Wednesday, June 3 – 11:00 - 11:45 a.m.
A1 - Ministry Formation: Uniting the Workforce and Non-Employed Partners
Catholic health ministries are extending the impact of ministry formation by engaging not only employed associates but also partner organizations and contracted workers who contribute to the healing mission. As ministries increasingly rely on vendors such as food service teams, environmental services, hospitalist groups, lab partners, and call centers, formation is becoming a strategic tool for ensuring mission alignment across all who serve patients and families. The session will examine why this approach is vital for sustaining Catholic identity, how formation fosters meaning and purpose among ministry partners, and what practical steps help organizations begin this work.
Speakers:
- Lyle K. Weiss, S.T.D. - System Director of Ministry Formation, Bon Secours Health System, Inc.
- Sarah Reddin - Vice President, Ministry Formation- Mission Integration, Ascension
- Mary Beth Bulte, MBA, MAHcML, MSW - Vice President, Mission Integration & Strategic Initiatives, Mercy
A2 - An Approach to Education, Training, Research and Evaluation that Integrates Humankindness and Health Justice
The Lloyd H. Dean Institute integrates humankindness and health justice into education, training, research, and evaluation to combat healthcare inequities. We develop education and training pathways, generate equity-focused research, and evaluate outcomes for meaningful impact. By cultivating a workforce grounded in empathy, compassion, and respect, the Institute advances a model integrating humankindness into every point of care. Through innovative programs like The Common Good Academy, we're not just improving care; we’re transforming it, ensuring kindness and equity at every touchpoint.
Speakers:
- Dr. Alisahah Jackson - President, Lloyd H. Dean Institute for Humankindess and Health Justice
- Heather Foster, MPH, MCHES, CHC - System Research Grant Program Manager, Lloyd H. Dean Institute for Humankindess and Health Justice
A3 - Enhancing Continuity of Care with Community Partners
This session highlights two community-based care models that extend support beyond clinical settings to improve continuity of care for vulnerable populations. Together, Ascension's Medical Mission at Home and Saint Joseph’s Community Paramedicine Program demonstrates how health systems and community partners can close access gaps, reduce re-admissions, and build sustainable pathways to long-term health and well-being.
Speakers:
- Austin Roush - Advanced Practice Paramedic Director of Paramedicine, Saint Joseph Health
- Amber Sims - Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer, Ascension
- Thomas VanOsdol - Executive Vice President, Chief Integration Officer, Ascension
A4 - The Perils and Promises of AI in Catholic Health Care
Avera Health and Bon Secours Mercy Health in collaboration with Brado, will examine how artificial intelligence can expand access and patient support while raising important ethical, legal, and operational considerations for Catholic ministries. The session will feature two complementary perspectives. One explores current AI use cases in clinical and operational settings, the regulatory and legal frameworks that govern them, and the due diligence steps needed to evaluate new tools. The second highlights Catherine, a generative-AI platform to accompany patients through complex health journeys with dignity, clarity, and compassion. Together, these perspectives illustrate both the transformative potential and the serious responsibilities involved in deploying AI in Catholic health care.
Speakers:
- Richard Korman, Esq. - Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel, Avera Health
- Andy Parham - CEO, Brado AI
- Sandra D. Mackey - Chief Marketing Officer, Bon Secours Mercy Health
A5 - Washington Update
Additional information coming soon.
Speakers:
- CHA Advocacy Staff
A6 - Integrated Care for the Most Vulnerable
Integrated Care for the Most Vulnerable will feature two models that bring whole-person, community-anchored care to individuals facing the greatest barriers to health. Participants will hear from panelists serving the DePaul Community Health Center and the Medical Respite at Pinellas Hope to demonstrate how mission-driven, community-based strategies can close gaps, improve outcomes, and deliver care to those most vulnerable.
Speaker:
- Jojo Dyachim, D. HCML, HEC-C, AIGP - Vice President, Mission and Ethics, Baycare Health System
Wednesday, June 3 – 3:00 - 3:45 p.m.
B1 - Moms and Babies: Caring for the Mind, Body and Spirit
This session brings together two mission-driven approaches that strengthen maternal health by integrating mental, physical and social care. One initiative uses a system-wide Results Based Accountability framework to standardize depression screening and follow-up for expectant and new mothers, aligning workflows, updating policies, embedding protocols into the EHR, and training clinical teams to reduce disparities and ensure timely, compassionate support. The second focuses on social determinants of health that disproportionately affect women of color, using structured screening and referral processes to address needs such as food insecurity, transportation barriers, and housing instability. Together, these programs demonstrate how Catholic health ministries can advance equitable, whole-person maternal care rooted in dignity, justice, and the well-being of both mothers and babies.
Speakers:
- Ashley Dominic, MPH, PMP, CHW - Program Director, Health Equity, CHRISTUS Health
- Pratibha Roy - Program Director, Health Equity Business Intelligence, CHRISTUS Health
- Stacy Dorris, RN, BSN, OB - Nurse Navigator- Social Determinants of Health Program, SSM Health
B2 - Organizing the Church to Support Immigrant Communities During a Challenging Time
The Hope Border Institute and the Center for Migration Studies of New York have collaborated to start Catholic IMMpact (Catholic Immigrant Prophetic Action Project), an initiative to assist (arch)dioceses and Catholics to respond pastorally and materially to immigrants and their families threatened by the policy of mass deportation. Speakers will talk about how the initiative is working to educate and unify the Catholic community, both regionally and nationally, on immigration and to strengthen the nationwide Catholic network to advocate on behalf of immigrants. They will also discuss how the Catholic health-care community can contribute to the effort.
Speakers:
- Dylan Corbett - Executive Director, Hope Border Institute
- Kevin Appleby - Center for Migration Studies of New York
B3 - Applying Mission Integration Approaches for More Effective Colleague Engagement
This session will highlight how mission-centered strategies can strengthen colleague engagement, resilience, and organizational culture across Catholic health ministries. The panelists will explore two complementary approaches:
- CHRISTUS Health's Dignity Index, a value-based measurement tool that promotes behaviors rooted in respect, inclusion, belonging, authenticity, recognition, and equal opportunity; and,
- Mercy Health's Caregiver Incident Response Team (CIRT), a coordinated support model that helps teams recover after disruptive or traumatic events.
Speakers:
- Warren Leichtle-Chalklen, PhD - Director, Dignity and Belonging, CHRISTUS Health
- Jasmine Glasford - Talent Insights Analyst, CHRISTUS Health
- Patrick Dotson, MA, M.Div., LPC, CEAP - Director, Employee Assistance Program, Mercy Health
B4 - Transforming Palliative Care from Cost Center to Value Driver for Mission, Quality, and Equity
This session reframes palliative care as a value-driven investment rather than a cost center, demonstrating how high-quality palliative services improve patient experience, family satisfaction, and overall care efficiency. Speakers will outline how aligning treatment with patient goals, reducing avoidable hospitalizations, and shortening length of stay generate measurable clinical and financial benefits across the continuum of care. The session will also outline essential investments – such as interdisciplinary staffing, communication training, and supporting infrastructure – needed to achieve these outcomes. By shifting from a cost mindset to a value mindset, Catholic health care can build sustainable palliative care programs that advance quality, equity, and mission while delivering measurable returns for patients and health systems.
Speakers:
- Gregg Vandekieft - Palliative Care Physician, Clinical Ethicist, Providence St. Peter Hospital
- Mark Kantrow - System Medical Director of Palliative Care, Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group Palliative Medicine Program
B5 - Catholic Charities Housing
Additional information coming soon.
B6 - Global Health
Additional information coming soon.