Mid-Atlantic Healthcare Summit

Melisa Byrd is the Senior Deputy Director / Medicaid Director of the Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF). In this role, Ms. Byrd serves as the principal manager for the District’s Medicaid, CHIP, Alliance and Immigrant Children’s programs. Melisa directs the day-to-day organization, planning, implementation, and evaluation of the programs to ensure compliance with federal and District laws. Melisa advises the DHCF Director on all major policy and budget issues related to DHCF’s health care programs. Previously, Ms. Byrd served as the agency’s Chief of Staff and as the Associate Director of the Office of the Public Provider Liaison. Prior to returning to the Department as the Medicaid Director in October 2018, Ms. Byrd was a Senior Consultant with Health Management Associates (HMA) where she consulted with public and private entities across the nation on Medicaid, health care reform, and reproductive health. Before initially joining DC Medicaid in 2008, Melisa served as Policy Advisor to the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health. Melisa led the Department’s efforts to expand health insurance coverage to uninsured adults and worked on the state’s efforts to restore and redesign the health care delivery system in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Melisa began her career at the National Governors Association in Washington, DC, where she was a policy analyst in the Health Division of the Center for Best Practices. Ms. Byrd received her Bachelor of Arts in Government from Wofford College in 2000.

Keith, is a Principal at SLAM and serves as the Management lead for the Los Angeles Studio as well as the National Director of Innovation for the firm. Keith combines his unique experiences including construction, technical architect, leadership with his passion for design and innovation forming a very broad and unique perspective. Keith engages challenge with a strong team-building focus that leverages the very best from those around him. Through these networked relationships and exposures, Keith has a unique skill in understanding the interconnected nature of seemingly disparate technologies and strategies and cultivating the development of new and innovative solutions. He holds an Masters of Architecture from Tulane University and is a member of the California Council of the American Institute of Architects.

Joseph Ochipinti is the CEO of UnitedHealthcare Mid-Atlantic Region and has been in this role since early 2019. Ochipinti brings over 25 years of health care and financial services experience. As CEO of UnitedHealthcare-Mid Atlantic, he is responsible for UnitedHealthcare’s Employer & Individual business driving growth, quality, profitability and overall performance for health benefit plans that serve more than 2.8million UHC members in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and District of Columbia. He is based at UnitedHealthcare’s Columbia, MD office. Prior to 2019, Ochipinti served as CEO of United Healthcare Gulf States Region (LA, MS, AL) for a little over 3 years. Prior to 2016, Joe served as Chief Growth officer for3 years in the Southeast Region, responsible for sales and membership growth, profitability and account management. He also developed and executed business plans for Small Business, Key Account, Public Sector, Specialty and Individual Exchanges. Previously, Ochipinti was Vice President of Sales of UnitedHealthcare’s Employer & Individual Gulf States Regionfrom 2009 to 2013, and from 2007 to 2009 he led the company’s medical, pharmacy and specialty product strategy in the Southeast Region. Ochipinti has servedon the American Heart Association Heart Walk National Executive team since 2015and serves on the local and regional boards of the American Lung Association (ALA). In 2013 he advocated for the eventual passage of Smoke Free New Orleans, which made all workplaces throughout the city smoke-free.He serves on the Economic Council Executive Board and the local March of Dimes Board in DMV. Joe is a graduate of LaSalle University in Philadelphia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Industrial Public Relations. He received his Master’s Degree from Webster University School of Business & Technology in St Louisand is a graduate of the Wharton’s School of Business seven-month UnitedHealth Group Executive Development and General Management Program. He and his lovely wife Deirdre, have been married 15 years and have two wonderful children, Alec 11 and Kate 6.

With a career spanning over 30 years and nearly $1 billion worth of projects, Jon’s preconstruction and construction experience is both diverse and exceptional. He has seen every aspect of the construction process up close, and as the leader of our Healthcare Group, he has helped us build some of the most complex clinical projects in the local industry. Recently, Jon has worked with major healthcare providers such as Kaiser Permanente, MedStar Health and Inova Health, in addition to critical work for Children’s National and Whitman-Walker Health, projects he considers the most rewarding from a community perspective. In a time where healthcare is crucial, we’re thankful to have Jon leading the charge at DAVIS.

Bob Gesing has served the healthcare industry for more than 35 years, providing a wide range of data analytics and strategic advisory services as well as programming, planning and clinical design services on over 2,000 engagements for more than 150 healthcare organizations throughout the United States and abroad. Guided by his deep background in analytics and lean operations, Bob is passionate about creating innovative and forward-thinking strategies and Enrich the Lives, Enhance the Value and Ensure the Future of his clients and the communities they serve. Bob’s expertise includes strategic organizational development, market and operational analysis, clinical process of care design, programming and planning, financial pro forma, capital allocation analysis and design. His efforts have helped health systems improve quality, decrease operational costs and effectively plan for the future. Bob serves as the National Healthcare Practice Leader for Trinity:NAC a global healthcare ideation and design firm with offices in Columbus, Los Angeles, Seattle, Spokane and Shanghai.

Dr. Justice started her career in Washington, DC, working in the fields of intelligence and threat assessment. She eventually decided to pursue a career in clinical psychology to fulfill her passion of working with marginalized groups and individuals. For the past 15 years she has had the pleasure of working as a clinical psychologist for federal and state corrections, university medical centers, and state behavioral health facilities. Dr. Justice currently serves as the Facility Director/CEO for Central State Hospital in Petersburg, Virginia, home to the only maximum security behavioral health facility in the state. Dr. Justice earned a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of Charleston, a Master’s degree in Forensic Science from The George Washington University, and Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University.

Kurt has been responsible for programming and planning tens of millions of square feet around the globe, including more than six million square feet of hospital, ambulatory, psychiatric and medical office building space. He has provided pre-design services for a multitude of healthcare and educational building types worldwide and is accomplished in a wide variety of analytical, decision-making and facilitating techniques. Kurt has unique strength in the ability to take overwhelming amounts of data—both quantitative and qualitative—and abstract it to easily understood information that supports informed decision-making. Through his significant portfolio of work, pioneering non-architectural applications, and public outreach, he has distinguished himself as an “architect of decision-making.” A frequent speaker on healthcare programming and planning, he is well regarded for his understanding of how healthcare facilities work.

Some of Brent's earliest memories are of telling everyone that he wanted to be an architect. He was obsessed with learning everything about design and how it impacts our world. Through exploration and experience, Brent found that architecture speaks to our hearts without asking our permission. He loved that the built environment could do this through a building's beauty, ingenuity, or service to the community. For Brent, there is great power in that. As an architect, Brent is here to dream, discover, innovate, and challenge, meeting clients; needs throughout the design process. Through work in the healthcare, higher education, and government sectors, Brent has been most inspired by his clients' service to causes outside themselves. He admires how their leadership positively affects their culture and communities and thinks it's important to highlight those values through impactful architecture. Likewise, Brent believes it's essential to invest in bettering the design and construction industry. He has served as the elected International Vice President of the American Institute of Architecture Students, worked nationally as a member of the AIA National Diversity Council, and served eight years on the Architecture Foundation's Diversity Advancement Scholarship Jury, which he chaired from 2019-2020. In the coming years, Brent hopes to continue to give back to a profession that has given him so much.

My name is Don and I joined the Whitman-Walker Health team in 2006. I am humbled and honored to served as CEO for the Whitman-Walker Health System. I believe in a service leadership philosophy where all employees and volunteers extend dignity, respect, and affirmation to those we care for in community. In my role, I work collaboratively with the Board of Directors and community stakeholders to advance Whitman-Walker as the nation’s leading LGBTQ health care group. My work is strongly influenced by a simple yet powerful principle—health is a matter of equality and social justice. I have lived in Washington, DC for three decades and am a native of Foxboro, MA (home of the New England Patriots). However, soccer is my first true athletic love.

Elliott Sellers is a Vice President of Investments & Partner with Anchor Health Properties and serves an integral role in the management of real estate acquisition and development investments. He brings more than five years of healthcare real estate experience overseeing more than $1 billion of closed investments to date. A key member of the Investments team and an active member in the healthcare real estate sector, Mr. Sellers leads business development efforts for the Mid Atlantic, Southeast, Southern California, and Pacific Northwest regions through which he has overseen the acquisition of more than 2.5 million square feet of healthcare real estate investments to-date. As head of the Company’s Washington, DC office, Mr. Sellers provides leadership and guidance to the investment and development platform through sourcing and screening real estate investment opportunities and providing recommendations to institutional equity partners. A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) charterholder since 2020, he brings a diverse finance knowledge which can be applied to real estate investments and assisting the Company’s clients with complex corporate finance challenges. Prior to his current role, Mr. Sellers worked in a commercial real estate brokerage firm in Charlotte, North Carolina, with key focus areas including investment sales and debt placement for a wide variety of asset classes. Mr. Sellers holds a BBA degree in finance from James Madison University (JMU) and sits as a committee member of the inaugural Revista Rising Leaders Council. Mr. Sellers enjoys volunteering in his community and previously served on the Central Virginia American Red Cross Board.

Mr. Fischer is a Principal and Managing Director with Trammell Crow Company and an integral part of the company’s comprehensive healthcare, life sciences and senior living development and investment initiatives. He serves as a national healthcare product specialist for the firm, keeping healthcare development teams across the country stay abreast of national trends and best practices. Additionally, he directly oversees TCC’s MidAtlantic health and life science developments, which currently include the notable 1.0 million square foot McMillan Redevelopment, the Adventist White Oak Medical and Oncology Pavilion, the National Harbor I and II medical office buildings, the John Carlyle Center for Wellness and Healthcare, the Falls Church Center for Wellness, the Balfour at Palisades, and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital’s 970,000 square-foot Medical and Surgical Pavilion. Mr. Fischer has held various leadership positions in investment management within the healthcare industry since 1986. Prior to joining Trammell Crow Company in 2005, Mr. Fischer led his consulting practice, Fischer Advisory Partners, through the development of a national healthcare energy platform for US Power and also worked on services syndication for the private funding initiatives of hospitals in the United Kingdom and Germany. Currently, Mr. Fischer serves as Chairman Emeritus for the Urban Land Institute’s Healthcare & Life Sciences Council, as well as numerous Board and civic groups.

Michelle McGuire, M.B.A, is interim executive vice president and chief strategy officer at Children's National Hospital. She is also the vice president of International Affairs. She serves as an adviser to the CEO by providing strategic oversight and ensuring alignment of organizational priorities. Michelle’s responsibilities also include leading special projects for the health system and partnering with members of the executive team on the execution of critical business functions across the organization. In her role as the vice president of International Affairs, she is responsible for developing the comprehensive framework and executing the strategies in partnership with other leaders, ensuring operational and strategic alignment. Michelle joined the team at Children’s National in 2011 with extensive experience in providing business solutions to Fortune 50 companies. She spent the majority of her career at Deloitte Consulting in New York, where she led engagements in business process improvement, system integration and implementation, strategy and corporate governance. She brings impressive experience as a strategic adviser to C-suite executives to her role at Children’s National and to her work supporting the CEO and his leadership team. Michelle earned an MBA in finance from NYU Stern School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Smith College.

Mr. Michael Crawford is the Associate Dean for Strategy, Outreach, and Innovation at the Howard University College of Medicine and Founding Executive Director of 1867 Health Innovations Project. Mr. Crawford serves as a strategic advisor to the Dean of Howard University College of Medicine and Vice President of Clinical Affairs and collaborates with medical science, health, academic, and HU Board leadership to advance Howard University’s academic, health, and innovation mission. Prior to Howard University, Mr. Crawford served as the Chief of Staff at Unity Health Care, Inc., one of the largest health center networks in the United States. Prior to Unity, Mr. Crawford held leadership positions at Johnson & Johnson, GlaxoSmithKline, and Gannett Company. Mr. Crawford brings expertise at the intersection of operations, strategy, digital health, data, innovation, and program development. Mr. Crawford serves on numerous national and local committees, including a Member of the Academy of Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Service Research Learning Community, Member of Robert Wood Johnson National Commission To Transform Public Health Data Systems, Member of the District of Columbia Complete Count Committee, Member of New York eHealth Innovation Advisory Group, Member of American Essential Hospitals Education Committee, Member of National Minority Quality Forum Advisory Board, and Member of Boys and Girls Clubs Greater Washington Board of Directors. Mr. Crawford holds a Master of Healthcare Leadership (MHL) with a concentration in healthcare administration and management from Brown University, Master of Business Administration (MBA) from The George Washington University with a concentration in Strategic Management and Finance, and a Bachelor of Science from Rider University with a concentration in Marketing Strategy.

Alicia Wilson is the vice president for economic development at the Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health System. She leads a core team driving Johns Hopkins’ strategy and initiatives as an anchor institution in and around Baltimore, and elevating and expanding the institutions commitment to the city through investments in economic and neighborhood development, health care, and education. Prior to joining Hopkins, she served as the senior vice president of impact investments and senior legal counsel for the Port Covington Development Team, where she was instrumental in securing a $660 million TIF for the $5.5 billion redevelopment. Wilson also held a partnership position at the law firm of Gordon Feinblatt for eight years. Wilson actively works with charitable organizations and was recently elected chair of the CollegeBound Foundation and, as such, is the first African American and youngest board chair in the 30-year history of the organization. She holds an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and a juris doctor from the University of Maryland Francis Key Carey School of Law.

Matt Sullivan joined Cushman & Wakefield in 2009 and has more than 15 years of commercial real estate experience. He leads the firm’s Mid-Atlantic Healthcare Advisory Practice, providing strategic advisory and brokerage services to physician practice groups, hospital systems, investors in healthcare real estate, insurance providers, pharmaceutical and biotech companies both regionally and nationally. He and his team advise clients with expertise surrounding patient experience, service line projections, payer mix analysis, clinical space utilization and regulatory compliance.

Dr. Norvell V. Coots serves as the President and CEO of Holy Cross Health, and the President and CEO of the Maryland Region of Trinity Health. Holy Cross is a $600 Million Health System consisting of Holy Cross Hospital, Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, Holy Cross Health Network, Holy Cross Health Foundation, and the Holy Cross Radiation Treatment Center, all located in Montgomery County. He is currently the Chairman of the Board of Maryland Physicians Care, a Medicaid MCO, and serves on the Executive Committee of the Maryland Hospital Association. He is a member of the Maryland Governor's Covid19 Task Force. In 2016 he retired from the United States Army as a Brigadier General. His final assignment was as the Commanding General of Regional Health Command Europe, and as the Command Surgeon for the US Army Europe and 7th Army. His previous assignments have included Deputy Commanding General of the US Army Medical Command, the Assistant Surgeon General of the Army, and as the Surgeon General for the US Forces in Afghanistan. From 2008- 2011, he served as the final Commander of the historic Walter Reed Healthcare System and Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, DC. He is Board Certified in Dermatology, holds a Master’s degree in Strategy from the Army War College, and a certification in advanced healthcare management from the Interagency Institute for Federal Healthcare Executives. His civilian healthcare awards include the Scroll of Merit of the National Medical Association, the 2020 Exceptional Healthcare Executive of the Year award, given by the US-India SME Council, recognition as one of the recipients of the 2018 Distinguished Healthcare Leadership Award from the National Association of Health Sector Executives, and recognition on the 2017 and 2019 Becker's Healthcare/American Medical Association list of 105 Physician Leaders to Know. His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal and the Defense Superior Service Medal. He has been awarded the Legion of Honor from France, and is a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit. He is also a member of the American Academy of Dermatology’s Leadership Circle on Volunteerism.

As an Energy Service consultant, I guide long-term relationships with the C Suite, building owners, Directors, Board Members, and government sectors to identify antiquated business processes and areas of waste to lead sustainability initiatives that improve their business performance, allowing them to focus on their core business. In addition, I provide knowledge and consultation to our customers on the financial drivers, legislation, and requirements for energy-based, financially driven sales throughout the district. With a focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies, our projects deliver tangible outcomes that channel operational and energy waste into measurable sustainability actions. Including improved comfort, upgraded infrastructure, and other transformative changes to companies and their communities. My specialties include energy efficiency, guaranteed energy savings projects, district heating & cooling, cogeneration, energy monitoring, project financing, design/build, asset management, and life cycle economic analysis.