Register now

Featured speakers:

Tejal Gandhi, MD, MPH, CPPS,

Tejal Gandhi, MD, MPH, CPPS,
Chief Safety and Transformation Officer, Press Ganey

As Chief Safety and Transformation Officer, Dr. Gandhi, MPH, CPPS is responsible for improving patient and workforce safety, and developing innovative healthcare transformation strategies. She leads the Zero Harm movement and helps healthcare organizations recognize inequity as a type of harm for both patients and the workforce. Dr. Gandhi also leads the Press Ganey Equity Partnership, a collaborative initiative dedicated to addressing healthcare disparities and the impact of racial inequities on patients and caregivers. Before joining Press Ganey, Dr. Gandhi served as Chief Clinical and Safety Officer at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), where she led IHI programs focused on improving patient and workforce safety.

Laurie Simpson, CPXP

Laurie Simpson, CPXP
AVP High Reliability, Samaritan Health Services

Laurie Simpson is an accomplished servant leader in healthcare with experience in both for-profit and not-for-profit settings. She has been with Samaritan Health Services since 2012, where she has held various leadership roles, including Director of Patient Experience and Engagement.
Currently serving as the AVP of High Reliability, Laurie oversees a wide range of initiatives, including patient safety, clinical risk, patient experience and engagement, patient relations, veterans’ outreach, and patient education.A certified Patient Experience Professional (CPXP) and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Laurie has demonstrated leadership expertise in fostering compassionate, human-centered cultures.
With a strong background in clinic and hospital operations, performance improvement, health informatics, and professional development, she has driven excellence across a variety of healthcare environments. Laurie’s leadership has been critical in transforming the Samaritan Human Experience strategy, fostering a culture of compassion and consistently improving the delivery of patient care.
She is passionate about working collaboratively with care teams to eliminate harm and ensure that patients safely navigate the healthcare system. A proud member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Laurie is dedicated to delivering high-quality, equitable, and safe care, particularly in community-based and rural settings.

Margaret Mikula, MD,

Margaret Mikula, MD,
Vice President and Chief Quality Officer, Samaritan Health Services

Dr. Mikula brings a wealth of experience to lead our continued efforts to achieve the highest levels of clinical quality, safety and patient experience,” said Chief Medical Officer Robert Turngren, MD. “This is a systemwide role encompassing both inpatient and outpatient care, and she will work collaboratively with the leadership teams of all Samaritan hospitals and Samaritan Medical Group.
Dr. Mikula most recently served as the vice president and chief quality officer for Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State Children’s Hospital, as well as for Penn State Medical Group.
pink-box