The history of Healthcare Council, founded in 1946 as the Hospital Council, is an association of healthcare providers, schools and health-related institutions serving the Mid-Atlantic region. The Council assists its members by promoting intelligent planning, facilitating discussion of common problems and acting as a clearinghouse for the exchange of information. We use a variety of tools to accomplish that mission.
Peer group meetings for professionals in Administration, Engineering, Human Resources, Environmental Services, Information Technology/CIOs, Materials Management, Quality Assurance, Rehabilitation Services, Volunteers and other areas of management.
The Council’s subsidiary corporation, ShareSource, saves participants millions of dollars every year.
An annual look at regional specific pay scales for over 150 positions by title and description in the Wage & Salary Survey and over 60 positions in the Executive/Department Head Salary Survey. The Homecare Salary Survey provides data on over 20 positions.
The Healthcare Council is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization.
The Healthcare Council and ShareSource are governed by an 12-member Board of Trustees comprised of both healthcare providers and payer leaders.
Dean Teague, FACHE, has been President & CEO of Calvert Health System (CHS), since March 2015. CHS is the largest employer in Calvert County and has more than 1,200 employees. The system includes Calvert Memorial Hospital, an employed physician network, urgent care centers, a diagnostic imaging facility, a home health care agency and centers for radiation and physical therapy. He joined CHS in June of 2012 as chief operating officer. Before joining CHC, Teague served as vice president of operations for six years at Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park, MD. In 2006, he retired from the US Navy after 24 years of active duty. Prior to his retirement from the Navy, he was the senior administrator for three years of the White House Medical Unit, which provides health care for the President, Vice President and the cabinet members. In 2017 Teague was recognized as a Grassroots Champion for his exceptional leadership in generating grassroots activity in support of the hospital community. The American Hospital Association Grassroots Champions Award, which is presented each year to one person from each state, was created to recognize those hospital leaders who most effectively educate elected officials on how major issues affect the hospital’s vital role in the community, who have done an exemplary job in broadening the base of community support for the hospital, and who are tireless advocates for the hospital and its patients. He has a master’s in healthcare administration from the University of New Haven, and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Dean and his wife, Pam, have been married for 31 years and have a daughter, Kaitlyn.
Kathleen Chavanu Gorman, M.S.N., R.N., F.A.A.N., is Executive Vice President for Patient Care Services and Chief Operating Officer at Children’s National Hospital. Kathy is a nurse leader who has advanced patient safety, quality and clinical resource management to improve care outcomes and inform policy for children and families. She rejoined Children’s National from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) where she served as Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services, Chief Nursing Officer and Assistant Dean of Clinical Practice at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Prior to her tenure at CHOP, Kathy was at Children’s National as Vice President of Quality and Clinical Support Services until 2009. During that time, she also led the Quality Program, Clinical Resource Management Program and Family Service Department. She played a critical role in the process of achieving Magnet® status in March 2010. Kathy has presented and published extensively on quality, safety, outcomes and leadership in healthcare. In advancing the national agenda on improving child health through pediatric quality, she has led and participated in committees under the National Quality Forum, the Leapfrog Group, Children’s Hospital Association (CHA), American Board of Pediatrics, Institute of Medicine and others. Ms. Gorman serves on the board of directors for the DAISY Foundation and the Quality, Safety and Performance Committee for CHA. She was the recipient of the distinguished Alumni Award for the University of Nebraska Medical Center and is a graduate from the Wharton School of Business: Johnson & Johnson Nurse Executive Fellow program. In 2017 she received the American Hospital Association’s prestigious Grassroots Champion Award for Washington, D.C., in recognition of her tireless advocacy on behalf of patients, hospitals and communities. In addition, she has been recognized as a top woman leader by Becker’s Hospital Review in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Kathy was inducted as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in 2014. She received a bachelor’s and master’s degree of science in nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Nursing.
Conan Dickson, PhD is currently the Senior Director of Business Development and Strategy at the Johns Hopkins Medicine Community Division. The JHM Community Division includes the three member hospitals (Suburban, Sibley, Howard County General Hospitals); ambulatory facilities; and relationships with other regional hospitals (affiliations with Greater Baltimore Medical Center and Anne Arundel; formal collaborations with Allegheny Health Network-Highmark Health and Kaiser; clinical programmatic relationships). Dr. Dickson has been affiliated with Johns Hopkins for twenty years in various roles such as Chief of Staff at Sibley Memorial Hospital; Administrator of Operations Support for Johns Hopkins Health System and Administrator of Medical Affairs for The Johns Hopkins Hospital. He has a range of experiences in operational and financial management in an innovations research group, a large ambulatory setting, financial consulting for medical services, a congressional office, and a faculty practice plan. Dr. Dickson taught corporate finance and quantitative tools for managers at Johns Hopkins University for several years. Additionally, he is active in the community as a past president of the Baltimore Rotary Club. Dr. Dickson has a doctorate in Health Services Research from Johns Hopkins University, a master’s from Yale University, and bachelor degrees in Health System Management and Accounting from Auburn University. He is also a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. He also serves as the Board Chair of the Episcopal Community Services of Maryland.
Lou Damiano, M.D., M.B.A., is President of Holy Cross Hospital, Silver Spring. He is the seventh person to serve as President since the hospitals opening in 1963. “Lou is a strong advocate for collaboration among nurses, physicians, clinical staff and colleagues in support functions. His confident, inclusive and engaging approach is what the organization needs as we move forward,” said Norvell “Van” Coots, MD, president and CEO of Holy Cross Health. Prior to becoming president, Lou joined Holy Cross Hospital as Vice President of Medical Affairs in 2015. Before joining Holy Cross Health, Dr. Damiano was the Deputy Commander of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) and Integration Programs at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He is a board-bcertified anesthesiologist having completed his residency in anesthesiology at Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, VA and receiving his medical degree from University of Maryland School of Medicine. He has been in practice for more than 20 years.
For more than 30 years, Mr. Barch has held senior management positions in various medical corporations representing nearly every facet of healthcare. More recently, he has served as Chairman of Global Pharmaceutical Sourcing, a pharmaceutical distribution company. Previously, he held the post of CEO of The George Washington University Medical Center (GWUMC) for more than 20 years. During his tenure at GWUMC, he helped the Medical Center develop a 300-physician group practice and a 100,000-member HMO. He later served as Assistant VP at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Following his appointment at John Hopkins, Mr. Barch was named President and CEO of Managed Care Assistance Corporation (MCAC) which was responsible for the development of six different statewide managed care networks and the formation of HMOs in two additional states. Mr. Barch holds a joint degree in economics and finance from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a MHSA from the George Washington University.
A native Washingtonian holding a Bachelor of Science Degree in Commerce from the University of Virginia, Mr. Wilkes has a longstanding interest in community healthcare activities. He served as president of the Board of Trustees of the National Hospital for Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation from 1970 to 1974, President of the Hospital Council of the National Capital Area from 1974 to 1978, and in 1993 was elected to the Board of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of the National Capital Area and served on its Audit and Pension Committees. In 1996 he was elected to the Board of The Arlington Free Clinic, a non-profit provider of medical services to Arlington residents.& nbsp; From 1999 to 2006 he served on the Board of CareFirst, Inc., the holding company for Blue Cross of Maryland and Blue Cross of Washington, DC. Mr. Wilkes had a distinguishing career as a U.S. Government executive with a variety of appointments, primarily within the Department of the Treasury.
Mr. Pitton is President and Chief Executive Officer of The Healthcare Council and ShareSource. Currently he serves on the Board of Brother’s Brother Foundation and chairs the BBF Advisory Council for the National Capital Area. He also serves on the Honors College Advisory Board of Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, MD. He is the past Board President of Chase Brexton Health Services, Inc. (a Federally Qualified Health Center in Baltimore) and past chair of Adventist Community Services of Greater Washington. He served as chairperson of Chancellor Health Care, Inc. for 15 years, a company he co-founded and sold in 2007. Prior to joining AHC, he served as President of Medical Aide Training Schools for Manor Care, Inc. and Regional Marketing Director. Mr. Pitton has 40 years of leadership experience with both non-profit and for-profit organizations, demonstrating leadership in hospital and allied health operations and corporate governance.
Carin is the Director, Network Development and Strategic Planning for the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and Department of Pediatrics. In this position, she is responsible for operational oversight and strategy. Previously, Carin served as the Director, Business Development and Strategy within Healthcare Transformation and Strategic Planning responsible for developing and managing opportunities and relationships that align JHHS’ strategic needs and initiatives that include cross-functional teams. Prior to joining Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011, she was with Suburban Hospital as Corporate Director, Strategy and Business Development. Her previous positions were with Inova Health System in Virginia and CHI Systems, a consulting firm in Philadelphia, PA. Carin received a BA at Kenyon College and a Master of Health Services Administration from The George Washington University School of Business and Public Management.
Founding owner of C Brown & Associates, Mr. Brown, possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience in financial consulting: commercial and government accounting; and government auditing experience. After serving 8 ½ years with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Mr. Brown developed expertise in International Tax, resolving double taxation cases under U.S. Income Tax Treaties with foreign governments. His firm provides accounting, income tax preparation, financial management and advisory services. In addition Mr. Brown offers financial oversight and audits for individuals, corporations and governments. Mr. Brown was Chair of Dimensions Health System Board after serving as chair of the Finance Committee. As a business man he is deeply involved with his community serving many business boards, religious ministry programs and youth educational projects. He is the current Chair of the Prince George’s County Revenue Authority and has earned the distinction of completing the requirements for nationally recognized accreditation in taxation from Council for Accountancy as an enrolled agent eligible to represent clients before the IRS.
Donna Carris was named CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Maryland on July 11, 2016. UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, Maryland is currently the State’s third largest Medicaid Managed Care organization serving over 160,000 Marylanders. Donna has extensive history in healthcare leadership roles in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Prior to being named CEO of UHC’s Maryland Community Plan, Donna most recently served as Chief Financial Officer of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Community Health Plans where she led the financial function and provided leadership support for the Massachusetts Senior Care Options (Long Term Care) and Rhode Island Medicaid Market, totaling $1 billion in revenue and 100,000 members. Prior to this role, Donna was Chief Operating Officer of the UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Rhode Island, Director of Clinical Operations for the Rhode Island and Connecticut Health Plans, Chief Financial Officer for the Public Sector division of UnitedHealthcare, and Chief Financial Officer of UnitedHealthcare of New England covering three states and across Commercial, Medicaid and Medicare lines of business. In addition to her experience with UnitedHealthcare, Donna has held leadership positions with managed care organizations in Massachusetts and Washington, DC. She served on the Rhode Island Department of Health Services Council by appointment of the Rhode Island Speaker of the House. Donna also served the Rhode Island Community as President of the Board of Big Sisters of Rhode Island, and Massachusetts as Treasurer of Families First Parenting Organization. Donna lives in Annapolis.
Region Vice President of Premier, leading a team who support and deliver value to Premier owners in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Kevin collaborates with the healthcare system senior executives to understand their organization goals and strategic imperatives. Kevin has 25 years of experience in healthcare focused on supply chain improvement, operational efficiency, revenue cycle optimization and information technology strategy and deployment. Prior to joining Premier, Kevin held various leadership positions with McKesson’s consulting organization and its technology division. Before his role with McKesson, Kevin spent three years in Europe where he led sales and marketing for private label agreements with three European manufacturers to design custom products combined with information technology to reduce the overall cost per procedure. Kevin earned his BA in Business Administration from St. Michael’s college. Kevin lives in Haymarket, Virginia.
A retired banker, bank regulator and Naval Reserve Captain, he also taught accounting at Montgomery College and the American Institute of Banking at night. He is currently focused on investing his personal funds in private equity transactions and counseling small and emerging businesses. He completed his business courses and comprehensive examinations at George Mason University leading to a Doctor of Arts degree. He has an MBA (Finance and Investments) from George Washington University and a B.A. in political science and Naval Science from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He did his business courses at College Park. Mr. Eagleton is an Emeritus Director, Children’s National Medical Center; Trustee, past President of the Washington Chapters of the American Institute of Banking and the International Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals.
As a Senior Vice President with CRGA Design, Mr. Haarstad is employing his design and leadership skills to strengthen and grow the firm’s regional and national presence. With a specialty in healthcare projects, he has led the design and delivery of several major projects throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Mr. Haarstad’s projects have been honored by AIA Maryland, Baltimore Chapter/AIA, ASLA Maryland and AIA Minnesota. His work has been featured in numerous publications, including: Architectural Record, Healthcare Design and Architecture Minnesota. His strong strategic planning skills led his largest client to date, Western Maryland Health System, to appoint him as the Chairman of the Board in 2016. After merging with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in 2019, Mr. Haarstad was appointed chairman of UPMC Western Maryland, which he currently serves. Additionally, Mr. Haarstad was appointed in 2020 to the Executive Committee of the Maryland Hospital Association for a three-year term.
Gary Hibbs has more than 30 years of executive leadership experience in the senior living field. He is also a member of the John Maxwell Team as a Certified Coach and Speaker. He is currently a Vice‐President with Erickson Living, serving as the Executive Director for Riderwood Village in Silver Spring, Maryland, the largest Continuing Care Retirement Community in the nation. Additionally, Gary is an Adjunct Professor at the UMBC Erickson School of Aging, teaching in the undergraduate and graduate programs. Gary joined Erickson in 1995 where he has served as Executive Director at four of its CCRC’s, including the start‐up of a new campus and the regional executive director role overseeing eight communities. In 2016 he took on the role at Riderwood Village. Before Erickson, Gary was the administrator of Global Health Management’s Wellington Manor, a 284‐bed skilled nursing facility in Clinton, Maryland and Circle Manor, an 86‐bed skilled nursing facility. Prior to entering the senior housing and healthcare field, he practiced law with the Senior Citizen Law Project in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Gary has also worked with older adults in both the local setting and the national setting, having served with the Area Agency on Aging in both Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland. He worked with Congressman Claude Pepper in Washington, D.C., serving on the staff of the House Aging Committee’s Subcommittee on Health and Long Term Care. Dedicated to voluntary service at many levels, Gary has served as the chair or officer of two church boards, a private school board, and the local committee of Young Life, a ministry focusing on teenagers. Gary and his wife, Jenne have four adult children. Gary holds a B.A., Government and Politics, University of Maryland; M.S.W. and J.D. University of Maryland at Baltimore. Gary has been a certified L.G.S.W., member of the Maryland Bar Association, and held nursing home administrator licenses in the states of Maryland and Michigan.
Joe Lavelle has over twenty five years of progressive leadership in healthcare organizations, including both for-profit and not-for-profit health systems, as well as acute care and specialty hospitals. Moreover, he has extensive experience in managed care and physician practice management and has built a successful track record in the areas of cost management, program/revenue development, and coordination/clinical integration activities and physician/hospital alignment. Prior to joining Inova Fairfax, Joe served as the EVP/COO of the Central Georgia Health System a 637 bed level 1 trauma center and teaching facility and was responsible for the start-up and management of their clinically integrated Physician-Hospital Organization. Mr. Lavelle has also served in senior management roles with an HCA facility and National Medical Enterprises (now Tenet). Joe holds a Bachelor of Sciences Degree in Health Planning and Administration from the Pennsylvania State University and a Masters of Business Degree in Finance & Investments from the George Washington University. He is a Fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives and a Fellow with the Advisory Board.
James G. Lee is Executive VP & Chief Financial Officer at Adventist HealthCare Inc. Having served as CFO of Washington Adventist Hospital from 2001 to 2005, James Lee was appointed CFO of Adventist HealthCare in March 2005. Adventist HealthCare is an integrated healthcare delivery system based in Rockville, Maryland, and one of the largest employers in the state. Prior to joining Adventist, James held management positions with several healthcare and consulting organizations, including Arthur Andersen, Queens Health Management, and Castle Medical Center. Supporting his 15 years of experience in healthcare are a masters degree in Public Health, and a masters degree in Health Administration, both earned at Loma Linda University.
Doug Leidig, was named President and CEO of Asbury Communities, Inc., June 1, 2015. Prior to that he served as the Chief Operating Officer of Asbury Communities, and has more than 25 years of experience providing services to help older adults lead fulfilling lives. He also served as President of The Asbury Group (TAG), leading the for-profit division of Asbury Communities, Inc. that provides management, marketing and integrated technology consulting services on a contract basis to for-profit and not-for-profit senior living entities. Mr. Leidig began his career with Asbury in 1994, when he was hired as an Administrator at Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg, Md. In January 2015, Mr. Leidig was elected Board Chair of LeadingAge Maryland, a community of not-for-profit aging services organizations working together to shape the future of aging in the state of Maryland. Most recently, he was selected to join the advisory board for Senior Living 100, the premier leadership event for C-level executives from the nation’s largest, most progressive assisted living, independent living and continuing care providers dedicated to advancing the role of senior living in the continuum of care. Doug also serves on the Kairos Health Systems Board of Directors. Leidig holds a bachelor’s degree in long-term care administration from York College in Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in business administration from Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland.
Jack Lewin, CTP, Administrative Vice President, Mid-Atlantic Segment Leader, Healthcare Banking Group, M&T Bank, Baltimore, MD Mr. Lewin is the Segment Leader for M&T’s Healthcare Banking in the Mid Atlantic. M&T’s Healthcare Banking Group is a Specialized Industry Group that provides Commercial Lending, Investment Banking, Treasury Management and other Financial Services to Health Systems, Hospitals, Skilled Nursing Facilities and Senior Living Communities. Jack joined M&T Bank in 2003. He has held several senior positions in the commercial banking division in the Greater Washington and Greater Baltimore markets, with a focus on providing financing to the Health Care, Energy, and general business sectors. Prior to M&T Bank, Mr. Lewin worked in various corporate development roles, raising over $500MM of financing across telecom and international ventures. Jack received a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Colorado College and a Masters of Business and Administration from The University of Virginia in 2002. Jack received his Certified Treasury Professional designation in 2007. He serves as a director of The Baltimore office of Promotion and the Arts (BOPA); Investment Director for a location based venture capital fund in Baltimore (Propel), the Maryland Chapter of the American Heart Association (2017 Chair), and the Elewana Education Project. Mr. Lewin served as a director of TEDCO from 2006-2015 in various capacities including Chairman. Calvin Brown, HCNCA Board Treasure said, “the rich background in finance that Mr. Lewin brings to the board will be of untold value as HCNCA continues to monitor the organizations finances.”
President, CEO and owner of TRA Medical Supply, Inc. (TRA), a Woman Owned Minority Company located in Prince Georges County Maryland, specializing in distribution and manufacture of disposable medical supplies, green cleaning and paper good products. The company was founded by her late visionary husband and in 2012 Tawana took over operation. Prior to becoming President & CEO of TRA, Tawana operated her own consulting company, C&N Consultants, Inc., a local company specializing in event planning for corporations, non-profit organizations and government agencies. Before starting her own company Tawana served as assistant Controller, Systems and Control Manager and Internal Auditor for Omni Hotels. Born and raised in Virginia Beach, Tawana attended Hampton University. She currently serves on the board of The Bethune-DuBois Institute, The Philadelphia Martin Luther King Association and a community partner for Prince George’s County Government.
Before being named CEO of George Washington University Hospital, Ms. Russo was Chief Operating Officer for the hospital since April 2009. Prior to that, she was Associate Administrator at the hospital since August 2006, and was previously Executive Director of Rehabilitation Services. She holds an MBA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, through a collaborative leadership program with Gallup, a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Rush University in Chicago, Illinois, and a Bachelor of Science in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology from Illinois State University. Ms. Russo is a healthcare executive with 20 years of clinical and operational experience and has a proven track record of exceptional results. Ms. Russo was recognized as one of The Washington Business Journal’s 2016 “Playmakers,” a list of business leaders who made an impact on the DC area in 2016. The Washington Business Journal also named her an honoree of “Women Who Mean Business” in 2010. In addition in 2010, she was recognized as an “Up and Comer Under 40” by Modern Healthcare and Becker’s Hospital Review.
Adrian Stanton is Vice President, Business Development and Community Relations responsible for Virginia Hospital Center’s growth strategy and execution to advance its mission, competitive position and financial stability. He also serves as the organization’s legislative affairs lead and community relations liaison responsible for guiding the Health System through state and local regulatory rules and regulations. He oversees the organization’s growth, legislative and community affairs, marketing, communications, business development, outpatient pharmacy, executive health and health & wellness operations. Prior to Virginia Hospital Center, he was Senior Director at Inova Health System and Director of Managed Care Contracting at Suburban Hospital. Adrian received his BBA degree from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA.
Robert G. Brewer, Jr. is a Lerch, Early & Brewer attorney whose practice is rooted in the firm’s Health Care and Land Use groups. Robby represents several major regional health care entities. He also serves nonprofits, trade associations, automotive clients, private schools and religious institutions. After earning his Bachelor of Arts from Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. in 1973, Robby returned to his native Maryland to attend the University of Maryland School of Law where he received his Juris Doctor with honors in 1976. After graduation, he served as law clerk to the Honorable Richard B. Latham, 6th Judicial Circuit of Maryland. In 1977, Robby joined the firm that today bears his name. In addition to serving four times as Lerch Early’s managing partner, Robby’s service to the legal profession includes leadership roles in the Maryland State Bar Association and pro bono service to housing groups like Habitat for Humanity. Since 1991, he has been listed in Best Lawyers in America and has been listed by Chambers USA since 2007 as one of Maryland’s leading real estate and health care attorneys. Through the years, Robby has been an active leader in many of the area’s most prominent civic, community and cultural organizations, including the Music Center at Strathmore, Montgomery County Business Development Corporation, and Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce.
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