Orlando Cluster 2025 Faculty

Karma H. Bass, FACHE

Speaker

<p>For more than 20 years, Karma Bass has been a sought-after speaker, facilitator and consultant with deep knowledge and experience in governance, strategic planning, philanthropy, healthcare policy and board effectiveness. Her experience gives her a unique and valuable perspective as a consultant to hospital and health systems boards.</p> <p>Before co-founding Via Healthcare Consulting, Karma worked as vice president for Accord Limited, a Chicago-based consulting firm. She served two years as president/CEO of Alliance Healthcare Foundation in San Diego, where she reported to an independent, 11-person not-for-profit board. Notably, Karma spent 10 years at The Governance Institute, holding various positions including vice president of membership services and director of research and publications. She also oversaw the prestigious biennial hospital governance practices survey tracking trends in nearly 5,000 U.S. hospitals and health systems. During three years at the Hospital Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties, Karma facilitated the first-ever collaborative community health needs assessment for San Diego’s 32 hospitals. </p> <p>Karma has a master’s degree in public health with a focus in health services administration from San Diego State University. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, San Diego.</p>

David B. Brody

Speaker

<p>David Brody is responsible for the overall administration of the over 250 location ambulatory network and medical group spanning across Nassau and Queens counties in New York. He is responsible for the leadership, strategy, financial management and operations of a network that sees more than 2.4 million appointments per year and has more than 5,000 team members, including over 1,200 physicians. </p> <p>Prior to his current role, Brody was the senior vice president for the ambulatory service organization where he was responsible for patient access, service line development and ambulatory shared services. Previously, he was the deputy executive director for the cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery service lines. There, he was responsible for the clinical and administrative operations for both service lines across the entire Northwell organization. </p> <p>During his tenure, Brody helped to develop and launch brand new heart and lung transplant programs. He also partnered with clinical leaders to expand access to best-in-class sub-specialty medicine and surgery across the downstate region of New York. Furthermore, he supported a cardiovascular surgery program which was one of three programs nationally in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons’ database to achieve the highest rating of three stars in all five surgical categories. </p> <p>Brody has held a variety of positions within Northwell Health, he began at Northwell’s Center for EMS, where he covered both 911 emergency work in the NYC EMS, as well as critical care interfacility transports. He also held several positions in hospital administration at North Shore University Hospital. Immediately prior to joining cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, Brody was the administrative director for emergency medicine and surgery at North Shore University Hospital. </p> <p>Brody received a Bachelor of Arts in economics from New York University and a Master of Public Administration degree from the New York University Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. </p>

Stephan Davis, DNP, FACHE

Speaker

<div id="pastingspan1">Stephan Davis, DNP, FACHE, is the inaugural executive director of inclusive leadership education for the Department of Health Administration at Virginia Commonwealth University. He also serves as assistant dean of diversity, equity and inclusion for VCU’s College of Health Professions, which houses programs across nine disciplines. These include top-ranked programs in U.S. News and World Report, such as nurse anesthesia (No. 1 in the nation), healthcare management and rehabilitation counseling (ranked in the top 5), and physical therapy and occupational therapy (ranked in the top 20).</div><div> </div><div id="pastingspan1">Davis is a faculty member for the American College of Healthcare Executives and an ACHE Fellow. He recently served ACHE as chair of the LGBTQ Healthcare Leaders Community and as a Regent-at-Large, a role created to foster diversity in the governance of ACHE. In addition, he serves as chair of the Quality and Safety Faculty Forum for the Association of University Programs in Health Administration. For his leadership in the interprofessional context, he has been elected as a distinguished scholar and fellow of the National Academies of Practice 2022 class of inductees. Davis holds numerous board certifications, including credentials in healthcare quality, finance, strengths-based coaching, nursing leadership and academic nursing education.</div><div></div>

About Stephan Davis, DNP, FACHE
Associate Dean, Inclusive Excellence & Belonging

Rhonda R. Foster, EdD, ACC

Speaker

<p style="6.0pt"></p><div id="pastingspan1">Energetic, visionary, authentic and insightful, Rhonda Foster is a published and highly sought-after hospital consultant with a penchant for driving change, quality and organizational improvement. Her consultation experience has allowed her to provide expertise in the United States in community hospitals, academic medical centers and systems, as well as to organizations in Brazil, Abu Dhabi and Qatar.</div><div> </div><div id="pastingspan1"></div><div id="pastingspan1">In addition to being a consultant, Foster has a wealth of nursing administration and leadership experience, having served as vice president for clinical services and CNO for Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, interim senior vice president and chief nursing and patient care services officer at City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, Calif.; interim CNO with St. Joseph Health—Sonoma County in Petaluma, Calif.; vice president of patient care services and CNO at Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit; and assistant vice president of Women & Children’s Services at Mercy Health—St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio.</div><div> </div><div id="pastingspan1"></div><div id="pastingspan1">She has earned a doctorate in education from Bowling Green State University, a Master of Public Health degree from the Northwest Ohio Consortium for Public Health, a Master of Science degree in nursing administration from Georgetown University, and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Toledo, where she was celebrated as the Outstanding Alumnus in Nursing. In addition, Foster was honored by the <em>Los Angeles Business Journal</em> as a 2021 Women of Influence in Healthcare. She also holds numerous certifications and board appointments and has authored more than a dozen publications on nursing, leadership and quality improvement.</div><div></div><p style="6.0pt"> </p>

About Rhonda R. Foster, EdD, ACC
Consultant & Executive Coach
American Nurses Association & David Couper Consulting

Attila J. Hertelendy, PhD

Speaker

<p>Attila Hertelendy, PhD, has over 28 years of leadership experience as a hospital administrator and executive in the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Canada. He has an extensive background in emergency and disaster management and digital health. He is a frequent international keynote speaker on crisis leadership, disaster and emergency management, global health security, climate change, disaster informatics and digital health.</p> <p>At Florida International University, Hertelendy is an associate professor in the College of Business and has a secondary appointment at the Wertheim College of Medicine. He teaches leadership, organizational behavior and management of healthcare. He is also an adjunct associate professor at the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. He is the director of the Middle East hub for the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education.</p> <p>Hertelendy is the co-research director for the Disaster Medicine Fellowship and faculty at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital. His research interests explore healthcare resiliency and the intersection between climate change, health and disaster medicine. He studies the health implications of climate change and how technology can be used to improve both the delivery and sustainability of healthcare during disasters.</p> <p>He is the author of more than 100 published articles and numerous book chapters. He also serves as the deputy editor for <em>Disaster Medicine and Public Health</em> and associate editor for the <em>Journal of Emergency Management</em>. He ison the editorial board for the <em>Journal of Climate Change and Health</em>. </p>

About Attila J. Hertelendy, PhD
Assistant Professor
Florida International University

Cristian H. Lieneck, PhD, FACHE

Speaker

<p>Dr. Cristian H. Lieneck brings over 10 years of hands-on experience in healthcare administration, specializing in medical group practice management alongside a decade of experience in higher education, where he has been instrumental in preparing future healthcare leaders. He currently serves as the interim director for the School of Health Administration at Texas State University. </p> <p>His journey in healthcare began in high school when he became a licensed emergency medical technician (EMT). He later joined the United States Army as a Medical Service Corps officer, starting as a lieutenant where he managed a garrison medical clinic and a field medical evacuation platoon in the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. Promoted to captain, he took on roles such as executive officer and dental company commander at Fort Carson, overseeing four outpatient dental practices and an oral surgery clinic. </p> <p>Dr. Lieneck has been widely recognized for his military leadership and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his service. His post-military career includes leadership roles in various healthcare organizations, such as the Community Living Assistance Support Services for the Texas Medicaid-Waiver Program and the Austin Radiological Association. He also managed a physiatry and pain medicine group practice in Austin, which included multiple locations and an outpatient procedure suite. </p> <p>He holds fellowships and board certifications from the American College of Healthcare Executives, the American College of Medical Practice Executives and the Academy of Healthcare Management. Dr. Lieneck is also a certified professional in health information and management systems. </p> <p>In addition to his administrative duties, Dr. Lieneck remains active in various professional leadership roles. He teaches the healthcare finance module for the American College of Healthcare Executives’ Board of Governors exam review course and serves as the Regent for Central/South Texas. He is also the MGMA Forum Representative for Texas and contributes to multiple local, state, and national committees. </p> <p>Dr. Lieneck's research interests focus on healthcare value, particularly in finance and marketing, as well as practice and ambulatory care administration. He is passionate about education, both teaching and ensuring the quality of healthcare management programs as a reviewer for the Association of University Programs in Health Administration. </p> <p>Outside of his professional life, he enjoys playing music, particularly bluegrass, and cherishes time spent with his family.</p>

About Cristian H. Lieneck, PhD, FACHE
Associate Professor & Interim Director, School of Health Administration
Texas State University

Kevin Manemann

Speaker

<p>Kevin Manemann focuses on sustainably and harmonizing his organization through servant leadership on mission-critical initiatives, regionally and enterprise wide. With direct responsibility for the national footprint and the physician organization, Manemann serves as the connective tissue within the organization on integration initiatives including area of operational effectiveness, strategic program development, system integration, experience and patient access to reframe approaches to drive value, seed innovation and shape execution on national strategies.</p><p>Before joining City of Hope, Manemann spent 20 years in progressive leadership positions with Providence St. Joseph Health in Renton, Washington. He most recently served as the chief executive of the southern division, which includes California, overseeing 17 hospitals, a physician organization, surgery centers, immediate care centers, community care agencies and a health plan with 700,000 lives covered with combined revenues in excess of $12 billion. Prior to this role, he served as executive vice president and chief executive for Providence Physician Enterprise across eight states. Earlier, he held senior leadership roles with St. Joseph Heritage Healthcare and was president and chief executive officer for over five years before merging the health system into Providence St. Joseph Health.</p><p>Manemann holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Iowa and a Master of Arts in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.</p>

Aaron Miri, DHA

Speaker

<p>Aaron Miri is responsible for developing the strategic technology vision of Baptist Health and leading the team charged with the implementation and effective adoption of technology solutions. The technology department strives to humanize technology, driving integration and optimization that enables patient-focused care delivery.</p><p>Dr. Miri has more than 25 years of health care and technology experience and serves as a thought leader on digital strategy both internally at Baptist Health and externally with the larger healthcare community. As an active and distinguished member of several health IT organizations, Dr. Miri continues to promote initiatives to improve interoperability, efficiency, and IT innovation to support improved care delivery models.</p><p>Since joining Baptist in 2021, Dr. Miri has been responsible for improving the ability to provide patient-centered care. He is passionate about driving a learning health system and utilizing advanced analytics to improve both future care and population health.</p><p>Prior to joining Baptist Health, Dr. Miri served as the chief information officer for The University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School and UT Health Austin, chief information officer for Imprivata, chief information officer for Walnut Hill Medical Center in Dallas and chief technology officer for Children’s Health System of Texas.</p><p>Dr. Miri is a nationally recognized 2024 “CIOs to Know” by Becker’s Hospital Review, 2024 Florida CIO ORBIE award winner, 2020 Healthcare Hero’s Awardee from The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) and has received numerous other industry awards recognizing him as a leader and changemaker. In January 2022, he joined the CHIME Board of Trustees.</p><p>Dr. Miri received his Doctor of Health Administration from the Medical University of South Carolina, his Master of Business Administration with distinction from the University of Dallas and his Bachelor of Science in management information systems from the University of Texas at Arlington. He is a Certified Healthcare Chief Information Officer (CHCIO), a distinguished Fellow with the Health Information Management Systems Society (FHIMSS), the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (FCHIME) and he is a Project Management Professional (PMP).</p>

Burl E. Stamp, FACHE

Speaker

<p style="6.0pt">Burl Stamp, president/founder of Stamp & Chase, has broad-based experience working alongside healthcare professionals from the boardroom to the bedside. He has helped major health systems, academic medical centers and community hospitals improve bottom line, patient experience, staff engagement and operating results. His firm partners with healthcare organizations across the globe to improve performance by developing enhanced communication competencies and practices at all levels of the enterprise.</p> <p style="6.0pt">Prior to launching Stamp & Chase more than 16 years ago, Burl served several leading healthcare organizations in executive roles. As president/CEO of Phoenix Children’s Hospital, he spearheaded development and construction of the first comprehensive, freestanding healthcare campus in Arizona dedicated to pediatrics. He developed the first strategic planning and marketing department at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, where he started the highly successful Answer Line to provide reliable, accessible health advice to families—a solid population health strategy that was roughly 20 years ahead of its time. He went on to lead pediatric service line development for BJC HealthCare/Washington University Medical Center.</p> <p style="6.0pt">In the healthcare community, Burl has served as a member of the Board of Directors of SoutheastHEALTH, a regional system serving southeast Missouri and southern Illinois. He also was a member of the FOCUS St. Louis 2019 Impact Fellows cohort, which focused on improvements to the community’s healthcare safety net through a racial lens. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a past board member of the Society for Healthcare Strategy & Market Development of the American Hospital Association. </p> <p style="6.0pt">Burl earned his master of business administration and has served as president of the Olin School of Business Alumni Association at Washington University in St. Louis. He completed his bachelor of science in business administration at Southeast Missouri State University.</p> <p style="6.0pt">Burl is the author of <em>The Healing Art of Communication</em>, a healthcare professional’s guide to improving communication, and the creator of CAREmunication® and MyTEAM®, comprehensive professional development programs and tools designed to help healthcare providers improve relationships and communication among front-line managers and staff. He is a frequent speaker on leadership, change management, organizational culture, communication and business development strategy in healthcare organizations.</p>

Brian Unell, FACHE

Speaker

<p>Brian Unell is the CEO of VantageHealth.ai which focuses on simplifying the billing and payment processes for patients while reducing costs and increasing revenue for providers/vendors. As a hobby, Unell focuses on expanding leadership at home, work and in life as an author and speaker. His first book Everyday Leadership: You Will Make A Difference was released in the Fall of 2022. Previously, Unell focused on helping health systems achieve remarkable financial results mainly through large scale revenue cycle improvements as a consultant and executive. </p> <p>Unell has been described as a transformational healthcare executive who has a passion for cultivating talent and driving change to enable sustainable results. Unell is recognized as a visionary and collaborative team builder and servant leader who turns data into information, the complex into simple and chaos into focus. Unell defines opportunities, develops strategies; prioritizes initiatives and drives results via a belief that “Communications and Expectations are 90% of Success” while trying each day to solve more problems than he causes. </p> <p>Unell earned three degrees from the University of Florida: a BS in Statistics, MBA and a Master of Health Administration. Unell currently resides in his hometown of Atlanta with his wife Hilary, fifteen-year-old son Harris and six-year-old daughter Sara. </p>

Leslie Wainwright, PhD

Speaker

<p>Dr. Leslie Wainwright is a nationally recognized strategist, educator and innovation leader who brings over two decades of experience applying design thinking to complex challenges in healthcare and beyond. As a frequent speaker and faculty member with the American College of Healthcare Executives, she has educated thousands of executives on how human-centered innovation tools can drive meaningful, measurable change; her work has guided leadership teams spanning from major health systems to local start-ups. Dr. Wainwright currently serves as faculty for the ACHE seminar “Applying Thinking to Healthcare’s Most Pressing Challenges.” Her expertise includes healthcare delivery, biotechnology, advanced analytics and entrepreneurship.</p><p>Dr. Wainwright was a founding executive of several pioneering organizations, including Sg2 and AVIA and Do Tank, where she currently serves as partner and senior strategist. Her approach blends deep scientific training with practical strategy expertise.</p><p>As an accomplished educator, Dr. Wainwright has designed award-winning executive education programs, including the Rush University Leadership Academy in collaboration with the Illinois Hospital Association. She has shared her expertise through keynote roles at the Hospital Association of Southern California, the ACHE Chapter Leaders Conference and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Healthcare Transformation Delegation. Internationally, she led design thinking-based innovation training through the U.S.-Pakistan Science & Technology Startup and Ideation Program as part of the GIST initiative. Dr. Wainwright holds a PhD from Northwestern University and completed a fellowship at the University of Maryland Medical School.</p>

Dawn Z. Wright, JD, FACHE

Speaker

<p>Dawn Zell Wright has a proven track record of aligning operations strategy with business goals, developing leaders and driving significant, sustainable organizational improvements. She is a transformative leader who brings together complex, growing healthcare systems through strategic partnerships. Her extensive experience includes designing, creating, building and implementing high-functioning, consistent, centralized, agile human resources services and teams. Wright leverages best practices and standardizations to deliver best-in-class solutions, positioning organizations to create incredible employee experiences, lead the market as a best place to work and realize sustainable growth with financial excellence. </p> <p>Wright is the chief human resources officer for New Orleans-based LCMC Health. Prior to joining LCMC Health, she served as system vice president of Human Resources Operations for CHRISTUS Health, vice president of Human Resources for the Northcentral Region of Pennsylvania at UPMC and director of Human Resources for CommonSpirit Health’s Catholic Health Initiatives Texas Division. Wright's Human Resources expertise is complemented by her background as an attorney, where she received numerous accolades for her work as a litigator and defense attorney specializing in minority rights issues. As a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, Wright is focused on removing artificial barriers and building a sustainable pipeline of diverse and inclusive healthcare leaders reflective of the communities served. Her legal and HR background equips her with a unique perspective enabling her to foster highly reliable organizations for patient outcomes, employee experience and community impact. </p> <p>Wright earned her undergraduate degree in behavioral science from Concordia University Texas, an MBA from West Texas A&M and a Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University School of Law. She is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and holds the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification. </p>

About Dawn Z. Wright, JD, FACHE
Chief Human Resources Officer
LCMC Health

2025 Orlando Cluster