2023 AKAMSP Annual Educational Conference Speakers and Activities
Preethi Fernando
Preethi is an award winning author of twelve books and a Keynote Speaker, She speaks on Emotional intelligence, leadership, work life balance, mental toughness and work life balance, mental toughness, and mindfulness.
Born and raised in the beautiful island of Sri Lanka, Preethi now calls colorful Colorado, her home.
"Our lives begin to change when we take full responsibility for it," says Preethi. She is an inspirational speaker and travels throughout the United States for speaking engagements.
TOPICS:
Keynote - Emotional Intelligence: The Game Changer
The Art of Giving Effective Feedback
Erin L. Muellenberg, JD
Erin Muellenberg brings a strong skillset to her exclusive practice of medical staff law. As a former director of medical staff services in a large community-based hospital, she is intimately familiar with the daily operations of the medical staff organization and its governance process. Erin’s practice focuses on advising hospitals, health systems, critical access hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and medical groups on the regulatory, compliance, and practical requirements of credentialing, peer review, disciplinary matters and for interfacing the medical staff and allied health professional staff with hospital operations.
TOPICS:
Hiding in Plain Sight: How did they make it on staff?
Employed Providers: Balancing Employment and Medical Staff Rights and Responsibilities
Sharing Information about Problem Providers: Is the benign affiliation letter adequate?
Mock Trial
Melissa Walters, MHA, FMSP, CPMSM, CPCS
Melissa Walters is the Assistant Vice President – Medical Staff Operations for MedStar Health in Columbia, MD.
Melissa has over thirty years experience in the healthcare field as it relates to credentialing, privileging, physician contracting, compliance, and the self-governed Medical Staff. Melissa’s expertise is in establishing centralized credentialing departments for large academic and community health systems while meeting various accreditation standards (i.e. TJC, HFAP and NCQA) and facility specific Bylaws, Rules and Regulations. Melissa is accomplished in helping hospitals, healthcare systems, and internal Centralized Credentialing Offices cope with an ever changing industry and regulatory environment as an advocate for patient safety. Her projects often involve changes in operations necessary to meet accreditation and licensing standards, as well as to improve productivity and operational efficiency.
Melissa has served in various leadership positions on State and National Associations and was the President of the National Association Medical Staff Services (NAMSS) in 2013. She recently served as NAMSS as the Chair, Leadership Development Workgroup (2018 – March 2020) and is now serving NAMSS in a faculty position. Melissa often lends her expertise to state and national educational providers and professional organizations by speaking at meetings and serving on a variety of advisory boards.
Melissa holds a Master’s in Health Administration, Bachelor’s in Justice Studies and certification in Medical Services Management (CPMSM) and Provider Credentialing Specialist (CPCS). Melissa was inducted as a NAMSS Fellow in September 2018.
TOPICS:
Transformative Performance Metrics
From the Rock of Ages to the Credential Time
John T. Synowicki, JD
John is an experienced litigator with keen skills in assisting health care entities in complex commercial litigation disputes.
Advising peer review committees on quality of care, conduct, and wellness issues concerning physicians.
Advising health care entities about bylaws, policies, and procedures
Representing the Medical Executive Committee or the Hearing Committee in administrative hearings regarding the removal of physicians’ privileges.
Conducting investigations for health care entities
TOPICS:
Negligent Credentialing
NPDB and AMB Reporting – What is Reportable?
Mock Trial
Debbie Kesselring, CPCS, CPMSM
Debbie Kesselring, CPCS, CPMSM is the Director of Medical Staff Services for Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau, Alaska and credentialing verification organization (CVO) for a small critical access hospital in Southeast Alaska. In her role, she oversees credentialing/privileging, provider continuing medical education program, on-call on-line management system, ensures compliance with bylaws, accreditation standards, regulatory entities, and legal requirements pertaining, and is the executive associate to the Chief of Staff. She has served as a President of the Alaska Association of Medical Staff Professionals, NAMSS Director at Large (DAL), Chair for the NAMSS Leadership Development Work Group, and is currently a member of the Subject Matter Expert Committee.
TOPICS:
Oversight of provision of medical care in the Hospital – the Board of Directors (BOD) ultimate authority
From the Rock of Ages to the Credential Time
Beth Miller, CPMSM, CPCS
NAMSS Director at Large (California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska)
Beth began her healthcare career as a phlebotomist at age 16, and for the past 20 years has been dedicated to the medical staff services and credentialing field, while achieving the national certifications in 2009 and 2010. For the past 7 years, Beth has been the Manager of Medical Staff Services for Centura Health – managing three facility departments throughout Colorado. Beth is a past president of the Colorado Association of Medical Staff Services Board, and currently is a Director at Large for the National Association of Medical Staff Services Board. Beth’s aspiration is to continue the education, coaching and mentoring for all upcoming and current Medical Staff Professionals. Beth’s motto of “Finding a job that you love, and you will never work a day in your life” to be true with the feeling of accomplishment that you achieve when you make a difference on someone’s life and career.
TOPIC: NAMSS Update
Danielle Morgan, MBA, CPCS, CPMSM
Danielle Morgan has over 23 years of medical administrative experience, with 13 of those in Medical Staff Services. She is dual-certified (CPCS & CPMSM). She has earned three degrees, a master's in business administration with an emphasis in health system management, a bachelor's in psychology, and an associate in health care administration. All degrees were earned while working full-time and providing for her family. She has six children and 14 grandchildren. She volunteers, serving on the AKAMSP board since October 2017, and as an American Cancer Society volunteer. She is also an Air Force veteran. Danielle enjoys spending time with family, art, music, soccer, fishing, and hockey.
TOPIC: In Pursuit of Better
State of Alaska Medical Board
Ensure that competent, professional and regulated commercial services are available to Alaska consumers.
Alaska Hospital & Healthcare Association (AHHA)
AHHA's mission is to advance the shared interests of Alaska's hospitals, nursing homes, and healthcare partners to build an innovative, sustainable system of care for all Alaskans. AHHA provides policy and advocacy expertise, leads and hosts opportunities for education and training, and brings together members and stakeholders for collaborative work to share data, resources, and best practices.
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
The mission of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is to enforce the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States and bring to the criminal and civil justice system of the United States, or any other competent jurisdiction, those organizations and principal members of organizations, involved in the growing, manufacture, or distribution of controlled substances appearing in or destined for illicit traffic in the United States; and to recommend and support non-enforcement programs aimed at reducing the availability of illicit controlled substances on the domestic and international markets.
Soak+Sleep at Alyeska Nordic Spa
Pack your swim suit! Unwind and end your day with rounds of Hydrotherapy for 18+ years only. At-leisure visit during regular operating hours from 6:00PM-9:00PM on Thursday, May 11, 2023. $60/person. (add to your registration to reserve your spot(s); your travel partners are invited as well!) Click this Link to find out more about the spa!