Fast Track to FACHE: Make Congress Count

This program has been developed and is presented locally by ACHE WFC. The American College of Healthcare Executives has awarded 1 ACHE In-Person Education Credit to this program.

Agenda

5:00 PM to 6:00 PM: Networking and Dinner

6:00 PM to 6:30 PM: FACHE panel

6:30 PM to 7:00 PM: Making Congress Count

7:00 PM to 8:00 PM: Networking

Panel #1: Fast Track to FACHE:

Zac Pruitt, PhD, MHA, FACHE (Moderator)

Professor, College of Public Health | University of South Florida

Zachary Pruitt, PhD, MHA, FACHE is an Associate Professor at the University of South Florida College of Public Health. Dr. Pruitt teaches health services management, quality management, strategic planning, and topics related to the United States healthcare delivery system. Dr. Pruitt co-wrote Healthcare Quality Management: A Case Study Approach, also from Springer Publishing, Inc., and has written a variety of book chapters, including the health care management chapter in Jonas and Kovner’s Health Care Delivery in the United States. His health services research scholarship relates to the integration of medical and social care services. Dr. Pruitt is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and of the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education. He serves on the Board of Directors for Association of University Programs in Health Administration. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and his Master of Health Administration and doctorate in Health Services Research from the University of South Florida.

Karen Valaitis, MBA, Ed. D.

Clinical Assistant Professor, Health Science and Administration | University of West Florida

Karen Valaitis is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of West Florida (UWF), teaching in both the undergraduate and graduate level programs in healthcare administration. She teaches courses such as Understanding U.S. Health Care, Health Care Administration, Medical Terminology, Strategic Planning in Healthcare, Quality Improvement in Healthcare, Healthcare Delivery Systems, and the MHA Capstone. Dr. Valaitis gained healthcare management and practice experience at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, where she worked for 20 years. At the Cleveland Clinic, she worked as the administrator for cardiovascular research, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, and neurology. Later, she became the commercialization officer for neurosurgery and neurology, overseeing the department’s intellectual property portfolio. Before coming to UWF, she also worked in healthcare administration at the Ohio State University Medical Center and in executive search for health care programs in higher education. Dr. Valaitis earned a bachelor’s degree in science (BS) from The Ohio State University, a master's in business administration (MBA) from Cleveland State University, and a doctorate degree in education (Ed.D.) from the University of West Florida.

Vic Weeden, DHA, FACHE

Assistant Professor, Master of Health Administration Program Director | University of South Florida

Dr. Victor Weeden is an Assistant Professor and the Director of the Master of Health Administration Program at the University of South Florida. He served on the ACHE Western Florida Chapter Board as a Director-at-Large from 2020-2022, President from 2023-2025, and is currently the Immediate-Past President. Dr. Weeden has been an active ACHE member since 2002 and board-certified since 2005. He has previously served on the ACHE Europe and United States Air Force Regent Advisory Councils. Dr. Weeden is a passionate educator and career healthcare administrator who joined the USF College of Public Health in 2021. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Organizational Behavior, Human Resources Management, Health Care Leadership, and the Advanced Seminar in Health Care Management. He received his Doctor of Health Administration from Central Michigan University. Prior to academics, Dr. Weeden served 37 years in the United States Air Force, including 23 years in numerous healthcare administration and leadership roles. He retired from active military service in August 2021 at MacDill AFB, where he served as the Deputy Director and Administrator of the 6 th Medical Group. Dr. Weeden is purpose-driven; he is living his dream of teaching, advising, and mentoring future healthcare leaders. Dr. Weeden is very excited to continue serving on the ACHE Western Florida Board to promote our healthcare profession and advance leadership excellence. His research interests include the examination of global healthcare systems, healthcare leadership development, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on organizational behavior and performance outcomes.

Lana Palmquist, MS Ed., RN, BSN, CPHQ, FACHE

Director Clinical Integration and Transformation | BayCare Health System

Lana Palmquist, MS Ed., RN, BSN, CPHQ, FACHE, is the Director of Clinical Integration & Transformation for BayCare Health System. She helps lead inpatient-focused initiatives, co-chairs the clinical pathways committee, and is a key leader for the care transformation work, helping to reduce care variation and utilization. Lana is also the current President of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) – Western Florida Chapter (WFC). Before joining BayCare, Lana spent ten years at Saint Luke’s Health System – Kansas City as a Clinical Project Manager, leading multidisciplinary teams focused on the design and implementation of programs and initiatives to ensure patient safety, reduce risk, and improve regulatory compliance. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and Nursing from Kansas State University and Avila University, respectively,and a Master of Education from the University of Kansas. She is a Certified Professional Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) and a recent Fellow of ACHE.

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Panel #2: Make Congress Count

Carrie Harrill-Smith (Moderator), MPH, MSW

Regional Director Clinical Services | Healthmap Solutions

Carrie Harrill-Smith, MPH, MSW, is a Regional Director of Clinical Services with Healthmap Solutions, a value-based care company focused on managing kidney disease. She leads a team of provider and patient-facing nurses to slow CKD progression and lower the cost of care for patients through care navigation services and provider performance on key clinical and utilization metrics. Before Healthmap Solutions, Carrie was the Clinical Quality and Population Health Manager for Baycare Medical Group, a large multi-specialty provider group in the Tampa Bay area. In this role, she led centralized initiatives to improve quality metrics and oversaw the provider performance incentive program for over 400 physicians across 20 specialties. Carrie has also served on the Western Florida American College of Healthcare Executives Program Committee for the past two years. She earned a Master's in Public Health and a Master's in Social Work from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and her Bachelor's of Science Degree in Sociology from Florida State University. She is also a Returned Peace Volunteer, having served in Madagascar as an English Teacher.

Isabella Crain

College Intern, Care Transformation & Clinical Institutes | BayCare Health System

Isabella Crain is a second-year Master of Health Administration student at the University of South Florida, where she also completed her Bachelor’s degree in Public Health. She has been the Clinical Institutes & Care Transformation intern with BayCare Health System since August 2025, supporting process improvement and strategic planning initiatives. Outside of her academic and internship schedules, Isabella is a teaching assistant for two undergraduate classes at USF and is provisionally certified in Public Health. 2026 was her first time attending ACHE Congress, where she served as a Program Assistant.

Steve Marciano, MSHA, BSPH, LPH

Manager Business Operations | BayCare Health System

Steve Marciano is a nursing professional with a strong background in healthcare operations, business, and academia. He recently celebrated 14 years with BayCare Health System and currently serves as Manager of Business Operations for Bartow Regional Medical Center, South Florida Baptist Hospital, Winter Haven Hospital, and Winter Haven Women's Hospital. Steve has also been recognized for academic excellence and currently serves as adjunct faculty for Excelsior University's School of Nursing and Health Sciences. A dedicated member of ACHE and the West Florida Chapter, Steve was appointed Director at Large in 2026. His passion for public health and community impact is reflected through board service, leadership development programs, and ongoing volunteerism.

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Samuel Ali, MHA

Administrative Fellow | BayCare Health System

As a lifelong learner, Sam Ali has prioritized the advancement of healthcare by fostering collaboration and creativity, driven by the foundation of empathy. Sam started in healthcare as a direct care provider, driving to become a physician. Through experiences as a health care provider during COVID and critical mentorship, he recognized both the needs of his community and his strengths in empathetic leadership. Sam transitioned to healthcare leadership, learning, and arriving in his current position as the Administrative Fellow of BayCare Health System. As the Administrative Fellow, he has improved care for patients across the West Central Florida region through community leadership in organizations such as ACHE, NAHSE, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Take Stock in Children, and work in Community Benefit, Government Relations, Communications, Graduate Medical Education, Operations, Strategy, and more.

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Please contact Karen Valaitis, [email protected], with any questions, or request for special accommodation at least 7 days prior to the program.

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