Save the Date:
Stratum Summit 2027
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
April 28-30, 2027
Discover the Stratum Summit, a premier national conference focused on the distinct challenges and opportunities facing independent, multi-specialty medical groups. This dynamic shared-learning event features insightful presenter content, engaging roundtable discussions, and unparalleled networking to build community and innovative solutions for the physician-owned clinics Stratum Med proudly serves.
Interested in attending? The Stratum Summit is an invitation-only event exclusively for executive leadership of independent medical clinics with a primary care base of at least 50+ physician ownership.
To find out how you can get involved and participate, please complete our contact form.
Past Featured Keynote Speakers

Mark Cuban
Co-Founder & Lead Investor, Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company
2026
Mark Cuban is a world-renowned entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder of Cost Plus Drugs. From his early success with Broadcast.com to his 15-season tenure as a "Shark" on ABC’s Shark Tank, Cuban has been a leading force in business and innovation. The former majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks, he continues to disrupt industries ranging from media to healthcare. Cuban is a recipient of the Horatio Alger Award and a member of the Forbes 250 Innovators list.

Paul Keckley
The Keckley Report
2026
Paul Keckley is a nationally recognized healthcare policy analyst, advocate, and managing editor of The Keckley Report. A leading advisor on healthcare industry reform and sustainability, he famously facilitated private-sector discussions with the White House to inform the passage of the Affordable Care Act. Keckley is a frequent speaker, the author of three books and over 250 articles, and has held executive leadership roles at Deloitte, Navigant, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Charlie Manning
American Independent Medical Practice Association (AIMPA)
2026
Charlie Manning is an Associate in Katten’s Health Care Practice Group, providing strategic legal counsel on complex transactions and federal regulatory compliance. Leveraging a foundational four-year career in healthcare management consulting at firms like Kaufman Hall and Navigant, Manning brings a pragmatic, business-oriented perspective to legal strategy. While at Washington University School of Law, he served as Executive Publication Editor for the Journal of Law & Policy and completed key regulatory internships with the U.S. Department of Justice and the FTC.

Libby Greer
Forbes Tate and Lead Lobbyist for AIMPA
2026
Libby Greer is a Partner at FTP, where she advises clients on strategic political advocacy before House and Senate Democrats. Having joined the firm in 2009 to build its robust House practice, Greer is a prominent force in Washington's advocacy landscape. She previously served nearly eight years as Chief of Staff to former Congressman Allen Boyd (D-FL), directing legislative operations and supporting his leadership of the Blue Dog Coalition at its peak. She is a graduate of Birmingham-Southern College.

Jake Poore
CEO, Integrated Loyalty Systems
2025
Jake Poore is a former Disney executive and the President and Chief Experience Officer of Integrated Loyalty Systems, where he is on a mission to humanize healthcare. During his Disney tenure, Poore trained 65,000 employees and helped launch the world-renowned Disney Institute. Today, he and his team design blueprints that help thousands of global healthcare professionals hardwire quality and compassion. An entrepreneur and international speaker, he is the author of 99 Lessons Learned from Disney To Improve the Patient Experience.

Justin Norden
Co-Founder & CEO, Quality Health
2025
Dr. Justin Norden, MD, MBA, MPhil, is the Co-Founder and CEO of Qualified Health, where he builds infrastructure for Generative AI in healthcare. An Adjunct Professor at Stanford Medicine teaching Generative AI, Norden is a seasoned pioneer in algorithm safety. He previously co-founded Trustworthy AI, which was acquired by Google's Waymo, and worked on Apple’s healthcare team. Dr. Norden holds degrees in computer science and medicine from Carleton College, the University of Cambridge, and Stanford University.
The Keckley Report Live
Facilitator:
Paul Keckley
Medical Group CEO Panel:
- Dr. Bryan Batson, Hattiesburg Clinic
- Andrew Perry, McFarland Clinic
- Kenny Bilger, Christie Clinic
Independent Physician Advocacy: Legislative and lobbying update regarding healthcare policy
Presenters:
- Charlie Manning, American Independent Medical Practice Association (AIMPA)
- Libby Greer, Forbes Tate and Lead Lobbyist for AIMPA
Current and Future State of CMS: Expert perspective on government payment programs through ambulatory lenses
Facilitator:
Jeff James, CEO – Wilmington Health
Presenter Panel:
- Amy Bassano, Former Deputy Director of CMMI
- John Pilotte, Former Directory of CMS Performance – Based Payment Policy Group
Pre-Conference Meetings
The Stratum Annual Meeting and Board of Directors Meeting will focus on reviewing annual progress, addressing key decisions, and planning for upcoming initiatives. Board members will engage in discussions aimed at driving Stratum forward.
(This is a closed meeting.)
This meeting of the Finance Council will address key financial strategies, economic forecasts, and critical risk management protocols. CFOs will collaborate to drive financial excellence and ensure organizational stability.
This Operations Council Meeting will address key operational strategies, performance metrics, and process optimization initiatives. Operations leaders will collaborate to drive efficiently and ensure seamless execution.
Thursday at a Glance
Keynote Speaker: Mark Cuban
Session description coming soon!
Facilitators: Bill Prentice, CEO – ASCA; Jen Boyer, COO – Springfield Clinic; Lisa Freeman, COO – Hattiesburg Clinic
Gain forward-looking insights and practical strategies to keep your ASC ahead in a fast-moving outpatient landscape. Discover high-impact best practices—from implant standardization and supply optimization to thorough improvements and workflow innovations—that elevate performance, efficiency, and profitability without compromising quality. Expert facilitators will address anesthesia shortages, shifting Medicare and commercial reimbursement, and rising price-transparency demands while highlighting growth opportunities tied to new Medicare-approved procedures and evolving site-of-service rules.
Attendees will engage in these discussions and explore new growth strategy, site-neutrality policy shifts, evaluate true cost per case exercises, and review quality and safety initiatives including ASC QC’s latest tools. Participants will leave with practical takeaways, insights into ASCA’s advocacy priorities, and a roadmap to a future-ready ASC.
Facilitators: Dennis Hesch, CFO – Carle Health; Kenny Bilger, CEO – Christie Clinic
Explore the evolving dynamics between hospitals and independent medical groups, gaining insight into the opportunities and tensions that shape these relationships. Through candid peer examples, we’ll examine how mutually beneficial collaboration develops, including partnership frameworks, communication approaches, and discovery processes that clarify each organization’s goals and constraints. Facilitators will highlight the realities of balancing shared interests with organizational independence.
Attendees will engage in open discussion about where collaboration thrives and where competition must be defined, exploring joint-venture models, lessons from successful and challenging partnerships, and forward-looking considerations for strengthening these relationships. The session offers practical guidance and peer-tested insights.
Facilitator: Dr. Nancy Utley, MD – The Jackson Clinic
Delve into the rapidly evolving landscape of care delivery and explore how emerging technologies, expanded diagnostic capabilities, and redesigned service models are reshaping the patient journey across all service lines. Through peer examples, we’ll examine how organizations are improving access, accelerating evaluation and treatment, and delivering more coordinated, patient-centered care. Facilitators will highlight the impact of technology integration, expanded interdisciplinary collaboration, and shifting care modalities on workflows, staffing, and patient expectations.
Attendees will discuss innovative diagnostic tools, new service models, evolving treatment approaches, and streamlined pathways that enhance quality and experience. The session offers practical insights, lessons learned, and forward-looking ideas for advancing care delivery in meaningful, patient-focused ways.
Facilitators: Jim Hewitt, Founder & CEO – Jardogs AI; Former CIO – Springfield Clinic; Former CIO – Allscripts
Discover the expanding role of artificial intelligence in medical group operations and clinical workflows, and gain clarity on separating hype from meaningful, measurable impact. Using real deployment examples from a large multi-specialty organization, we’ll examine what it takes to build an AI-ready medical group—from transforming documentation and revenue cycle processes to supporting physicians throughout the clinical encounter. Facilitators will highlight the operational, cultural, and workflow shifts required to move AI into daily practice.
Attendees will discuss physician adoption, change management, and governance structures, exploring lessons learned, oversight frameworks, and communication strategies that enable responsible, real-world implementation.
Facilitators: Mike D’Eramo, CEO – Graves Gilbert Clinic; Jenni Talbott, COO & John Munson, CFO – McFarland Clinic
Explore how ambulatory groups are redefining the role of pharmacy to support growth, improve outcomes, and strengthen financial performance. Through peer examples, we’ll examine innovative approaches to pharmacy integration—from specialty therapies and chronic disease management to effective in-office dispensary strategies and the economics behind them. Facilitators will highlight how pharmacy capabilities enhance access, adherence, and the overall patient experience.
Attendees will discuss 340B partnership models, lessons from building or scaling specialty services, and the operational factors that drive long-term success. The session offers practical strategies, regulatory insights, and forward-looking ideas for unlocking pharmacy’s full potential in ambulatory care.
Facilitator: Jeff James, CEO – Wilmington Health/Co-Founder, Innovo
Delve into what it takes to transform clinical research from a small, fragmented effort into a coordinated, enterprise-wide program that delivers meaningful value. Through peer examples, we’ll examine how groups build effective governance, scalable operating models, and the cross-specialty alignment needed to overcome silos and secure consistent engagement. Facilitators will highlight the realities of prioritization, financial models, and incentives that support broad physician participation.
Attendees will discuss practical steps to improve efficiency, strengthen compliance, and meet evolving regulatory expectations, exploring lessons learned, decision-making frameworks, and strategies for demonstrating organizational value. The session offers candid insights and forward-looking guidance for elevating research to a true strategic priority.
Friday at a Glance
Facilitator: Ben Vallier, CEO – The Iowa Clinic
Explore what it takes for independent physician groups to evolve from loosely aligned practices into durable organizations positioned for long-term success. Through real-world examples, we’ll examine why autonomy-driven models are losing ground and how shifting from an “eat what you kill” mindset to a sustainability-focused approach strengthens performance, culture, and generational impact. Facilitators will unpack the strategic, operational, and governance imperatives required to drive enterprise-wide alignment, codify non-negotiable standards, and build a cohesive organizational identity that supports consistency and resilience.
Attendees will examine disciplined business structures that support clear operating models, defined decision rights, financial guardrails, and standardized processes. They will gain practical insights and forward-looking strategies to strengthen organizational rigor, protect independence, and drive long-term stability.
Facilitator(s):
Dr. Jason Mohr, DO, Pulmonogist, Co-Board Chair – The Iowa Clinic
Dr. Eric Barp, DPM, Foot and Ankle Surgeon, Co-Board Chair – The Iowa Clinic
Examine what it takes to define, model, and uphold the expectations and behaviors that drive business excellence within a physician group. Through peer examples, we’ll explore how organizations protect their brand, connect physician conduct to operational and financial performance, and reduce variability to prevent performance erosion. Facilitators will highlight the realities of creating alignment, clarifying non-negotiables, and building a culture where expectations are understood and consistently reinforced.
Attendees will discuss the structures that support accountability, including clear pathways, consistent consequences, and fairness. The session offers candid insights, lessons learned, and forward-looking strategies for strengthening cohesion and elevating group performance.












