What We Do

Karen M. Dale is the Chief Executive Officer of AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia, one of the largest Medicaid managed care organizations in Washington, D.C., and the Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for the AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies. Prior to leading AmeriHealth Caritas DC, Dale served as Executive Vice President of Health Care Management at DC Chartered Health Plan Inc. (Chartered). At Chartered, she led key initiatives that strategically positioned the organization as a market leader with innovative solutions for the critical challenges faced by its members.

Dale is a highly skilled, visionary leader who has dedicated her entire career to helping others and ensuring equal health opportunities for populations at risk. Having held multiple positions of leadership during the past two decades, she has worked with a broad group of stakeholders to address policies and other key factors impacting the production of health. She considers it a privilege to utilize her expertise in program development and significant knowledge of health care finance and delivery systems to make a difference in the lives of so many.
Dale has guided the execution of unique approaches to managing the complex needs of persons with multiple health risks. These efforts include the use of telemedicine to aid in the management of chronic diseases, peer-to-peer outreach using community health workers, and the rollout of a multifaceted member engagement approach. In addition, her philosophy that all persons deserve access to the right care, without barriers, starting where they are, has led to several collaborative relationships with providers, community partners, philanthropists, and businesses to develop evidence-based population health strategies.

Karen Dale holds a Master of Science degree in psychiatric mental health nursing from The Catholic University, Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia. She was a member of the Leadership Greater Washington Class of 2003. She serves as Board Chair for CommonHealth ACTION and as a board member for both Volunteers of America National Services and the Volunteers of America National Board.

Don Blanchon is CEO of Wasque Advisors LLC, a strategic consulting firm helping companies and leaders achieve greater impact over time, navigate change and its impact on people and culture, and develop strategies to advance long-term financial sustainability.

Don has served in numerous leadership roles with Whitman-Walker Health System, Whitman-Walker Health, Maryland Physicians Care MCO and Schaller Anderson of Maryland, LLC., and Health Services for Children with Special Needs. His professional journey began as a Budget Examiner at the Office of Management and Budget within the Executive Office of the President.

Jacqueline D. Bowens currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the DC Hospital Association (DCHA), a role she assumed in November 2016.  Prior to taking on her new role as the leader of DCHA, Ms. Bowens served as Chief Executive Officer of the D.C. Primary Care Association (DCPCA) for nearly four years (2012-2016).  DCPCA is a member driven organization of federally qualified community health centers and other advocates, committed to ensuring that all DC residents have access to quality health care that is equitable, easy to navigate and empowering. DCPCA provides health care
In her role as President and CEO of DCHA, Ms. Bowens represents 15 member hospitals, which include acute care, behavioral health, rehabilitation and pediatric facilities. Ms. Bowens works closely with the Board of Directors and the membership to advocate and advance District hospitals as leaders in innovative patient care, essential drivers of the local economy and change agents to achieve measurable gains in population health.  In 2015, DC Hospitals, employed nearly 30,000 people, provided over $1.1 million days in patient care and over $100 million in uncompensated care.
Ms. Bowens has also served as a professional staff member for former Congressman and Appropriations Committee member, the Honorable Louis Stokes, D-OH and; served as the Coordinator of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, a coalition of health professionals and advocates comprised of nearly 2,000 health care and health policy leaders and advocates.  She has spoken nationally on numerous advocacy and public policy issues related to access to care, reimbursement strategies, crisis communication and, community partnerships.
She received a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration/Public Policy from the University of Southern California (USC) and earned an executive master’s degree in management and technology from the University of Maryland.  Ms. Bowens is also a graduate of Leadership Greater Washington.
Over the course of her career, Ms. Bowens has received numerous recognitions including, the 2014 National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE) Distinguished Women in Healthcare Leadership Award; the University of Southern California (USC) Alumnus of the Year (2004), awarded by the USC Black Alumni Association, the Women in Government Relations Most Distinguished Member Award and the American Hospital Association’s Grassroots Advocacy Award.  Other recognition includes, the D.C. Hospital Association’s Distinguished Service Award, the Association’s highest recognition; Business and Professional Women’s Foundation’s Women Mean Business Award and; recognition by Dollars and Sense Magazine as one of America’s “Best and Brightest”.

Dr. Tollie B. Elliott, Sr., is the new Chief Executive Officer of Mary’s Center, effective January 1, 2022.

For the last six years, Dr. Elliott has served as the Chief Medical Officer for Mary’s Center. In this capacity, he has been instrumental in strengthening the sustainability of the organization by designing, developing and implementing the first telemedicine program in the District of Columbia at a Federally Qualified Health Center. Leading his team to develop new and innovative strategies has contributed to Mary’s Center being nationally recognized for the quality of healthcare delivered to their patients.

In addition to his role at Mary’s Center, Dr. Elliott counsels and serves on the medical advisory boards and credentialing committees for Amerigroup MD, Amerigroup DC, AmeriHealth Caritas DC, and Emerson Clinical Research Institute.

Dr. Elliott is a graduate of Howard University and Howard University College of Medicine. He completed his residency in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University, where he was named outstanding Senior Resident in Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics. Prior to joining Mary’s Center, Dr. Elliott served as the Director of the Ob/Gyn Peer Review, a member of the Surgical Case Review Committee, At-Large Member of the Medical Staff Executive Committee, and Co-Chair of the Department of Ob/Gyn at Providence Hospital in Washington, DC. Dr. Elliott was recognized as a Washingtonian Top Doctor in 2016.

Dr. Elliott is committed to community development, having taught in the Prince George’s County Public Schools and served as director of a mentoring program for at-risk youth early in his career. He enjoys family life as a father of five, as well as music and travel.

Brendan Furlong, MD, serves as vice president of medical operations and chief medical information officer for MedStar Medical Group (MMG).  In this role, he is responsible for the MMG Access Center of Excellence, MMG Quality, Safety & Education, and, as CMIO, ensuring the efficient design, implementation, and use of health technology within MMG. He serves as a member of the MMG Executive Staff and Information Systems Executive Staff.

Dr. Furlong is the past interim chair of MedStar Emergency Physicians and past Clinical chief of Emergency Medicine at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH), where he continues to practice clinically.

Dr. Furlong serves as an associate medical director (emeritus) of MedSTAR Transport,  which operates MedStar Health’s fleet of ground transport ambulances and critical care transport helicopters.

Dr. Furlong holds a faculty appointment at the Georgetown University School of Medicine where he is professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, providing clinical instruction to both Georgetown University medical students and residents. His academic interests include medical legal aspects of Emergency Medicine, EMTALA law, clinical operations and transport medicine.

Dr. Furlong received his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated with honors. He received his medical training at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and completed his residency at the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina where he also served as chief resident. He joined MedStar Washington Hospital Center in 1996.

Dr. Furlong is a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Dr. LaQuandra S. Nesbitt is a board-certified family physician with over ten years experience leading population health initiatives in governmental public health agencies. Dr. Nesbitt formerly served as the Director of the District of Columbia Department of Health in Washington, DCAs a physician leader, Dr. Nesbitt drives the implementation of innovative solutions that promote health and wellness, and achieve health equity in organizations and communities. Throughout her career she has led multi-sector collaborations to address innovation in healthcare delivery and its impact on high cost, high need and other special populations; the integration of public health and health care; and the impact of medical marijuana and decriminalization of marijuana possession on the public’s health. Prior to her role in DC, Dr. Nesbitt served as the Director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness where she led initiatives focused on Affordable Care Act implementation and violence prevention.

Dr. Nesbitt received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Michigan, her medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine, and a Master of Public Health in Health Care Management and Policy from the Harvard School of Public Health. She completed an internship in family medicine at the University Hospitals of Cleveland/Case Western Reserve University and completed the remainder of her family medicine residency in the University of Maryland’s Department of Family Medicine where she served as chief resident. Dr. Nesbitt completed her fellowship training with the Commonwealth Fund Harvard University Fellowship in Minority Health Policy.

Bruno Petinaux, MD, was appointed Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at the George Washington University Hospital in June 2017. Prior to his official appointment, he served as Interim CMO for a year, during which he led the development and execution of many safety and quality initiatives.

In addition to his role as CMO, Dr. Petinaux is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences and has been an Emergency Medicine physician at GW Hospital since 2002.

He co-chairs GW Hospital’s Emergency Management Program and has been very active in Emergency Management in the District of Columbia.  In addition to local Emergency Management experience in 2002, Dr. Petinaux served for 15 years as a Medical Team Manager for the Virginia Task Force 1/USA 1 Urban Search and Rescue Team, having responded to storms and earthquakes domestically and internationally.

Dr. Petinaux completed his Emergency Medicine residency at GW Hospital where he finished as Chief Resident. Along with his Medical Degree from the Sidney Kimmel Medical College from the Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Dr. Petinaux has a military background with the United States Army Reserve.

Hasan A. Zia, MD, MBA, FACS, is president and chief operating officer at Sibley Memorial Hospital. He assumed this role in December 2020. With dual board certifications in general surgery and surgical critical care, Dr. Zia joined the medical staff of Sibley Hospital in July of 2006. Since that time, he has served as vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer, and as the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) medical director, before assuming his current role.

In addition to his clinical activities at Sibley, Dr. Zia has served in numerous administrative capacities. He was previously patient safety officer and medical director for quality and patient safety. In 2011, Dr. Zia assumed the role of chief medical information officer. In this capacity, Dr. Zia led the Epic electronic medical record (EMR) implementation project for Sibley and Howard County General Hospital, the first two hospitals in the Johns Hopkins Health System to implement Epic.

Dr. Zia received his medical degree from the University of Virginia (UVA). He went on to complete his general surgery training at George Washington University, prior to returning to UVA to complete a fellowship in trauma surgery and surgical critical care. Dr. Zia previously held a clinical appointment at the University of Virginia, School of Medicine, and currently has a clinical appointment through the Department of Surgery at Johns Hopkins University. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He has recently completed his master of business administration in health care management from the Johns Hopkins University Carey School of Business.

As President and CEO, Craig is the lead executive responsible for developing and executing the strategic plan as well as ensuring strong financial controls and high-quality services. His focus is on driving interoperability and innovation by expanding Health Data Utilities through CRISP and member Health Information Exchanges across the country. He manages the senior team with an emphasis on fostering collaboration while advocating for the mission, vision, and values of both CRISP and CRISP Shared Services. Craig is also an instructor at the University of Maryland Baltimore County Master’s program in Health Information Technology. Prior to supporting health IT efforts, Craig led the start-up and operations of three physician-led, Advance Payment Medicare Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organizations. He has a Master of Business Administration from Loyola University.