Join us for the Thought Leaders 2025 Conference, a two-day virtual event, as we explore innovative strategies, emerging technologies, and advocacy efforts that are shaping the future of healthcare. The theme for this year is Empowering Health: Approaches for a Changing World.
Register below to attend and earn up to 7.5 contact hours, 3.75 contact hours for each day. You won’t want to miss our two keynote speakers for this year!
Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email.
Southern New Hampshire University Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
SNHU Continuing Education is a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.
If you have any questions, please contact continuingeducation@snhu.edu.
Learning Objectives
- Explore the role of emerging technologies in transforming holistic care across health professions.
- Examine innovative strategies to overcome barriers for rural and underserved populations that are compassionate, inclusive, and accessible.
- Evaluate methods to advocate for health policies and practices that promote health equity.
Speakers
Dr. Joseph Cafazzo
Dr. Joseph Cafazzo is a biomedical engineer who has spent his entire career in a hospital and healthcare setting. By observing healthcare delivery from the inside, he works on ways to keep people out of hospital by creating technologies that allow for self-care at home. At the same time, Joe and his team are the biggest critics of poorly designed health technologies and their ineffectiveness. He surrounds himself with whip-smart, passionate engineers and designers who are creating technologies that are spirited, modern and people-focused.
Dr. Julielynn Wong
Julielynn Wong is a Harvard-educated physician-scientist, innovator, and educator whose life’s mission is to take technology to the extreme to benefit the world. She is internationally recognized as a 3D printing, drone, robotics, telemedicine and digital health pioneer who uses cutting-edge technology to deliver healthcare solutions across diverse environments, from outer space to remote communities with limited access to resources. She was the first to 3D print medical supplies on the International Space Station and she designed a solar-powered ultra-portable 3D printing system that can make medical supplies in off-grid communities.
Christina Badaracco, MPH, RDN, LDN
Christina Badaracco, MPH, RDN, LDN, works as a healthcare consultant, author, and thought leader, focusing on advancing the role of nutrition in healthcare. She applies her expertise in healthcare and public health research, policy, and practice to support leading healthcare institutions, life science companies, healthcare professional associations, and other entities across the world to improve care delivery and health outcomes. She also regularly writes, teaches, and develops trainings and programs about nutrition, culinary medicine, and sustainable agriculture—including directing award-winning and innovative culinary medicine trainings for various healthcare professional associations, publishing 5 cookbooks for the Transamerica Institute, coauthoring The Farm Bill: A Citizen’s Guide and a forthcoming culinary medicine cookbook, and co-developing a culinary medicine course at the Georgetown University School of Medicine and lifestyle medicine shared medical appointment series for MedStar Shah in the DC metro area. Christina previously worked for Avalere, a healthcare advisory firm, where her projects covered diverse topics and strategies including a mixed-methods study analyzing cancer disparities, nation-wide quality improvement initiatives focused on diabetes and malnutrition, and healthcare integration strategies for food is medicine and physical activity interventions. Other previous employers included the US Environmental Protection Agency, Teaching Kitchen Collaborative, Oakland Unified School District, UC Berkeley, and the NIH Clinical Center. Christina serves as president of the DC Metro Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, board member of Slow Food DC and member of Slow Food’s Food and Farm Policy Team, member of the Academy CEO Advisory Council, and founder of the Teaching Kitchen Collaborative's nutrition working group. Christina was selected as a 2024 Rising Leader, 2023 Emerging Dietetic Leader, and 2021 Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Christina Wolf
As the Executive Director of Population Health and Care Continuum at Lawrence General Hospital and Holy Family Hospital, now one safety-net health system serving the Merrimack Valley of MA. I lead a diverse team of skilled healthcare professionals to deliver high-quality, patient-centered, and cost-effective care. With over 10 years of experience in healthcare leadership and change management, I have successfully designed and implemented strategic plans and initiatives across various areas and functions, including population health management, care delivery redesign, quality and systems improvement, integrated care, behavioral health services, health equity, community engagement and benefits programming.
My mission is to leverage my skills and expertise as a Registered Nurse and Clinical Nurse Leader to improve the health outcomes and well-being of the population I serve, while reducing health disparities and enhancing the value proposition of our health system. I am proficient in Spanish and have experience working and living in multicultural settings. I am a collaborative, trusted, and innovative leader with excellent relationship-building, communication, and interpersonal skills. I am also passionate about learning and staying updated on the latest trends and best practices in healthcare. I am BLS certified and hold a Master's degree in Nursing from the University of New Hampshire.
Lakin L. Clements, MPH
Lakin L. Clements, MPH, is a dedicated public health professional with over a decade of experience in program management, stakeholder engagement, and community health initiatives. She currently serves as a Program Implementation Specialist at the CDC Foundation, where she leads efforts to enhance public health programs through strategic planning and collaboration.
Lakin’s career began in rural Appalachia, where she worked to reduce obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. As the project manager for a CDC Community Transformation Grant, she successfully implemented initiatives that fostered partnerships with schools, community organizations, and government agencies to promote sustainable health improvements. She also conducted continuous improvement assessments to ensure the impact of the long-term program.
Lakin has led national and community-based programs focused on overdose prevention, harm reduction, and health education throughout her career. She is passionate about leveraging data-driven strategies to enhance public health interventions and improve health equity.
Dr. Dustin McLemore
Dr. Dustin McLemore is a faculty member and subject matter expert in nursing, health professions, and public health. His pedagogical contributions include the development and instruction of courses across interdisciplinary clinical content areas and programs. Dr. McLemore’s focus on the interrelationship between knowledge, motivation, and organizational structures in the adoption of technology within healthcare environments. He earned a doctorate from the University of Southern California, where his dissertation, “Compliance and Regulatory Efficacy and Sustainability in Specialty Academic Medicine: A Longitudinal Evaluation Study,” provided significant insights into how healthcare organizations can leverage accountability and build workforce resilience. His post-graduate training includes specialized work in behavioral health and research methodology.
Prior to his joining Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) in 2018, Dr. McLemore held leadership positions at health systems, academic medical institutions, and a health plan. He began his career as a public health clinical specialist with the City of Austin before moving into research and management roles. Currently, Dr. McLemore is engaged in data-driven organizational change initiatives for Providence, overseeing operations across more than 50 hospitals and nearly 1,500 ambulatory care facilities. His current research interests include the application of artificial intelligence to enhance clinical supply chain readiness, aiming to improve efficiency and maintain high standards of patient care.
Rachael E. DuBose
Rachael E. DuBose was born and raised in the Evanston neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio by her paternal grandparents, who both taught her many of life’s most important lessons through their sacrifice and unconditional love. She received her B.A. from THE Ohio State University in 2006, her M.S.Ed. from the University of Dayton in 2012, and has worked in the mental health field since 2010. Rachael is the owner of Be the Light, a mental health organization that provides counseling, supervision, workshops, and training, including Adult Mental Health First Aid, and also teaches undergraduate Psychology at Southern New Hampshire University. She was featured in the 9th Edition of Who’s Who In Black Cincinnati in 2023, and is involved with various community organizations including Black Women Cultivating Change, Guiding Light Mentoring, Black Mental Wellness, and I.H.U. I Hear U!’s monthly wellness radio show. Rachael enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with her amazing husband, Mike.
Askina Sharif, MSHA
I am Askina Sharif, MSHA, an author and a passionate advocate for addressing social determinants of health through policy reform and systemic change. My work focuses on bridging the gap between policy, healthcare access, and health equity, ensuring that underserved and marginalized communities receive the care and resources they deserve. With a background in healthcare administration, I use data-driven advocacy, coalition-building, and legislative engagement to push for sustainable policy change. My goal is to empower professionals across healthcare, public health, and policy to take actionable steps in creating equitable health systems for all.
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