2025 Annual Conference
Independent Group Track
This track is ideal for independent group leaders seeking actionable advice on navigating the current economic challenges and evolving healthcare models while ensuring the ongoing success of their practices.
Independent Group Track - Leadership and Governance
Friday, March 28
Rajit Shetty, MD SVP of Clinical Operations and Christina Bratis, MD President, Clinical Board, Duly Health and Care
Duly Health and Care, the largest independent, multi-specialty physician group in the U.S., has navigated growth while keeping its core focus on delivering an exceptional patient experience through a physician led model. In this session, Dr. Merrick, will share strategies for preserving a physician-centric culture as the organization scales, including fostering strong physician engagement, leadership development, and ensuring a consistent clinical voice in organizational decision making. Key discussion points will include how to ensure that physicians are engaged in decision-making, how to support physician leaders during periods of organizational change, and how to sustain a culture of innovation while expanding services and locations.
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
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Discuss strategies for fostering strong physician engagement and leadership development in a growing healthcare organization
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Define actionable insights into sustaining a physician-centric culture during periods of organizational change and expansion
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Identify best practices for ensuring clinical autonomy and physician-driven decision-making as medical groups expand
Independent Group Track - Finance/Operations
Friday, March 28
Deborah L. Bauer, Chief Financial Officer, Buffalo Medical Group; and Mark Mantei, Chief Executive Officer, The Vancouver Clinic; moderated by Katherine Flynn Henry, JD, Chief Administrative Officer, Austin Regional Clinic
Join a CEO and CFO of two leading independent medical groups for an insightful fireside chat on navigating growth and operational efficiency in today’s evolving healthcare landscape. As leaders of these physician-owned organizations, they will share their strategies for balancing financial sustainability with patient-centered care, addressing challenges such as workforce management, scaling operations, and leveraging technology to improve clinical and administrative efficiency. This conversation will provide actionable takeaways for healthcare leaders seeking to foster growth while maintaining operational excellence in an increasingly competitive environment.
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
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Define examples of effective leadership and collaboration between clinical and financial teams to foster growth in physician-owned healthcare organizations
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Develop actionable strategies for implementing best practices that support long-term financial sustainability and operational excellence in healthcare settings
Jeffry James, Chief Executive Officer, Wilmington Health
As healthcare consolidation accelerates, independent medical groups face increasing pressure to maintain autonomy while staying competitive. In this presentation, the speaker will explore strategies for building resiliency in the face of these challenges. The session will cover key areas such as strengthening financial sustainability, enhancing operational efficiency, and leveraging partnerships without sacrificing independence. Attendees will hear from the CEO of Wilmington Health on how his group has navigated consolidation pressures, offering insights into the impact of strategic planning, innovative leadership, and maintaining a focus on patient-centered care can empower independent groups to thrive in an evolving market.
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
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Describe the impact of healthcare consolidation on independent medical groups and identify key risks and opportunities it presents
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Explore strategies for maintaining autonomy while enhancing financial sustainability and operational efficiency in a competitive healthcare environment
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Learn actionable steps to implement resiliency-focused strategies that protect independence and enhance the success of physician-owned organizations in a changing market.
Independent Group Track - Exploring Value
Friday, March 28
Charlotte Flood, CMPE, MHA, Chief Executive Officer, Northwest Primary Care
Independent medical groups face unique challenges and opportunities in managing risk contracts while maintaining quality care. In this presentation, the CEO of an independent group in the Pacific Northwest will share effective strategies for transitioning to value-based care models, including how to optimize performance in risk-based contracts, align incentives with clinical outcomes, understand the carrier medical budget and the alignment with CMS Stars programs, and manage financial risks. This session will provide real-world examples of successful value-based care initiatives and discuss how independent groups can leverage data, technology, and partnerships to succeed in risk-based environments while providing high quality, coordinated, value based care to patients.
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
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Develop partnerships and collaborations that support independent medical groups' transition to value-based care while preserving autonomy and independence
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Identify opportunities to align clinical incentives with financial performance in value-based care, ensuring quality care while managing costs
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Explore strategies for successfully managing risk contracts, including financial and operational considerations that maximize performance and outcomes
Independent Group Track - Addressing Workforce Challenges
Friday, March 28
Andrew Lundquist, DPM MBA, Chief Medical Officer, Mankato Clinic, Ltd.
Medical assistants are essential to patient care, playing a pivotal role in clinics. However, healthcare organizations nationwide are facing a growing shortage of these key professionals. In response, Mankato Clinic in Minnesota launched an innovative solution: a fully paid, full-time Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) training program.
In this interactive session, Dr. Lunquist will introduce the development and success of this unique program, which addresses recruitment challenges, reduces turnover, and empowers participants to thrive in their careers. He will also highlight the role of leadership in nurturing talent and fostering a culture of growth and share how this model could be adapted to meet the workforce needs of your organization. Participants in this session will be able to share their own ideas and strategies with each other to define and imagine other alternative ways to grow a workforce.
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
- Discuss the strategic decisions behind this approach to workforce development
- Explore the role of leadership in nurturing talent, fostering a supportive workplace culture, and promoting employee growth within a clinical setting
- Analyze the potential long-term benefits of paid training programs for both employees and healthcare organizations, including increased retention and improved patient care
Independent Group Track - AI & Tech Innovation
Friday, March 28
Give Patients What They Want & Need With EHR-Integrated AI-based Symptom Checker
Larry Garber, MD, Medical Director Informatics and Research, Reliant Medical Group; Philip Ciampa, MD, MPH, Medical Director of Digital Health and Innovation, Atrius Health; Brett Daniel, MD MHA, Chief Medical Informatics Officer, Optum PNW and West Region
True AI-based symptom checkers are new to healthcare, and few are integrated directly within an EHR’s patient portal. This session will relay the experiences of three healthcare organizations that have successfully deployed this technology. As patients increasingly demand 24/7 access to healthcare, AI-driven tools offer a more efficient way to meet their needs, while reducing provider workload and improving patient outcomes. The speakers will discuss key design decisions such as free messaging versus billable eVisits, provider availability, and marketing strategies, highlighting their impact on patient access and clinical capacity. Results include the creation of a well-organized EHR message that needs to be touched by a provider 85% less often and takes three minutes less total team time compared with regular patient portal messages. Additionally, a systematic review of 407 conditions in the symptom checker compared to Thompson’s Telephone Triage Protocols determined that 94% of the time the correct condition was found, and 93% of the time the triage level agreed with Thompson. The session will conclude with an interactive discussion on tailoring symptom checker implementations based on payer mix and organizational goals, with a live demo using symptoms from the audience.
Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to recognize the current problems with online symptom checkers; identify key features and processes to make a symptom checker integration successful; and describe various benefits to the patient and organization of integrating a symptom checker into an EHR’s patient portal.