The Health Enterprises Network (HEN) welcomed the Healthcare Fellows class of 2021 at the opening session held virtually in late February. Tom McMahon, JD/MBA, chair of HEN, welcomed the group and discussed HEN’s mission and vision, history, significant events and why the Healthcare Fellows program was created.

The Healthcare Fellows program was formed by the leaders of HEN in 2005 in response to the area’s need for executive talent as defined in the “Beyond Merger” report from the Brookings Institute.  Since its inception, the fellowship structure has produced motivated, informed and connected individuals ready to take on the challenges and opportunities in our community, nationally and abroad.

Pillar Chairs Tony Brosky, Jr., PT, DHSs, SCS with Bellarmine University and Sean Muldoon, MD, MPH, FCCP with Kindred Healthcare gave an overview of the program, which will focus on the healthcare ecosystem in our region. Roberta Challener, PhD, with Bellarmine University then discussed “Ecosystems – Building a Sustainable Environment.”

Louisville is unique because of this healthy ecosystem that includes expertise in all aspects of the health-related economy​, such as provider, payer, business services, education​, innovation and government.​

This is the first of 10 sessions where the Healthcare Fellows will explore the healthcare sector, develop their industry knowledge, hone their leadership skills and expand their professional connections.

The 19 healthcare executives represent the broad healthcare ecosystem that is the basis for one of the largest industry sectors in the Greater Louisville region.  The 2021 Healthcare Fellows include:

Patty Belden, CEO, ElderServe
Fata Dzeko, Senior Director, Operations, Lacuna Health
Shane Fitzgerald, Chief Operating Officer, UofL Health – Mary & Elizabeth Hospital
Nikki Gaudio, Healthcare Logistics and Distribution Director of Operations, UPS Healthcare
Christopher Johnson, Director, Inclusion & Diversity, Humana
Kevin Kyde, RVP of Sales, Anthem, Inc.
Gretchen Leiterman, Chief Operating Officer, Baptist Health Louisville
Charlotte Mabry, Account Manager, Vimarc
Sara Mahoney, PhD, Chair-Exercise Science Program, Bellarmine University
Edward Miller, MD, Maternal Fetal Medicine Division Director and Chief Diversity Officer, University of Louisville Health
Reylene Robinson, Vice President of External Affairs & Advancement, Seven Counties Services
Shantelle Simpson, Chief Operating Officer, Park DuValle Community Health Center
Scott Skinner, System Director, Clinical Engineering, Norton Healthcare
Derek Szesny, Senior Director of Pharmacy Operations, Kindred Healthcare
Tracy Tanner, Regional Manager of Community Outreach, Hosparus Health
Robbie Tindall, Chief of Staff for Retail (Medicare/Medicaid) President, Humana
Jennifer Vandgrift, Contract Logistics Manager II, UPS Healthcare
Kylie Waters, Associate Director of Healthcare Consulting Services, Dean Dorton
Elisa Zuber, PhD, Physical Therapy Program Director and Professor, Spalding University