Metro Philadelphia Healthcare Power Players 2022

Dr. Joseph G. Cacchione is the CEO of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health. He joined Jefferson from Ascension Health, one of the largest private healthcare systems in the US, where he served as executive vice president of clinical and network services. Throughout his 30-plus year career, Dr. Cacchione has held leadership roles nationally and in Pennsylvania for the American College of Cardiology, and has served on several national and community-based administrative health committees. He has authored and co-authored scholarly papers and presented at national conferences and meetings on healthcare systems and cardiology.

What can Pennsylvania policymakers do to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare?
The state must fully fund Medicaid to pay for those who need help, as well as Medicare Advantage for older folks with complex illnesses. And secondly, policymakers must work with community organizations to build a network for prevention and wellness. That’s also a key commitment for Jefferson.

When and why did you decide to pursue a career in healthcare? 
I think I’ve wanted to be a doctor since I was five. As an interventional cardiologist, however, I was drawn to the opportunity to take decisive action on behalf of my patients. But I also saw the need to help people much earlier. We need education, prevention, and support for people before they end up with advanced diseases.

How do you see the healthcare industry evolving in the next five years?
The hospital industry is very different after the pandemic. Hospital systems across the country have been reporting large financial losses. I am very proud of what Jefferson Health did and continues to do post-pandemic. Our volumes and financing structures may change, but we will always respond with our mission in mind and our values first. We believe it is a great honor to take care of another human being.

Dr. Karen Carvalho is a board-certified expert in pediatric neurology, neurophysiology, and sleep medicine. She is an associate professor of neurology and pediatrics at Drexel University and the medical director of the sleep medicine laboratory at St. Christopher’s Children’s Hospital. She graduated from Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Brazil, and completed her residency in pediatric neurology and clinical neurophysiology at Indiana University. Dr. Carvalho specializes in sleep disorders with a special interest in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and epilepsy. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, daughters, cat, and dog, and enjoys traveling, music, and reading.

What can Pennsylvania policymakers do to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare?
Policymakers need to address real drivers of healthcare costs, such as the increased use in healthcare as the population ages and the intensity of services due to weak preventive health policies. Passing the Affordable Care Act and expanding Medicaid in Pennsylvania was a good start. However, access to affordable prescription drugs and reinsurance programs that can help insurance companies cover high-cost individuals would make a significant impact on the high cost of medical care. The development of better policies promoting wellness is paramount, particularly in high-risk underserved communities.

When and why did you decide to pursue a career in healthcare?
I grew up in a family of educators, so no one worked in healthcare. I did not experience a life-changing health crisis, a common reason why people decide to pursue careers in medicine. I fell in love with biology and science as a teenager, but it wasn’t until later that I understood the commitment of being a physician and the daily impact that we have on a patient’s life. I also appreciate my role as an educator and my experience as a lifelong learner, always acquiring new skills and learning new information.

How do you see the healthcare industry evolving in the next five years?
I expect major shifts in the design of health systems and healthcare. Technological advances have allowed for more data sharing and interoperability, and there has also been a trend in empowering patients, now treated as the ultimate consumers. I would like to see more equitable access to medicine and a move from treatment-based reactionary care to wellness and preventive care.

Dr. Rodrigo Cerdá, MD, MPH, leads Independence Blue Cross’ collaborative efforts to bring together health insurers, hospitals, and doctors to improve access to well-coordinated, high-quality, and affordable healthcare in the region. He has overall corporate responsibility for population health, case and condition management, provider experience, medical management and policy, and health value optimization. Dr. Cerdá serves as president of the American Diabetes Association’s Community Leadership Board for Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware. He also serves on the advisory boards for Managed Healthcare Executive and HealthShare Exchange of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Dr. Richard J. Cohen is a nationally recognized leader in the healthcare and public health arenas. Dr. Cohen has led the Public Health Management Corporation for more than four decades, transforming it into an innovative, cutting-edge nonprofit and one of the largest and most comprehensive health, human, and social service agencies in the country. Today, PHMC serves more than 350,000 individuals annually through more than 350 programs and a family of subsidiaries. Dr. Cohen’s work has positively impacted the lives of countless individuals and families, and successfully broadened the definition, scope, and reach of public health.

What can Pennsylvania policymakers do to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare?
The highest priority for Pennsylvania policymakers must be to look at all policies through an equity lens– healthcare, housing, immigration, gun violence, education, economic development, etc. One way to do this is by creating more meaningful partnerships between policymakers and community nonprofit organizations that deliver critical services to Pennsylvanians. Funding is needed in order to achieve equity.

When and why did you decide to pursue a career in healthcare?
I was interested in and committed to health and human services at a very early age. I found myself really intrigued by the critical importance of integrated care. I went into the study of psychology as a way to better understand the connection between health and human services. And that’s essentially what public health is–the cross-section of physical, behavioral, educational, and social services. The interdependencies across these areas are profound.

How do you see the healthcare industry evolving in the next five years?
As we all deepen our understanding of the social determinants of health across systems, I think we’ll see an even greater–and hopefully financed–focus on more meaningful integration. When we have a system of care that takes into consideration upstream planning like prevention programming, as well as downstream planning like trauma-related services, then we’ll begin to see the true impact of creating and sustaining healthier communities.

Steve Collis is the chairman, president, and CEO of AmerisourceBergen, a global healthcare solutions company advancing the development and distribution of pharmaceuticals and other healthcare products. Steve has been with AmerisourceBergen for more than two decades, during which the company has seen significant financial growth. Steve serves on the American Red Cross’ Board of Governors, is a founding vice chairman of the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Cancer Society’s CEOs Against Cancer program, and served on the board of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers.

Dr. Sanul Corrielus is a board-certified cardiologist, founder of Community Cardiovascular Initiative, and CEO of Corrielus Cardiology. He volunteers on several board committees, including the American Heart Association in Philadelphia and the Association of Black Cardiologists. Dr. Corrielus also serves on advisory boards for pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer and Alnylam, and ultimately strives to help men in their prime lead long and vibrant lives by protecting them from heart disease. Dr. Corrielus is the bestselling author of Healing the Spartan: A Breakthrough Plan to Heart Health and Longevity.

What can Pennsylvania policymakers do to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare?
Pennsylvania policymakers must work together to create policies that will help to develop a diverse pipeline of healthcare providers who are culturally competent and can connect with and deliver care to the communities they serve.

When and why did you decide to pursue a career in healthcare?
As a teenager, I watched my dad lose his battle against heart disease. At the time, he had no understanding of the disease–it was as though he was in a fight but knew nothing about his adversary. Needless to say, he could not defend himself and succumbed. That experience inspired me to become a community cardiologist and gave me the drive to empower patients with the knowledge needed to prevent the devastating effects of heart disease from reaching our community.

How do you see the healthcare industry evolving in the next five years?
In the next five years, technological advances will drive the healthcare industry to implement a more personalized approach to care. We should be taking steps toward our community and meeting patients where they are, and we must ensure that our therapeutic interventions are targeting individualized needs. More than ever, we will need to be intentional in strengthening our provider-patient relationships in order to deliver optimal care.

Dr. Glen Crawford is the chief medical officer for Schweiger Dermatology Group, the largest dermatology group in the Northeast, with over 90 locations and 300 dermatology providers in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. He previously served as the chief of dermatology at Pennsylvania Hospital for 15 years. Dr. Crawford is a clinical associate professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania, is board-certified by the American Board of Dermatology, and is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Anita Cummins established The Clinical Trial Center in 2001. Located in Jenkintown, this research facility works with both patients and pharmaceutical companies to develop innovative medications. With over 17 years of experience conducting clinical trials, Anita has overseen more than 150 trials at the center, and is in charge of enforcing operating procedures, performing psychological evaluations, and advising on FDA matters and regulations. The Clinical Trial Center specializes in family medicine, internal medicine, and women’s health, and often conducts studies into Alzheimer’s disease, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and more.

Nick Delmonico is the co-founder and CEO of Strados Labs, a medical technology startup focused on capturing lung health remotely via a wearable device and machine learning. Prior to Strados Labs, Nick worked in financial consulting at a Fortune 100 financial institution and in public accounting at a Big Four firm. During this time, Nick worked with multinational pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, and large hospitals and health systems in the greater Philadelphia area. He received his master’s degree in Healthcare Management from Temple University’s Fox School of Business.

Dr. Nicholas DeMarco received his doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he completed advanced training in cognitive behavioral therapy and other evidence-based treatments. Dr. DeMarco is currently the director of ID and mental health supports at Philadelphia Coordinated Health Care, where he oversees behavioral health initiatives that support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the region. He also maintains a private practice in New Jersey. Dr. DeMarco’s clinical interests include providing empirically supported treatments and assessments to individuals with complex needs.

What can Pennsylvania policymakers do to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare?
I believe that policymakers need to figure out ways to build provider capacity in order to serve communities in need. One of the perks of working at PCHC is that I have the ability to work alongside policymakers and develop novel ways to accomplish this task.

When and why did you decide to pursue a career in healthcare? 
I decided to pursue a career in healthcare when I graduated from high school. For me, it was always healthcare because I enjoy working with people and want to help them make positive changes in their lives. The healthcare landscape is ever-changing and always challenges you to develop new ways to solve problems, so you can’t be stagnant.

How do you see the healthcare industry evolving in the next five years?
As a system, we need to examine how to effectively retain providers in certain geographic areas and insurance networks. I also see a movement towards a more integrated form of healthcare with a team-based approach. This aligns with my training in behavioral medicine and my current role at PCHC, since the interdisciplinary team is essential. Collaboration with other healthcare professionals allows for different perspectives to be shared and produces the best possible outcomes for individuals.