Speakers & Moderators

Rebecca Baker, BSN, RN, BS Ed, is a veteran nurse innovator and transformative healthcare executive with over 30 years of experience in value-based care (VBC), clinical program development, business strategy, and operations. As the Founder and CEO of Synergy 3C—The Clinical Consulting Cooperative, Rebecca helps healthcare organizations develop care models that improve patient outcomes, increase operational efficiency, and reduce costs.

With 15 years dedicated to value-based healthcare, Rebecca has led programs that consistently drive down costs and improve care delivery. She was instrumental in taking 2 organizations to acquisition: PopHealthCare to GuideWell in 2017 and Utilize Health to Mental Health Cooperative in 2020.

Rebecca’s expertise includes clinically integrated care modeling and tech-enabled care for complex populations. At PopHealthCare, she co-designed the CareSight Program, contributing to the company’s acquisition by GuideWell. As Chief Clinical Officer of Utilize Health, she transitioned the company from telephonic care navigation to a value-based care management model, leading to its acquisition during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, Rebecca serves as a Clinical Operations Advisor to BrightStride Health Strategies, providing strategic clinical and business insights, particularly in implementing AI-driven solutions. Additionally, she has built VBC strategies and clinical education programs for organizations such as CareBridge Health, Crossbridge Health, Imagine Pediatrics, Bodyport, and Rheumission. She also advises private equity and venture firms on value-based care investment opportunities.

Rebecca holds degrees in nursingand education and is an active mentor to healthcare startups. She is a member of Women in Healthcare (WIH), Women Business Leaders in Healthcare (WBL), and the American College of Healthcare Executives. 

Dr. Diana Dedmon is a dedicated healthcare leader with over 30 years of experience as a  Registered Nurse and 25 years as a Family Nurse Practitioner. As an Assistant Professor, Director of Clinical Affairs, and holder of the Michael Carter Endowed Professorship at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing, Dr. Dedmon has devoted her career to addressing the healthcare challenges faced by rural and underserved populations.

She has forged impactful clinical and community-based partnerships throughout West Tennessee, advocating tirelessly for equitable access to care. Her research focuses on innovative strategies to develop nurse-led clinics that reduce health disparities and improve wellness in rural and underserved areas of West Tennessee.

Dr. Dedmon's contributions exemplify a commitment to advancing healthcare access, fostering collaboration, and empowering communities to achieve better health outcomes.

Dr. Kimberly Kelly Cortez is the Senior Associate Dean and Director for the Prelicensure BSN program at Western Governors University. She continues to support the growth of the Prelicensure program by expanding into additional states, opening simulation centers/labs, expanding access to communities and populations in need of pathways to nursing education. Her research continues to focus on student success, programmatic excellence, Competency Based Education (CBE), and simulation. She has presented research related to NCLEX, CBE, and Diversity in BSN prelicensure programs at the NLN Education Summit, AACN Transform, and the National Nursing Workforce Conference respectively in recent years.

Michelle Schafer serves at the Chief Executive Officer of Mental Health Cooperative where she leads the not -for-profit, integrated health system serving communities across Tennessee. Michelle joined MHC in April of 2024 bringing over 30 years of experience in behavioral health, improving clinical quality, transforming models of care, managing operational performance and growth, creating community systems of care, and facilitating behavioral health integration. She has presented across the country as an expert in behavioral health and has spent her career advocating for those with behavioral health and substance use needs.

Ms. Schafer previously served as the Regional/System Vice President of SSM Health over Behavioral Health. There she led the Behavioral Health services in communities across the Midwest through a fully integrated health care delivery system. SSM Health includes 23 hospitals, more than 300 physician offices and other outpatient and virtual care services, 13 post-acute facilities, comprehensive home care and hospice services, a pharmacy benefit company, a health insurance company, and an accountable care organization. 

Prior to SSM, Ms. Schafer served in the Administrative Director role for Behavioral Health at IU Health, where she oversaw all inpatient, outpatient, EAP, substance abuse and primary care integration services for the IU Health system. She has also served in multiple other leadership positions at IU Health, Fairbanks Hospital and Valley Vista Health in Indiana. 

She has had the privilege to present to members of Congress, testify on issues related to Mental Health in several states and present to conferences and organizations across the country.

Ms. Schafer has also held several community roles including board memberships, behavioral health executive committee member for the Missouri Hospital Association, NAMI, Chair of the Missouri Children’s Collaborative and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She is looking forward to serving the greater Tennessee community as well.

She earned a Bachelor of Science from Indiana University and a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology degree from Indiana University.

Keith is a seasoned technology executive with a dynamic entrepreneurial background. After earning a Finance degree from Pennsylvania State University, he successfully launched multiple ventures in the Boston area and was a key contributor within the Vista Equity Partners portfolio. In 2017, driven by personal challenges navigating the healthcare system as both a patient and caregiver, Keith co-founded HealthCorum. His leadership has been instrumental in positioning the company as a trailblazer in the healthcare data analytics space, enabling HealthCorum’s partners to drive greater efficiencies and support the delivery of high-quality care. Keith currently serves as the company’s’ Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), overseeing operations and all market-facing initiatives.

Herman Williams is currently the President of HW Healthcare Solutions (HWHS), a Nashville based healthcare consulting firm specializing in key management solutions for Hospitals, Physician practices and other Healthcare entities. He was formally the Chief Physician Executive of The Hardenbergh Group, the leading provider of healthcare professional staffing, providing consulting services and assisting with External Peer Review.  He also served in the role of Managing Director for the Nashville Healthcare practice as well as Chief Physician Executive for all of BDO USA, the fifth largest professional services firm in the United States. 

He brings more than 25 years of healthcare leadership and management experience in medical staff consulting, strategic planning, Executive Coaching and hospital operations as a senior physician executive. Dr. Williams’ operational roles include oversight of rural, urban, Community, Academic, For-profit and Non-profit Healthcare Organizations. He has overseen medical staff operations in over 43 facilities in 30 states throughout his career.

Dr. Williams has advised healthcare organizations and physicians nationwide on Compliance and Regulatory standards, Bylaws development, contemporary Peer Review policies and procedures, Credentialing matters, Clinical Documentation, Revenue and 340B Improvement strategies and physician-hospital partnerships, all resulting in substantial cost reductions/savings through effective Hospital – Physician collaboration. 

Education 

M.D. – Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA

M.B.A. – University of Washington, Seattle, WA

M.P.H. – Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 

B.A. – Amherst College, Amherst, MA

Clinical Training

Orthopedic Surgery Residency – University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA 

General Surgical Internship – Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, MA