Reed R. Bates is a partner at Starnes Davis Florie LLP and chairs the firm's Long Term Care Practice Group. His practice is devoted to civil litigation with special emphasis representing health care providers in litigation and regulatory matters. Mr. Bates earned his B.S. from University of Alabama and his J.D. from Cumberland School of Law. He has served as Chair of the Medical Defense and Health Law Committee for the International Association of Defense Counsel ("IADC"), President of the Alabama Nursing Home Defense Lawyers Association, and has been selected for inclusion in the 2011 to 2018 editions of Best Lawyers in America in the field of Medical Malpractice. He has tried and arbitrated numerous cases to verdict and is a frequent speaker on long term care and other healthcare related topics.

Caroline J. Berdzikis the chair of the Goldberg Segalla LLP health care and employment and labor practice groups. Her intimate knowledge of the long-term and post-acute care industry is frequently called upon by clients and industry insiders. Caroline often defends skilled nursing facilities and related entities in professional liability, employment and related claims and provides risk management solutions to help avoid or mitigate future claims. Prior to joining Goldberg Segalla, Caroline was the assistant general counsel for New Jersey's largest privately held long-term-care company. Ms. Berdzik earned her B.A degree from Drew University and her J.D. degree from Rutgers School of Law. She is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, Defense Research Institute, the Professional Liability Underwriting Society and Women Presidents' Organization. Ms. Berdzik is admitted to practice in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

Thomas Peter Bernier is a partner in Goldberg Segalla's Baltimore office and Chair of the Nanotechnology Practice Group — a subgroup of the Toxic Torts and Environmental Practice Group. Tom has spent more than three decades defending complex toxic tort actions, with particular concentration on claims alleging exposure to Legionella. He is a frequent author and presenter on topic of managing Legionnaires' disease outbreaks and defending personal injury claims for those diagnosed with the disease. He is regularly invited to speak about topics related to Legionella amplification and Legionnaire's disease litigation at conferences and seminars across the country, including EECMA, ABA, DRI, AWWA & The Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.

Shark Bird, MD is a Certified Medical Director from the American Medical Director Association and CMO of Vohra Wound Physicians, serving facilities in 27 states, by providing physician led bedside wound care, along with the facility team. Dr. Bird completed his residency at West Virginia University, Charleston Area Medical Center Family Medicine Program and medical school training at Marshall University in Huntington, WV. Dr. Bird speaks about wound care to numerous nursing organizations, physician groups, state surveyors, and wound care organizations.

John R. Bowblis, PhD is an Associate Professor of Economics and Endres Associate Professor Fellow in the Farmer School of Business at Miami University of Ohio. He also is a Research Fellow at the Scripps Gerontology Center. Dr. Bowblis' research centers on the economics of the long-term care, post-acute care and other health care industries with particular focus on health care quality and costs, and how providers respond to regulation and financial incentives. Dr. Bowblis' articles on nursing home and assisted living industries have been widely published, including in the American Journal of Health Economics, Journal of Health Economics, Health Affairs, among other journals. As part of the Scripps Gerontology Center, Dr. Bowblis has worked extensively with Ohio's Department of Aging, Department of Medicaid, and the State Attorney General's Office.

Susan Burns, BSN, JD is an Assistant Vice President for Specialty Operations PL at Sedgwick. Through her previous positions as a registered nurse and medical malpractice defense attorney, Susan brings a unique perspective to the strategic oversight of the senior living programs she manages at Sedgwick. Prior to joining Sedgwick, Susan's 20+ year claims career includes claim management positions at CNA, Zurich and Interstate insurance. Susan draws upon her diverse professional background to deliver insightful knowledge in both presentations and published papers. Outside of work, Susan enjoys volunteering, cooking and travel.

Nancy K. Caron is the Claim Business Lead for the Aging Services segment within the CNA Healthcare Claim organization. In this role, she is responsible for working with Underwriting, Actuary, Risk and other internal and external business partners on risk selection and claim strategies. She also manages an experienced team handling mid to high severity Aging Services claims and works with senior management in analyzing unique coverage issues and high value claims. Prior to joining CNA in 2011, Nancy worked for over 15 years for a large insurance company where she held various leadership positions including Vice President of Claims.

Julie Flaherty Cheatham is the VP of Risk Management and In House Counsel for Villa Healthcare, a nursing home consulting company based in Skokie, Illinois. Villa supports 35 facilities throughout Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Prior to joining Villa in 2016, Ms. Cheatham practiced in Chicago, Illinois, with a primary focus in long-term care defense. She received her JD from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1999 and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from DePaul University, Chicago in 1996. She has attained the highest Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory of AV ®Preeminent ™ attesting to the lawyer's legal ability and professional ethical standards; the rating reflects the confidential opinions of the Bar and the Judiciary. Ms. Cheatham is licensed to practice law in Illinois and before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Bruce W. Dmytrow is senior vice president for Chicago-based CNA and has been with CNA since 1995. Bruce is responsible for leading the CNA Healthcare Customer Segment, providing insurance solutions and services to aging services organizations, allied healthcare facilities, hospitals and physicians. Prior to his underwriting appointment, Bruce was responsible for overseeing the enterprise-wide risk control strategic direction and day-to-day operations for the CNA Healthcare, Professional Services and Financial Institutions Customer Segments in the United States, Canada, and Europe.

T. Andrew (Drew) Graham started his practice with Hall Booth Smith, P.C. in 1992, developing expertise in traditional medical and professional negligence. In 1996, Mr. Graham created the firm's Long Term Care Practice Group in response to industry demand for specialist attorneys in the evolving area of long term care litigation. As chair of the LTC Practice Group, Mr. Graham is committed to making it the go-to resource for healthcare providers facing the challenges of a complex and highly regulated specialty. The group has grown to include over 20 attorneys, each with an in-depth appreciation of the industry. Mr. Graham specializes in the management of high exposure professional liability claims including complex regulatory and reimbursement actions, class actions, and batch claims. He has tried more than 40 cases to resolution and has resolved hundreds professional liability of cases through the use of alternative dispute resolution strategies including arbitration and mediation. Mr. Graham is frequently called to assist local counsel with the management of complex batch claims, complex discovery, and trial. Mr. Graham is actively involved in numerous professional organizations and is frequent speaker at industry and legal meetings. He is peer rated AV by Martindale Hubbell. He lives in Atlanta with his wife and daughters.

Ralf C. Habermann, MD Bio Requested.

Lilly Hummel, JD is the Senior Director of Policy and Program Integrity at the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). She leads federal regulatory analysis and compliance education for the association's assisted living and nursing home provider members.Prior to joining NCAL, Lilly was a Senior Manager with Avalere Health where she advised post-acute care and hospice providers, health systems, and provider associations navigating payment and delivery reforms such as accountable care organizations and bundled payments. Lilly was also an Analyst with the Government Accountability Office, providing nonpartisan health policy research and analysis to the U.S. Congress.

Christine (Chris) Kehoe is the Director of Claims at Hamlin & Burton Liability Management, Inc. and has over 20 years of experience in litigation management. Christine Kehoe began her career in 1995 with the Illinois State Medical Insurance Services (ISMIE) managing medical malpractice litigation in Chicago. Thereafter, Ms. Kehoe practiced law at Salvi, Schostok and Pritchard, LLC in Chicago, where she continued to focus on medical malpractice litigation. In 2003, Ms. Kehoe became Director of Major Case Litigation, Medical Malpractice for St.Paul/Travelers in Chicago and went on to serve as Director, Major Case Litigation, Excess Group for Travelers Excess Casualty Unit before joining Hamlin & Burton in 2009. Ms. Kehoe holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Saint Mary's College in Indiana and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Colorado Law School.

J. David Krause, PhD, MSPH, CIH is the national practice leader in Toxicology and Risk Assessment for Forensic Analytical Consulting Services (FACS) in Tallahassee, Florida. He received his Doctorate in Environmental and Occupational Health from the University of South Florida. David is both a Toxicologist and a Certified Industrial Hygienist with expertise in risk assessment, workplace exposures, health care facilities, and Legionnaires' disease. From 2008 to 2011, Dr. Krause served as the State Toxicologist for the Florida Department of Health. He co-authored the 2009 Guidelines for the Surveillance, Investigation, and Control of Legionnaires' Disease in Florida and the 2015 AIHA Guideline for the Recognition, Evaluation, and Control of Legionella in Building Water Systems.

Minton P. Mayer AV-rated Partner of Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A., is the co-managing partner of the Memphis and Nashville offices. Minton focuses his practice on the defense of the health care industry, where he represents nursing homes, assisted living facilities, physicians, drug and medical device manufacturers, and pharmacies. Minton's professional practice and volunteer experience as past-President and current General Counsel of a 160 bed skilled nursing and rehab facility provides him with unique insight into operational, compliance and risk management issues.

Ted J. McDonald III, is a founding partner of McDonald Veon PA in Overland Park, Kansas. He practices in a variety of areas of civil litigation with a primary emphasis on defending and consulting long term care and assisted living facilities. Ted serves as counsel for some of the largest providers of long term care services in the country. Mr. McDonald's background includes experience in products liability, medical malpractice and personal injury litigation. Mr. McDonald is a member of both the Missouri and Kansas Bars and is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts in Missouri and Kansas. Ted is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) and holds numerous positions of leadership with the Defense Research Institute (current member, DRI Law Institute; past Chair, DRI Medical Liability and Healthcare Law Committee; past Chair, DRI Nursing Home-ALF Subcommittee; past member, DRI Governance Committee; past Chair, DRI Young Lawyers' Committee; past Faculty, DRI Nursing Home and Medical Liability Seminars). Mr. McDonald is the Law Institute liaison for this seminar.

J. Richard Moore is a shareholder with BleekeDillonCrandall in Indianapolis, Indiana. His practice focuses on the defense of professional liability claims against physicians, nurses, long-term care providers, architects, engineers, and attorneys; advising businesses and insurers regarding large property losses, catastrophic casualty claims, complex insurance coverage questions, fraud and bad faith; and assistance in the resolution of a variety of business and commercial disputes before litigation where possible, and through trial where necessary. Richard is licensed in Indiana, Alabama and Tennessee, and has also assisted in the assessment and handling of matters in Arkansas, Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia, Missouri, Mississippi and Georgia. Richard is an active member of DRI, having served as Program Chair for the 2011 and 2012 DRI Nursing Home/ALF Litigation seminars, and as Program Chair for the DRI Sexual Torts seminar. He currently serves as Chair of the DRI Medical Liability and Health Care Law Committee.

Juliann Safko O'Meara draws on her background as a registered nurse and her skills as a litigator to provide clients with an effective defense in high-exposure medical malpractice and nursing home lawsuits. Juliann represents clients in malpractice and negligence claims including hospitals, physicians, nurses, nurse mid-wives, dentists, physical therapists and other allied health care professionals. She also has experience defending nursing homes in lawsuits seeking punitive damages, under New York Public Health Law Section 2801-d.

Jonathan Ohlsen has served as Chief Legal Officer of Prestige Healthcare since April of 2016, and previously served as its General Counsel beginning in 2011. Prior to joining Prestige, he was General Counsel of Meridian Senior Living from 2010 to 2012 and General Counsel of Good Neighbor Care Centers from 2004 to 2010. Mr. Ohlsen is a graduate of the Seattle University School of Law and began his career as a Prosecutor in the King County Prosecutor's office.

Anne M. Oldenburg is a Partner with the law firm of HeplerBroom, LLC and focuses her practice on the defense of healthcare professionals, including all aspects of civil litigation and appeals. She also represents professionals before state licensing boards. She has tried numerous cases to successful verdict and handled many cases through successful appeal. Before joining HeplerBroom, Ms. Oldenburg was an equity partner in the Chicago firm of Hay & Oldenburg, LLC (formerly known as Alholm, Monahan, Klauke, Hay & Oldenburg). Previously, she was a judicial clerk for the Honorable Ben K. Miller of the Illinois Supreme Court and for the Honorable John T. McCullough of the Fourth District, Appellate Court of Illinois.

Robyn M. Rogers is the Assistant Vice President of Professional Liability with National HealthCare Corporation in Murfreesboro, Tennessee where she manages the company's professional and general liability program. Robyn received her degree in Psychology from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte and has more than 20 years of claims handling experience in workers' compensation, professional and general liability claims, maintaining an active Property & Casualty License in South Carolina.

Rebecca Schafer is an attorney with the medical defense firm of Dzenitis Newman PLLC in Louisville, Kentucky. Since 2007, Rebecca has represented health care providers in litigation including personal injury, wrongful death, contract, and regulatory matters. She has been recognized as a Kentucky Super Lawyers Rising Star in the area of health care defense for five consecutive years. Prior to obtaining her law degree from the University of Minnesota, she worked as a software engineer for Thomson Reuters.

Johanna L. Tracy is a partner with the law firm of Carden & Tracy in Chicago, Illinois. She specializes in the defense of long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, home health agencies, as well as healthcare practitioners such as physicians and nurses. She is a skilled and reliable resource for clients who are facing the challenges of a complex and highly regulated specialty. Ms. Tracy has tried over thirty jury trials to resolution and has successfully defended several long-term care providers through verdict.

Albert Barclay Wong an AV-rated Partner at Drewry Simmons Vornehm LLP in Carmel, Indiana, represents health care providers. His practice focuses on defending physicians, hospitals, and nursing facilities in negligence claims. He also represents all licensed health care providers, including physicians, nurses, and dentists in professional licensure matters before all of Indiana's health related boards and committees. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Wong was an Indiana deputy attorney general where he successfully litigated hundreds of administrative actions. Mr. Wong is the Vice Chair of the DRI Medical Liability and Healthcare Law Committee.

Courtney O. Wylie is a member of the professional development team at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP and a certified executive leadership coach. In this position, she designs and implements programs for the firm's attorneys on leadership, professionalism, and lawyer well-being topics. She is a licensed attorney and began her career as a litigator where she practiced in both the private and public sector. Courtney still practices through pro bono matters but focuses her energy and passion on working with lawyers and the legal profession to improve well-being. She is an appointed Advisory Committee Member for the Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs for the American Bar Association.

Michael (Mike) Wylie serves as Vice President of Development for Genesis HealthCare. Mike has been with Genesis since 1984 in a variety of capacities including Administrator, Senior Administrator, Regional Director of Operations and in his current position is responsible for the relationships with managed and affiliated centers for Genesis HealthCare throughout its portfolio. Mike is the current Chairman of the Board of Governors of the American Health Care Association and has previously served as Vice-Chair, Secretary/Treasurer and a Member at Large. Mike is a past Chair of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association and a current 28 year member of its Board of Directors. Michael has also been a member of the board of the Health Care Association of New Jersey. Mike attended St. Francis College and Montgomery County Community College. Mike is licensed as a Nursing Home Administrator both in PA and MA.