Kansas Health Impact Conference Archive

The Kansas Health Impact Conference is a comprehensive event dedicated to encouraging and learning across disciplines, sectors, and communities, because we know that partners working together have the power to bridge gaps in health and well-being. This conference aims to bring together healthcare professionals, payers, state collaborators, and community organizations to explore strategies and solutions for improving health outcomes in underserved communities.

Bridging Gaps, Building Impact

October 29, 2026

  • Agenda and Speaker Biographies (PDF)
  • Health Equity Resource Hub
  • Health Equity Innovation Award Winner and Nominees
    • Presentation (Available after conference)
    • Announcement (Available after conference)
  • Sessions
    • Welcome
      Sarah Irsik-Good, MHA, President and CEO, KFMC Health Improvement Partners
    • Meeting People Where They Are: Building Trust to Improve Community Health and Safety
      Eric Kirsch, Sheriff, Wabaunsee County, Kansas

      • Video & Slides (Available after conference)
    • Reimagining Health Delivery with AI
      James Joseph, Jr., MD, FAAOS, Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine

      • Video & Slides (Available after conference)
    • Building the Health Information Infrastructure that Rural Patients and Providers Actually Need
      Kemper Tell, MS, MA, CEO, Lewis and Clark Information Exchange
      Emily Brown, Senior Project Manager, Kansas Department of Health and Environment

      • Video & Slides (Available after conference)
    • Healthcare Happens Between Visits
      Rachael Rivero, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC, Founder & CEO, Kansas Care Connect

      • Video & Slides (Available after conference)
    • Co-Creating Community Storytelling: Using Data Walks to Bridge Gaps and Spark Community Action
      Samiyah Para-Cremer Moore, Senior Analyst & Portfolio Strategist, Kansas Health Institute
      Yazmin Wood, CEO, Legacy, A Regional Community Foundation
      Sarah Johnson, Director of Marketing, Strategy, and Communications, William Newton Hospital
      Erika Debrick Kelly, CEO, Hunger Free Kansas
      Brett Martin, Vice President of Community Impact, United Way of Kaw Valley

      • Video & Slides (Available after conference)
    • Relationships Are Community Infrastructure: Connecting Health, Business, and Community to Build Rural Opportunity
      Jody Love, MBA, President & CEO, Healthy Bourbon County Action Team and Rural Community Partners

      • Video & Slides (Available after conference)
    • Bridging Gaps, Building Impact
      • Video & Slides (Available after conference)

Bridging Gaps for a Healthier Kansas

October 23, 2025

  • Sessions
    • Welcome
      Sarah Irsik-Good, MHA
      President and CEO
      KFMC Health Improvement Partners
    • From Trust to Transformation: Bridging Community and Holistic Care for Human Flourishing
      Mary Flin, MAT, BECC, SEC
      Chaplain, Seminary of Urban Leadership
      Shannon Sadowski, AABA, BFA
      Community Health Navigator, TUMI Topeka

    • Improving the Health of Kansas Farmers and Rural Communities through Extension CHWs
      Elaine Johannes, PhD, MS, BS
      Kansas Health Foundation Distinguished Professor in Community Health, K-State Research and Extension
      State Extension Specialist, Department of Applied Human Sciences, College of Health and Human Sciences, Kansas State University

    • Advancing Quality and Equity in Maternal Care Across Kansas
      Sonia Jordan, MA
      Health Equity Manager, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
      Amy Jantz, RN, BSN, CPN
      Quality Clinical Informatics Specialist, Medical Affairs, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
      Virginia Barnes, MPH
      Director, Blue Health Initiatives, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas

    • From the Streets to Stability: Multidisciplinary Care at Encampments to Reduce Unsheltered Homelessness
      Misty Bosch-Hastings
      Director, Homeless Solutions Division, City of Lawrence
      Kelby Sanders, ST-LAC, KCPM, KCPS, PCCM
      Substance Use Disorder Outreach Clinician, Mirror, Inc. for City of Lawrence, Homeless Response Team
      Rebecca Lagger-Dyar, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
      Outreach Clinician, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health Department

    • Stronger Together: Creating Community Partnerships to Increase Nutrition Security
      Katie Martin, PhD
      CEO, More Than Food Consulting, LLC

    • The Future of Community Health Workers in Kansas: Pathways to Access, Sustainability, and Growth
      Treva Smith, Certified CHW Instructor
      Workforce Development Specialist, Community Care Network of Kansas
      Angela Scott, CHW
      Co-President, Kansas Community Health Worker Coalition

    • Sifting Through the Static: Transforming Fragmented Maternal Health Data
      Mariah Chrans, PhD, IBCLC
      Program Director, Cradle Kansas City
      Community Health Council of Wyandotte County

    • Beyond the Table: Building Bridges for LGBTQIA+ Health Equity
      Tori Gleason, DC, MPH
      Clinical Analyst, LMH Health

    • Panel Presentation: From the Ground Up – Local Voices Leading Health Equity Work
      Vickie James, Food and Farm Council of Riley County and City of Manhattan
      Tony DeRossett, Kansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry
      Leanne Eilert and Jay Rowh, Solomon Valley Transportation
      Brenda Groves, LPN, CDP, CADDCT
      Quality Improvement Manager, KFMC Health Improvement Partners

Creating Oases in Deserts

October 30, 2024

  • Sessions
    • Welcome and Introductions: The State of Resources in Kansas
      Sarah Irsik-Good, MHA
      President and CEO, KFMC Health Improvement Partners
    • Different Ships, Same Boat – How Collective Action Will Cure What Ails Both Rural and Urban America
      Dan Cranshaw, JD
      Executive Director, KC Healthcare Collaborative

    • Bridging the Gap: Tackling Pharmacy Deserts and Enhancing Medication Access and Adherence
      Tessa Schnelle, PharmD, MPH, DPLA
      Director of Pharmacy, Cass Regional Medical Center; Clinical Pharmacist, The University of Kansas Health System

    • Strive for Progress, not Perfection: Implementing Health Related Social Needs Data Collection
      Rhonda Spellmeier, MBA, BSN, RN
      HIE Workflow Specialist, KONZA KHIN

    • Harvesting Hope: Empowering Communities to Overcome Food Insecurity
      Brenda Groves, LPN, CDP, CADDCT
      Quality Improvement Manager, KFMC Health Improvement Partners
      Rachel Holthaus, BSN, MHCL
      The Hope Dealer

    • Oases of Health: Integrating Community Health Workers for Impact and Efficiency
      Erika Saleski
      Managing Member, ES Advisors, LLC
      Jackie Catron, MPH
      Section Director for Community Health Worker Section, Bureau of Health Promotion, Kansas Department of Health and Environment

    • Inequities in Antibiotic Prescribing: Examining National and Statewide Trends and Reimagining Antimicrobial Stewardship Through a Lens of Equity
      Kellie Wark, MD, MPH
      Assistant Professor Infectious Diseases, University of Kansas Medical Center
      Co-lead Antibiotic Stewardship Program, Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, Kansas Department of Health and Environment

    • Empathy in Action: The Ripple Effects of SDOH Screenings on Patient Care
      Dorothy Rice, RN, BSN, MBA, CPHQ, CPHRM, ACM
      Administrative Director of Quality, Patient Safety, Patient Liaison, Case Management and Risk Management, AdventHealth Ottawa
      Tammy Bragdon, RN, BSN
      Director or Quality and Infection Prevention, Nemaha Valley Community Hospital

    • Panel Presentation: Partnering to Improve Behavioral Health Access
      Jennifer Findley
      Vice President, Education and Special Projects, Kansas Hospital Association
      Yazim Wood
      Chief Executive Officer, Legacy Regional Community Foundation
      Karla Hermesch, LMSW
      Director of Social Services, Nemaha Valley Community Hospital and Seneca Family Practice
      Lisa Southern, LMLP, LCP
      Executive Director, Compass Behavioral Health

    • Bridging Healthcare Gaps through Mobile Integrated Healthcare and Community Paramedicine
      Justin P. Duncan, MSc, BS, NRP, EMT-CP, CCEMT-P, CP-C, FP-C
      Chief Executive Officer, Washington County (Missouri) Ambulance District
      Founding Partner, Washington County (Missouri) Mobile Integrated Healthcare Network

A Roadmap to Health Equity

October 27, 2023

October 28, 2022

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