Dr. Balch is the Chief Executive Officer of Patient Advocate Foundation and National Patient Advocate Foundation.

Dr. Balch has nearly fifteen years of executive leadership in the non-profit sector with an emphasis on consensus-building and collaboration. He has led numerous federal advocacy efforts on a range of issues both at the legislative and regulatory level over the years. He became the CEO of both PAF and NPAF in 2013. From 2006 - 2013, he served as the Vice President of the Preventive Health Partnership -- a national health promotion collaboration between the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, and American Heart Association. Prior to his work with the Preventive Health Partnership, Dr. Balch was the Executive Director of Friends of Cancer Research.

Dr. Balch has served on the Executive Board of the Patient Advocate Foundation and National Patient Advocate Foundation since 2007. Dr. Balch also serves on numerous advisory boards and committees. He is a member of the External Advisory Board for the Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research (HICOR), a member of the Duke-Margolis Payment Reform Group, a member of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Avalere Cost of Care Advisory Board, a member of the Quality and Outcomes Committee for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), and recently served as a member of the Guiding Committee for the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network (LAN). Dr. Balch also serves on the Finance Committee and the Membership Committee for the National Health Council in Washington, DC, is a member of the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Consumer Advisory Council, and sits on the inaugural board for The American Journal of Managed Care’s (AJMC) Institute for Value-Based Medicine (IVBM).

He earned his PhD in environmental studies with a concentration in political economy in 2003 from the University of California, Santa Cruz; his master’s degree in environmental sciences in 1997 from the University of Texas in San Antonio; his bachelor’s degree (cum laude) in biology in 1994 from Trinity University in San Antonio. Dr. Balch is the Chief Executive Officer of Patient Advocate Foundation and National Patient Advocate Foundation.

Dr. Balch has a decade of executive leadership in the non-profit sector with an emphasis on consensus-building and collaboration. From 2006 - 2013, he served as the Vice President of the Preventive Health Partnership -- a national health promotion collaboration between the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, and American Heart Association. Prior to his work with the Preventive Health Partnership, Dr. Balch was the Executive Director of Friends of Cancer Research. He has led numerous federal advocacy efforts on a range of issues both at the legislative and regulatory level over the years. For example, he helped to organize and lead a coalition that successfully fought for improvements in the regulatory process for the review of cancer drugs at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). He also contributed to the development of key federal policies related to the Affordable Care Act.

Dr. Balch serves on the Executive Board of the Patient Advocate Foundation and National Patient Advocate Foundation. Dr. Balch also serves on numerous advisory boards and committees. He is a member of the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Wellness and Health Promotion Advisory Committee, a member of the Guiding Committee for the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network (LAN), a member of the Advisory Board for the Patient Resource Cancer Guides, External Advisory Board member for the Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research (HICOR) and a member of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Avalere Cost of Care Advisory Board. Dr. Balch also serves on the Finance Committee and the Membership Committee for the National Health Council in Washington, DC and recently accepted an invitation to join the inaugural board for The American Journal of Managed Care’s (AJMC) newest initiative, the Institute for Value-Based Medicine (IVBM). He is also a member of the 2017 Access to Innovation Forum Steering Committee for the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO). He earned his PhD in environmental studies in 2003 from the University of California, Santa Cruz; his master’s degree in environmental sciences in 1997 from the University of Texas in San Antonio; his bachelor’s degree (cum laude) in biology in 1994 from Trinity University in San Antonio.

Professional mental health speaker, author, thought leader, trusted advisor to international business executives, Carol Kivler is also a passionate advocate for mental health. A survivor of four bouts of treatment-resistant depression, she battled this devastating and debilitating mental illness with courage and faith to a full and sustained recovery.

Carol is an ardent advocate for consumers struggling with depression and mental illness. Through her four books, mental health presentations and Courageous Recovery, Inc., her 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, Carol works tirelessly to overcome stigma and misrepresentations that still surround those suffering from mental illnesses. As a consumer advocate and mental health speaker, she tells the story of the treatment that saved her life, Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), and shares strategies for maintaining sustained recovery and mental wellness. Her motivational presentations resonate with mental and medical health professionals, consumers, their families and friends, inspiring compassion, understanding and hope.

Carol is an authentic, riveting, and memorable motivational speaker. Her high-energy and compelling mental health presentations change thinking and encourage participants to move from mental illness to the realm of mental wellness.

Dr. Perkins provides clinical leadership for all Commercial and Medicare Services, Medical Management, and Provider Network Development activities for the Health Plan. In addition, he oversees UPMC Health Plan Community Health Initiatives. Dr. Perkins provides clinical leadership for Commercial Products and WorkPartners suite of productivity products. Current areas of focus for the Health Plan include payment reform, development of alternative value based payment models, management of total cost of care and initiatives with UPMC as an integrated finance and delivery system.

Dr. Perkins served as Vice President of Medical Affairs and Senior Medical Director for the Health Plan. In these previous positions he provided strategic clinical leadership for all the Health Plan's line of business products and served as Senior Medical Director for UPMC WorkPartners’ suite of workers' compensation, employee assistance, health promotion, and health management products.

Before joining the Health Plan in 2010, Dr. Perkins served for 12 years as Corporate Medical Director for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, the largest Vermont-based health coverage carrier. His 30 years in the health care field also include 14 years as a family physician in South Charleston, W.Va.

Education/training:

• Bachelor’s degree in biology from West Virginia University
• Medical degree from the West Virginia University School of Medicine
• Completed his residency in family medicine at Kanawha Valley Family Practice Center in South Charleston, W.Va.
• Completed Fellowship in Family Medicine
• Board certified and recertified in Family Medicine

Dr. Robert Popovian is Sr. Director, US Government Relations at Pfizer Inc. For the past 2 decades, Dr. Popovian has published and presented extensively on the impact of biopharmaceuticals and health policies on health care costs and clinical outcomes, including authorship in clinical and healthcare delivery journals and published expert source in Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Pink Sheet and Bloomberg News amongst many others. He also writes a monthly column published in Morning Consult regarding health policy and economic issues relevant to the biopharmaceutical industry. He currently serves as a board member for the Global Healthy Living Foundation.

Dr. Popovian is one of the few researchers who has studied and published both clinical and policy related economic analysis as well as one of a handful who have studied and published empirical data regarding emerging payment mechanisms in the US healthcare system. He was also one of the first to secure inclusion of health outcomes data regarding labeled indication of a biopharmaceutical.

Dr. Popovian completed his Doctorate in Pharmacy and Masters of Science in Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy degrees at the University of Southern California with honors. He has also completed a residency in Pharmacy Practice/Adult Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the Los Angeles County – University of Southern California Hospital.

Ray Tancredi is divisional vice president, Specialty Pharmacy Development Brand Rx/Vaccine Purchasing, at Walgreens, based in Deerfield, Illinois Tancredi oversees a team responsible for all specialty pharmacy trade functions including Specialty Pharmacy product access, including limited distribution and relationships, managing manufacturer hub services and referrals, contract negotiation, implementation and compliance, pharma programs and services, data analysis and reporting, RFP support and coordinating clinical, patient services, new drug in-services, and education. Additionally, he oversees management of strategic manufacturer accounts in an effort of maximize contracts and provide exceptional customer service. Tancredi also oversees the team responsible for brand prescription drug launches and vaccine procurement including flu vaccine, GPO relationships, and specialty pharmacy distributors.

EDUCATION: Tancredi earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Temple University School of Pharmacy (1983) and is a registered pharmacist in PA and FL. He also holds a Master of Business Administration in Management from Eastern University (2001).

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: He is president of the Specialty Pharmacy Certification Board (SPCB) and is a Certified Specialty Pharmacist (CSP Certificate 032).

Marla Wexler is 35 years old, was born with a complex congenital heart defect, and had 4 open-heart surgeries by the time she was 6. She went from pediatric cardiac ICU patient to pediatric cardiac ICU nurse until being diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematous (lupus). Due to complications from the disease, she was forced to put her nursing career on hold. Since 2008, Marla has been diagnosed with lupus and multiple rare autoimmune diseases, cervical cancer, and lobular carcinoma in situ. She’s the creator and author of the blog Luck Fupus (www.luckfupus.com) which she writes about the day-to-day and long-term struggles of living with multiple chronic illnesses. She’s known for her humorous, keep-it-real style of writing. Her blog was used as a platform to help her become a patient leader and influencer, and Marla now travels the country attending healthcare conferences, speaking publicly sharing her story, educating and advocating for patients across the globe.

Joel Wright was named President and Chief Executive Officer of a combined specialty and mail services company with AllianceRx Walgreens Prime that launched on April of 2017. This combined company is a subsidiary of Walgreens, the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, and will be headquartered in Chicago, Ill.

Mr. Wright previously was Divisional Vice President of Walgreens Specialty Solutions Group, a division dedicated to providing patients with complete specialized pharmaceutical care to treat chronic, rare or complex conditions. During his tenure from 2013 - 2016, Mr. Wright developed and executed a successful go-to-market strategy for five central specialty and 250 local specialty pharmacies throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Under his leadership, the Specialty Solutions Group nearly doubled its sales and amassed more than $8 million in annual revenue.

Before leading the specialty division, Mr. Wright held a variety of leadership roles of increasing responsibility at Walgreens. He began his Walgreens career 22 years ago as a Pharmacy Manager and Supervisor and has since served as Vice President of Home Care, Executive Director of Pharmacy and Senior Director of Healthy System Operations.

Mr. Wright holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from the Ferris State University in Grand Rapids, MI. He also completed the Executive Management Program for Pharmacy Leaders at University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.