Overview
MASI-ritaville
September 18-20, 2024
Perdido Beach Resort
Registration is now open!
This year’s conference agenda will provide the latest information on the self-insurance market in Mississippi. If you operate a business with employees in Mississippi, this conference is for you!
Who should attend?
Current and prospective self-insured employers, chief executives, financial and operating officers, human resource personnel, risk managers, loss prevention and safety personnel, attorneys, insurance consultants, healthcare providers, vocational rehabilitation professionals, physical therapists, case managers, third party administrators, group fund administrators, group fund trustees, claims administrators, state and local government representatives, legislators and regulators… anyone involved with workers’ compensation and health benefits in Mississippi.
Specials Needs and Accommodations
If you require special accommodations, including food allergies, please contact MASI Executive Director Wendy Powell at (601) 749-6274 or wendyp@masiweb.org so that plans can be made accordingly.
Event Cancellation Policy
To adequately prepare for a successful event, please review and understand that cancellations made 30 days or more in advance of the event date will receive a 100% refund. Cancellations made within 14 and 29 days in advance of the event date will incur a 50% fee. Cancellations made within 13 days of the event will not receive a refund.
Agenda
Attire? Resort Casual – Resort attire is appropriate throughout the day for meetings. Fine dining
restaurants at Perdido Beach Resort do require Resort Evening Attire.
Check out? The checkout time from your hotel room is 11 a.m.
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Location: Grand Reef
| 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. | Exhibitor Set up |
| TBD | Golf Outing |
Work Comp Track
Location: Salon E
| 2 p.m. |
Jack gets hurt. Or does he? A “choose your own” work comp scenario. Presented by two Administrative Law Judges of the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission, this program will allow participants to create their own work comp incident from start to finish with a goal of the smoothest claims process possible. Using factual and hypothetical case analysis from recent claims files, Judge Megan Garrot and Judge Jenny Nicaud will offer suggestions for claims handling when everything goes right AND when everything goes wrong. |
| 3 p.m. |
Catastrophic Claims Management: Using Every Tool in the Box. Workers’ Compensation claims often involve life-altering injuries and a changed future for the employee. For the employer, the claim is a comprehensive process aimed at understanding the full scope of the incident, its implications, and requiring an in-depth analysis using a multi-disciplinary approach. In this panel discussion, four claims management disciplines will be represented by experts who will evaluate a catastrophic claim and discuss how working together led to a successful resolution of the claim for the client. |
| 4 p.m. |
No Safe Harbor: In this presentation, attendees will be educated about the best practices for proper consideration of Medicare’s future interests when settling cases with claimants on Medicare or those with a “reasonable expectation” of getting on Medicare within 30 months from the date of settlement. Attendees will learn all about the tools needed to prepare to comply with the Medicare Secondary Payer statute’s requirement to “reasonably recognize” Medicare’s interests: from identifying beneficiaries and those claimants with a reasonable expectation, to exceeding the workload review thresholds for participation in Medicare’s voluntary MSA review program, to preparing the allocation for submission or indemnification with a non-submit Clinical / Evidence Based MSA, how to head off / clear submission “development” issues, when to pursue reconsideration / Amended Review of the allocation, how to “activate” Medicare’s tracking of an approved MSA, and how to prepare for eventual reporting of MSA amounts to CMS at the time of settlement. |
Health Insurance Track
Location: Sand Castle I
| 2 p.m. | What’s the Real Cost of Rx & How Do We Fix It? My Gummie Just Kicked In In this presentation, we will explore the multifaceted issue of rising prescription drug costs. We will begin by examining the underlying causes, including factors such as pharmaceutical pricing strategies, regulatory frameworks, and the role of intermediaries like pharmacy benefit managers. In addition, we will discuss the widespread impacts on patients, healthcare providers, and the overall healthcare system, highlighting both economic and health related consequences. Finally, we will review potential solutions and policy interventions aimed at controlling drug prices, improving access to medications, and ensuring sustainable healthcare spending. Ali Goodwin, Director of Corporate Relations, TrueScripts Jay Gulley, President/Owner, Trust Plus Pharmacy Benefit Consultants |
| 3:30 p.m. | AI in Medical Underwriting & Health Risk Mitigation Off to See the Lizard This presentation will delve into the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in disease management, with a specific focus on predictive modeling of health risk. We will explore how AI technologies, such as machine learning and data analytics, are revolutionizing predictive modeling by analyzing large datasets to identify at-risk populations, predict disease onset, and personalize treatment plans. Real-world examples and case studies will be presented to illustrate the effectiveness of AI-driven models in improving patient outcomes, optimizing resource allocation, and reducing healthcare costs. The presentation will also address the challenges and ethical considerations in implementing AI in healthcare and discuss future directions for integrating AI into disease management strategies. Jon Russ, Senior Account Executive, Gradient AI Ryan Chapman, Vice President of Sales, Healthcare Strategies |
Location: Beach Deck
| 6 – 7:30 p.m. | Welcome Reception |
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Location: Paradise Point
| 7:15 – 7:30 a.m. | Sunrise Devotional Distantly in Love Led by: Eugene Starks, Acuity Group |
Location: Grand Reef
| 7:30 – 8:15 a.m. | Breakfast with Exhibitors |
Location: Salon EFGH
| 8:15 – 8:30 a.m. | Welcome |
| 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. |
Workforce Development in Mississippi – Straight Talk. Effective workforce development has been a topic of conversation for many In this presentation, Mississippi workforce development experts will discuss Patrick Sullivan, Chair, State Workforce Investment Board |
| 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. |
Mental Health in High Stress Positions In this presentation, we will explore the critical topic of mental health among The session will include an overview of mental health, including common issues Bety Arinder, Esq., Member, Wells Marble & Hurst |
Location: Grand Reef
| 10:30 – 11 a.m. | Visit with Exhibitors |
Location: Salon EFGH
| 11 – 11:30 a.m. |
From the Chairman’s Desk: An MWCC Update Spend a few minutes with Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission Mark Formby, Chairman, Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission |
| 11:30 – 12 p.m. |
An Update from the Mississippi Insurance Department Join Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney as he examines the Mike Chaney, Commissioner, Mississippi Department of Insurance |
| 12:00 p.m. | Award/Presentations Friend of MASI Award Charitable Donation |
Location: Grand Reef
| 12:10 – 1:30 p.m. | Lunch and visit with exhibitors |
Location: Paradise Point / Lower Pool Deck
| 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. | Networking Pool Party Cornhole available |
Location: Salon ABCD
| 5:30 – 7 p.m. | Drawdown Party |
Friday, September 20, 2024
Location: Paradise Point
| 7:15 – 7:30 a.m. | Sunrise Devotional Led by: Keven Wilberding, Ambassador Service Group |
Location: Grand Reef
| 7:30 – 8 a.m. | Breakfast with Exhibitors |
Location: Salon EFGH
| 8 – 8:15 a.m. |
Political Advocacy and Grassroots Efforts Drew Maddox, Executive Director, Mississippi Association of Health Plans |
| 8:15 – 9 a.m. |
Treatment and Recovery of Work-Related Orthopaedic Injuries In this presentation, Dr. Adam Smitherman will review the latest advancements J. Adam Smitherman, MD, Capital Ortho |
Location: Salon EFGH
| 9 – 9:30 a.m. | Give away exhibitor door prizes. Must be present to win! |
| 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. |
Closed Head Injury: Treatment, Prognosis, and Outcome This presentation explores the complexities of closed head injuries, emphasizing Lauren W. Rasmussen, PsyD, ABN, Board Certified Neuropsychologist |
| 10:30 a.m. | Adjourn |
Speakers
Speaker Bios
Betty Burton Arinder
Member
Wells Marble & Hurst
For more than thirty years, Betty Burton Arinder has handled cases regarding workers’ compensation defense, including all matters before the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission. As a senior litigator, she has litigated in both federal and state courts in Mississippi. She also has extensive experience in the areas of alternative dispute resolution and health care representation.
In 2010, Ms. Arinder was named one of Mississippi’s Top 50 Leading Attorneys in the Mississippi Business Journal’s Leadership in Law Class. Ms. Arinder maintains a Martindale-Hubbell rating of AV, the highest rating one can achieve. She is also a Mid-South Super Lawyer and a Best Lawyer, and in 2018, received the “Friend of MASI Award”. Additionally, Betty was selected to serve as a statewide mediator in a program administered by the Workers’ Compensation and Administrative Law Section of the Mississippi Bar for which she has also served as Chair. She is, by appointment, a past member of the Advisory Council to the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission.
She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Millsaps College in 1984 and received her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Mississippi College in 1988. Betty was selected as a member of the law school’s national trial competition team for 1988.
Ms. Arinder is a member of the Mississippi Bar, the American Bar Association, the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association, the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission, the Mississippi Association of Self-Insurers, and the Mississippi Women Lawyers Association.
She wrote and published “Working with Expert Witnesses” for The Docket, May/June 1989. She also co-authored with her partner, Roxanne P. Case, an article in 2011 for the MDLA Quarterly, Vol 35, No. 2 “An Overview” General Guidelines When Considering Compensability and Handling a Workers’ Comp Claim”.
Andrew Burkes, AINS, AIC
Claims Supervisor
Ascot Workers’ Compensation
Andrew Burkes has over 15 years of experience in workers’ compensation insurance and is currently a Claims Supervisor with Ascot Workers’ Compensation. Prior to joining Ascot, Andrew worked for a third party administrator on the Mississippi Truck Food and Fuel self-insured account. He is a trucking industry expert in workers’ compensation claim management.
Mr. Burkes supervises a claims team handling carrier claims in Mississippi, Arkansas, Georgia, and Florida, as well as all the workers’ compensation self-insured accounts for Ascot. He works with large accounts, conducting onboarding and stewardship services, including developing return to work programs and trending analysis. Andrew is the team lead on any USL&H exposures and loss portfolio transfers.
Mr. Burkes is a graduate of the University of Mississippi with a degree in Risk Management and Insurance, and Real Estate Finance. He has obtained the Associate in Claims – Management and Associate in Insurance designations, along with MASI’s Certified Self-Insured Workers’ Compensation Professional Certification. Andrew lives in Jackson, Mississippi, with his wife and daughter.
Chris Canziani
Investigative Consultant
DigiStream Investigations
Chris Canziani is with DigiStream Investigations and serves as the Investigative Consultant for the Gulf Coast region. In this role, Mr. Canziani meets with southeastern clients to ensure best practice investigations, and help clients reach their claims goals.
Commissioner Mike Chaney
Mississippi Insurance Department
Mike Chaney, a Tupelo native and long-time resident of Vicksburg, is Mississippi’s Insurance Commissioner. Prior to taking office in January 2008, Commissioner Chaney served seven years in the Mississippi House of Representatives and eight years in the Mississippi Senate, where he was the first Republican to serve as Chairman of the Education Committee.
Commissioner Chaney also served as a key member of the Senate Insurance Committee and Chairman of the Senate Education Committee. He is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Finance and is a veteran of the United States Army, serving in Vietnam from 1968-69. He is married to Mary Thurmond Chaney, and the couple has three married children and eight grandchildren.
Ryan Chapman
Vice President of Sales
HealthCare Strategies
Ryan Chapman is a 20-year veteran of the health and corporate wellness industry. In his current role as the Vice President of Sales at HealthCare Strategies he is an ambassador of self-funding and helps ensure that every self-insured employer has access to the tools they need to create transparency, cut costs and improve outcomes.
HealthCare Strategies is a national leader in health management services and has delivered documented cost savings and ROI for its self-insured clients for over four decades. As a URAC accredited health utilization management company, we offer high quality clinical oriented care and utilization management programs via clinical services and technology.
Jessica Cole
Mississippi Bar
Dr. Jessica Cole has been the director of the Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program for the MS Bar since 2018. She is a licensed professional counselor with over 20 years of experience in behavioral health. Previously, she provided outreach services for residential treatment facilities covering Mississippi and Louisiana. Prior to that, she held the Director of Psychological Health position under the direction of the United States Department of Defense (DoD) for over eight years. Her experiences in behavioral health encompass many areas including inpatient, partial, and outpatient treatment focusing on issues including depression, addiction, and traumatic brain injury. Nationally, she was president of the Integrated Care Interest group for the American Counseling Association and frequently provides lectures on a variety of behavioral health topics. Dr. Cole received her Doctor of Professional Counseling from Mississippi College, her master’s in counseling from Louisiana State University, and her bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Mississippi.
Dan Dalton
Chief Claims and Regulatory Counsel
Midwest Employers Casualty
Daniel Dalton is Chief Claims and Regulatory Counsel for Midwest Employers Casualty (a Berkley Company). He has been a practicing attorney for more than 30 years and was formerly a trial attorney in the private sector. His practice included insurance defense, insurance coverage, bad faith and vexatious refusal actions, workers’ compensation, product liability, medical malpractice, civil rights and employment discrimination, commercial litigation, and criminal defense. In his current role, he provides counsel to MEC on legal matters and claims of varying degrees of complexity.
Annie M. Davidson, Esq., MSCC
Vice President of Client Success
ExamWorks Compliance Solutions
Annie M. Davidson is the Vice President of Client Success for ExamWorks Compliance Solutions (ECS). has comprehensive experience in the areas of Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Act compliance and Medicaid recovery in liability, no-fault, and workers’ compensation matters. She is the chief client voice at ECS and collaborates with clients, industry partners, and leaders at all levels to identify and execute short- and long-term goals to ensure ECS is meeting and exceeding the needs of clients. In her previous role as Senior MSP Compliance Counsel and Policy Strategist at ECS, Ms. Davidson provided high-quality legal analysis to ensure the integrity and quality of ECS’ MSP compliance services and related products.
Ms. Davidson is a nationally recognized expert on MSP issues who presents regularly at local and national conferences. She is admitted to practice law in the State of Minnesota and the United States District Court for Minnesota. Prior to her work with ECS, she practiced as an insurance defense litigator with a Minneapolis law firm. In that position, Ms. Davidson gained considerable experience handling workers’ compensation, liability, and no-fault cases and coordinated the firm’s policies for handling Medicare requirements.
She serves as Vice President of National MSP Network, co-chairs its Policy and Legislative Committee, and actively participates on the Annual Conference Planning Committee and the Communications’ Podcast Committee. Ms. Davidson graduated cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. In her free time, Ms. Davidson serves on the Board of Directors for a comprehensive non-profit mental health and human services organization, and practices meditation and Pilates.
Ali Goodwin
Director of Corporate Relations
TrueScripts
Ali Goodwin serves as the Director of Corporate Relations for TrueScripts. Working to complement technical details with a creative approach that engages the audience and delivers them from problem to solution is the driving force of her efforts that support the TrueScripts team and its partners. Functioning in both a Business Development and Marketing capacity, Ali takes an impassioned approach to disentangle the complexities of Prescription Benefits Management while expanding her network of industry peers in an effort to help build a better future of healthcare.
With a fun-loving spirit and appreciation of candor and wit, Ali enjoys making new connections and supporting TrueScripts’ mission of building lasting relationships. She is a lover of all things cheesy – food and jokes.
Mark Formby
Chairman
Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission
Mark Formby served twenty-four years in the Mississippi House of Representatives as a member of the Committees on Insurance, Energy, Public Utilities, Marine Resources, Oil and Gas, Education, Rules, Revenue and Expenditure, Ways and Means, and Interstate Cooperation. Mark has served as Chairman of the Insurance Committee, the Rules Committee, and the Revenue and Expenditure Committee.
He was recognized as one of the top five “pro-economic development” legislators 24 years in a row and was ranked by liberty.org as the number one supporter of individual rights in the Mississippi Legislature!
From 1987 to 1990, Commissioner Formby served on the Washington, D.C. staff of United States Senator Trent Lott as his Economic Development and Small Business Legislative Assistant and then returned to Picayune to serve as Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce. He has been in private businesses in Picayune for over twenty-five years.
He graduated from Picayune Memorial High School and attended Pearl River Community College before receiving his Bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University. He has been active with numerous civic and volunteer organizations and served as State President of the Mississippi Jaycees and National Vice President of the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce.
Commissioner Formby is still active in community service and serves as a deacon and Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church. He and his wife Rita have two children, Rebekah and Eli.
Megan Garrott, Esq.
Administrative Law Judge
Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission
Megan Garrott received her undergraduate and law degree from Mississippi College. After graduating law school, Judge Garrott clerked for Presiding Judge T. Kenneth Griffis at the Mississippi Court of Appeals. Judge Garrott joined the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission as a Senior Attorney in 2012, where she has been engaged in all facets of workers’ compensation law.
Jay Gulley
President/Owner
Trust Plus Pharmacy Benefit Consultants
Jay Gulley, PharmD, is the current President and Owner of Trust Plus Pharmacy Benefit Consultants, Inc. He has been a resident of the state of Mississippi for the last 35 years; during which, he received his Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy. Mr. Gulley used the knowledge and experience he gained from working in retail chain, retail independent, and specialty independent pharmacy to open his own independent specialty pharmacy in 2016. In 2021, that pharmacy was acquired, and he continued to operate that pharmacy as well as oversee the entire pharmacy division of the acquiring publicly traded company, under the title of Vice President of Pharmacy. Mr. Gulley filled this role until the end of 2023, when he transitioned to his new role in the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) industry with the acquisition of Trust Plus. The knowledge gained from Mr. Gulley’s experience of owning and operating both pharmacies and a PBM combined with his “patient-first” mentality from being a pharmacist give him a unique perspective in which he manages pharmacy benefits and recognizes issues within the current healthcare industry.
Bill Hepscher
The Canadian Medstore
Bill Hepscher has worked as a “Health Care Consumerism” Advocate for 20 years. Bill is the Founder of The Canadian Medstore, America’s premier provider of affordable international prescription medication. Fueled by a vision that all Americans should have access to safe, affordable medication, The Canadian Medstore opened its first storefront location in Zephyrhills, Florida, in 2003. The Canadian Medstore now has eight locations throughout the State of Florida and serves thousands of clients from across the US. Mr. Hepscher currently serves as Director of Sales and Marketing for Rx Manage, working closely with health insurance brokers, benefit consultants and C-level executives to implement cost effective alternatives to traditional prescription drug benefit models.
Mr. Hepscher is considered an expert in the field of international Rx fulfillment and has been quoted or featured by several media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, CNBC and Kaiser Health News. Bill’s shares his expertise as a presenter at several healthcare, benefits, insurance and public sector conferences each year. Mr. Hepscher has served as the Chairperson of the National Association of Health Underwriters HUPAC Board of Trustees and is an member of SIIA and SHRM.
Mr. Hepscher is a past recipient of the NAHU Emerging Leader Award and NAHU Presidential Citation Award. Bill lives in Tampa, Fl with his wife and two beautiful daughters
Matthew I. Hetzel, Esq.
Wells Marble & Hurst
Matthew Hetzel’s legal practice has been heavily concentrated in the area of civil litigation, with an emphasis on personal injury, business defense and workers’ compensation. With over twenty-five years of experience, he has pursued, and defended, a wide variety of claims in each of the U.S. District Courts in Mississippi, and before each level of state court in the State of Mississippi. His federal court experience includes cases involving breach of contract, copyright and trademark infringement, employment discrimination and retaliation, and diversity cases involving personal injury. His state court experience includes cases involving personal injury, breach of contract, intentional business interference, intentional interference with contract, wrongful termination, bad faith denial of insurance coverage, the wrongful cutting of timber, debt collection, as well as Chancery Court cases involving divorce, child custody and support, will contests, guardianships, conservatorships, minor settlements and injunctive relief. Over the last fourteen years, he has focused his practice almost exclusively in the area of workers’ compensation and is currently representing employers and carriers in workers’ compensation claims with Wells, Marble & Hurst, PLLC.
Drew Maddox
Principal
Cornerstone Government Affairs
Drew Maddox joined the Cornerstone Mississippi team in February 2020 with more than 10 years of experience in finance and education policy. Previously, Drew served as the chief financial officer of the Mississippi Department of Revenue, where he oversaw all administrative divisions of the department, including accounting, communications, processing, information technologies and logistics. As CFO, Drew also worked closely with state legislators and statewide elected officials to guide tax policy decisions, liquor laws, and revenue-generating activities.
Prior to his time at the Department of Revenue, Drew also worked as director of state engagement at EdBuild, where he used his knowledge of political and governmental structures to strategically place educational reform proposals in the best positions for success in state legislatures across the country. Drew has also worked at the Mississippi Legislative Budget Office as the Senate budget officer, where he worked closely with leadership to craft and pass balanced budgets.
Drew received his Bachelor of Arts in English literature and his Bachelor of Business Administration degrees from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. Drew enjoys spending time with his wife and two children (Sam and Bee), baseball, and gardening.
Jennifer Field Nicaud, JD
Administrative Law Judge
Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission
Jenny Nicaud received her undergraduate degree from Tulane University and her Juris Doctorate from Tulane Law School where she served as Editor of the Dicta and received the Meritorious Service Award from the Student Bar Association. She is certified in mediation by Harvard Law School and the University of Mississippi. She is a member of the state and federal bar associations of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida as well the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Over the course of her career, she served as a staff attorney to U. S. District Judges Marcel Livaudais, Jr and Ivan L.R. Lemelle in the Eastern District of Louisiana and Chief Magistrate Judge John M. Roper, Sr. in the Southern District of Mississippi. Thereafter, she practiced with Balch and Bingham, Copeland, Cook, Taylor, and Bush and served as a Municipal Judge Pro Temp for the City of Pass Christian. Currently, she is an adjunct professor at Mississippi College School of Law teaching Workers’ Compensation and Negotiations and as an appointed Commissioner of the Pass Christian Historic Preservation Commission. She served as an adjunct instructor of evidence and courtroom procedure for the Harrison County Law Enforcement Academy.
She was appointed by the Mississippi Supreme Court to serve on the Complaint Tribunal. She is currently a Board Member of the National Association of Workers’ Compensation Judiciary(“NAWCJ”), on the conference committee of the NAWCJ and repeatedly as a Judge of the National Workers’ Compensation Moot Court Competition. She is on the Dispute Resolution Committee of the IAIABC. Judge Nicaud is an Ambassador of the Alliance of Women’s Workers’ Compensation.
She served as a past President of the Russell, Walker, Blass American Inn of Court, and has served on the National Board of the American Inn of Court. She was the Chairperson of the Federal Rules and Procedure section of the National Litigation Board and a Board Member of the ADR Board of the National Federal Bar Association. She has served as the liaison for the Fifth Circuit Judicial Conference. She is a frequent lecturer at various continuing legal education seminars and author of articles for the LEX, a publication of the NAWCJ.
She was recently appointed to a three-year term for the Bench and Bar Liaison Committee of the Mississippi Bar. She finished two terms as the Chairperson and a term as a member of the Professional Committee for the Mississippi Bar Association. She is a member of the Access to Justice and the Women in the Profession Committees of the Mississippi Bar Association and was formerly a member of the Moral Character and Fitness Board of the Mississippi Bar. She actively has served or serves on the boards of many legal organizations and civic charities including Kid’s Chance, the Friends of Children’s Hospital, Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, the Corporate Board of the Boy’s and Girl’s Club, the Walter Anderson Museum, the Ohr O’Keefe Museum, and the Pass Christian School Foundation Board.
Katherine Pannel, DO FAPA
Medical Director
Ambetter from Magnolia Health
Katherine Pannel, DO is a Psychiatrist and medical director for Right Track Medical Group as well as Magnolia Health plan. She is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is a fellow to the American Psychiatric Association.
Dr. Pannel received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Delta State University and received her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. She completed her internship and residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Science and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Dr. Pannel is the District 3 Trustee and Past Chair of the Mississippi State Medical Association Board of Trustees. She is also the past President of the Northeast Medical Society. She is a current Alternate Delegate to the AMA. Dr. Pannel is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and serves on their PAC Board. She is the current President Elect of the Mississippi Psychiatric Association, as well as Chair of MPA’s Council on Legislation. Her volunteer service extends as well to the American Osteopathic Association where she serves as an Alternate Delegate to the AOA and serves as a Trustee member of the Mississippi Osteopathic Medical Association. She also serves on the Boards of the Mississippi Physician Health Monitoring Program and the Mississippi Rural Physician Scholars Program. Outside of organized medicine, Dr. Pannel volunteers her service as a member of the Board of Advisors for First Commercial Bank of Mississippi and is a member of the University of Mississippi Rose Society.
Dr. Pannel has received numerous awards, including being named the 2022 recipient of the AOA Physician Excellence in Advocacy Award, the 2022 MOMA Excellence in Advocacy Award, 2021 recipient of the Dr. James C. Waites Leadership award, a 2019 Mississippi Healthcare Hero recipient, MSMA Doctor of Distinction, MSMA Community Service Award, Mississippi Top 50 Under 40, the 2019 and 2020 Oxford, MS Best Psychiatrist, and the 2020 recipient of the One in a Million Award for her volunteer efforts to found Crocheting for a Cause – a Facebook group that makes Fidget Sleeves for Dementia patients across the state of Mississippi.
She also serves as a leading voice for addressing mental health and has penned numerous articles which have been published in KevinMD, the New York Times and Better Homes and Garden. She has also provided Congressional testimony in DC on the current mental health and fentanyl crisis. Additionally, Dr. Pannel has fielded local, state, and national media requests to address a myriad of mental health issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to her service on the MSMA COVID-19 and Telemedicine Task Forces, Dr. Pannel spearheaded an effort to raise awareness to the public to flatten the curve during the pandemic with the sales of self-designed #flattenthecurveMS buttons and t-shirts with the $2,400 proceeds donated to the Mississippi Department of Health.
Dr. Pannel is a strong physician advocate and mental health voice at the Mississippi Capitol and has been instrumental in championing legislation to add and fund a psychiatry scholarship for the Mississippi Rural Physician Scholarship Program, to create an Alzheimer’s and related dementias caregivers’ program, as well as decriminalizing fentanyl test strips.
And while she loves all things mental health and advocacy, her favorite job is being mom to Anabelle, Charlotte and Beckham.
Lauren Woodruff Rasmussen, PsyD, ABN
Jefferson Neurobehavioral Group
Dr. Rasmussen is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist who specializes in diagnosis and treatment planning of neurological diseases and disorders and health-related conditions.
Dr. Rasmussen has served as an expert in many cases involving traumatic brain injury, competency, posttraumatic stress disorder, and other psychological conditions as part of a claim involved in litigation. Dr. Rasmussen also specializes in workers’ compensation claims and often provides second medical opinions on injuries/damages in question. She has a special interest in fitness for duty evaluations for individuals looking to return to work or whose capacity to complete their workplace duties are being questioned.
From a clinical perspective, Dr. Rasmussen frequently evaluates patients who are concerned about their memory or who have been diagnosed with progressive neurocognitive conditions. She also assesses for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities in adults (and for accommodations needed on standardized testing or in the classroom), and psychiatric conditions.
Dr. Rasmussen often works with bariatric surgery candidates and patients who need presurgical clearance for major spinal surgeries and implantable devices such as spinal cord stimulators and intrathecal pain pumps.
Outside of the office environment, Dr. Rasmussen enjoys rigorous fitness endeavors, spending time with her family, and traveling. She is also involved in consultation work with several neurorehabilitation hospitals throughout the state of Louisiana and occasionally has the privilege to serve as an adjunct faculty member at LSU. She offers practicum training experiences for LSU graduate students specializing in neuropsychology.
Jon Russ
Gradient AI
Jon Russ started his career in the insurance industry directly after graduating from The Ohio State University in 2013 at an investment bank that built custom insurance and debt solutions for institutional investors. In 2016, he began his career in the group health insurance space serving as a carrier rep for one of the largest health insurers in the US, Sun Life Financial, where he won Rookie of Year in 2017 and sold the most policies in his region in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Mr. Russ joined Gradient AI in 2021 at the start of their Group Health practice where he played a key role in helping Gradient AI growth from two clients to almost 200 clients over the past three and one-half years while becoming the fastest growing predictive analytics solution in the group health space.
Adam Smitherman, MD
Capital Ortho
Dr. Adam Smitherman became a physician because it provided an opportunity to serve people in a profound and personal way. He chose orthopedics because it offers interaction with people to determine their specific goals for restoring function and activity. He finds great joy in telling a child that his or her broken arm has healed, getting an athlete back to the playing field, or helping adults remain active and independent.
After earning a summa cum laude Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering at Mississippi State University, Dr. Smitherman entered the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and received his Doctor of Medicine degree in 2005. He continued his medical training with an orthopedic residency at the Greenville Hospital System, University of South Carolina School of Medicine. During that time, he studied sports medicine and surgical techniques at the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic of the Carolinas. He went on to complete a fellowship in shoulder and elbow surgery at the University of Florida.
Dr. Smitherman enjoys spending time with his wonderful wife and three children. They love to travel, play sports, and enjoy the outdoors together.
Eugene Starks
Principal
Benefit Administration Services, Ltd. / The Acuity Group
Eugene Starks is a partner with Benefit Administration Services, Ltd., a full-service employee benefits TPA, consulting, and brokerage company. In 2014, Mr. Starks and his business partners launched the Acuity Group, an agency that focuses on integrating benefit administration technologies across the entire HR and employee benefit spectrum with locations in Little Rock, Arkansas; Lafayette, Louisiana; and Ridgeland and Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He merged his independent employee benefits brokerage and consulting company, Starks & Company, Inc., with BAS in 2007.
Patrick Sullivan
Chair
State Workforce Investment Board
Since July 2011, Patrick Sullivan has served as President of the Mississippi Energy Institute (MEI), a private, non-profit business created to support research and energy policy to foster economic growth in Mississippi. Patrick concurrently serves as President of the Southeast Oil and Gas Association, which began operating in 2020.
In May 2020, Mr. Sullivan was appointed by Governor Reeves as Chairman of the State Workforce Investment Board, created to be an advisory board for state workforce development strategy. Patrick also serves as Chairman of the State Longitudinal Data System.
Prior to his work at the Mississippi Energy Institute, Mr. Sullivan served both as Policy Advisor and as Executive Director of Recovery and Renewal for Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour. Serving as Policy Advisor to Governor Barbour from 2006-2011, he had oversight of issues pertaining to energy, transportation, environment, agriculture, natural resources, and economic development. In July 2010, he was named Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Recovery and Renewal, which was the primary entity responsible for coordinating disaster assistance, overseeing state-level response and assistance for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the April 2011 tornado disasters, and the 2011 Mississippi River flood.
Mr. Sullivan is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a Master of Agribusiness Management and resides in Madison, Mississippi, with wife, Elizabeth, and two sons, Garrett and Jake.
Courtney Taylor
Executive Director
Accelerate MS
Dr. Courtney Taylor serves as the Executive Director of AccelerateMS, spearheading efforts to enhance Mississippi’s workforce development landscape. In her role, she collaborates closely with community colleges, universities, employers, economic developers, and other stakeholders to bolster the state’s workforce initiatives. Prior to assuming her current position, Dr. Taylor served as the Deputy Director of Strategy and Programs at AccelerateMS, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s strategic direction and overseeing key programs aimed at driving economic growth and workforce development.
Before her tenure at AccelerateMS, Dr. Taylor served as the Vice President of Workforce and Economic Development at East Mississippi Community College in Columbus, Mississippi. During her tenure, she led transformative workforce development activities, notably overseeing The Communiversity, a cutting-edge 145,000 square foot advanced manufacturing training facility dedicated to empowering the local workforce.
Prior to her role at EMCC, Dr. Taylor distinguished herself as a Regional Director for Workforce and Economic Development for the Alabama Community College System. Her career trajectory includes pivotal roles in both academia and the private sector, reflecting her deep commitment to workforce advancement.
A seasoned academic, Dr. Taylor earned her Ph.D. in Human Capital Development from The University of Southern Mississippi. She also holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management from Troy University and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of West Alabama. Her professional expertise is further underlined by her certification as a Professional Community and Economic Developer.
Dr. Taylor’s dedication extends beyond her professional endeavors; she has contributed to the field as a board member of the Community Development Council, Southern Economic Development Council, and the Mississippi Economic Development Council. Her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to fostering economic growth make her an invaluable asset to AccelerateMS and the broader community.
Hotel Reservations
Call In Reservations are Now Available for the MASI 2024 Fall Conference.
Attendees should identify themselves as participants of the MASI 2024 Annual Conference, Booking ID #20338 to receive the special group rate.
Mississippi Association of Self Insurers
Booking ID #20338
Call In Reservations: (800) 634-8001
A credit card and first night’s room and tax will be required to guarantee the reservation.
PLEASE NOTE: Any special requests regarding sleeping rooms are based on availability at the time of arrival.
Attendee Registrations
Golf
Golf Registration
2024 Annual Fall Golf Tournament
SEPTEMBER 18, 2024
Craft Farms Golf Club
Golf Online Payment / Golf Form to Pay with a Check
Exhibitors
Exhibitor Registration
SOLD OUT! Our Exhibit Hall is sold out but Attendee Registration is still open! Please join us as an attendee and plan to visit all 50 exhibitors!
Sponsorships
Sponsorships help fund the programs and activities of the conference and are a great way to stand out from the crowd, generate visibility, and show support of MASI to meeting attendees. Sponsor participation keeps registrations prices affordable so any self-insured company, large or small, can send representatives to the conference. Reservations are now open for the following sponsorship opportunities.