO, CDEI, AAPC Approved Instructor
Marco Unzueta, BSHIM, CPC, CCS, CIC, CDEO, CDEI, AAPC Approved Instructor, has eight years of coding experience in inpatient and outpatient coding, billing, compliance, and documentation improvement. He is currently the coding supervisor at El Paso Children’s Hospital in Texas. Unzuenta was the first coder to become a CIC™ in El Paso and is the former 2018-2019 president of the El Paso local chapter. Unzueta has taught the CPC® curriculum in multiple colleges and taught a coding boot camp in the Army to help soldiers become certified. Unzuenta has given multiple presentations and workshops at local chapters, local high schools, local colleges, and local universities. He was also involved in the committee to develop the CDEI™ credential.
Mark Synovec, MD
Dr. Mark Synovec is president of Topeka Pathology Group, LLC, a seven-person independent, multihospital-based pathology group and the medical director of Stormont-Vail Healthcare Laboratories. He has a long history of involvement with laboratory CPT® codes; first as the AMA’s CPT® Advisor representing the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) in 1995, then as the immediate past-chair of the AMA CPT® Pathology Coding Caucus. Dr. Synovec was appointed to serve on the AMA CPT® Editorial Panel in June 2007 and served as both the chair of the Editorial Panel and chair of the CPT® Assistant Editorial Board.
Marianne Durling, MHA, RHIA, CPC, CPCO, CIC, CDEI, CCS, CDIP, AAPC Approved Instructor
Marianne Durling, MHA, RHIA, CPC, CPCO, CIC, CDEI, CCS, CDIP, AAPC Approved Instructor, has a very diverse background, having spent over 40 years working in almost every aspect of healthcare. She is currently a compliance director at a large academic medical center. Durling has a master’s degree in healthcare administration and a post-baccalaureate certificate in health information administration. She has authored articles for professional publications and speaks nationally. Durling has served on AAPC’s National Advisory Board, several terms as an officer in her local chapter, and on the HEALTHCON Education Committee.
Mariarita Genovese, CPC
Mariarita Genovese, CPC, is the director of revenue cycle and business operations for MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper. She has over 30 years of experience in billing and practice management, most recently in the areas of family medicine and medical oncology. She is active in educating the physicians and staff in medical coding and compliance regulations. Genovese currently serves as president of the Greater Philadelphia local chapter, after serving as chapter president and vice president in previous years. She is a former member of AAPC’s National Advisory Board and is a former member of the 2015-2018 AAPC Chapter Association (AAPCCA) Board of Directors. Genovese served on the AAPCCA Executive Board in 2016 and was awarded the 2019 chapter officer of the year by AAPC’s Board of Directors. She has contributed articles to Healthcare Business Monthly as well as the popular Knowledge Center blog. Genovese is also a frequent speaker at AAPC national and regional conferences.
Maya Turner, CPC
Maya Turner, CPC, has 27 years of experience in the healthcare industry and is a subject matter expert focusing on reimbursement, healthcare compliance, and education. Turner is also well versed in topics such as COVID-19 changes, split/shared telehealth, and many more.
Megan Ash-Koebert, CPC, CPCO, CPMA
Megan Ash-Koebert, CPC, CPCO, CPMA, is a college graduate and experienced investigator with expertise in developing complex investigations which are presented to various law enforcement agencies. She has a wide range of coding experience with different specialties, particularly in the area of vascular practices.
Michael D. Miscoe, JD, CPC, CASCC, CUC, CCPC, CPCO, CPMA, CEMA, AAPC Fellow
Michael D. Miscoe, JD, CPC, CASCC, CUC, CCPC, CPCO, CPMA, CEMA, AAPC Fellow, has over 30 years of experience in healthcare coding and over 20 years as a forensic coding/compliance expert and consultant. He has provided forensic analysis and testimony as an expert witness on a wide range of coding and compliance issues in civil and criminal cases on behalf of providers and payers. Mr. Miscoe’s law practice concentrates on representation of healthcare providers involved in post-payment disputes with commercial and government payers. He has an extensive national speaking background and has been published in numerous publications on a variety of coding, compliance, and health law topics. He is the past president of AAPC’s National Advisory Board, is a member of AAPC’s Legal Advisory Board, and is chair of AAPC’s Ethics Committee.
Michele Stevens, CPC, CPMA, CRC, AAPC Fellow
Michele Stevens, CPC, CPMA, CRC, AAPC Fellow, has over 21 years of experience in the healthcare industry, specializing in physician practice operations, revenue cycle management, CPT/HCPCS, ICD-10-CM, compliance, documentation improvement, and business operations. She has worked extensively with both private practices and hospital-affiliated group practices (academic MC), as well as outpatient facility departments.
Michelle Mesley-Netoskie, COPM, COC, CPC, CPB, CPMA, CPPM, CRC, CPC-I
Michelle Mesley-Netoskie, COPM, COC, CPC, CPB, CPMA, CPPM, CRC, CPC-I, is a revenue cycle management specialist at Albany ENT & Allergy Services. She has more than 30 years of experience in revenue cycle management and extensive experience in otolaryngology coding and billing and uses this expertise to optimize the revenue cycle process. Mesley-Netoskie is also an author, national speaker, and educator.
Monica Wright, CPC, CPCO, CPMA
Monica Wright, CPC, CPCO, CPMA, has over 20 years of experience in medical coding, billing, and practice management. She has taught medical coding and billing to students, physicians, managers, and staff of private medical practices and within hospital settings. She has a master’s degree in health administration from LSUS.
Nate Felt, ATC, PTA, CPC
Nate Felt, ATC, PTA, CPC, is a senior consultant for orthopedic, sports medicine, and radiology physicians coding at Intermountain Health. He has experience in auditing and educating physicians, as well as working with staff and operational leadership regarding correct coding guidelines. Felt has a graduate degree in athletic training and has worked as a clinician for over 10 years.
Nicole Sellitto, CPC
Nicole Sellitto, CPC, is a college graduate and experienced investigator with expertise in developing complex investigations which are presented to various law enforcement agencies. She has a wide range of coding experience with different specialties, particularly in the area of vascular practices.
Norma Panther, CPC, CEMC, CHONC, CIRCC, CPMA, CCS-P, CHC, CIFHA
Norma Panther, CPC, CEMC, CHONC, CIRCC, CPMA, CCS-P, CHC, CIFHA, is an experienced professional coder, compliance auditor, and educator with over 30 years of healthcare experience. She currently works in compliance for a cancer hospital. Panther is a past contributor to Healthcare Business Monthly magazine, is a three-time HEALTHCON speaker, and has presented many times for local AAPC chapters nationwide.
Pam Vanderbilt, CPC, CDEO, CPB, CPMA, CPPM, CRC, CPC-I, CEMC, CFPC, CPEDC
Pam Vanderbilt, CPC, CDEO, CPB, CPMA, CPPM, CRC, CPC-I, CEMC, CFPC, CPEDC, has two decades of experience in auditing and revenue cycle analysis. Her enthusiasm as a speaker is infectious, and those she educates gain powerful insights from her teaching. Vanderbilt teaches the important role documentation plays in identifying the complexity of a provider’s work and equips coders and auditors with the skills to recognize that complexity.
Pam Warren-Brooks, CPC, COC, AAPC Fellow
Pam Warren-Brooks, CPC, COC, AAPC Fellow, is the manager of billing compliance at MaineHealth, the largest healthcare organization in both Maine and all of Northern New England. She is responsible for the corporate auditing and compliance program, serving nine hospitals and several other healthcare facilities. Warren-Brooks has an undergraduate degree in adult education and a master’s in health administration and has served on the AAPC Chapter Association Board of Directors and National Advisory Board.
Raemarie Jimenez, CPC, CDEO, CIC, CPB, CPMA, CPPM, CPC-I, CANPC, CRHC, AAPC Approved Instructor
Raemarie Jimenez , CPC, CDEO, CIC, CPB, CPMA, CPPM, CPC-I, CANPC, CRHC, CCS, AAPC Approved Instructor, has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She is a nationally recognized speaker and thought leader in the business of healthcare. She serves as a coding liaison to the AMA CPT® Editorial Panel. Over the past 15 years at AAPC, Jimenez has held a variety of responsibilities including leading the development of certification exams and exam preparation materials, overseeing the operations for exams, and distance learning and education licensing program departments. As AAPC’s Chief Product Officer, she oversees all AAPC product lines.
Rhonda Buckholtz, CPC, CDEO, CPMA, CRC, CENTC, CGSC, COBGC, COPC, CPEDC, AAPC Approved Instructor
Rhonda Buckholtz, CPC, CDEO, CPMA, CRC, CENTC, CGSC, COBGC, COPC, CPEDC, AAPC Approved Instructor, has more than 30 years of experience in healthcare, working in the management, reimbursement, billing, and coding sectors, in addition to being an instructor. She was responsible for all ICD-10 training and curriculum at AAPC. Buckholtz has authored numerous articles for healthcare publications and has spoken at numerous national conferences for AAPC, AMA, HIMSS, AAO-HNS, AGA, and ASOA.
Robert Pelaia, Esq, CPC, CPCO
Robert Pelaia, Esq, CPC, CPCO, provides a wide range of legal support services for the University of South Florida (USF), with exclusive legal responsibility for USF Health and its related not-for-profit corporate support entities. In addition to his AAPC credentials, he is certified as a Health Care Law Specialist by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education. Pelaia served on AAPC’s National Advisory Board from 2009 to 2011, AAPC’s Chapter Association Board of Directors from 2007 to 2009, and is currently a member of AAPC’s Legal Advisory Board. He is a member of the Tampa, Fla., local chapter.
Samuel Church, MD, MPH, CPC, CRC, CPC-I
Samuel Church, MD, MPH, CPC, CRC, CPC-I, is a family physician in Hiawassee, Ga., a rural area in north Georgia, with both office and hospital practices. He is a frequent speaker for medical practices, residency programs, hospital systems, coding conferences, and ACOs in optimized coding and workflow and correct coding. He currently serves on the AMA CPT® Editorial Panel. He has a passion for teaching, not only for practicing physicians and coders, but especially medical students and residents, and serves as a core faculty for the Northeast Georgia Medical Center Family Medicine Residency and as adjunct faculty for AU/UGA Medical Partnership SOM. He lives with his wife, Nancy, and their four children on a small farm and frequently partners with her on community projects.
Sandra Giangreco Brown, MHA, BS, RHIT, CHC, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, COC, CPC-I, COBGC, PCS, AAPC Approved Instructor, AHIMA ICD-10-CM Trainer
Sandra Giangreco Brown, MHA, BS, RHIT, CHC, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, COC, CPC-I, COBGC, PCS, AAPC Approved Instructor, AHIMA ICD-10-CM Trainer, works for an auditing firm, where she manages and develops relationships with clients, coding staff, and providers; provides auditing services; and performs education sessions for both client staff and providers. Brown has more than 35 years of experience in healthcare and medical records management, coding, auditing, and compliance in the hospital, outpatient, and physician settings. She loves presenting and sharing education and continues to teach both nationally and locally in her areas of specialty including ob-gyn, general surgery, cardiology, anesthesia, E/M, oncology, and radiology coding. Brown teaches courses for AAPC and is a frequent presenter for AAPC, AHIMA, WHIMA, CHIMA, NCHIMA, and HCCA.
Shannon Cameron, MBA, MHIIM, CPC
Shannon Cameron, MBA, MHIIM, CPC, has years of medical revenue cycle experience, including chart acquisition, physician and facility coding and billing, accounts receivable management, reimbursement strategies for medical device manufacturers, provider education, and CPT® and APC/DRG analyses for medical facilities and physician groups across the U.S. Her expertise covers all areas of billing and reimbursement across multiple specialties.
Shannon DeConda, CPC, CPMA, CPC-I, CEMC
Shannon DeConda, CPC, CPMA, CPC-I, CEMC, has worked in healthcare for more than 25 years. She is the president and founder of NAMAS, a division of DoctorsManagement, where she has worked for 18 years.
Sharon Oliver, CPC, CDEO, CPMA, CRC, AAPC Approved Instructor
Sharon Oliver, CPC, CDEO, CPMA, CRC, AAPC Approved Instructor, is a coding consultant and owner of Medical Coding & Consultants and previously worked as a practice manager and in the specialties of family practice, ob-gyn, and cardiology. She was an ICD-10-CM/PCS instructor for AAPC and has been a certified professional coder for 18 years. Oliver does client training for AAPC and serves on several of AAPC’s committees. Oliver served on the AAPC Chapter Association Board of Directors from 2013 to 2016 and loves speaking at local chapter events.
Sheila Sampath, BBA, MHSA, CPB
Sheila Sampath, BBA, MHSA, CPB, is focused on driving excellence in service delivery while maximizing revenue. Her expertise includes building infrastructure to support major organizational change or new initiatives.
Sherrie Lynne Thevel, CPC, CPMA, CPPM, CRC, CPC-I
Sherrie Lynne Thevel, CPC, CPMA, CPPM, CRC, CPC-I, has 25 years of experience working in the healthcare industry, including managing coding, billing, compliance, and the revenue cycle. Her journey began in 1997 processing claims for a third-party administrator in St. Louis, Missouri. Since then, Thevel has worked for Washington University School of Medicine in all aspects of the revenue cycle. She managed patient accounts for the department of neurology for over five years, as well as the department of plastic surgery and trauma prior to joining the payer world. Currently, Thevel works with South City Hospital as revenue cycle director and codes for general surgery for BJC Health Care in St. Louis, in addition to consulting with local area physicians to maximize their revenue.
Stephanie Gandomi, MS, CGC, MBA, CPC, CPCO
Stephanie Gandomi, MS, CGC, MBA, CPC, CPCO, is a certified, licensed genetic counselor. She earned her master’s degree in genetic counseling at Brandeis University in 2006 and her MBA from Boise State University in 2019. Gandomi is the health plans director at Ambry Genetics.
Stephanie Thebarge, CPC, CPCO, CPB, CPMA, CPPM, CEMC, CHONC
Stephanie Thebarge, CPC, CPCO, CPB, CPMA, CPPM, CEMC, CHONC, has 20 years experience in healthcare working in oncology coding, evaluation and management (E/M) auditing, education, compliance, payer contracting, credentialing, and revenue cycle management. She is the owner of Seacoast Health Compliance Consultation LLC, auditing and educating physician practices. Thebarge currently serves as the Member Relations Officer on AAPC’s National Advisory Board and in 2023 will serve again as a local chapter officer for the Portland, Maine chapter.
Stuart Newsome
Stuart Newsome has been a healthcare industry leader for over 25 years. He collaborates with HIT experts, physicians, and administrators to improve navigation of today’s strict revenue cycle management environment. In addition to improving revenue integrity for his clients, Newsome uses his experience to educate thousands of healthcare professionals annually via coding webinars.
Tracy Bird, CPC, CPMA, CPC-I, CEMC
Tracy Bird, CPC, CPMA, CPC-I, CEMC, has worked in healthcare for 40 years in practice management, coding, provider education, and revenue cycle management. She is a frequent speaker for local AAPC chapters and has presented at regional and national AAPC conferences, as well as State and National MGMA conferences.
Tyler Griffeth, MOL, CPC, CPRC
Tyler Griffeth, MOL, CPC, CPRC, is a senior technical manager at Intermountain Healthcare. Over the last 15 years he has prepared and presented coding education for hundreds of physicians and staff. Griffeth earned his master’s degree from Gonzaga University.
William E. Hopkins
William E. Hopkins focuses his law practice on defending and representing healthcare entities and healthcare professionals in all relevant matters of regulatory compliance, litigation, and transactional matters. In this broad role, he advises on a number of topics including licensure, compliance, enforcement matters, and transactions, with an emphasis on proactive measures to ensure compliance and minimize litigation risk and litigation. Hopkins has represented clients and litigated on behalf of his clients in both state and federal agencies and administrative courts, as well as the district courts of Texas. Hopkins also represents healthcare providers and companies as they transition to expanding or modifying how or where they practice.
Yvonne Dailey, CPC, CPB, CPC-I
Yvonne Dailey, CPC, CPB, CPC-I, has over 20 years of experience in the medical billing and coding field. As she saw the need for internet technology in the physician office setting, she decided to create her own billing, coding, consulting, and training agency. She specializes in infectious disease, family practice, endocrinology, interventional radiology, internal medicine, ob-gyn, chiropractic, mental health, podiatry, substance abuse, oncology, orthopaedics, hematology, ophthalmology, medical dentistry, and podiatry. As a Certified Professional Coder, she is able to educate her clients on documentation in the reimbursement process, and she became a Certified Professional Biller. Dailey is a PMCC instructor and provides seminars for physicians, their staff, and new coders entering the field and offers coding classes through her agency. She also has experience as an adjunct instructor for business schools in her area, AAPC ICD-10 Trainer, AAPC workshop presenter, and served on AAPC’s 2013-2015 and 2007-2009 National Advisory Board.