Kimberly Harris is the Director of Community Health and Social Impact at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), one of the country’s largest not-for-profit healthcare organizations. In her role, Kimberly leads philanthropic giving and initiatives driving equitable community engagement strategies throughout Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia.

Kimberly is a dedicated public health professional with over 18 years of experience in nonprofit and government healthcare settings. She leads transformational initiatives in social impact, corporate responsibility, organizational development, health systems innovation, population health, training and education. Kimberly leverages her rich background as a trained counseling psychologist, public health professional, ICF-certified coach and equity and diversity champion to challenge the status quo, shift the culture, and influence policy change for our most vulnerable populations.

Prior to joining CareFirst, Kimberly served as the Manager of Government & External Affairs at Children’s National Medical Center where she worked with strategic partners on various programs to benefit children’s health. She then worked at the DC Department of Health, where she served as Director of the DC Primary Care office and oversaw the Dental Program, State Loan Repayment Program, Health Professional Shortage Area designations, primary care needs assessments and more. Here, she learned the power of meaningful community engagement in primary care and public health while addressing healthcare access, workforce shortages and equity.

Kimberly is a published author, having made individual and collaborative contributions to scholarly publications and presentations delivered to national audiences on topics such as strategic partnerships, advocacy, evidence-based programs, and research outcomes. She co-developed curricula and provided training on Service Excellence, implicit bias, cultural competency and other diversity, equity and inclusion topics for enterprise-wide implementation.

Kimberly is a dedicated social advocate with community work at the center of her professional and personal life. In addition to working alongside nonprofits daily, Harris serves on various boards to lend her expertise to their programming and administrative work. For nearly a decade, Kimberly has served as a board member for Bethany Christian Services, a global nonprofit organization specializing in strengthening families, providing counseling services for children and adults, and supporting immigrant/refugee resettlement. Kimberly also serves as a Board member to the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s Partnership to End Homelessness Leadership Council and serves on the Board of Philanthropy DMV. Kimberly serves as a Health Equity Committee member overseeing the historic Health Equity Fund in Washington D.C. In this role, she partners with other members and the Greater Washington Community Foundation to distribute funds to improve the health outcomes and health equity of residents of the District of Columbia. Kimberly is also a recipient of the Washington Business Journal’s 2024 Diversity in Business Award.

Kimberly received a B.A. in Psychology from Morgan State University and an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Bowie State University.

Silas Grant is a strategist, author, and trusted thought partner committed to helping leaders navigate transition, elevate performance, and align with purpose. He is the founder of Quality People Solutions, a consultancy focused on workforce development, leadership training, and wellness-infused professional growth. With a background in government strategy, nonprofit leadership, and high-impact facilitation, Silas blends tactical insight with emotional intelligence to help professionals think more clearly, lead more authentically, and communicate with power. Silas is the forthcoming author of Showing Up, a book and coaching framework that equips individuals with five transformative principles for personal and professional renewal. He also hosts The Long Spoon, a podcast focused on personal development through literature and life application. Known for his co-creative approach, Silas partners with executive clients, teams, and mission-driven organizations to generate clarity, cultivate resilience, and design actionable strategies that foster long-term success.

Holly O'Byrne, MPA, NP, is transforming blood administration in the pre-hospital arena with her bold advocacy, cutting-edge education, and a steadfast commitment to transparency. With expertise spanning field training, simulation-based education, and program management, Holly combines precision with visionary leadership to deliver impactful solutions. Her ability to build strategic partnerships and her sharp eye for detail have made her a trailblazer in her field, setting new standards for excellence and innovation.

Alexis Webster is a Senior Nursing Director with over a decade of experience in emergency medicine and nursing leadership. After providing direct patient care at the bedside, Alexis quickly advanced in nursing leadership roles. She has developed expertise in change management, adaptive thinking, coaching, and executing strategies for complex situations. Recognized as an intentional leader and mentor, Alexis is committed to fostering growth and development within her teams. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Trinity University and a Master’s degree in Nursing Leadership and Management from Walden University. Alexis has also completed several leadership programs, including the Wharton School of Executive Education Nurse Leader program and the American Organization of Nurse Leaders (AONL) Director Fellowship. She also holds the Certified Nurse Manager Leader certification (CNML) from AONL. Outside of her professional life, Alexis enjoys reading suspense novels, traveling, spending quality time with family, and exploring new restaurants

Jamie Gillespie is an experienced Nurse leader with over 14 years of diverse nursing experience, including Emergency medicine, Emergency Preparedness, Ambulatory care, and Legal Nurse Consulting. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Marymount University. Currently, Jamie is the Clinical Nurse Educator for Emergency and Trauma Services at UM Capital Region Health. She is deeply committed to improving the quality of care in her community and is passionate about guiding the next generation of ER nurses, helping them build confidence and develop the skills needed to thrive in a fast-paced environment. In addition to her clinical role, Jamie is the co-owner of Start Right CPR, a CPR company focused on empowering the community to learn CPR by giving them the tools to respond confidently in emergencies. In her free time, she enjoys running, reading suspense books and making memories with her family.

Justin Ajose, Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C) Specialty: Emergency Medicine and Urgent Care. Captain Paramedic with Washington, DC Fire & EMS is a dedicated healthcare professional currently serving with DC Fire and EMS while pursuing a career as a Physician Assistant. With a passion for helping others, Justin has committed their life to supporting individuals during their most challenging times. From humble beginnings, the desire to provide care and comfort to those in need has been a driving force and an integral part of their personal and professional journey. The path to becoming a Physician Assistant has not been without its trials. Overcoming adversity throughout their adolescent years instilled a strong sense of grit, perseverance, and purpose. These formative experiences have shaped Justin’s perspective on service, emphasizing the importance of continuous self-improvement and maximizing their potential to benefit others. As a first responder, Justin understands the vital role of collaboration between pre-hospital care and the Emergency Room. Their work focuses on increasing awareness of the roles and responsibilities of both first responders and ER staff, aiming to enhance the transfer of care and ensure a seamless, patient-centered experience. By advocating for both their patients and fellow healthcare providers, Justin strives to bridge the gap between emergency services and hospital care, promoting the best possible outcomes for all involved.

James Tate's personal journey to lose and keep off weight resulted in him establishing Beyond W8 Loss Total Wellness Center LLC, a Christ-led Holistic wellness center focused on “Total Fat Loss” (Mental, Spiritual, Emotional, Physical) and improving overall health. He uses his experience as a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Nutrition Therapist, Clinical Weight Loss Practitioner, and Sports & Exercise Nutritional Advisor to help people reach their wellness goals. Tate has also been certified as a health minister through Wesley Seminary and a congregational wellness advocate through Living Compass. Growing up in Washington, D.C., Tate was always a big child, a big teenager and a big adult. Tate’s lowest high school weight was 275 pounds. In 2010, he weighed 415 pounds which forced him to begin his wellness journey. By January 2011, he had shed 200+ pounds naturally, without any surgery, shots, pills or fad diets. Tate founded Wellthy Entertainment, a media company whose aim is to create content that helps children & their families to become Rich in Love, Rich in Health, Rich in Knowledge and most importantly, Rich in Christ. Tate has helped create multiple award-winning children’s books. He has created a program called H.E.A.R.T which stand for Helping Everyone Achieve a Robust Transformation. He is also the creator of the Beyond W8 Loss YouTube channel where he hosts a weekly show called Lettuce Pray. James Tate is a dynamic public speaker and teacher. He helps church leaders across the country create wellness programs for their members and the communities that they serve. Tate is the Director of health & wellness support ministries at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden where John K. Jenkins Sr. is the Pastor. Tate is a devoted husband and father of 3 children.

Jeffrey Uribe MD, FAAEM, FAEMS is a dedicated EM/EMS physician and healthcare educator with a passion for bridging the gap between prehospital and hospital care. With extensive experience in emergency medical services, he brings a unique perspective to interdisciplinary collaboration. Dr. Uribe is committed to fostering communication and teamwork between EMS providers, emergency department staff, physicians and nurses to enhance to patient outcomes and streamline care transitions. He currently works at Washington Hospital Center as EMS liaison and at Montgomery Medical Center as EMS Base Station Medical Director. He is also Medical Director for Caroline County Emergency Services.

Jennifer Poole BSN, RN, CEN is the Assistant Nursing Director of the Emergency Department at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, where she oversees daily operations and leads a high-performing team in a busy urban ED. In addition to ensuring exceptional patient care and staff development, Jennifer plays a key role in supporting EMS partners, streamlining ED handoffs and fostering a collaborative, safety-driven environment.

Dr. David A. Vitberg graduated cum laude from Brandeis University in 1997, with AOA honors from SUNY Upstate Medical University in 2001, completed a combined residency in Emergency and Internal Medicine at the University of Maryland Medical System and R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in 2006, and then a fellowship in Critical Care Medicine at the National Institutes of Health in 2008. Vitberg has been involved in Fire and EMS activities nearly continuously for the past thirty years in various roles including EMT, paramedic, firefighter and now as a full-time EMS physician. Triple board certified in Emergency Medicine, EMS and Critical Care Medicine, Vitberg proudly serves as Medical Director for the District of Columbia Fire and EMS Department and is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Georgetown University School of Medicine and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Vitberg understands that high-quality emergency care is a continuum and not a destination, that EMS is healthcare, and the best patient outcomes are achieved when EMS and hospitals collaborate.

Gabe Gan, MPH, NRP, currently serves as EMS Quality Improvement Analyst with DC Fire and EMS, where he structures, executes, and evaluates EMS quality improvement projects and novel clinical programs. His portfolio includes a range of initiatives in stroke and cardiac care, electronic health record transformation, ambulance patient offload efficiency, and mobile integrated health. In addition to his quality improvement work, Gabe continues to practice clinically as a Nationally Registered Paramedic.

Prior to joining DC Fire and EMS, Gabe spent over three years as a consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers Health Industries Advisory. There, he worked with some of the Nation’s largest payers and providers on health simulation and modeling projects, technology implementations, and public health initiatives.

Gabe received his Bachelor of Arts in Human Health from Emory University and earned his Master of Public Health from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.

Kelsey Dawson, BSN, RN, SCRN, CCRN, is the Stroke Program Coordinator at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, a certified Comprehensive Stroke Center. In this role, Kelsey collaborates with physicians, nurses, and interdisciplinary teams to deliver expert clinical nursing care and technical support for neurological and stroke patients. She is an expert clinician who provides leadership for the nursing care and management of stroke patients, develops and provides stroke education, and coordinates community outreach programs for stroke prevention. With over a decade of experience in neurological and critical care nursing, Kelsey earned her BSN from James Madison University. She is also an active member of the DC Stroke Collaborative, which includes all DC hospitals, the American Heart Association, and the DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services.