Recognized Patient Safety Leaders 2025

I’m a lifesciences compliance strategist with a passion for building real-world, right-sized programs in fast-moving environments. With deep experience in pharma and medtech, I specialize in translating regulatory complexity into practical, actionable frameworks. I’ve spent 7+ years navigating the gray areas of compliance—from training physicians on industry expectations to building startup programs from the ground up. I believe compliance should be ethical, functional, and human-centered—and that culture is built through clarity, storytelling, and respect, not fear. Outside of policy and audits, I speak regularly on startup compliance and love turning “boring” topics into memorable moments. I'm here to connect, create, and contribute.

Karthikeyan Ramdass a seasoned cybersecurity professional with over 18 years of experience securing mission-critical systems for leading Fortune 500 companies across industries including aviation, finance, automotive, and technology. I have played a pivotal role in protecting organizations such as Southwest Airlines, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, Toyota Motors North America, AIG, Cognizant, Salesforce, and Deluxe Corporation. Specializing in application security, vulnerability management, secure architecture, and supply chain defense, led the design and implementation of enterprise-scale security frameworks, CI/CD pipelines, and advanced security testing solutions. Extensive experience in SAST, DAST, SCA, zero-day vulnerability management, and penetration testing, ensuring compliance with global standards such as NIST CSF, PCI DSS, and OWASP Top 10.

Dr. Beth J. Sanborn is a nationally recognized school safety expert, speaker, and author with over two decades of experience in law enforcement and education. A retired police officer and former School Resource Officer, she currently serves as President of the Pennsylvania Association of School Resource Officers and is a certified NASRO instructor. Dr. Sanborn specializes in school safety strategy, youth behavior, crisis prevention, and the effective integration of school-based law enforcement. She is the author of The Missing Piece and Piecing It Together, a TEDx speaker, and has testified before the Pennsylvania House Education and Health Committees. Her work focuses on protecting student rights, strengthening school safety culture, and building collaborative relationships between schools, families, and public safety professionals.

Dr. Jay Johannigman is a Cincinnati-based trauma surgeon with over 35 years of experience in trauma and critical care. A distinguished leader in both military and civilian medicine, he has made lasting contributions to Cincinnati’s medical landscape, most notably as the former Trauma Medical Director and Chief of the Institute of Military Medicine at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. During his tenure, he helped shape one of the region’s most advanced trauma and acute care programs, strengthening Cincinnati's role as a center of excellence in emergency medicine. A Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, Dr. Johannigman has served in eight combat deployments from 2003 to 2021. His military roles have included CCAT (Critical Care Air Transport) flight surgeon, Trauma “Czar,” Deputy Commander, and Director of Clinical Services in combat hospitals. His outstanding service has been recognized with numerous military honors, including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, and Army Commendation Medal. Dr. Johannigman also played a key role in the U.S. Air Force C-STARS (Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills) program, helping to train medical teams in readiness and combat casualty care. He has served as Chief Medical Officer at Knight Aerospace, contributing to the design and implementation of airborne medical evacuation systems, and strengthening the ties between military innovation and civilian emergency response. Beyond his contributions on the battlefield and in the operating room, Dr. Johannigman is a passionate educator. He serves as Professor of Surgery at the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland, where he helps train future generations of military and civilian physicians. Dr. Johannigman has held leadership roles nationally as well, including State Trauma Chair and Region Chief for the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma. He remains actively involved in key professional organizations, such as the American Association for Trauma and the American College of Surgeons.

Specialties: Population Health, Care Management, Accountable Care Organizations, Sustainable Health Communities, Provider Engagement, Product Development, Business & Health Care Strategy, Product Sales Support, Business Process Management, Telemedicine, Healthcare Information Technology, Operations, Physician Engagement, Clinical Redesign, Patient Flow, Wellness, Strategy, Patient Centered Medical Home, Health Policy, Managed Care, Medicaid, Medicare, Regulatory, Boards, Governance, Public Sector, Public Health, Analytics. Leadership Development and Nursing

Philip Farina is one of the most highly respected and recognized security and safety professionals. He is the Chief Advisor/Consultant for Risky Business, that provides management consulting services to hotels, hospitality organizations and corporations, commercial real estate and private individuals. Philip also provides expert witness litigation support to hotels and law firms. He is the Lead CPTED Practitioner for assessments and training to support the State of Florida State Statute 768.0706 (HB 837). A U.S. Military and Federal Law Enforcement Veteran, he has been proudly featured in Fox News, NBC News, CBS News Money Watch, CNN, ABC News, U.S. News Money & World Report, MSNBC, USA Today, The Washington Post, Reader's Digest, Chicago Sun-Times, Hotel Executive, American Express, Meetings and Conventions, Security Management Magazine, Chief Security Officer CSO Magazine, Police Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Private Wealth, Business Travel Executive, and SecurityInfoWatch. Philip has been recognized as a pioneer in all facets of security, safety and risk management. He began his career while serving in the United States Naval Intelligence Community, where he held top security clearances and gained expertise in antiterrorism and protective services. He participated in U.S. military special operations, amphibious, law enforcement and lifesaving campaigns throughout the Middle East, Latin America, Europe and Africa. A nuclear tactical security officer (under the U.S. Department of Energy), he protected radioactive fuels, nuclear facilities and sensitive structures from the threat of terrorism and sabotage. He also conducted government-level risk assessments. During tenure as a federal law enforcement training officer with the U.S. Department of Defense, he was tasked with conducting penetration tests and leading “Red Team” exercises against military installations to analyze existing protection and security measures. While in this capacity, he also wrote the training curriculum for police and maritime security personnel for a new patrol boat concept for the U.S. Dept of Homeland Security. Philip was the Vice President of Loss Control/Loss Prevention for the combined Aimbridge Hospitality/Interstate Hotels portfolios. He was responsible for leading all global enterprise security management, safety and loss/fraud prevention services to protect 90,000+ employees, company operations, guests and assets for over 1800+ hospitality locations in 23+ countries.

Dr. Roderick Davies is the founder of Optum Dental Arts and a leading expert in dental implants, full-arch reconstruction, digital workflows, and patient anxiety solutions. He is known for advancing comfort-centered, technology-driven dentistry through his Lifetime Care Philosophy.

I am an MD-PhD physician-scientist with a passion for translating complex clinical and scientific data into clear, accurate content. My training and experience span clinical practice and translational research, with expertise across oncology, immunology, gastroenterology, inflammation & metabolism, and rare diseases. With over 10 years of experience, I have supported key deliverables including more than 30 peer-reviewed publications, manuscripts, slide decks, literature reviews, and scientific narratives. I enjoy working in collaborative, deadline-driven environments and am particularly interested in medical writing, medical information, and publication development, where scientific accuracy and effective storytelling intersect.

Dr. James Lyons, M.D., is an internationally trained physician that was born in Germany. He is the son of a teacher and army veteran and was raised in Texas, but traveled extensively during his medical training. From medical rotations in French Hospital Systems, to his training in Miami at Ryder Trauma medical center and psychiatric training at TGK Prison, his depth of knowledge for those in acute crises is vast. In addition to his doctorate in medicine, Dr. Lyons also holds a Masters of Medical Sciences and coordinated research trials for schizophrenia pharmaceutical treatments in Dallas, TX. He completed his residency in Rural Michigan as a Family Medicine Physician, where he made home visits, and was rigorously trained in all aspects of medical care from delivering and caring for newborns, to end of life care. In his final year of training, he was named chief resident of this program. After 3 additional years practicing in rural east texas as a hospitalist in the acute setting, he, his wife, and their 4 children now reside back in Texas where he was raised, where his parents are retired, and where his sister works as a registered nurse in hospital leadership. Dr. Lyons continues to practice medicine in the acute setting as a hospitalist and emergency room physician in the greater Austin area. Aside from direct patient care, Dr. Lyons provides medical expertise and consulting while also being actively involved in performance improvement, infection control, and medical executive committees in the hospitals where he practices.

📌 Key Areas: Secure Software Engineering | Zero-Trust Security | Cloud & DevOps Security | AI for Cyber Defense | Research & Innovation | Cybersecurity Advocacy I am an award-winning Cybersecurity Professional and Software Engineer with about 10 years of experience building secure, resilient, and scalable systems that safeguard enterprises and critical infrastructures worldwide. At Microsoft, I have spearheaded high-impact security engineering initiatives across Azure, DevOps, and enterprise security driving innovations in zero-trust frameworks, system observability, automation, and AI-integrated security solutions. My contributions have fortified services relied upon by global customers while elevating industry standards in reliability, compliance, and risk management. Beyond corporate impact, I am deeply committed to advancing the cybersecurity community. As an advisor, trainer, and researcher, I actively contribute to academic publications, global workshops, and non-profit initiatives with multiple global organizations like CyberNGO, Mentors Without Borders, TCET, CHARUSAT, PARUL, MSU, Live2Serve and Many More, promoting cybersecurity awareness and training future leaders. Recognized with honors such as the Global Recognition Award 2025 and multiple CISO50 Innovation & Excellence Awards, my mission is to bridge research, engineering, and leadership to shape the future of digital trust and resilience.

Dr. Ayesha Bryant, M.S.P.H, M.D. is a physician, clinical scientist, and associate professor dedicated to translating complex medical research into practical health solutions. With more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and multiple textbook chapters, Dr. Bryant is recognized for her contributions to perioperative outcomes research, preventive medicine, and quality-of-life improvement. She currently serves as a clinical advisor at Alpas Wellness, a drug, alcohol & mental health treatment center in Maryland. She completed her medical training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine and Emory University, with additional training in epidemiology and public health. Her research has been featured at major national and international conferences, including the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Bryant’s expertise spans functional medicine, AI-driven healthcare algorithms, and national clinical data registry research. She is passionate about combining evidence-based medicine with real-world wellness strategies to improve patient outcomes and preventive care. In addition to her academic work, she has written for Rupa Health, where she shares insights on how readers can live healthier, more vibrant lives.

I’m a security consultant and the founder of North Star Group, where I help individuals, organizations, and communities strengthen their overall safety and preparedness. With over 20 years of experience across military and private-sector security, my work focuses on physical security assessments, threat and vulnerability analysis, CPTED principles, workplace violence prevention, and expert witness consulting. I’ve supported clients across a wide range of sectors—including education, government, business, healthcare, critical infrastructure, and houses of worship—by providing practical, real-world guidance rooted in proactive risk management. Whether it’s improving day-to-day security, planning for emergencies, or helping legal teams understand foreseeability and duty of care, I bring a layered and strategic approach to every situation. If you're looking for expert insight on how to build safer environments and reduce risk, I'm always open to contributing. *If any portion of my response is used, I’d appreciate attribution as follows: Daniel Loo, CPP®, PSS, SRMP — Principal Consultant at North Star Group, a Houston-based security and risk management firm.

Dr. Kyle Hoedebecke, MD, MBA, MPA, MS, FAAFP, CPE, is a West Point graduate, certified physician executive, and global healthcare leader with over two decades of leadership experience across more than 120 countries. In addition to his medical degree, he holds four master’s degrees and two professional fellowships. During his distinguished career in the U.S. Army, Dr. Hoedebecke was selected by the Surgeon General as the U.S. Army Physician of the Year in 2017. Following his military service, he became the first Utilization Management Medical Director at Oscar Health, where he built and led a dynamic team that helped guide the company’s successful public offering in 2021. Today, Dr. Hoedebecke serves as the Managing Partner of 1836 Ventures, investing in innovative healthcare technologies that improve clinical outcomes, enhance patient satisfaction, and reduce costs. He is also a Clinical Advisor at Alpas Virginia (NOVA), where he supports the integration of evidence-based medical care and advanced treatment models to optimize patient recovery and well-being.

*Board-Certified Family Medicine Physician (ABFM) with 14+ years clinical experience (based in Chicago, IL) *Named Castle Connolly Top Doctor (2024, 2025) *Medical Media Commentator seen on/in ABC 7, Fox 32, CBS 2, WGN 9, The Chicago Tribune , Chicago Sun Times, and Everyday Health; including a nationwide 25 interview satellite media tour (TV & radio, November 2025) *Premedical Student Mentor, Urban Bridges Medical Mentoring Program Dr. Rene is a board-certified Family Medicine physician and Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians (FAAFP) with 14+ years of clinical experience. She provides comprehensive primary care for Medicare-eligible patients at Oak Street Health's Avalon Park location in Chicago, specializing in chronic disease management, preventive care, healthcare equity, and access for underserved communities. After overcoming 50 medical school rejections, Dr. Rene graduated from Indiana University School of Medicine and completed residency training at Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago. She developed the L.Y.M.I.T.S. Method—a framework for transforming limitations into your greatest strengths. She mentors aspiring physicians through the Urban Bridges Medical Mentoring Program. Dr. Rene has appeared as a medical expert on ABC 7, Fox 32, CBS 2, and WGN 9 Chicago and recently completed a 25-interview national satellite media tour. She is available for expert commentary on resilience in healthcare, medical education equity, resilience and overcoming failure, healthcare access for underserved populations, and diversity in medicine.

Brian is the Chief AI Officer at Health-Vision.AI, LLC, where he leads responsible AI implementation and develops ethical AI, security, and governance frameworks for healthcare and life sciences organizations in the US and EU. He is also the founder of Envision-Health.AI and creator of HealthRoundsAI, a platform that helps future clinicians use AI ethically and communicate more effectively with patients. With decades of public- and private-sector experience in health tech, AI strategy, data governance, and digital innovation, Brian is a recognized thought leader on AI ethics, AI governance, and the societal impacts of AI in healthcare. He also serves as an adjunct instructor in social sciences and AI ethics and has published in JMIR, Public Health Reports, and the Journal of Community Health.

Medical Education, Interventional Pain Medicine, and Regional Anesthesia.

Experienced Commercial Real Estate professional with a demonstrated history in property management and acquisition/dispositions. Investment owner.Program Director & Founder of Buffalo Car Seat Club, Inc. a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect local caregivers with car seat safety resources, explain proper car seat installation, and encourage best practices for car seat safety.

Dr. Robert W. Buckingham, Dr.P.H., is Professor Emeritus of Public Health at the University of Michigan and a pioneer of the U.S. hospice movement. In 1974, he helped establish the first hospice in the United States and has since assisted in developing more than 80 hospice and long-term care programs worldwide. He is the author of 12 books and numerous peer-reviewed papers, including five on COVID-19. Dr. Buckingham also serves on the ASPHER–WHO COVID-19 Task Force, advising on pandemic response and preparedness. His career spans five decades at the intersection of hospice care, longevity, global health leadership, and end-of-life studies, making him a sought-after voice on aging, grief, and public health innovation.

I'm a board-certified physician in both Emergency Medicine and Obesity Medicine, and founder of Highland Longevity, a concierge longevity clinic in Fort Worth, Texas. My perspective on metabolic health is shaped by both clinical expertise and personal experience. I lost 87 pounds using GLP-1 medications—but made the common mistake of losing significant muscle in the process. That experience drove me to redesign my entire approach: I subsequently lost an additional 17 pounds of pure fat while preserving lean tissue. This journey transformed how I practice medicine and gave me firsthand insight into the challenges my patients face. With over 6,000 clinical hours in emergency medicine, I've seen the downstream consequences of metabolic disease—and became convinced that the real opportunity lies in prevention and optimization, not just acute intervention. I founded Highland Longevity to bridge the gap between reactive sick care and proactive health optimization. My practice focuses on medical weight loss, hormone optimization, and advanced diagnostics including DEXA body composition analysis and VO2 max testing. I emphasize evidence-based, physician-guided protocols using only FDA-approved medications or properly compounded pharmaceuticals. I speak and write about the science of sustainable weight loss, muscle preservation during caloric deficit, GLP-1 medications, hormone optimization, and the metabolic adaptations that make weight management so challenging for most people. Expertise: Obesity Medicine, GLP-1 Therapy, Metabolic Health, Longevity Medicine, Hormone Optimization, Body Composition