Summit Speakers

Adam Bruggeman

Texas Spine Care Center

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Adam Easterday

Optum

Mr. Easterday received his law degree from State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law. He currently serves as Vice President of Regulatory affairs for Optum Health at United Health Group. His current role encompasses regulatory affairs advocacy on behalf of the Optum Health division of UHG including Optum Behavioral Health Solutions, which administers mental health and substance use disorder benefits on behalf of over 22 million Americans in commercial, Medicare and Medicaid Plans. Mr. Easterday has been with the United Health Group in successive roles for the past 15 years.

Arthur Evans

American Psychological Assn.

Described as a visionary and transformational leader, policymaker and health care innovator Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, is CEO of the American Psychological Association, the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. With over 189,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students as APA members, a top priority of Evans’ current work is applying psychological science and knowledge to a wide range of complex societal issues. Previously, for over two decades, Evans served in public policy positions in Philadelphia and Connecticut, where he led the transformation of their behavioral health systems and their approaches to serving a wide range of individuals with complex needs. Evans has employed science, research, community activism, spirituality, traditional clinical care, policy, and cross-system collaborations to change the status quo around behavioral health. Over the years he has received national and international recognition, including prestigious awards in government, healthcare service, visionary leadership, actionable advocacy, equity and social justice.

Brad Lerner

Carelon Health & Elevance Health

Brad Lerner, JD Director, Public Policy, Behavioral Health, Elevance Health; Chair, Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW). Brad Lerner is a Director of Public Policy of Behavioral Health for Elevance and formerly served as Vice President Government Affairs/Associate General Counsel for Beacon health Options. He is a government relations professional with more than 30 years of public and private sector experience analyzing and addressing regulatory issues, including complex legal and policy issues in health care. He is a leading expert on Mental Health parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) analysis and compliance and works with federal and state policymakers on ways to improve mental health and substance used disorder system of care. He is currently serving as chair for the association for Behavioral Health and Wellness. Previously, he worked as a regulatory attorney at the Federal Communications Commission and as in-house counsel at Cavalier Telephone, LLC. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from University of Michigan and a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School.

Cara McNulty

Vibrant

Cara A. McNulty, DPA is a highly regarded, national leader and health scientist whose success in driving population well-being outcomes spans the employer, government, payer, provider, start-up and education sectors. As the CEO of Vibrant Emotional Health, she influences the national conversation on breaking the stigma around mental health and improving access to behavioral health care for individuals, families and communities across the country. A passionate advocate for democratizing mental health care, Cara supports Vibrant’s mission and strategy, helping build a society where emotional wellness is accessible for all. Previously, Cara served as President of Behavioral Health and Mental well-being at CVS Health, North American Leader of Wellbeing for Willis Towers Watson, and lead Population Health and Team Member Wellness at Target. Cara holds a DPA from Hamline University, a MS in applied health science from Indiana University, and a BS in community health education from the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Carlos Lindo

Lucet

Caroline Carney

Magellan Health

Dr. Caroline Carney is the chief executive officer of Magellan Health, a leader in managing the fastest-growing, most complex areas of health, including special populations, and offering an insightful portfolio of broad solutions focused on population health, condition management and meeting the specific needs of our clients. She is responsible for Magellan’s strategic direction and overall growth, as well as the development and operational execution of the Company’s business strategy.

Chuck Ingoglia

Nat. Council of Mental Wellbeing

Chuck Ingoglia is the president and CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing where he leads the national charge to ensure people have access to quality, affordable mental health and addiction services. To accomplish this, he harnesses the voices and support of the more than 3,000 National Council members who serve over 10 million individuals nationwide. Chuck previously lead the organization’s policy and practice improvement work, directing the organization’s federal and state policy efforts and overseeing trainings and programs offered to more than 500,000 behavioral health professionals across the U.S.

Debbie Witchey

ABHW

Deborah Fernandez-Turner

Aetna, a CVS Health Company

Dr. Deborah Fernandez-Turner currently serves as the Associate Vice President and Deputy Chief Psychiatric Officer for Aetna and CVS Health. In this role, Dr. Fernandez-Turner supervises a multidisciplinary team focused on Utilization Management including appeals, quality assurance, policy and compliance, as well as fraud, waste and abuse for Aetna.
Dr. Fernandez-Turner is Board Certified both in General Psychiatry as well as Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She graduated from New York University, then Nova Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine, and completed a psychiatric residency at Long Island Jewish Medical Center–Hillside Hospital and a child psychiatry fellowship at the University of Arizona. Prior to her work for Aetna, she has held administrative and clinical positions in both private and public sectors in Arizona and Minnesota. She is a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and is a Certified Health Insurance Executive through the AHIP, ELP program.

Hannah Maniates

Nat. Assn. of Medicaid Directors

Hannah Maniates is the Director of Medicaid Programming at the National Association of Medicaid Directors. In this role, she leads NAMD’s state-to-state learning program, which connects Medicaid agencies to share strategies and address common challenges. Before joining NAMD, Hannah worked in substance use and mental health policy, holding roles at the City of Boston’s Office of Recovery Services, the National Center for PTSD at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Bloomberg American Health Initiative’s addiction and overdose team. She holds an MPH from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a B.A. in neuroscience from Wesleyan University.

James Gelfand

ERIC

James Gelfand is president and CEO of The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC), having previously served as its senior and then executive vice president. James oversees all aspects of the association’s activities, which focus on programs that shape federal and state health and retirement benefit policies, and that impact ERIC member companies’ ability to operate under federal ERISA protection from a patchwork of conflicting state and local laws. He has brought prominence to ERIC among federal and state lawmakers, thought leaders, and major companies in the U.S. and globally. James provides strategic leadership to ERIC’s legislative, regulatory and legal advocacy; membership and partnerships; and communications and operations, to achieve ERIC’s mission. James has been recognized as a top industry lobbyist by both the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics and The Hill. He has served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of nonprofits and charities with a focus on policy and advocacy, including the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, and the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance.

Jim Laughman

ABHW

Mary Giliberti

Mental Health America

Mary Giliberti serves as Chief Public Policy Officer for Mental Health America, a community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting the overall mental health of all Americans. During her 20+ years in the mental health field, Ms. Giliberti has served as Chief Executive Officer of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Section Chief at the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services, Disability Counsel for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and as a senior attorney at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. She has also served on the Interagency Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee and as a member of the technical expert panel for the Center for Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health. Mary earned her B.A. at Harvard College and her J.D. at Yale Law School.

Meg Houck Marshall

Red + Blue Strategies

Melanie Nathanson

Red + Blue Strategies

Adam Bruggeman

Adam Easterday

Arthur Evans

Brad Lerner

Cara McNulty

Carlos Lindo

Caroline Carney

Chuck Ingoglia

Debbie Witchey

Deborah Fernandez-Turner

Hannah Maniates

James Gelfand

Jim Laughman

Mary Giliberti

Meg Houck Marshall

Melanie Nathanson

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