Despite the expansion of health insurance coverage with the Affordable Care Act, almost 20 percent of people living in the United States are still unable to afford or access healthcare. How do we improve access to healthcare in a healthcare system where patients are coping with the advantages and challenges posed by rapid technological changes in healthcare, evolving healthcare insurance markets, and increasing healthcare costs? This forum will discuss initiatives to improve access to healthcare, including new technologies that improve patients’ and healthcare providers’ access to technology-enabled health & wellness applications, innovative primary care group models, upcoming trends in healthcare policies, and discussion of costs of care.
Our panel is comprised of top experts and thought leaders working to improve access to healthcare. Panelists include: Dr. Rushika Fernandopulle (Co-founder and CEO of Iora Health), Dr. Joseph Kvedar (Vice President, Connected Health, Partners HealthCare), Rosemarie Day, (Founder and CEO of Day Health Strategies) and Dr. Ann Hwang (Director for the Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation at Community Catalyst) and will be moderated by Wanda J. McClain, Vice President of Community Health and Health Equity at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Tickets $30 in advance (heavy hors d'oeuvres); cash bar. Deadline to register online is March 19th at 6:30pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $35.
Panel Bios
Moderator: Wanda McClain
Wanda McClain is Vice President of Community Health and Health Equity at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) in Boston, MA. She is the senior leader responsible for fulfilling the Brigham’s strategic commitment to health equity and high-quality patient and family-centered care by advancing care, research, and community programs that elevate the health status and health outcomes of the diverse populations in Boston. Wanda joined the Brigham in 2002 as the chief of staff to the President, supporting numerous strategic initiatives in addition to leading efforts focused on disparities in health outcomes and workforce development. In addition to her tenure in health care, she brings experience in community development and in the financial services industry.
Wanda has a Master in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She serves the boards of The Dimock Center, Care Dimensions and the Planned Parenthood League of MA.
Rosemarie Day:
As a founding leader of the Health Connector in Massachusetts, Rosemarie played a significant role in launching the award-winning organization that established the first state-run health insurance exchange in the United States and brought the uninsured rate down to 2%, the lowest in the country. During her tenure, the Health Connector became a model for national health reform. As the Founder & CEO of Day Health Strategies, she initially focused on implementing national health reform. A nationally recognized expert in health reform and an accomplished leader, Rosemarie has advised numerous companies on their health reform and related strategies and has bridged gaps between the public, private, and non-profit sectors throughout her career.
Previously, Rosemarie served as Chief of Staff to the Dean of Harvard Kennedy School, where she helped to lead strategic planning and develop the leadership to grow the school in a new direction. She also served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Massachusetts Medicaid program, a $6 billion state agency covering more than 1 million members, where she led strategic change and improved overall performance on major projects and daily operations. She honed her fiscal skills through several senior level positions, including Assistant Secretary for Administration & Finance, as well as Budget Director for the Department of Transitional Assistance, a $1 billion state agency. Her goals include improving access to health care in the U.S. and making health care more consumer-focused and patient-centered. Rosemarie holds an MPP from Harvard’s Kennedy School and an AB from Stanford University.
Rushika Fernandopulle:
Dr. Rushika Fernandopulle is a practicing physician and co-founder and CEO of Iora Health, a venture backed, national de-novo primary care group based in Boston, MA. He was the first Executive Director of the Harvard Interfaculty Program for Health Systems Improvement, and Managing Director of the Clinical Initiatives Center at the Advisory Board Company. He is a member of the Albert Schweitzer, Ashoka, Aspen, and Salzburg Global Fellowships, and is co-author or editor of several publications including *Health Care Policy*, a textbook for physicians and medical students, and *Uninsured in America: Life and Death in the Land of Opportunity*. He serves on the staff at the Massachusetts General Hospital, on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, and on the boards of Families USA and the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Care. He earned his A.B., M.D., and M.P.P. (Masters in Public Policy) from Harvard University, and completed his clinical training at the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts General Hospital.
Ann Hwang:
Dr. Ann Hwang is the Director for the Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation at Community Catalyst. She leads the Center in its mission to amplify the voices of consumers and communities in health care and health policy. The Center focuses on improving care for people with complex health and social needs, including older adults, people with disabilities, and people who are dually-eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Ann brings to the Center her experience as the Director of Health Care Policy and Strategy for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Senior Health Policy Advisor to the Massachusetts Health Connector, Senior Consultant with the Wakely Consulting Group, and Legislative Fellow to U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL). Ann is also a primary care physician, focusing on the care of patients with complex needs. Ann received her medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco, and completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. She continues to engage in health policy education, as a Visiting Fellow in the Department of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School.
Joseph C. Kvedar:
Dr. Joseph C. Kvedar is the Vice President, Connected Health, Partners HealthCare and Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School. Internationally recognized for his leadership and vision in the field, Joseph C. Kvedar is creating a new model of healthcare delivery, moving care from the hospital or doctor's office into the day-to-day lives of patients. He has launched a number of innovative health tracking programs, mobile health, virtual care initiatives, and clinical research programs for the more than 1.5 million patients served at Partners HealthCare-affiliated hospitals, including Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. He authored two books: The New Mobile Age: How Technology Will Extend the Healthspan and Optimize the Lifespan (2017) and The Internet of Healthy Things (2015). His cHealth Blog and Well/Connected Podcast provide insights on key topics. Dr. Kvedar is Program Chair for the Connected Health Conference, co-hosted by HIMSS Personal Connected Health Alliance and Partners Connected Health. He is co-chair of the American Medical Association's Digital Medicine Payment Advisory Group, and Board Member of Xcertia, focused on improving the quality, safety, and effectiveness of mobile health apps.