​The U.S. healthcare system is under pressure—from rising costs and staffing shortages to complex reimbursement rules and regulatory demands. Artificial intelligence is being positioned as a solution, but adoption remains slow, uneven, and often misunderstood.

​This event brings together healthcare executives, technology leaders, and policymakers to explore:

​What past AI efforts got wrong—and what’s changed?

​Where is AI delivering measurable results today?

​How do financial incentives and accounting rules shape adoption?

​What policy and regulatory changes are accelerating (or blocking) progress?

​Why are providers cautious and how to build trust and ROI?

​What is the plan moving forward, Call to Action?

​

​Format:

​Moderated Panel: Incentives, transparency, and regulatory levers

​Networking Session: Connect with peers driving change

​

​Who Should Attend:

​·         Health system and hospital executives

​·         Payer and insurance leaders

​·         Government and policy officials

​·         Health IT and AI innovators

​·         Investors and strategic partners

​

​Moderated by Walter Larkins,Founder, Co-CEO & President, Sapphire Healthcare AI • 25+ years founding and scaling healthcare ventures • Built a med-tech Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery startup acquired by Johnson & Johnson • Founder, of an AR Management Company that used Sapphires technology and processes to recovered over $50 million for hospitals through Evidence Based Big Data and AI-enhanced analytics • U.S. Army Veteran, Captain, patent holder, and policy advisor.

​Featured Panelists

• ​Carolyn Caldwell, FACHE, President & CEO, St. Mary’s Medical Center Long Beach (CommonSpirit Health)

• ​John Bishop, CPA, C-Suite Healthcare Consultant

• ​Robert Plush, Managing Partner, Health Biotech Partners

• ​Barry L. Hankins, Healthcare CFO | Executive Consultant | Financial Strategist

• ​Tom Suhadolnik, CBO & Senior Advisor, White Swan Advisors

• ​Jessica Schumer, MD, MPH, Pediatrician & Assistant Deputy Director, California Department of Public Health

​What to Expect

​·         5:00–6:00 p.m. Moderated panel: Financial incentives, regulation, and risk management

​·         6:00–7:00 p.m. Networking: Connect with peers driving AI adoption in healthcare

​This event will be filmed, so all attendees will need to sign a release.

​For questions or speaker nominations, Contact the LBA Contact Us - Long Beach Accelerator

​Bios:

​Walter Larkins

​Founder, Co-CEO & President, Sapphire Healthcare AI

​Walter Larkins is committed to Curing Healthcare by leveling the playing field between payers, providers, and patients by cutting inefficiencies, removing power imbalances, and improving outcomes.

​He is a serial entrepreneur with over 30 years in healthcare innovation and serves as Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Sapphire Healthcare Ai, a SaaS, evidence-based, AI and big-data analytics company that delivers a platform that performs real time massive bill review and automated appeals, on the fly continuous payer contract compliance audits, negotiation and contract performance and Net Patient optimization. Sapphire has recaptured more than $50 million for an integrated healthcare system using its platform.

​Earlier, Walter founded Endosurgical Development Corp., a minimally invasive heart surgery company acquired by Johnson & Johnson, and held leadership roles at Ethicon Endo-Surgery during its rapid growth. A former U.S. Army Captain, he attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and graduated from UCLA.

​He also active in the community having served as Chair of the Long Beach Economic Development Commission for the City of Long Beach, and currently sits on the CSULB Research Foundation board, and helps others pursue their own entrepreneurial journey is a Board member for the CSULB Institute of Innovation and entrepreneurship (IIE) is a board member of the Long Beach Accelerator.He is also founder of his own non-profit E=O2 Education Equals Opportunity Too that offers life skills training nd communication tools that helps "creating defining moments for success".

​John Bishop, CPA

​C-Suite Healthcare Consultant

​Past CEO of MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital

​John Bishop is a seasoned healthcare executive with more than 30 years of leadership experience in hospital finance and operations. Over his two decades with MemorialCare, he served as Chief Financial Officer before being appointed CEO in 2015, leading both Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital — two of Southern California’s most prominent medical institutions.

​Under his leadership, the hospitals advanced clinical excellence, strengthened quality performance metrics, and deepened their community outreach, while transitioning from a fee‑for‑service model to population health management. Bishop championed initiatives to improve patient safety, expand specialized care services, and foster partnerships that addressed social determinants of health.

​Today, he continues to share his expertise as a consultant, advising hospitals and health systems on financial stewardship, operational improvement, and long‑term strategic planning

​Carolyn Caldwell, FACHE

​President & Chief Executive Officer Dignity Health St. Mary Medical Center – CommonSpirit Health

​Carolyn has over 30 years experience in multiple healthcare environments. She currently oversees all hospital operations for St Mary Medical Center, driving strategic growth and championing patient-centered care. Carolyn’s leadership focuses on expanding clinical services, fostering community partnerships, and advancing health equity in the Long Beach region.

​Known for her equity‑driven leadership, Caldwell has championed initiatives that improve access to care, foster community partnerships, and strengthen the hospital’s role as a trusted anchor institution. She guided St. Mary through the COVID‑19 pandemic with resilience and transparency, balancing safety, operational demands, and community engagement.

​Previously, Caldwell served as CEO of Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, where she oversaw the region’s only Level II trauma center and NICU, and spearheaded public health efforts such as Get Tested Coachella Valley. Her career spans multiple executive roles in nonprofit and for‑profit hospitals, each marked by a commitment to quality, fiscal stewardship, and mentorship of emerging leaders.

​A national voice for inclusion in healthcare leadership, Caldwell actively mentors women and underrepresented professionals, encouraging bold, values‑driven career paths. Her leadership blends strategic vision with compassion, consistently aligning operational success with the well‑being of the community she serves.

​Robert Plush

​Managing Partner, Health Biotech Partners

​Robert is a Managing Partner for Health Biotech Partners where he works with start-up to growth stage healthcare companies on their commercialization and sales efforts. Robert has over 20 years of experience commercializing disruptive technologies for digital health and medical device companies including a decade launching several robotic technologies in the orthopedic industry and has consulted with and advised over 100 companies with a focus on business development, sales, marketing and strategy.  Robert is an advisor and mentor for several life science accelerators including the Consortium for Technology & Innovation in Pediatrics (CTIP) at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.  Robert received his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from USC and a Master’s degree in Biotechnology Enterprise and Entrepreneurship from Johns Hopkins University.

​Barry L. Hankins

​Healthcare CFO | Executive Consultant | Financial Strategist

• ​39+ years of executive experience in healthcare finance, hospital operations, and physician organizations

• ​Former CFO and controller for major nonprofit systems and faculty practice groups

• ​Specializes in:

  • ​Revenue Cycle Optimization

  • ​Payer Contracting & Insurance Appeals

  • ​GAAP Compliance & Medicare/Medicaid Reporting

  • ​Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) Systems

• ​Currently consulting with:

  • ​UCLA Health Faculty Practice Group

  • ​Cooper’s Accounting Service (CAS)

• ​Achievements include:

  • ​+32% increase in third-party reimbursement in 6 months

  • ​Led UCLA's integration of clinical and financial systems into a unified analytics platform

• ​Member: HFMA, IMA, CAPC

• ​Brings a CFO’s real-world perspective: Medicare cost-reporting. Regulatory strategy and reserve management and a focus on financial sustainability, regulatory compliance, using data to drive margin improvement in an increasingly complex reimbursement environment.

​Tom Suhadolnik

​CBO | Senior Advisor at White Swan Advisors

• ​25+ years as a tech-driven entrepreneur and capital advisor

• ​Founder of Guild6, a consultancy offering fractional executive services

• ​Past leadership roles with AWS Premier Tier consulting firms (AllCloud, Trek10)

• ​Expert in capital markets, restructuring, investor readiness, and operational transformation

• ​Formal training in engineering and law

• ​Trusted advisor to founders, investors, and tech-enabled businesses

​Tom brings a capital strategist’s lens to the conversation around healthcare transformation.

​Jessica Schumer, MD, MPH

​Pediatrician | Public Health Leader | Assistant Deputy Director, California Department of Public Health

• ​MD, MPH, with 20 years of combined experience in clinical pediatrics, public health policy, and health systems transformation

• ​Assistant Deputy Director, California Department of Public Health

• ​Oversees $200M statewide chronic disease prevention portfolio including oral health, nutrition, and surveillance

• ​Practicing pediatrician at TCC Family Health (FQHC) serving underserved families in Long Beach

• ​Former Deputy Director, Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services – led 500+ staff and advanced workforce innovation, housing solutions, and climate-health initiatives

• ​Co-developer of the nationally recognized Health Equity Investment Framework, awarded as a model practice in public health funding

• ​Vice Chair, Long Beach Economic Development Commission – helped author a 10-year Economic Develpment plan for inclusive city growth

• ​Fellow: UCSF Healthforce Center and California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) Leadership Program

• ​Former Health Advisor to The Primary School (integrated education-healthcare model) and board leader at Capita (social innovation lab for children and families)

• ​Completed pediatric residency at UCSF Pediatric Leadership for the Underserved (PLUS) Program

• ​Dr. Schumer brings a systems change and health equity lens to the conversation—connecting clinical practice, government leadership, and statewide policy to build healthier, more resilient communities.