About Our Speakers

Sarah has worked in the Outreach and Volunteer program at XL Hospice since 2003. Sarah is Board Secretary for the Idaho End-of-Life Coalition. Sarah holds a Masters in Business Administration and a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. Outside of her hospice involvement, Sarah has been volunteering for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life of Ontario for seven years. She attends Origin's Faith Community and enjoys co-leading a young women's group. Sarah rejuvenates by boating on the weekend with friends and husband, Mark Bradbury.

Jan is an RN,BSN with certification in Hospice & Palliative Care. Her commitment to hospice philosophy began in 1983 as the first nurse hired by Greeley, Colorado's first hospice agency. Since moving to Boise in 2003, Jan has worked with two hospice agencies. With experience in direct patient care/case management and administrative patient care coordination, accepting a position as the Hospice Nurse Reviewer for the State of Idaho in 2008 was a natural progression. Jan is an advocate for quality end-of-life care, and a resource for hospice programs in Idaho in terms of the...

Angela Hilleshiem has been with Emeritus Senior Living for over 10 years and is the Vice President of Quality Services and Risk Management. She has worked in various positions within the organization, including: working in a community, Regional Operations Specialist, Divisional Director of Clinical Operations, teacher, mentor, and consultant. She also works with attorneys providing legal nurse consulting. Angela has a long history of geriatric nursing and a love for working with residents with dementia. She is an enthusiastic life-long teacher, with a passionate interest in geriatric health...

Peter C. Sisson is a principal in the Boise law firm Sisson & Sisson, the Elder Law Firm, PLLC. He has been a practicing lawyer since 1988, in Boise, Idaho since 1992. His law firm emphasizes a holistic and comprehensive legal practice approach to the issues seniors face as they age called Life Care Planning. Life Care Planning anticipates and provides legal and care advocacy services to the firm’s clients as their circumstances and health care needs change. Sisson & Sisson currently employs a full-time licensed social worker to provide care coordination services to help senior...

Sue is the President of S & S Nutrition Network, Inc, a nutrition consulting firm providing services to skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, home health, assisted living, corrections, ICF/ID facilities and physicians’ clinics for outpatient education. She has 22 years experience working in the field of nutrition and with LTC facilities in the capacity of nutrition services director, clinical dietitian, health facility surveyor and dietitian consultant. Currently, Sue and business partner, Maureen Sykes, own and operate 3 nutrition entities in the northwest. Sue recently received the...

Chuck Gokoo, MD, CMO, CWS, FACCWS. Dr. Gokoo is the Chief Medical Officer for American Medical Technologies (AMT). Early in his 30-year, science-based career, he recognized a need for science based interventions in wound management. This led to his collaborating with specialists in conducting large outcome-based clinical trials for the medical/wound products industry. Recognizing a need for practical application, he then transitioned from research to advancing the needed wound management strategies by providing education to numerous clinicians in the field. He is a member of multiple...

Rick is the Administrator and owner of Owyhee Health and Rehabilitation Center in Homedale. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Health Care Administration from Idaho State University and earned a Master of Hospital Administration degree from the University of Minnesota. He was the President of IHCA in 1998-2000 and has chaired the Reimbursement Committee for IHCA almost continuously since 1996. He has served on a variety of committees for the American Health Care Association and has been a member of AHCA's Ethics Committee since 2001. Rick is a licensed pilot and a 5th degree...

David M. Sedgwick joined Ensign in 2001 and has served as Vice President of Organizational Development since 2006. Prior to 2006, he served as an administrator at several of Ensign's skilled nursing facilities. Mr. Sedgwick’s current responsibilities include overseeing Ensign's Administrator-in-Training program, Ensign University (our training and professional growth program and a key element of our talent-driven management approach.) Mr. Sedgwick also oversees the New Markets and New Ventures programs, which enables proven leaders to expand Ensign in new sectors and industries...

I have had the privilege to spend many years working with children and adults with developmental disabilities in a number of capacities. At Preferred Community Homes we believe that the most important responsibility we have is to make help each person live a meaningful life.

Mary Litchford, PhD, RD, LDN, is president of CASE Software & Books, a professional and educational resource company. She is an acclaimed speaker, author, medical-legal expert and consultant to health care providers. Mary has built an international reputation for her many presentations, published articles and books on leading-edge clinical nutrition topics. She has authored award winning, state-of-the-art instructional software for health care science students and advanced level continuing education courses for nutrition professionals. Mary is a nationally recognized expert in the area of...

Martha has worked in Infection Prevention at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center for 4 years. Prior to this, she worked in critical care for 9 years. She is the current president of the Intermountain Chapter of The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

Traci Treasure, MS, LNHA, CPHQ is a Qualis Health Quality Improvement Consultant for Idaho. With Qualis Health she has assisted providers with reduction of physical restraints and pressure ulcer prevention, as well as promoting staff stability and person-centered care. She is chair of the Idaho Health Care Association iCARE, a subcommittee working toward person-centered care culture change in Idaho and promoting the Advancing Excellence Campaign. Prior to joining Qualis Health, she has filled many roles including licensed nursing home administrator and preceptor, quality improvement...

My name is Honey Goodman and I'm proud to be the Community Relations Director for Treasure Valley Hospice. I have been a healthcare professional for 15+ years, primarily working in the skilled nursing and hospice fields. My personal mission statement is “To Love and Serve Others” and I am proud to work in a profession that allows me to do that. In 2007 I was selected by the Idaho Business Review as a “Healthcare Hero.” It was an honor to receive such an award. I am thankful that I have encountered so many wonderful people that have mentored me along the way and whom I have learned...

Bright Funny Delightfully Obnoxious, Meagan Johnson is known as a “Generational Humorist.” Since 1997 Meagan Johnson has entertained and educated hundreds of audience members from all over the globe. She wrote the Generational chapter in the book Success is A Team Effort. Meagan and her Baby Boomer father, Larry Johnson are the authors of Generations, Inc - From Boomers to Linksters, Managing the Friction Between Generations at Work. Meagan is an active member of NSA, National Speakers Association. In 2003, she received her CSP, Certified Speaking Professional designation. Currently,...

Have worked at SJRMC 32 years. Background working Medical-Oncology and Home Health-Hospice. Director of Hospice from 1994 through present. Director of the Palliative Care Service from 2008 through present.

Jan Higginbotham, Associate Broker of Boise Places 'at ATOVA', believes that what she really sells is marketing expertise. Licensed as a sales agent since 1992 and a broker since 1995, she has led hundreds of people through the back roads and hidden places of some of Idaho's most unique valleys. Her Boise peers quickly recognized Jan as an expert in the field and just three short years after moving her practice from Sun Valley, was asked to sit on the Ada County Professional Standards of Practice Committee and elected to the Ada County Association of Realtors Board of...

Dr. Fuller attended college at Michigan State University where he received his B.A. in music literature, M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in physiology, and D.O. degree in Human Medicine. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, and from there he went to Baltimore, Maryland where he completed a 4 year Fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Fuller then moved to Annapolis, MD where he practiced Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine for 5 years. For the following 10 years he practiced as a Critical Care specialist in...

Steve has over 20 years of management experience at all levels of business and with a diverse group of industries. Most recently as the owner and administrator of a home care agency in Colorado. With Vern's oversight, Steve grew the agency from a self funded start-up with no employees, no patients and no revenue to a respected agency with over $5 million in annual revenue. All in less than 5 years. The agency was defined by high quality scores, high patient satisfaction, high employee satisfaction and solid financials. Rapid and consistent growth was achieved through in-depth...

Specialized in Food safety & sanitation & project management. Worked in the long-term care industry for over 20 years and experienced in middle and senior management in some of the largest long term care companies. As a senior executive she was responsible for managing the dietary programs developing multidisciplinary trainings for dietary managers, nurses, and operations managers in a wide variety of topics including sanitation, dining programs, food production, budgetary compliance, labor efficiency, weight and pressure sore management. Cost effective menu design & policy...

Elizabeth is the Director of Clinical Services for Consonus Rehab Services. She has been an occupational therapist working in the area of geriatrics for over 20 years. Her passion is developing the clinical skills of physical, occupational, and speech therapists providing care to seniors. She received her Masters degree in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University and teaches frequently in the areas of fall prevention, dementia, and documentation to avoid denials. She has presented trainings in these areas on both a state and national level. She also serves as the co-...

Oni Kinberg received a Masters of Social Work at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Oni studied with leaders in the research of Geriatric social work and health care issues and completed an internship at the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center at the VAMC in Madison. Oni has worked at the Idaho State veterans Home in Boise since 2003. Oni has been a member of the IHCA-ICAL Convention/Education Committee since 2006.

Carol is a Registered Nurse and a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator with many years of experience in long term care. She has owned a small chain of Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living facilities in the San Diego area. Carol is now the Western Region Consultant (12 Western States) for Senior Crimestoppers and the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation.

Gina is Founder/Executive Director of FirstLine Health, the Center for Health Development, promoting healthy lifestyles for individuals and groups. A motivational speaker, Gina presents topics such as positive mindset, healthy eating and nutrition. She received her BFA Painting, from the University of Houston and is a candidate of M.S. for Clinical Mental Health Counselor at Northwest Nazarene University. In addition, she has created “Art and Self-Development” classes and has incorporates mental health and art healing workshops in her work at FirstLine Health. Formerly the Director of Sales...

Loyal started his career as an Occupational Therapist at the Idaho Elk's Rehabilitation Hospital. He later joined the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, conducting training & assisting nursing homes in developing the new concept of activities programs. During this time, Loyal was named director of the Model Cities Health Center for low income families. Later Loyal returned to work for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare as a Health Facilities Surveyor, eventually accepting a promotion to Supervisor of Licensing and Certification where he remained for 28 years. In his...

Martie Hawkins RN-BC BSN CWOCN CCM is an independent certified wound care/ostomy consultant from Boise, ID. She consults in all types of settings on wounds, ostomies, and incontinence skin related breakdown. Her extensive nursing career includes over 27 years in nursing and 19 years in WOCN practice and legal nurse consulting. Contributing author for an internet source guidebook and Nursing Medical Malpractice. She has been published national in the American Legal Nurse Journal, PEPSI Conference and California Association for Healthcare Quality Journal. She has presented at...

Instant Breakthrough Expert, Kit Furey, JD, CHt, CEHP, brings passion to her work that comes from adopting 3 newborns in 18 months (one with special needs,) pattern detection skills of a former lawyer, the ability to hold rock-solid space in which her clients transform inner obstacles into excellence, and a mastery of advanced neurolinguistics, clinical hypnosis and numerous modalities from the field of energy psychology. KitFurey@WholeMindMastery.com; 208-345-8103; and applications for an opportunity for a complimentary Belief Change Strategy Session at www.WholeMindMastery.com/Strategy

Mr. Fullaway is the President and CEO of Vigilan has over 30 years of management experience. Doug entered the senior market in 2002 by joining Vigilan and is the proud owner of several senior communities. Prior to Vigilan, Doug held positions in distribution, manufacturing, sales and general management in the US, Europe and Asia. Doug earned his undergraduate degree in industrial engineering from Oregon State University, served as an officer in the US Marine Corps and graduated from the Harvard Business School. He loves to snow ski, fly and go fly fishing.

- Director Pastoral Care @ St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Lewiston, ID - Hospice Chaplain for St. Joseph Family Hospice - Member of Palliation Core Team @ St. Joseph Regional Medical Center

1976-1980- Health Information - Lewiston Rehab 1980-1990- Health Information Consultant-Northwestern States and for Hillhaven Corporation-Regional Consultant 1990 to present - have worked as Area Admistrator at different times, but currently at Lewiston Rehab and Care for past 19years. Served as President of Idaho Health Information Association 1990-1991 Served on Board of Directors for IHCA/ICAL for 10 years + Previous Speaker for IHCA/ICAL and other Associations Served on local Emergency Medical Advisory Board - 2 years Current member IHCA/ICAL- Arbitration Board

- Graduated High School in Mass. - Graduate U.S.ARMY School of Radiology Brooks Army Hospital in Texas - Wildlife Biology Major: Uni. of Wyoming. and Boise State Uni. - Radiologic Technologist: St.Luke's Hospital,Boise,and Sun Valley Idaho - Staff Radiology Tech. St. Alphonsus RMC for 26 Years - Founder, owner and Technologist: Bedside X-Ray Service Inc.for last 25 years - Current President of Idaho Society Of Radiologic Technologists

Elizabeth (Betti) Newburn is District Director for the Idaho Small Business Development Center at Boise State University. She was a critical care & ED RN, implemented clinical information systems, and started pre-clinical research lab. Experience: state EMS training coordinator, several VP positions at Motorola, started a software and lab company. Betti has over 20 years experience in starting and managing small businesses and working with clients nationally and internationally. As faculty for business strategy, project management, operational management and numerous other business...

Licensed into ministry in 1995. BS Degree from BSU in Criminal Justice Administration 1993. 2002 Masters of Ministry from NNU. Ordained into Ministry with the Church of the Brethren 2005. One unit CPE with St. Lukes RMC 2004-2005. 2005-2007 Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator for Curry County Home Health & Hospice in Brookings Oregon. 2007 to present Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator for Horizon Home Health & Hospice. 2008 to present chair of Awards Committee for IdELC. 2010 to present chair of Education Committee IdELC. 2009 Awarded, Chaplain - Dream Team member for IdELC. 2007 to...

Val Halamandaris says, "The true measure of human life is determined by the extent to which it is used to help others." He has done that for 28 years as president of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice. Under his helm, NAHC has broadened support for home health in the halls of Congress and the hearts of people across the country. Thanks to his efforts, the Medicare home health benefit now provides millions with the care they need at home. Halamandaris also founded CARING Magazine and the Caring Institute, which promotes selfless public service — an ideal he has...

Regence senior vice president, Health Care Services Leads efforts to develop an execute Regence’s integrated health management initiative, with responsibility for Network Strategy and Performance, and Health Care Services Planning and Performance Analytics. 2009 - named to current position 2003 - named president, Regence BlueShield of Idaho 2003 - named chief operating officer, Regence BlueShield of Idaho 1997 - named senior vice president of Operations, Regence BlueShield of Idaho 1994 - named general counsel and vice president, MSB-Blue Shield of Idaho 1990 - named general...