Steve Carbonara is an accomplished professional with more than 25 years of leadership in the healthcare technology sector. He began his career at the forefront of the Electronic Medical Record market in 1999, establishing himself as a top national sales executive. Throughout his career, Steve has been pivotal in launching numerous industry-changing technologies, products, and services; acting as a change agent and accelerator of the digital transformation of healthcare.

As a visionary leader, Steve has steered sales, business development, marketing, operations, and executive teams to introduce many 'firsts' in healthcare. As a consultant over the past 15 years, he often joined early-stage companies as the first external executive, collaborating closely with founding teams. His comprehensive understanding of the market and dynamic approach to innovation make him a potent force for change. Steve has a proven track record of helping these companies establish their market presence, refine their business models, secure capital partners, and forge initial customer relationships. 

These experiences have allowed Steve to build a true 360 degree understanding of healthcare, which he has used to develop the Patients First Foundation team, vision and strategy to deliver change for the benefit of the main stakeholder in the US healthcare system, the patient. Viewing the complex issues of the day, Steve is focused on realigning healthcare to serve the patient by removing the existing 'sick care' model and delivering proactive / preventative strategies to keep us all healthy at the lowest cost possible. 

Dr. Douglas Slakey is a renowned transplant surgeon, healthcare leader, and innovator dedicated to improving healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. As a Professor and founding Chair of Health Systems Science at the Frist College of Medicine, Belmont University, he leads a transformative Center for research and implementation focused on global health, the business of health, and the integration of technology into patient care. Dr. Slakey is also the best-selling author of The Process Manifesto: Improving Healthcare in a Complex World, which explores strategies for navigating and enhancing complex healthcare systems.

In addition to his academic and literary achievements, Dr. Slakey is the Senior Partner for Healthcare at A.I. MIR, where he helps organizations drive innovation by aligning leadership, talent, and processes to optimize operations and improve patient value. He previously served as Chief of Surgical Services for Advocate Aurora Health, guiding surgical advancements across 27 hospitals, and spent over two decades at Tulane University, where he led groundbreaking efforts in transplant surgery and healthcare equity. Dr. Slakey’s work has earned him leadership roles on editorial boards, nearly 40 referenced abstracts, and over 150 peer-reviewed articles, alongside degrees and training from UC Berkeley, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Oxford.

Deborah Moore has over 30 years of experience in healthcare and life sciences, combining her expertise in global organizations with a deep understanding of commercializing life sciences startups. Passionate about improving patient care and outcomes, she has earned national recognition for creating innovative marketing, brand, communications, and engagement strategies and programs that drive measurable impact and foster meaningful relationships.

At UC San Diego Health and Health Sciences, Deborah led marketing efforts to unify the health system and academic entities under a cohesive brand, elevating the organization to national and international prominence and improving U.S. News & World Report rankings. At GE Healthcare, she created STAR™, healthcare’s first engagement and loyalty program, achieving 100% retention of at-risk clients and maintaining Best in KLAS rankings. At Thermo Fisher Scientific, she launched Aspire™, life sciences’ first engagement and loyalty program, which earned national awards and captured 11% of the U.S. market in just three months.

Deborah’s leadership extends to advancing impactful legislation, such as California’s expansion of the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), rooted in healthcare. This landmark law broadened protections for individuals with perceived disabilities, expanded the list of recognized disabilities, and required employers to inform individuals of their rights, demonstrating her commitment to fostering equity and inclusion in the workplace.

Dr. Michael Fenster is a trailblazing interventional cardiologist, professional chef, and professor dedicated to revolutionizing how we approach chronic disease prevention and wellness. As CEO of BridgMed.health, he leads the development of AI-driven tools, including The Healing Table™, to address the dietary roots of chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Combining his expertise in medicine and culinary arts, Dr. Fenster emphasizes evidence-based solutions that empower individuals to make sustainable, healthful choices. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Culinary Medicine and is a faculty member at the University of Montana, where he merges healthcare and culinary education to advance the field of culinary medicine.

A dynamic media personality, Dr. Fenster is the host of PBS’s House Calls with Chef Dr. Mike and has authored multiple books that explore the intersection of food, flavor, and health. His prior radio programs, including Food Shaman: Journeys into Quantum Food and Code Delicious, have inspired audiences to rethink their relationship with food. By integrating cutting-edge AI technology with culinary medicine, Dr. Fenster is driving systemic change, aiming to reduce the prevalence of preventable chronic diseases while making healthful eating accessible, personalized, and delicious.

Shahid Shah, Chief Technology Officer for the Patients First Foundation, brings decades of technology leadership and innovation in healthcare, government, and med-tech sectors. Known as a "company builder," Shahid specializes in creating advanced yet user-friendly solutions for highly regulated industries. With experience as a fractional CTO, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, and advisor to government and medical device clients, he excels at translating complex technical ideas into actionable strategies. As the founder of Netspective Communications and Netspective Media, Shahid has provided tech strategy, product innovation, and engineering services to health IT vendors, startups, and federal agencies, consistently revitalizing teams and driving revenue-generating solutions.



A respected voice in digital health and med-tech, Shahid founded one of the first healthcare IT blogs, Healthcare Guy, and is a sought-after public speaker. His expertise in regulatory strategy and cybersecurity enables him to navigate the complexities of health technology implementation. At Patients First Foundation, Shahid leverages his deep technical expertise to enhance patient engagement through cutting-edge tools and app-based resources, empowering patients and advancing the Foundation’s mission of accessible, patient-centered care.

Dr. Tom Davis is a nationally recognized expert in value-based care (VBC), a board-certified family physician, and an award-winning healthcare innovator with over 30 years of clinical and leadership experience. As the founding partner of the nation’s first value-based health system, he developed and patented strategies that simplify VBC implementation, enabling healthcare organizations to improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency. Dr. Davis specializes in contract analysis, system creation, cost control, and clinician mentorship, helping professionals align incentives and optimize care delivery.



Throughout his career, Dr. Davis has pioneered initiatives in healthcare transformation, including launching total-risk Medicare Advantage contracts, building multi-specialty groups, and creating one of the first micro-hospitals in the U.S. He is the founder of the Value-Based Care Success Community, a global resource for VBC expertise, and has mentored clinicians through roles at Washington University and the University of Missouri-Columbia. An accomplished author and speaker, Dr. Davis continues to guide healthcare professionals in leveraging value-based care to enhance patient experiences and foster sustainable healthcare innovation.

Hays is a strategic, operations-oriented executive with deep experience in healthcare services, healthcare (payer and provider), and digital healthcare companies. In his recent role, he focuses on the intersection of technology and operations for a prominent integrated home care services company with over 200 sites throughout the United States. Through a portfolio of digital transformation initiatives, Hays collaborates with other business leaders to drive standardization, consolidation, and efficiency, ultimately increasing EBITDA. He has held executive roles in PE portfolio companies, startup environments, and publicly traded companies, bringing strong expertise in product innovation, product development, implementation, and workflow operating model optimization and redesign.

Hays applies investigative analytical skills coupled with a people-first leadership style to create realistic paths toward value creation. He has experience leading P&L organizations, managing business units up to $100M, and overseeing multi-site centers across different geographies. Recent roles include serving as VP of Digital Transformation and Operations Leader at Compassus, a national integrated home services provider, and VP/GM Operations Leader at myNEXUS, a specialty benefit manager focused on home health services for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries.