Michael J. Bilton, MPP
System Director, Community Health/Community Benefit
CommonSpirit Health
Michael J. Bilton is system director, Community Health/Community Benefit, at CommonSpirit Health. He works to develop, measure, and align health improvement programs with identified needs, leads the system's community grants program and provides guidance and technical support for community health needs assessments and strategies. He also is responsible for ensuring and enhancing the reporting of community benefit programs and expenditures.
Prior to joining CommonSpirit Health (Dignity Health) in January 2015, Mr. Bilton led community health needs assessments as vice president at Verité Healthcare Consulting. During 14 years at the American Hospital Association, he co-founded and led the Association for Community Health Improvement and served as director of Community Health Programs. He also directed a national "healthy communities" project at the Healthcare Forum in San Francisco, and an ambulatory care safety net initiative in Chicago.
He holds a master of public policy degree with a health administration focus from the University of Chicago.
Stephen Clarke, JD
Managing Director
Exempt Organization Tax Services Division
Ernst & Young LLP
Stephen Clarke is managing director of the Exempt Organization Tax Services division at Ernst & Young LLP, Washington, D.C., where he provides tax advisory and compliance services to tax-exempt healthcare organizations and other non-profits across the country.
Before joining Ernst & Young, Mr. Clarke was a tax law specialist, project manager and guidance group manager with the IRS Exempt Organizations division. At the IRS, Clarke served as the project manager for the 2008 redesign of Form 990, the information return filed annually by charities and other exempt organizations, and also served on the team that developed Form 990, Schedule H.
Prior to joining the IRS in 2005, Mr. Clarke worked as an attorney with Gammon & Grange, P.C., a law firm in northern Virginia, where he served tax-exempt organizations, radio broadcasters and trust and estate clients since 1996.
Throughout his career he has worked with non-profit organizations, helping them to understand and comply with tax and other regulatory requirements while also helping them to meet their charitable goals. He has served on the board of Good Samaritan Advocates, a nonprofit organization providing pro bono legal services to low-income persons, since 2004. He also serves on the board of directors of the TEGE Council and the planning committee of the American Health Lawyers Association's annual Tax Issues for Health Care Organizations conference.
He earned his bachelor of arts degree from Wheaton College in Illinois and his juris doctorate from the College of William and Mary School of Law. He is an active member of the Virginia bar.
Toni Conley
Community Health and Well-Being Compliance and Community Investing
Trinity Health
Toni Conley is CHWB Compliance and Community Investing, Community Health and Well-Being at Trinity Health, overseeing efforts related to community benefit compliance across all hospitals within Trinity Health. She assists in developing strategies to increase hospital investment in community health improvement initiatives that embed policy, system and environmental change strategies.
Ms. Conley has over 28 years of finance and healthcare related experience. She serves as a member of Trinity Health's Mission Advisory Council and the Catholic Health Association's "Community Benefit" and "What Counts" Committees.
She graduated with a bachelor of arts in financial administration from Michigan State University and is a registered Certified Public Accountant. Additionally, she is a board member of Mary's Mantle, a Catholic residential home for homeless, expectant mothers.
Melissa Dean
Director of Community Benefit Volunteer, and Gift Shop Services
Mercy Medical Center
Melissa Dean is the Director of Community Benefit and Gift Shop Services at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and has been involved in community benefit related work for the past ten years. Before this position, Melissa worked as a staff nurse and nurse manager in the operating room. She previously served on the Community Benefit Committee of the Catholic Health Association and is active on several community-based committees and nonprofit boards. She earned her BSN degree at Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa and MSN and MBA degrees at Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill.
Jaime C. Dircksen
Vice President, Community Health Institute
Trinity Health
Jaime Dircksen serves as the vice president, community health and well-being (CHWB), at Trinity Health. In this position, she works across the 22-state system in collaboration with hospitals and communities to expand utilization and availability of community-based services related to tobacco and obesity reduction and addressing the social influencers of health. She also oversees operations related to community health needs assessments, IRS community benefit compliance and budgeting.
Ms. Dircksen joined Trinity Health in July 2016, leading the Transforming Communities Initiative, an innovative funding model that partners hospitals and community-based organizations to decrease tobacco use and childhood obesity through policy, systems and environmental change. Most recently, she successfully led a system-wide capacity assessment and hiring initiative ensuring that all ministries have the right capacity and competencies to deliver on the CWHB priority strategic aims.
Ms. Dircksen has over 15 years of public health experience, leading large-scale planning, program and policy design efforts through public and private partnerships. She previously served as the managing deputy commissioner at the Chicago Department of Public Health for five years. In that role, she worked with hundreds of organizations to launch Healthy Chicago 2.0, the city's first health equity plan. She also led the department to be one of the first and largest local health departments in the nation to achieve Public Health Accreditation.
She earned her master's degree from the University of Chicago at the School of Social Service Administration.
Afia Griffith, MA, MPA
Director, Community Benefit
Ascension St. Vincent
Afia Griffith is director for community benefit, serving 22 health ministries at St. Vincent in Indiana, a ministry of Ascension Health. In this role, she is responsible for all aspects of the Community Benefit Centers of Expertise of St. Vincent mission integration. She leads a team that ensures compliance with and accountability for community benefit policies and procedures, including Community Health Needs Assessments, system-wide health improvement priorities, implementation strategies and the establishment of expectations for programs in solidarity with those living in poverty.
Prior to joining Ascension St. Vincent in 2006, Ms. Griffith served 10 years in overseas mission with Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ. She served as mission staff in Honduras, Central America and Indianapolis. She finds strong connection to her past and current positions in terms of the importance of building meaningful relationships in order to effectively improve the lives of those who struggle the most.
Ms. Griffith earned a bachelor's degree in international studies from Georgia State University and master's degrees from O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs in nonprofit management and Lily Family School of Philanthropy in philanthropic studies at Indiana University.
Trina S. Hackensmith
Vice President
Lyon Software
Trina Hackensmith is vice president and leader trainer for Lyon Software, Sylvania, Ohio. She joined Lyon Software in February 2006. With a background in finance, computer networking and customer relations, she initially served in technical and customer support. Within several months, Ms. Hackensmith transitioned into training hospitals, health systems, senior living communities, and colleges and universities in how to use Lyon Software's CBISA(tm) (Community Benefit Inventory for Social Accountability) program.
Ms. Hackensmith also serves on CHA's What Counts Task Force, which provides community benefit reporting guidance to the field.
She graduated from Liberty University in 1986 with a bachelor of science degree in finance.
Brad Haller
Social Media Manager
Mercy
Brad Haller serves as social media manager for one of the 25 largest U.S. health care systems Mercy. Mercy's footprint spans several states, including Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, with outreach ministries in a handful of underserved communities. Brad is currently based in Chesterfield, Missouri.
An award-winning blogger and video editor, Brad leads a close-knit team that oversees all social media content and strategy for the Mercy ministry. Just before taking on the role in 2018, Brad served as Media Relations Specialist in Springfield, Mo., engaging with journalists to promote and influence Mercy's community impact.
Brad graduated from Missouri State University in 2005, embarking nearly a decade in broadcasting. He led all social media strategy for KOLR10 News, Nexstar's CBS affiliate, in addition to producing daily newscasts. During that time, he helped several local organizations – including the Springfield Police Department – launch their own social media strategies long before TikTok and Instagram.
Brad is currently a board member of SocialMedia.org/Health, as well as APO (AIDS Project of the Ozarks), each providing him with a unique opportunity to influence health care on many levels. No stranger to CHA, Brad has collaborated on several social media campaigns to spotlight Catholic health care across the board.
Shivonne L. Laird
System Director, Community Health Impact
Bon Secours Health System
Shivonne Laird is system director, community health impact, Bon Secours Mercy Health, Ellicott City, Maryland. Her service to the BSMH team includes system-wide coordination of: community benefit review and analysis; local system healthy community initiatives related to Community Health Needs Assessments and implementation plans; implementation of policies and practices for Healthcare Anchor Network framework; and creation of metrics and outcomes and research-related activities for community health.
Ms. Laird has contributed her expertise at various institutions focused on public health initiatives, while earning her MPH and PhD. She has been a Senior Advisor in the Office of Legislation of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). As a liaison between HRSA and members of Congress and their staff, her work included advising office, agency, and department senior leadership on legislative analysis, policy, and programmatic activities.
She has also served as Program Officer for the Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Awards at the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) where she was responsible for strategic decision-making and high-level management and monitoring of the program, its funded projects, and program activities that advance PCORI's Engagement mission.
Michael Miller
System Vice President, Mission and Ethics
SSM Health
Michael Miller is system vice president, mission and ethics, for SSM Health.
Mr. Miller has served as a mission leader in Catholic health care for over ten years. His professional and research interests include community health, ethics and Catholic social teaching.
He holds a master's degree in theology from Aquinas Institute of Theology, and a master's degree in bioethics and health policy from Loyola University Chicago.
Brian Reardon
Vice President, Communications & Marketing
CHA
Brian Reardon is vice president, communications and marketing, for the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA). He directs communications programming to further CHA's strategic priorities and build awareness of the ministry's positive impact on communities nationwide. He leads CHA's Communications and Marketing department which is responsible for CHA publications, digital media and the annual Assembly. Mr. Reardon previously served for 14 years in various communications and advocacy roles with Springfield, Ill.-based Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS). Prior to his time with HSHS, he served in public relations roles with the state of Illinois and for Illinois political candidates. He began his career as a radio reporter in Chicago. Reardon has a master's degree in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois Springfield and a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Barry Ross, RN, MPH, MBA
Executive Director
Justice Partnerships for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange
Barry Ross is Executive Director, Justice Partnerships for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, where he oversees the Sisters of St. Joseph Healthcare Foundation and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange Fund. Prior to taking on this role in June 2022, he served Providence St. Joseph Health for 35 years, including leading community benefit for their hospitals in Orange and San Bernardino counties. He is on the faculty of California State University Fullerton programs in Public Health and in Nursing and at the University of Providence in the Community Health Investment certificate program. He currently serves as a Commissioner for the Buena Park Homeless Navigation Center Commission and has served on many non-profit boards in leadership capacities. He obtained his BSN, MPH and MBA degrees from Columbia University.
Julie Trocchio, MSN
Senior Director, Community Benefit and Continuing Care
CHA
Julie Trocchio is senior director of community benefit and continuing care at the Catholic Health Association of the United States. She is based in CHA's Washington, D.C., office.
Ms. Trocchio carries out programmatic and advocacy activities related to community benefit, tax exemption, environmental sustainability and long-term care. She also is the CHA liaison to the executives of state Catholic health associations and conferences.
Before joining CHA in 1988, she was director of delivery of services at the American Health Care Association in Washington, DC, a nonprofit organization that represents long-term care facilities. Ms. Trocchio also was a public health nurse for the Montgomery County Health Department in Rockville, Md., and has worked as a staff nurse for a hospital and nursing home facility. Ms. Trocchio earned a bachelor's degree from the Georgetown University School of Nursing in Washington, D.C., and a master's degree from the University of Maryland School of Nursing in Baltimore.
Vondie Woodbury, MPA
Consultant
Woodbury Group Consulting
Vondie Woodbury consults to numerous national organizations and federal agencies on community health improvement.
She has been a vice president of community benefit for Trinity Health, director of community benefit for Mercy Health Muskegon and executive director of the Muskegon Community Health Project.
Prior to joining the Health Project, she spent 14 years on the staff of former U.S. Sen. Donald Riegle. She is past president of Communities Joined in Action, is past chair of the Catholic Health Association's Community Benefit Committee and has been a frequent speaker at the American Hospital Association's Association for Community Health Improvement.