Agenda of the 2026 Medical Director Essentials Course

Friday, June 5

PACE Medical Leaders: Driving Clinical Excellence, Ensuring Compliance, and Advancing Quality Care

7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Registration

7-8 a.m.
Continental Breakfast with Exhibitors

8-8:15 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks

  • Jennifer Heidmann, MD, Medical Director, Redwood Coast PACE

8:15-9:15 a.m. Leadership and Team Management

  • Verna Sellers, MD, MPH, CMD, PACE Consultant and Interim MD, Centra PACE

Focus:

  • Effective Team Communication and Collaboration with IDT
  • Strategies for Motivating and Mentoring Staff
  • Conflict Resolution in Complex Care Environments
  • Change Leadership for PACE Medical Directors

9:15-10:15 a.m.
Balancing Clinical Care with Regulatory Requirements

  • Rachel Liebman, DO, State Medical Director, InnovAge Pennsylvania LIFE

Focus:

  • Practical Strategies for Delivering Person-Centered Care While Maintaining Compliance
  • Decision-Making Frameworks for High-Acuity Participants
  • Managing Care Trade-Offs When Regulations and Clinical Priorities Intersect

10:15-10:30 a.m.
Networking Break with Exhibitors

10:30-11:30 a.m.
Optimizing Your PACE Program’s Relationship with Contracted Providers

  • Matt McNabney, MD, Medical Director, Hopkins ElderPlus

Focus:

  • Building Strong, Collaborative Partnerships with Contracted Providers
  • Aligning Provider Performance with Quality Metrics and Compliance Requirements
  • Managing Communication, Expectations and Accountability
  • Strategies for Resolving Challenges While Maintaining Clinical Excellence and Regulatory Compliance

11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
PACE Audit Readiness: Preparing for Success

Focus:

  • Understanding CMS Audit Priorities
  • Internal Monitoring and Corrective Action Planning
  • Case Examples of Successful Audit Preparations

12:15-1:15 p.m.
Networking Luncheon

1:15-2:15 p.m.
Collaboration Between Medical and Quality Directors: Leveraging Compliance and Audit Insights to Drive Quality

  • Crissy Flake, DHA, FACHE, CPHQ, CPAFH, National Director, Quality and Compliance Programs, myPlace Health, and Chair, NPA Quality Improvement Subcommittee, NPA Quality Committee
  • Robert Schrieber, MD, Vice President and National Medical Director, Care Model Strategy, myPlace Health

Focus:

  • Integrating Medical Oversight with Quality Improvement Initiatives
  • Using Compliance and Audit Findings to Identify Gaps and Guide Quality Interventions
  • Data-Driven Approaches to Improve Participant Outcomes
  • Building a Culture of Continuous Quality Improvement Informed by Regulatory and Audit Insights
  • Case Studies Illustrating Successful Collaboration Between Medical and Quality Leadership

2:15-2:30 p.m.
Networking Break with Exhibitors

2:30-3:30 p.m.
Medication Safety in PACE: Case-Based Strategies to Reduce Harm and Improve Outcomes

  • David Wensel, DO, FAAHPM, HMDC, Chief Medical Director, TRU Community Care
  • Kevin T. Bain, PharmD, Vice President, Clinical Pharmacy Strategy, GalenusCare

Focus:

  • Oversight of High-Risk Medications and Polypharmacy
  • Collaborating with Pharmacy to Reduce Adverse Events
  • Regulatory Requirements Vs. Clinical Judgment in Medication Management

3:30-4:30 p.m.
Financial Considerations for Medical Leaders in PACE

  • Robert Schrieber, MD, Vice President and National Medical Director, Care Model Strategy, myPlace Health

Focus:

  • Understanding Reimbursement, Risk Adjustment and Budget Impacts
  • Balancing Clinical Decisions with Financial Sustainability
  • Leveraging Data to Inform Resource Allocation and Program Decisions

4:30-5:15 p.m.
Panel Discussion: PACE Medical Directors Challenges and Concerns

5:15 p.m.
Adjournment and Presentation of Certificates

6-7:30 p.m.
Welcome Reception