THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE

Building a comprehensive regional data strategy for health equity in Orange County

November 14, 2024 | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

UCI Beall Applied Innovation Center
5270 California Avenue, Irvine, CA 92617

$150 per person

The future of healthcare is rapidly evolving, driven by technological advancements, changing demographic trends, and a growing emphasis on achieving health equity and mitigating disparity. Several key trends are likely to shape this landscape, and addressing these can inform a regional data strategy aimed to improve health outcomes. The objective of this distinctive conference is to foster collaborations on health data towards accelerating the development of accessible treatments to all individuals.

Conference Themes

  • Digital Health Integration: The integration of digital health technologies, including telehealth, wearable devices, increased access to real-world data, and AI-driven diagnostics, will become more prevalent. Will these technologies increase access to healthcare services, improve patient outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs?
  • Precision Medicine: Advances in genomics and wearable physiological monitoring will enable therapies tailored to the individual characteristics of each patient. Will these personalized medicine approaches significantly improve treatments for poorly insured and minoritized populations?
  • Population Health Management: There will be a shift towards population health management strategies that focus on preventing disease and managing chronic conditions. Can population health data tools effectively identify social determinants of health and integrate these insights into the management of individual patients?
  • Vertical Integration of American Medicine: American medicine is under transformation as hospital-based corporate entities own an increasing share of health care providers. Can the premise of more efficient use of health care resources and emphasis on community-care be used to mitigate health disparities and inequities for the most vulnerable?
  • Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) and Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA): Obtaining community insight is critical to the development of a population-based data approach towards improving health outcomes. Can findings from these community evaluations be shared across Orange County’s healthcare system for an optimized data infrastructure?

November 14, 2024 | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

November 14, 2024
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

UCI BEALL APPLIED INNOVATION CENTER
5270 CALIFORNIA AVENUE, IRVINE, CA 92617

MORNING EVENTS

8:00 AM – Check-in and Continental Breakfast

8:15 AM – Kickoff

Donald P. Wagner

The Honorable Donald P. Wagner

Chairman, Orange County Supervisor, Third District

Q

Donald P. Wagner

Orange County Supervisor Donald P. Wagner was voted to serve as Chairman of the Board in 2023. Chairman Wagner is honored to serve the County’s Third District, representing over 630,000 diverse residents in the communities of Anaheim Hills, Irvine, Lake Forest, North Tustin & Tustin, Orange, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, the unincorporated canyons, Villa Park, and Yorba Linda.

Chairman Wagner currently serves on several committees, including the Orange County Fire Authority Executive Committee; The Orange County Transportation Authority: Legislative Committee and SR-91 Advisory; The Transportation Corridor Authority: Joint External Affairs Committee, Joint Capital Programs & Project Committee, and the 241/91 Express Connector Ad Hoc Committee; Southern California Association of Governments: Transportation Committee, Regional Council, Executive and Administrative Committee, Legislative/Communications & Membership Committee and Joint Policy Committee; Orange County Council of Governments: Bylaws Committee, Steering Committee, and the Executive Management Committee Meeting; Chairman Wagner is also a Member of the Orange County Sanitation District, serving on the Operations Committee, and is a recent member of the Orange County Power Authority.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of California, Los Angeles, earning a Juris Doctorate in 1987 from the University of California, Hastings College of Law; he joined the California Bar that same year. Chairman Wagner is a practicing attorney and UCLA Bruin for life.

Chairman Don Wagner is a former South Orange County Community College District Trustee for three consecutive terms, balancing every budget and paying off all debts without additionally burdening the taxpayers. This leadership earned him an unprecedented six years as Board President.

During his six years in the State Assembly, he gained invaluable experience on a wide variety of committees, including Budget, Health, Education, and Revenue and Taxation. As the former Vice-Chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, his committee had jurisdiction over the legal profession, the courts, and most state governing codes. On financial committees, he oversaw all state spending and revenue, quickly earning a reputation for expertise in government fiscal affairs, such that he was twice asked by the Association of California Cities – Orange County to teach government finance and budgeting to local elected officials at UCI. He has dedicated his free time to nonprofits and charities, serving as the past president of the American Lung Association of Orange County. He is also the founder and first president of the Orange County Chapter of the Federalist Society, a national organization of lawyers, judges, and law professors that ensure judicial integrity and strict adherence to the Constitution of the United States.

As the past Mayor of Irvine, he ensured the Great Park project bloomed after $200 million was wasted away under prior city council leadership. He brings this level of service to the community at the County level; in 2019, he expanded public resources without raising taxes when he reopened Irvine Lake for shoreline fishing. The Lake was previously closed for three years to the public. Chairman Wagner continues to engage directly with the residents to help address local issues, improve public safety, and enhance the quality of life in Orange County.

He is an active participant in Orange County business and legal communities with prior service on several committees and advisory boards for the Orange County Bar Association, including a Judge Pro Tempore in the Superior Court of Orange County. The Orange County Register, Los Angeles Times, and several local media outlets have published his articles on legal, political, and cultural topics.

Chairman Wagner lives in the unincorporated area of his District with his wife, and previously in Irvine, where they raised and educated their three children. His family shares a love for the game of baseball.

8:30 AM – Opening Remarks 

Dan Cooper

Dan Cooper, MD

Interim Executive Director, Institute for Precision Health, UC Irvine

Q

Dan Cooper

Dr. Dan M. Cooper is the Interim Executive Director of the Institute for Precision Health at UC Irvine, and Associate Director of the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (ICTS, the NIH CTSA). Dan received his MD from the University of California, San Francisco in 1974. He completed his Pediatrics Training at NYU/Bellevue Medical Center. He went on to a 3- year fellowship in Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine at Babies Hospital, Columbia University. In 1981, Dr. Cooper joined the faculty at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and in 1989, Dr. Cooper, in collaboration with the MLK-Drew Medical Center and CHOC- Children’s Hospital, established the first ACGME accredited post-doctoral training fellowship in pediatric critical care medicine in the state of California. A major aim of the Fellowship was to encourage the recruitment of excellent pediatricians from underrepresented minorities. Dr. Cooper was recruited to UCI in 1997. Dr. Cooper led the effort to obtain an NIH General Clinical Research Center for UCI in 1999 which evolved into a successful NIH Clinical Translational Science Award which has been funded continuously since 2010. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Cooper led regional and national efforts to keep schools open by implementing safe and health practices.

Dr. Cooper’s research focuses on the translational science of exercise and physical activity and its impact on health and disease in the pediatric population. He is one of the leaders of the NIH Common Fund Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity study, the largest and most ambitious study the NIH has ever undertaken to understand the biological underpinnings of the health effects of exercise. Dr. Cooper also is a leader of the NIH funded project REACH which is focused on exercise and physical activity in children with sickle cell disease. He is currently working with the Santa Ana Unified School District to improve physical fitness education and assessment.

8:45 AM – State of Health in Orange County
Snapshot of Health Needs Assessments: What We Know and What We Don’t Know
Michael Hunn

Michael Hunn

CEO, CalOptima Health

Q

MICHAEL HUNN

As Chief Executive Officer, Michael Hunn is responsible for the Mission and Vision of CalOptima Health, serving its members, managing its systems and structures as well as overall strategic business, network, financial and community planning. He oversees all aspects of the health plan and maintains close working relationships with the Board of Directors, members, providers, and community organizations as well as local city, county, state and federal elected officials. Prior to joining CalOptima Health in November 2021, Hunn was President and Founder of a health care and business advisory firm. He has more than 25 years of executive leadership experience in CEO/President roles with hospitals, health systems, and now with CalOptima Health. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s degree in Systematic Theology. Hunn has been an Orange County resident since 1994.
Veronica Kelley

Veronica Kelley, DSW, LCSW

Director, Orange County Health Care Agency

Q

VERONICA KELLEY

Veronica Kelley, DSW, LCSW is the Director of the Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA). Dr. Kelley has more than 33 years of experience in the behavioral health field. Previously, she was HCA’s Director of Behavioral Health Services, overseeing the public behavioral health system. She also serves as the Alcohol & Drug Administrator for Orange County, which allows the county to receive federal funds to address substance use disorders. Dr. Kelley spent 13 years serving the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health, with six years as the Behavioral Health Director. During that time, she led the county’s crisis response and recovery efforts following the 2015 terrorist attack. Dr. Kelley remains active at the state level, addressing behavioral health issues as a Board member of NAMI California and the Past President of the County Behavioral Health Directors Association, is an appointee to the Governors No Place Like Home Advisory Committee and a Steering Committee member for the Department of Health Care services Community Mental Health Equity Project. Dr. Kelley earned a Doctor of Social Work from Capella University, Minnesota and a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles and is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of California. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Loma Linda University Department of Social Work & Social Ecology, and a part time lecturer at CSU Fullerton, School of Social Work.

9:15 AM – Orange County Equity Map
Insights into Gaps in Health Data that Remain

Katie Kalvoda

Katie Kalvoda

Founder, Advance OC

Q

KATIE KALVODA

For over 20 years, Katie was a leading investor and investment consultant in alternative investments. In that field, Katie was known for her holistic approach to asset management and as a pioneer in impact investing. Her achievements earned her many national and international awards including Angel Investor of the Year, Investment Office of the Year, and Best Business Leader in Real Estate Investments. Today, Katie serves as President of AdvanceOC, where she volunteers her time to help nonprofits and local government agencies close social and health disparities through the use of data intelligence. From its founding in 2019, AdvanceOC has been a leading voice for health equity, and with Katie’s leadership, developed the Orange County Equity Map, an award-winning data platform for data-driven, equity-oriented public policies and community solutions. As a public servant, Katie also volunteers her time and talent at a variety of nonprofit organizations with a mission to advance social good. Katie is a Board Member of the California Health Facilities Financing Authority as an appointee of CA Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. She is also a Board Member of the Sisters of St. Joseph Healthcare Foundation and chairs the Lending Policy Committee for Pacific Community Ventures, a community development financial institution (CDFI) that provides financial support and mentoring services to women and minority-owned small businesses in California and across the United States.

9:35 PM – Keynote Address
Learning Health Systems: Building Data-Driven Mechanisms to Mitigate Health Disparities and Inequities

Charles Friedman

Charles Friedman, PhD

Chair, Department of Learning Health Sciences, University of Michigan

Q

Charles Friedman

Charles “Chuck” Friedman is the Chair of the Department of Learning Health Sciences and the Josiah Macy Jr. Professor of Medical Education at the University of Michigan Medical School, as well as a professor of information and of public health. Dr. Friedman is focused on building a Learning Health System, a health system that can continuously study and improve itself, at the University of Michigan and in the state. Dr. Friedman first explored the concept of Learning Health Systems in 2010 through the Institute of Medicine while at the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC).

Under Dr. Friedman’s leadership, the department of Medical Education transformed into the Department of Learning Health Sciences, a “first in the nation” medical school academic department dedicated to the sciences of learning at all levels from learning by individuals, to learning by teams and organizations, and learning by ultra-large scale systems, such as entire nations.

At ONC, Dr. Friedman served as Deputy National Coordinator and Chief Scientific Officer. In addition to advancement of the Learning Health System, his work promoted several IT innovations including SMART Health IT, an open, standards based technology platform. He was lead author of the nation’s first health IT strategic plan. Prior to these executive positions at ONC, Friedman was associate vice chancellor for Biomedical Informatics and founding director of the Center for Biomedical Informatics at the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Friedman’s research emphasizes large-scale information infrastructures and resources to improve health, how individuals and groups interact with information resources, and methods for studying the outcomes of these interactions.

Dr. Friedman holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a Ph.D. in education from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and has done post-graduate studies in medical information science at Stanford University.

Q

Continuing Education Credits

Overview and Target Audience: 

This conference is designed for physicians, clinicians (psychologists, licensed therapists, registered nurses, etc.), healthcare leaders, and students to collaborate on building a Learning Health System focused on equitable and efficient healthcare data sharing. It will highlight the critical role of data integration in advancing healthcare, emphasizing how clinicians, as key drivers of this transformation, can leverage data to improve patient outcomes. Through this event, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how to navigate the complexities of healthcare data and apply it to enhance internal systems change for improved equity and quality in patient care.

Learning Objectives:

1. Be able to describe a learning health system in terms of an integration (“marriage”) of discovery and implementation.

2. Be able to articulate the steps in a Learning Health System improvement cycle.

3. Be able to explain why embraced uncertainty, multi-stakeholder learning communities, and infrastructure are distinguishing features of Learning Health Systems.

4. Be able to describe Learning Health System infrastructure in terms of socio-technical services, including how interdisciplinary approaches from psychology, sociology, and public health can enhance service delivery for diverse populations.

5. Be able to explain why Learning Health Systems can exist at any level of scale, considering the importance of tailoring interventions to meet the specific clinical needs of marginalized communities.

Continuing Education Credits: 

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the California Medical Association (CMA) through the joint providership of Orange County Health Care Agency and Advance OC. The Orange County Health Care Agency is accredited by the CMA to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Orange County Health Care Agency designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. This credit may also be applied to the CMA Certification in Continuing Medical Education.

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider # CEP 15019, for 1 contact hour.

The Orange County Health Care Agency is a CAMFT-approved continuing education provider. Provider #62340 This course meets the qualifications for 1 hour of continuing education credit for MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. The Orange County Health Care Agency maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Psychologists can receive a certificate for participating in a CME approved learning activity. They can use this certificate for 1 CE credit.

Neither Dr. Friedman or any other person with control of the content of this educational activity had any financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

Accommodations: If you need a disability-related reasonable accommodation/alternative format for this training event, please contact BHTS@ochca.com beforehand.

For grievance concerning the Orange County Health Care Agency’s Continuing Education Program, please write to Behavioral Health Training Services at 4000 W. Metropolitan Dr., Ste. 402, Orange, CA 92868 or call (714) 667-5600.

A link to the evaluation will be emailed to participants who completed the entire cycle of consultation groups every April and October. This will occur 3 – 4 business days after the final consultation group of the respective month. The evaluation link will be active for 3 business days after the email.

10:35 AM – Break

10:50 AM – Promises and Challenges of Regional Health Data Exchange
A Thought-Provoking Discussion with Health Enterprise Leaders in Orange County

Kenya Beckmann

Kenya Beckmann

Chief Philanthropy and Health Equity Officer, Providence California

Q

Kenya Beckmann

Kenya Beckmann has been a leading fundraising professional for more than twenty years in higher education and healthcare. Kenya joined Providence in September 2019 and serves as the chief philanthropy and health equity officer for the South Division, responsible for fourteen foundations, community health, and health equity across the state of California. 

Prior to joining Providence, Kenya was executive vice president at Hoag Hospital Foundation. At HHF, she led Hoag Promise, a comprehensive, $627 million fundraising campaign that reached its goal 18 months ahead of its scheduled completion. In addition to healthcare fundraising, Kenya was a leader in higher education philanthropy at UC Irvine and the University of Michigan. 

Kenya’s non-profit commitment extends to work with other charitable organizations. She is an active board member at Providence High School, Amazing Grace Conservatory, and Solve M.E. and has served as a volunteer advisor for non-profit organizations throughout Southern California.  

Originally from Oklahoma City, Kenya received her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, conducted research at Stanford and received her master’s degree from the University of Michigan.  She moved to Orange County in 2004, where she and her husband, Matthew, have two sons, 21 and 18, and a 16-year-old daughter.

Coleen Cunningham

Coleen Cunningham, MD

Pediatrician-In-Chief, CHOC Children’s Hospital

Q

Coleen Cunningham

Dr. Coleen Cunningham serves as both senior vice president and pediatrician-in-chief at CHOC and chair for the UCI Department of Pediatrics. In this unique dual role, which she began in March, 2021, Dr. Cunningham acts as a senior clinical leader with oversight responsibility for CHOC’s vast pediatric medical and surgical services, academic advancement, research and teaching programs. Prior, Dr. Cunningham served as professor with tenure at Duke University in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and as chief of Global Health and vice chair for research in the Department of Pediatrics. She held secondary appointments in the Department of Pathology at Duke and the Duke Global Health Institute. She earned her medical degree from the State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY, where she also did her residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in pediatric infectious diseases. At SUNY, she served as an associate professor of pediatrics and started a pediatric HIV clinic. The author of more than 140 published manuscripts, she also has led many multicenter clinical trials aimed at the treatment and prevention of HIV infection in children. She has been awarded several competitive research grants and served on National Institutes of Health grant review panels. Her education focus is the training of pediatric infectious diseases physician-scientists.

Julie Eastman

Mayil Dharmarajan

Vice President of Data and Analytics, UCI Health

Q

Mayil Dharmarajan

Mayil Dharmarajan is the Vice President of Data and Analytics at UCI Health. With an extensive background in healthcare analytics and data management, Mayil oversees all data & analytics related activities at UCI Health ITS team.

Mayil is committed to improving patient outcomes and operational efficiency through data-driven strategies. He focuses on integrating data science and AI/ML technologies to enhance clinical decision-making and streamline healthcare processes. His expertise includes leveraging advanced analytics to drive healthcare innovations, clinical research, data governance and compliance.

Mayil began his career as a Scientist in pharmaceutical research, holding degrees in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology. He transitioned to IT, gaining valuable experience at organizations such as Ingersoll Rand, Deutsche Bank, City of Hope, and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Most recently, he led the data and AI/ML team at Keck Medicine of USC.

 

Katie Kalvoda

Christopher Finch

Chief Compliance and Privacy Officer, MemorialCare

Q

Chris Finch

Chris Finch serves as the Vice President of Compliance and Internal Audit at MemorialCare, where he ensures adherence to regulatory standards such as HIPAA, Stark Law, Anti-Kickback statutes, False Claims Act, and conflict of interest regulations. With a tenure spanning more than two decades at MemorialCare, Chris brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role.

Chris boasts over 30 years of comprehensive healthcare experience, encompassing roles in clinical practice, finance, and revenue cycle management. This diverse background affords him a profound insight into the complexities of the healthcare industry, a crucial asset in his capacity as a compliance officer.

A registered nurse by profession, Chris holds certification in healthcare compliance from the Healthcare Compliance Association, underscoring his commitment to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct and regulatory compliance. He earned his master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Long Beach State University, further enhancing his qualifications and leadership in healthcare compliance and internal audit oversight.

Regina Chinsio-Kwong

Regina Chinsio-Kwong, DO (Moderator)

County Health Officer, Orange County Health Care Agency

Q

Regina Chinsio-Kwong

Dr. CK currently serves as the County Health Officer at the Orange County Health Care Agency. 

She joined the OC Health Care Agency in November 2020 in response to the COVID pandemic and was heavily involved with planning and clinical operations of Orange County’s COVID vaccination efforts in 2020 and 2021. She now serves as the County Health Officer, focusing efforts with engaging with the medical community to improve awareness of HCA priorities and programs.  

She is a Board-Certified Family Physician and obtained her medical degree in osteopathic medicine from Western University. She served in in the US Navy as a Family Physician, completing residency training and eventually serving as Faculty at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton. Prior to working in Public Health, she provided direct care as a primary care physician in Orange County and served as Medical Director for Innovative Wellness Clinics/Urgent Care centers with St. Joseph/Providence health system. 

AFTERNOON EVENTS

12:00 PM – Lunch, Networking, and Demonstration
The Brave New World of Wearables

Amir Rahmani

Amir Rahmani, PhD

Co-Director, Institute for Future Health, UC Irvine

Q

Amir Rahmani

Amir Rahmani is a Professor of Nursing and Computer Science at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), and a computer scientist by training. He is also the Associate Director of the UCI Institute for Future Health, a university-wide organized research unit (ORU) focusing on personal health empowerment. Amir leads the multi-disciplinary HealthSciTech Group at UCI. Prior to joining UCI as a faculty, he was an EU Marie Curie Global Fellow in the Computer Science Department of University of California, Irvine, USA and in the Institute of Computer Technology of TU Wien, Vienna, Austria. He is also an adjunct professor (Docent) in embedded parallel and distributed computing in the Department of Computing of University of Turku, Turku, Finland. Amir also worked as a visiting researcher in the department of Industrial and Medical Electronics of KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.

Amir is the recipient of the UCI Beall Applied Innovation’s inaugural Faculty Innovation Fellowship, Nokia Foundation’s Research Excellence Award (2 consecutive years), Ulla Tuominen Foundation’s research excellence award, UTU’s Teacher of the Year candidate, UTU’s Rector awarded life-time Docent title, and the European Union’s awarded Global Marie Curie Fellowship.

His work spans mhealth, data science, wearable and mobile computing, machine learning and AI, affective computing, bio-signal processing, health informatics, and embedded computing.

Torhon Barnes

Torhon Barnes, MSW (Moderator)

Director, Advance OC 

Q

Torhon Barnes

Torhon Barnes, MSW, is a Director at Advance OC. Mr. Barnes is a social work professional with nearly 20 years of diverse management experience with knowledge of the healthcare field, county administration and provisions for special populations or underserved communities. He has wide-ranging experience from corporate executive management to direct service delivery including case management services, individual, group and family counseling. Mr. Barnes is experienced with statewide advocacy, professional facilitation, training and consumer or community engagement. He is recognized for effective team leadership, cross-functional team collaboration and program management, and is the thought leader behind the mental health stigma-reduction program, Mane Expressions, empowering the Black community in Orange County. Mr. Barnes earned his Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California, and his Bachelor of Science in Child and Adolescent Studies from California State University, Fullerton. He is also a published author, Freedom Writer Teacher and champion for adult intramural sports.

1:00 PM – Vertical Integration and Safety Nets
Can Data Create Incentives to Address Health Disparities and Improve Access?

Tad Funahashi

Tadashi Funahashi, MD

Chief Innovation Officer, Kaiser Permanente

Q

Tadashi Funahashi

Tad Funahashi, MD is the Chief Innovation Officer for Kaiser Permanente Southern California. In this role, he leads a team of physicians, consultants, designers, data scientists, and engineers who work together with teams and leaders across Kaiser Permanente to envision and build the healthcare delivery system of the future at the Kaiser Permanente Innovations Studio. Dr. Funahashi and the Innovation Studio take a people-first approach to healthcare to enhance the member experience by improving care across the continuum, leveraging big data to provide personalized and improved quality of care, and exploring emerging opportunities that have transformative potential.

Dr. Funahashi maintains a busy clinical and teaching practice in orthopedic surgery and is a Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at University of California Irvine College of Medicine. Dr. Funahashi also founded and chairs the Kaiser Permanente National Implant Registries that currently tracks the safety and outcomes of over 3.2 million implants ranging from orthopedics and cardiology to vascular surgery. He has given hundreds of presentations across the country and internationally and has authored more than 60 papers in publications such as the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, American Journal of Sports Medicine, Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics, and Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. Dr. Funahashi is a diplomat of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, and an active fellow of the American Orthopedic Association, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy Association of North America, and a member of the Orange County Medical Association. He served as the Chief of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery in Kaiser Permanente Orange County from 1994 to 2012, the Regional Chief of Orthopedic Surgery from 2004 to 2012, Chaired the National Chiefs of Orthopedic Surgery from 2004 to 2012, and an Assistant Area Medical Director from 1998 to 2012. He earned his medical degree and completed his orthopedic residency at UCLA School of Medicine.

Michael Stamos

Michael Stamos, MD

Dean, UC Irvine School of Medicine

Q

Michael Stamos

Michael J. Stamos, MD, is an internationally recognized expert in the treatment of colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease using minimally invasive surgery and sphincter-preserving techniques. His research background is centered on outcomes research and innovative clinical trials that have helped define approaches to patient care in his field.

Dr. Stamos was appointed dean for the UCI School of Medicine in 2016. Under his leadership, the School has steadily climbed in national research rankings and has received the highest accreditation possible from the Association of American Medical Colleges/AMA Liaison Committee on Medical Education.

Born in Miami, Florida, Dr. Stamos received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He completed his surgery internship and residency at the University of Miami / Jackson Memorial Medical Center in Miami, Florida, and received additional fellowship training at the Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Dr. Stamos then moved west where he joined the UCLA faculty and worked primarily at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, California as a clinician and division chief for 11 years. During that time, he also served as chief of colon and rectal surgery at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center and as chair of the Board of Directors of the faculty practice plan at Harbor-UCLA.

In 2002, he moved to UCI to establish the Division of Colon & Rectal Surgery. In 2010, he assumed the leadership role as chair of the Department of Surgery, a role he enjoyed until February 2016, when he assumed the role of interim dean.

Dr. Stamos is a past president of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) and the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery (ABCRS), as well as past president of the Research Foundation of ASCRS. He has published more than 260 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 38 chapters, and has served as editor on nine textbooks, including the ASCRS Textbook of Colon and Rectal Surgery.

As a busy clinician, Dr. Stamos developed his leadership skills while maintaining his clinical interests. Since 2005, he has been recognized as a “Physicians of Excellence” by the Orange County Medical Association and since 1998, he has been continuously recognized in Best Doctors in America®.

Richard Pitts

Richard Pitts, DO, PhD

Chief Medical Officer, CalOptima Health

Q

Richard Pitts

As Chief Medical Officer, Richard Pitts, D.O., Ph.D. oversees CalOptima’s health care delivery system, including development and implementation of strategies, programs, policies and procedures. He is responsible for leading key CalOptima departments, including Clinical Operations, Utilization Management, Case Management, Long-Term Support Services, Pharmacy Management and the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Dr. Pitts is a physician and health care executive with a distinguished career spanning clinical practice and occupational health as well as medical group and hospital leadership for organizations such as Prospect Medical Systems, St. Joseph Heritage Healthcare and Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Dr. Pitts holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Chapman University, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Des Moines University and a Ph.D. in Management & Decision Sciences from Walden University.
Clayton Chau

Clayton Chau, MD, PhD (Moderator)

Board Member, Advance OC, and Chief Strategy and
Innovation Officer, National Healthcare and Housing Advisors

Q

Clayton Chau

Clayton Chau is the current Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at National Health and Housing Advisors and a Board Memer of Advance OC. He was the former Health Care Agency Director and the County Health Officer for the County of Orange, California, the 6th largest county in the nation, during the pandemic from 2020 – 2023. He oversaw public health, mental health & recovery, environmental health, correctional health, employee health, public guardian and emergency medical services with over 2900 staff and a budget of over $1 Billion. During the pandemic, Dr. Chau has led the County in its overall COVID-19 response efforts and created a number of initiatives to respond to the crisis of our time.

He was previously the chief clinical and strategy officer for MindOC, the nonprofit entity that supports Be Well OC, a coordinated system to improve Orange County’s mental health services. Dr. Chau has held leadership roles in behavioral health and care management at major public and private health organizations, including Providence Health System and L.A. Care Health Plan. He started his career working for 13 years with Orange County Behavioral Health Services. Dr. Chau obtained his medical degree from the University of Minnesota and his doctorate in clinical psychology from Chelsea University. He completed his psychiatry residency at UCLA San Fernando Valley, followed by a fellowship with the National Institute of Mental Health focusing on substance abuse and HIV. He was recognized in 2012 with leadership awards from the National Council for Behavioral Health and the American Psychiatric Association. Additionally, in July 2021, the Orange County Medical Association named Dr. Chau as Physician of the Year. He was appointed a CalOptima director in May 2020.

2:10 PM – Health Equity in Data
A Deep Dive into Access, Security, and Vulnerable Populations

Isabel Becerra

Isabel Becerra

CEO, Coalition of Orange County Community Health Centers

Q

Isabel Becerra

Isabel Becerra is CEO of the Coalition of Orange County Community Health Centers. She has more than 30 years of experience working in public health. As CEO, she provides administrative leadership, financial direction and oversight of advocacy matters on behalf of Orange County community health centers. She also maintains effective relationships with elected officials, funders and other stakeholders. Prior to the Coalition, she worked at North County Health Services, a Federally Qualified Health Center in San Marcos, California. She was prepared for these roles through a MATCH Fellowship, a comprehensive program that educates leaders on all aspects of operating community health organizations sponsored by the National Association of Community Health Centers, Johns Hopkins University and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Becerra currently serves on multiple boards, including the California Wellness Foundation and the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Pomona College. Becerra was appointed a CalOptima director in August 2020.
Heather Huszti

Heather Huszti, PhD

Chair, Division of Pediatric Psychology, CHOC Children’s Hospital

Q

Heather Huszti

Heather Huszti, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and chief psychologist at CHOC as well as the section chief for pediatric psychology. She also is the director of training for the Psychology Training Program at CHOC. She completed her doctoral degree in clinical psychology with an emphasis in family therapy from Texas Tech University and completed an internship and fellowship at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC). She was on faculty at OUHSC, where she was the director of the Pediatric Psychology Program. She joined CHOC in 2002.

Dr. Huszti has served as a principal investigator on a number of federally funded research projects with a focus on adherence.

Michaell Rose

Michaell Rose, DrPH

Chief Health Equity Officer, CalOptima Health

Q

Michaell Rose

As Chief Health Equity Officer, Michaell Silva Rose, DrPH, LCSW, has input on and oversight of CalOptima Health’s key equity initiatives, benefits, policies and procedures, seeking to better identify and address health inequities and social determinants of health for members. Dr. Rose is a bilingual (Spanish) and culturally competent leader with public health and mental health expertise. She has more than 25 years of leadership experience in advocacy, strategic direction, program development, and promotion of equity and improved health outcomes for vulnerable populations. Most recently, Dr. Rose served as Director of Community Health at Hoag Health System where she worked in various community health leadership roles since 1998. She is active on several boards and community advisory committees, including Be Well OC’s Community Suicide Prevention Initiative, Families and Communities Together’s leadership council, and Equity in OC’s Community Health Improvement Leadership Academy. Dr. Rose earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master of Social Work from California State University, Long Beach, and a Doctor of Public Health from Loma Linda University School of Public Health.
Almaas Shaikh

Almaas Shaikh, MD, MPH

Deputy Health Officer, Orange County Health Care Agency

Q

Almaas Shaikh

Almaas Shaikh, MD, MPH, FACS is a distinguished trauma and critical care surgeon and the Deputy Public Health Officer for the Orange County Health Care Agency. With a deep commitment to both individual patient care and broader public health initiatives, Dr. Shaikh bridges the critical intersection of clinical excellence and community health. Trained in the most challenging aspects of trauma surgery, she brings her expertise to the frontlines, managing complex trauma cases with precision and compassion.

In her role as Deputy Public Health Officer, Dr. Shaikh plays a pivotal role in shaping population health strategies, ensuring the safety and well-being of Orange County residents. Her leadership in public health is marked by a proactive approach to health education, disease prevention, and emergency preparedness, particularly in addressing the unique challenges faced by diverse and vulnerable communities. Dr. Shaikh’s dual focus on acute care and long-term health outcomes makes her a key figure in both the operating room and the public health arena, dedicated to improving lives at every level. She remains committed to achieving accessible, compassionate, equitable health for all.

Bernadette Boden-Albala

Dylan Roby, PhD (Moderator)

Chair & Professor of Health, Society, & Behavior, Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health, UC Irvine

Q

Dylan Roby

A leading expert in the field, Dylan H. Roby, PhD, chair and professor of health, society, and behavior at the University of California, Irvine Program in Public Health, has over 25 years of  expertise in health policy research, reform, and capacity-building in settings from Capitol Hill to academia. He has dedicated his career to addressing disparities in health care outcomes and focuses his research primarily on the health policy impacts on underserved populations, namely those served by public hospitals, community health centers, and Medi-Cal.

Some of Dr. Roby’s research interests are health reform, insurance markets, the Affordable Care Act passage and implementation, and more.

Outside of his role at UC Irvine, Roby co-founded and continues to conduct research at the UC Berkeley/UCLA California Simulation of Insurance Markets (CalSIM), an initiative dedicated to helping health policy stakeholders and Covered California understand how policy changes may affect different populations through modeling. Recently and most notably, his work at CalSim has been used to estimate the impact of state-based reforms to expand subsidies, reinstate the “individual mandate,” and expand eligibility for Medi-Cal coverage for undocumented young adults.

3:20 PM – Break

3:35 PM – Fireside Chat: Precision Health
Can Its Benefits Improve Access and Mitigate Disparities?

Paul Fu

Paul Fu, MD

Chief Medical Information Officer, City of Hope

Q

Paul Fu

As a pediatric hospitalist with over 20 years experience, Paul Fu Jr., M.D., M.P.H., provides compassionate and family-centered care for children and young adults who have been admitted to City of Hope Helford Clinical Research Hospital. In addition, as chief medical information officer for City of Hope, he provides leadership to optimize the use of ConnectHope, City of Hope’s electronic health record, as well as catalyze technology-based innovation to accelerate the delivery of high quality, patient-centered health care services to our patients.

Dr. Fu completed his undergraduate studies and medical school at Boston University, pediatric residency, chief residency and General Academic Pediatrics fellowship at Los Angeles County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, and HRSA Maternal and Child Health fellowship at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.
Most recently, Dr. Fu was CMIO at Los Angeles County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, division chief and fellowship Director for the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, co-lead for the UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute biomedical informatics core, and led research informatics for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

His current research focuses upon the systems and processes necessary to leverage EHR data for translational research and evaluating the impact of health IT and eHealth innovation on health outcomes and health disparities in vulnerable populations.

Leslie Thompson

Leslie Thompson, PhD

Bren Professor, UC Irvine

Q

Leslie Thompson

Dr. Leslie Thompson completed her PhD in 1989 at UCI and became a faculty member in 2000. Dr. Thompson has studied Huntington’s disease (HD) for most of her scientific career and was a member of the international consortium that identified the causative gene for HD in 1993 while a postdoctoral fellow in the UCI laboratory of Dr. John Wasmuth. She also co-identified the mutation causing achondroplasia, the most common genetic form of short-limbed dwarfism in 1994. Dr. Thompson was one of the founders of the HD patient clinic at UCI, is a member of the Huntington Study Group Scientific Affairs Committee and Enroll-HD Clinical Trial Committee, which are each involved in HD clinical trials, is part of the UCI HDSA Center of Excellence, and is very active in the HD community. Dr. Thompson is incoming Chair of the Hereditary Disease Foundation Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), HD CARE SAB, Huntington’s Disease Society of America SAB Chair and member board of trustees and is founding Co-Editor in Chief of the Journal of Huntington’s Disease. She also is a member of Scientific Advisory Panels for neural stem cell therapy programs in Italy and Spain and on the SAB for the ALS Packard Center at Johns Hopkins University.
Hal Stern

Hal Stern, PhD (Moderator)

Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, UC Irvine

Q

Hal Stern

Hal Stern is Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and Distinguished Professor in the Department of Statistics. Provost Stern previously served UCI as founding chair of the Department of Statistics, Dean of the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, and Vice Provost for Academic Planning. Prior to joining the faculty at UCI, he held faculty positions at Iowa State University and Harvard University.

Within the field of statistics, Stern is known for his research on Bayesian statistical methods and for collaborative projects in the life sciences and social sciences. Current areas of interest include applications of statistical methods in psychiatry and human behavior and forensic science. He is co-director of the Center for Statistics and Applications in Forensic Evidence, funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and is part of the leadership team for the Conte Center at UCI, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Statistical Association, and the Institute for Mathematical Statistics. He earned a B.S. in mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an M.S. and a Ph.D. in statistics from Stanford University.

4:15 PM – Summary and Next Steps

Alpesh Amin

Alpesh Amin, MD

Chair, Department of Medicine, UC Irvine School of Medicine

Q

Alpesh Amin

Dr. Alpesh N. Amin is a board-certified UCI Health internist who specializes in hospital medicine. He currently serves as the Thomas & Mary Cesario Endowed Chair of the UCI School of Medicine’s Department of Medicine.

An internationally recognized leader in the field, Amin created one of the nation’s first hospitalist programs at the UCI School of Medicine and UCI Medical Center in 1998. During the course of his career, he has led efforts to improve the quality of care and safety of patients in hospital environments. He also has served as a principal investigator, co-investigator and faculty sponsor for clinical trials, registries and research projects focused on clinical topics such as venous thromboembolism, pneumonia, diabetes, heart failure and COVID-19.

He earned his medical degree at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. He completed his internship, residency in internal medicine at the UCI School of Medicine, where he served as chief resident. He also earned a master’s of business in healthcare at the UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business.

Katie Kalvoda

Steven Goldstein, MD, PHD

Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, UC Irvine

Q

Steven Goldstein

As Vice Chancellor of Health Affairs for the University of California, Dr. Steve Goldstein leads a $2.4 billion enterprise encompassing UCI Health, the Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences (School of Medicine, Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and a planned School of Public and Population Health), and the UCI centers and institutes of health (Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute, NCI-designated Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Center, and NIH-Institute for Clinical Translational Science, among others).

With over 30 years of experience as a physician-scientist, pediatric cardiologist, and academic administrator, Goldstein focuses on improving the human condition through education, research and care. Previously, Goldstein was dean and chief diversity officer at the Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago; provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, Brandeis University; chair of pediatrics, founding physician-in-chief of Comer Children’s Hospital and founding director of two research institutes, University of Chicago; and professor and founder of the Section of Developmental Biology and Biophysics, Yale University. Goldstein holds an M.D. and a Ph.D. in immunology from Harvard University. His research has identified families of genes encoding ion channels, the genetic and mechanistic bases for sudden infant death syndrome in African Americans, inherited and drug-induced cardiac arrhythmias, skeletal muscle disorders and ischemic stroke. An American Academy of Pediatrics fellow, he received the prestigious E. Mead Johnson Award from the Society for Pediatric Research and was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2020 for his discoveries and contributions to academic medicine. He has served as a scientific advisor to the National Institutes of Health for Nanomedicine and vice chair of the National Science Foundation Advisory Committee for Biological Sciences.

Charles Friedman

Charles Friedman, PhD

Chair, Department of Learning Health Sciences, University of Michigan

Q

Charles Friedman

Charles “Chuck” Friedman is the Chair of the Department of Learning Health Sciences and the Josiah Macy Jr. Professor of Medical Education at the University of Michigan Medical School, as well as a professor of information and of public health. Dr. Friedman is focused on building a Learning Health System, a health system that can continuously study and improve itself, at the University of Michigan and in the state. Dr. Friedman first explored the concept of Learning Health Systems in 2010 through the Institute of Medicine while at the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC).

Under Dr. Friedman’s leadership, the department of Medical Education transformed into the Department of Learning Health Sciences, a “first in the nation” medical school academic department dedicated to the sciences of learning at all levels from learning by individuals, to learning by teams and organizations, and learning by ultra-large scale systems, such as entire nations.

At ONC, Dr. Friedman served as Deputy National Coordinator and Chief Scientific Officer. In addition to advancement of the Learning Health System, his work promoted several IT innovations including SMART Health IT, an open, standards based technology platform. He was lead author of the nation’s first health IT strategic plan. Prior to these executive positions at ONC, Friedman was associate vice chancellor for Biomedical Informatics and founding director of the Center for Biomedical Informatics at the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Friedman’s research emphasizes large-scale information infrastructures and resources to improve health, how individuals and groups interact with information resources, and methods for studying the outcomes of these interactions.

Dr. Friedman holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a Ph.D. in education from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and has done post-graduate studies in medical information science at Stanford University.

Katie Kalvoda

Katie Kalvoda (Moderator)

Founder, Advance OC

Q

KATIE KALVODA

For over 20 years, Katie was a leading investor and investment consultant in alternative investments. In that field, Katie was known for her holistic approach to asset management and as a pioneer in impact investing. Her achievements earned her many national and international awards including Angel Investor of the Year, Investment Office of the Year, and Best Business Leader in Real Estate Investments. Today, Katie serves as President of AdvanceOC, where she volunteers her time to help nonprofits and local government agencies close social and health disparities through the use of data intelligence. From its founding in 2019, AdvanceOC has been a leading voice for health equity, and with Katie’s leadership, developed the Orange County Equity Map, an award-winning data platform for data-driven, equity-oriented public policies and community solutions. As a public servant, Katie also volunteers her time and talent at a variety of nonprofit organizations with a mission to advance social good. Katie is a Board Member of the California Health Facilities Financing Authority as an appointee of CA Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. She is also a Board Member of the Sisters of St. Joseph Healthcare Foundation and chairs the Lending Policy Committee for Pacific Community Ventures, a community development financial institution (CDFI) that provides financial support and mentoring services to women and minority-owned small businesses in California and across the United States.

5:00 PM – Adjourn

Building a Regional Data Strategy for Health Equity in Orange County

To leverage these trends and promote health equity, a comprehensive regional data strategy will lead to a regional learning health system and should encompass the following components:

  • Data Collection and Standardization
  • Infrastructure for Data Sharing and Integration
  • Analytical Tools for Health Equity Analysis
  • Community Engagement and Empowerment
  • Data-driven strategies for healthcare provider remuneration to optimize access

By focusing on these areas, Orange County can develop a data strategy and novel learning healthcare system that not only leverages the future trends in healthcare but also ensures that the benefits of technological advancements are equitably distributed, thus promoting health equity across all populations.

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