2026
Senior Medical Staff Leader Forum
April 19-22 | Denver, Colorado
Lead with clarity. Influence with confidence. Transform your organization.
The Senior Medical Staff Leader Forum equips senior medical staff leaders with the skills, strategies, and connections to solve today's challenges and create lasting impact, starting the moment you return home.
April 25-28 | Denver, Colorado
2027 Senior Medical Staff Leader Forum
Lead with clarity. Influence with confidence. Transform your organization.
The Senior Medical Staff Leader Forum equips senior medical staff leaders with the skills, strategies, and connections to solve today's challenges and create lasting impact, starting the moment you return home.
Strategies. Solutions. Success.
The countdown to the Forum is over!
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CHOOSING THE SENIOR MEDICAL STAFF LEADER FORUM
Where Leaders Become Legacy-Builders
Senior medical staff leadership isn't learned in theory alone—it's built through shared experience, practical tools, and trusted guidance. This forum delivers real-world solutions to today's most pressing leadership challenges through expert insight, peer collaboration, and future-focused learning.
Sentact's Senior Medical Staff Leader Forum turns insights into action.
2027 AGENDA
The Leadership Forum: Four Days to Shape Your Future
Spend four days advancing your leadership skills.
Start with the 1-day Fundamentals Intensive for a crash course in credentialing, peer review, MEC leadership, and hospital finances, or dive into the 2.5-day Forum to tackle physician wellness, dyad leadership, behavioral challenges, and more.
Explore the agenda and choose the path that best fits your leadership journey.
MEDICAL STAFF LEADER FUNDAMENTALS INTENSIVE AGENDA
| April 25, 2027 | A Common Knowledge Base: Nuts and Bolts of Medical Staff Leadership | |
| 8:30-8:45 | Welcome & Intro: Why We Have an Organized Medical Staff |
| 8:45-9:30 | Credentialing and Privileging |
| 9:30-10:30 | Effective, Collegial, and Evidence Based Peer Review |
| 10:45-11:15 | Functions and Responsibilities of MEC |
| 11:15-12:00 | Fundamentals of Hospital Finances |
| 1:00-1:30 | Critical Role of Medical Staff Office and Medical Staff Professionals |
| 1:30-2:15 | Clinical Departments: Supporting Chairs and Section Chiefs |
| 2:15-2:30 | Competency, Late-Career Physicians and Patient Safety |
| 2:45-3:30 | Bylaws, Rules & Regs, Policies & Procedures, Fair Hearings and Hospital Council - What You Need to Know |
| 3:30-4:00 | C-Suite and Hospital Board Relationships |
| 4:00-5:00 | Troubleshooting Panel: On-Call, Critical Incidents, Survey Readiness, etc. |
SENIOR MEDICAL STAFF LEADER FORUM AGENDA
| April 26, 2027 | Building a Team of Effective Physician Leaders | |
| 8:00-8:10 | Welcome and Course Overview |
| 8:10-8:45 | Identifying/Developing Effective Medical Staff Leaders |
| 8:45-10:00 | Effective Leadership Styles for Physician Leaders |
| 10:15-11:00 | Leadership Authenticity and Versatility |
| 11:00-12:00 | Top Ten Rules to Apply as Physician Leaders |
| 1:00-2:00 | Emotional Intelligence and the Role of Coaching and Mentoring |
| 2:00-2:45 | Change Management for Physicians |
| 3:00-4:00 | Making Sense of AI and Its Impact on Patient Care and Physician Performance/Satisfaction |
| 4:00-4:30 | COS + CMO Partnerships |
| 4:30-5:30 | Panel: Leadership Challenges - True Stories |
| April 27, 2027 | Putting Leadership Skills to Work for Best Clinical Outcomes and Physician Satisfaction | |
| 8:00-8:45 | Psychological Safety as a Tool to Improve Clinical Outcomes |
| 8:45-9:45 | Conflict Resolution and Contract Negotiations |
| 10:00-10:45 | Huddles and Rounding - Effective Tools to Support HRO |
| 10:45-11:45 | Critical Conversations in Support of a Just Culture and Addressing Behavioral Outliers |
| 1:00-1:45 | A Structured Approach to Improving Clinical Outcomes |
| 1:45-2:30 | Physician/APP Wellbeing - Can Wellness Programs Improve Outcomes and Productivity? |
| 2:45-3:30 | APPS - Empowering Their Positive Impact on Patient Care |
| 3:30-4:15 | Clinical Excellence and Physician Satisfaction Can Live and Thrive in the For-Profit World |
| 4:15-5:15 | Panel: Exercising Power and Influence as Physician Leaders |
| April 28, 2027 | Putting it All Together | |
| 8:00-8:45 | Clinical Update: In-Flight Medical Emergencies |
| 8:45-9:30 | What's New: Patient Safety Structural Measures |
| 9:30-10:15 | Physician Leaders and Continued Clinical Work |
| 10:30-12:00 | Tabletop Discussions: What Have We Learned? |
Taking Care of Ourselves and Making a Difference
Putting it all Together: The Future and Your Legacy
Bringing everything together with a focus on the future of medical leadership and the legacy you'll leave behind.
From policy updates and shaping culture to exploring career paths and personal next steps, you’ll gain insights and inspiration to influence change and define your leadership journey.
MEET THE MINDS BEHIND THE FORUM
Featured Faculty & Speakers
This Forum was created by brilliant minds and extensively experienced physicians who know firsthand the challenges medical leaders face. Our physician faculty bring real-world expertise, proven leadership, and practical strategies designed for immediate impact.
Built by physicians, for physicians—so you leave ready to lead on day one.
Donald Lefkowits, MD, FACEP
Dr. Lefkowits received his undergraduate degree, medical degree, and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. He began his career in Emergency Medicine in 1980 and has practiced at Rose Medical Center since 1984. During his tenure at Rose, Dr. Lefkowits served as a member of the hospital Board of Trustees, President of the Medical staff, Chair of the Credentials Committee, and Chair of the Peer Review committee. He supported hospital and medical staff functions by chairing fair hearings, providing crisis management and press interactions, and developing and nurturing physician leadership programs. As Medical Director of the Emergency Department, Dr. Lefkowits oversaw a growth in volume from 30,000 annual visits to 45,000. He put in place state of the art Cardiac, Stroke and Trauma alert programs and helped the Rose ED lead the way in programs to enhance ED throughput and patient safety and satisfaction metrics. In 2008, Dr. Lefkowits was honored in 5280, The Denver Magazine, as the Top ED Doctor in Denver. Dr. Lefkowits is Board Certified in Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine and currently serves as the Immediate Past President of the Colorado Medical Board.
Brock Bordelon, MD, FACS
Dr. Bordelon attended the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, followed by a general surgery residency at the University of Utah School of Medicine. While in Salt Lake City, he completed a fellowship in minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Bordelon is certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, and the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons, among other regional and national professional societies. He has practiced general and minimally invasive surgery in Colorado Springs since 1994, and has served as the Chief of Surgery, a member of the Medical Executive Committee, and the Citizenship Committee, among several other hospital medical staff functions. He has been named as a “Top Doctor” by his peers in Colorado Springs Style magazine. Dr. Bordelon was a member of the Colorado Medical Board for four years and served as the chair of one of the board’s inquiry panels during that time.
Nicholas Testa, MD
Nicholas Testa, MD, serves as Chief Clinical Officer at Sentact, where he leads initiatives to advance patient safety and quality while ensuring the company's integrated platform aligns seamlessly with real-world clinical workflows. As a member of Sentact's executive leadership team, Dr. Testa plays a key role in shaping organizational strategy and elevating the voice of clinical leaders.
Prior to joining Sentact, Dr. Testa held senior leadership roles at CommonSpirit Health, one of the nation's largest nonprofit health systems, comprising approximately 140 hospitals and more than 2,300 care sites. Most recently, he served as Regional Chief Medical Officer for CommonSpirit Health's California Region. During his tenure, Dr. Testa led the implementation of High Reliability Organizing across the region's 29 hospitals, advancing a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement. This work contributed to all 29 hospitals achieving Leapfrog Safety Grades of A or B, reflecting a sustained commitment to patient safety and clinical excellence. His previous roles include Chief Physician Executive for Dignity Health's Southern California and Southwest Regions, Chief Medical Officer at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, and Associate Medical Director over safety, quality, risk and compliance at LAC+USC Medical Center and before that he served as the Director of Quality Improvement for the Department of Emergency Medicine at LAC+USC Medical Center.
Dr. Testa is a recognized speaker and author on patient safety, clinical outcomes, peer review and clinician leadership. He has served as a trusted physician expert with more than 100 media appearances on national and local news outlets, including ABC, KTLA, FOX, CNN, Good Day LA, and Good Morning America.
Dr. Testa holds the title of Adjunct Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, where he continues to teach undergraduate students, medical students, and residents. He completed his emergency medicine residency at LAC+USC Medical Center in 2005 and his transitional internship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in 2002. Originally from New York City, Dr. Testa earned his medical degree from New York Medical College and completed his undergraduate studies at Middlebury College.
Steve Quach, MD
Prior to founding CLG, Dr. Quach spent almost a decade as the CEO of CarePoint Health, a multi-specialty physician group which is headquartered in Colorado and Utah, providing services across the nation. Dr. Quach was previously the Chief Medical Officer at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center (P/SL) in Denver, Colorado and Vice President/Chief Medical Officer for the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Health System in Galveston, Texas. His primary professional interests include physician leadership development and quality improvement in health care delivery.
Dr. Quach’s experience in health care quality improvement includes leading a team in the submission of an application for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award while serving as the Director of Quality Management for the Department of Internal Medicine at UTMB. His training in the field of health care quality improvement includes completion of the Advanced Training Program conducted by Intermountain Health. Dr. Quach received certification as a Patient Safety Officer upon completion of this program.
From a leadership development perspective, he is proud to have been a founder of the Physician Leadership Academy at UTMB. In 2019, he co-authored a book titled “The DNA of Physician-Leadership” which describes the challenges of transitioning from clinician to leader while offering insights into the core competencies most crucial to successful physician-leadership. Dr. Quach brings years of experience in coaching health care and physician leaders and is a certified executive coach through Columbia University’s 3CP coaching program.
Sharon Beckwith
Sharon Beckwith is the Senior Vice President of Peer Review and Clinical Quality Consulting at Sentact. She is a distinguished leader with over 25 years of experience in business management within the healthcare sector. As an industry expert in external peer review and medical peer review practices, Ms. Beckwith has developed a reputation for expertise in Medical Staff Quality. She actively engages with healthcare clients, providing strategic solutions to address their medical staff needs, quality improvement initiatives, risk management challenges, and peer review processes.
Sharon is a highly regarded national speaker, regularly presenting at state medical staff service associations and the National Association Medical Staff Services (NAMSS) national conference. Her powerful insights and practical strategies have made her a sought-after expert, where she effectively shares her extensive knowledge and best practices in peer review and medical staff oversight.
She is committed to advancing the standards and effectiveness of medical peer review through education and collaboration, empowering healthcare organizations to navigate the complexities of quality assurance and clinical competency. Her dedication to excellence in healthcare delivery positions her as a trusted partner for hospitals looking to enhance their peer review practices and improve patient outcomes.
Sharon is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Carrie Horn, MD
She has served as Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Clinical Operations and is actively involved in professional organizations, including the Society of Hospital Medicine and the American College of Physicians. Dr. Horn has published multiple articles and presented at various medical conferences, specializing in hospitalist and internal medicine.
Patrick Kneeland, MD, SFHM
Dr. Kneeland is a well-rounded, UCSF-trained, senior physician leader with almost 20 years delivering measurable impact on the quintuple aim across the continuum of healthcare settings. He currently serves as the VP for Medical Affairs + Advanced Care strategy at DispatchHealth where he designed and leads Advanced Care and Extended Care across multiple states. In this role he has responsibility for high-performing in-home and virtual care teams, best-in-nation quality and safety programs, accreditation, the P+L, payer and hospital partnerships/business development, and direct partnership with tech/product teams. He has extensive experience leading interdisciplinary teams, including with RNs, NPs, and PAs. Previously, Patrick served as the Executive Medical Director for Patient and Provider Experience for the UCHealth (Colorado) system, where he led the development of an patient and provider experience team and strategic blueprint. He is a senior advisor for the Institute for Healthcare Excellence (IHE) where he facilitates solutions for provider well-being and optimal patient outcomes around the country.
Patrick holds a faculty appointment at the University of Colorado Department of Medicine and is a founding faculty member of the University's Institute for Healthcare Quality, Safety, and Efficiency (IHQSE). He is an award-winning facilitator, speaker, and educator. After completing training in internal medicine at the University of California-San Francisco (UCSF), Patrick completed a fellowship focused on the transformation of clinical delivery systems and health systems leadership. He is a certified Patient Safety Officer and has advanced training in user-centered design from Stanford’s Hasso-Platner School of Design (d.school).
Chandu Vemuri, MD, FACS
Barbara Martin, PhD, ACNP-BC, MPH
Dr. Martin is a nurse practitioner with over 20 years of clinical and leadership experience in health care delivery, policy and research. Dr. Martin has rich experience working across complex systems of care to serve our most vulnerable patients. Prior to joining CommonSpirit Health, she served as the executive director of a federally funded statewide healthcare transformation initiative housed out of the Colorado Governor’s office focused on practice redesign to enable successful transition to value-based contracting. Dr. Martin received her PhD in Nursing Health Systems Research focused on evaluating the role of advanced practice providers (APPs) in value-based care delivery. Dr. Martin was appointed as the System Senior Vice President for Advanced Practice in June of 2021 and is leading the CommonSpirit National Office of Advanced Practice (NOAP) efforts to optimize over 3,000 employed and thousands of independent and contracted advanced practice providers in partnership with physician enterprise and divisional clinical and operational leaders.
Gwen Dooley, MPM, NP, ACC
Her career began as a Nurse Practitioner after earning a Master of Science in Nursing from Regis University. She then pursued further education, earning a Master's in Project Management and Leadership from Colorado State University. Prior to her current position, Ms. Dooley was the Chief Operating Officer for Radiology Imaging Associates in Denver, Colorado.
As a certified Executive Coach through the University of Texas at Dallas and a nationally recognized speaker on leadership, Gwen empowers leaders to engage in strategic thought, act with courage, and create a lasting impact.
Monique Diaz, MD
Dr. Monique N. Diaz is a board-certified physiatrist and clinical informatics physician executive with extensive expertise in population health, digital health, and value-based care. Currently serving as VP Regional CMIO of California at CommonSpirit, she has led initiatives such as expanding robotic process automation (RPA), ambient scribes, and point-of-care AI agents. Dr. Diaz also pioneered virtual visits at Dignity Health during the COVID-19 pandemic and is pursuing a Master's in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at HEC Paris. She is skilled in leveraging data analytics, technology, and strategic leadership to optimize healthcare delivery and improve patient outcomes. Dr. Diaz is originally from the City of Chicago and currently resides on the Central Coast of California with her husband, 3 kids, and rescue dog.
Sean L. Hansen, MD
With over three decades of service to CHI, Dr. Sean L. Hansen, M.D. embodies the spirit of a dedicated career hospitalist, a respected physician leader, and an impassioned advocate for the joyful practice of medicine. As the Upper Central Region Medical Director for Hospital Medicine Operations, Dr. Hansen expertly leads a multi-site hospitalist practice of over 160 providers, serving the Central Region of CommonSpirit Health, encompassing Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota, and Minnesota. He also shares his expertise as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Creighton University School of Medicine.
Dr. Hansen is deeply committed to provider engagement and well-being. His dedication to enhancing the work environment for healthcare professionals is truly inspiring, and he plays a pivotal role in cultivating a culture of support and wellness within the organization.
Sunmee (Sue) Lee, MD, FACOG
Dr. Sunmee Lee, MD, FACOG, is a distinguished physician leader with over 30 years of experience in Obstetrics and Gynecology, coupled with extensive administrative leadership in both academic and community healthcare settings. Dr. Lee has held significant leadership positions, including Vice President of Specialty Care at Centura Health Physician Group, where she was instrumental in enhancing specialty care services and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. In her current role as Chief Medical Officer for AdventHealth Medical Group, West Florida Division, she oversees clinical operations, quality initiatives, patient experience improvement, and physician engagement strategies, driving improvements in patient care and organizational performance.
Throughout her career, Dr. Lee has been recognized for her dedication to mentoring healthcare professionals, leading educational programs, and facilitating workshops aimed at improving clinical practice, physician resilience, and leadership skills. Her expertise in both clinical and administrative domains positions her as a valuable contributor to discussions on healthcare leadership and transformation.
Lee Scheinbart, MD, CPE, FAAPL
Hannah Shirkey, MBA, CPA, FACHE
Registration Options
Medical Staff Leadership Fundamentals Intensive
$1,500
$1,300 Early Bird Rate
till 12/31
April 25, 2027
Includes:
- Registration for one person
- All intensive event sessions
- Breakfast, lunch, and refreshments
Senior Medical Staff Leader Forum
$2,500
$2,250 Early Bird Rate
till 12/31
April 26-28, 2027
Includes:
- Registration for one person
- Opening welcome reception
- All main event sessions
- Interactive leadership panels
- Monday night networking dinner
- Daily breakfast, lunch, and refreshments
Full Forum Experience
$3,700
$3,500 Early Bird Rate
till 12/31
April 25-28, 2027
Includes:
- Registration for one person
- All intensive event sessions
- All main event sessions
- Opening welcome reception
- Monday night networking dinner
- Interactive leadership panels
- Daily breakfast, lunch, and refreshments
Plan Your Trip
Our hosting hotel, The Jacquard, Autograph Collection, is nestled in Denver's vibrant Cherry Creek neighborhood. The nearest major airport is Denver International Airport (DEN); approximately 24 miles away by car, with a typical drive time of around 34 minutes.
Prefer public transit? You can take the RTD A Line commuter rail from DEN to Union Station in about 37 minutes, then complete the journey downtown via taxi or rideshare.
Access to the forum hotel room block will be available upon registration.
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of CME Consultants and Sentact. CME Consultants is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
CME Consultants designates this live activity for a maximum of 23.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Questions?
Contact us at events@sentact.com

