MediSked Advisor Council
MediSked is grateful to have an Advisor Council of talented professionals who are steeped in the industry to provide strategic guidance, recommendations, and direction for the company. Within the Advisor Council are two subcommittees – the Provider and Individual Subcommittee and the Government and Care Coordination/Payer Subcommittee, which each focus on the unique aspects of our industry.
Government and Care Coordination/Payer Subcommittee Members
Cindy Gruman
Lewin Group
Cindy Gruman, PhD, joined the Lewin Group in 2008. Since 1989, the overarching objective underlying all of her professional efforts has been to improve the health and human service delivery systems through research and education. Trained in both qualitative and quantitative methods, Gruman has experience conducting and overseeing literature reviews, gap analyses, policy reviews, formative and summative program evaluations, focus groups, key informant interviews, and employing innovative methods of knowledge sharing and information dissemination. Target population groups for her work include: direct service workers and providers, Medicare-Medicaid enrollees, program administrators, policy makers, persons with disabilities, survivors of domestic violence, Veterans, caregivers, and many others. Gruman has managed projects or collaborated on projects for the Administration for Children and Families, Veteran’s Administration, Administration for Community Living, the Health Resources and Services Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. Findings from her research have been consistently published in peer reviewed scientific literature, presented at national meetings, and disseminated to federal and state policymakers. In addition, she has co-written many detailed legislative, public policy, and health policy reports.
Diane McComb
Qlarant
Diane McComb works with Qlarant providing technical expertise on disabilities, self-direction, individual budgets, community waiver programs, person centered practices, and managed care. Prior to her current work she served as ANCOR’s Liaison to State Associations, as the Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Disabilities and the CEO of Maryland’s state association of community programs. She also directed a community agency supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Her career gives her the unique perspective of a private community agency, the CEO of a statewide provider advocacy organization, and as a cabinet level governmental official. She brings her extensive knowledge of the disability community, her demonstrated track record of innovative problem solving, and lifelong commitment to creating improved capacity in systems empowering individuals with disabilities to achieve their personal and professional goals in communities where they live. She holds an MSEd from the Johns Hopkins University in Severe and Profound Disabilities and has a long history working as an advocate for people with disabilities and nonprofit management.
Jean Tuller
Nationally Recognized Consultant
Jean E. Tuller is a nationally recognized consultant in the area of systems transformation through state Medicaid reform, specifically related to the goals of state developmental disabilities agencies. She has provided consultation to jurisdictions as diverse as Alaska, Louisiana, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Virginia and Washington DC. Her areas of expertise include strategic planning, organizational change and Medicaid waiver development. Formerly, she was the Executive Director of the Oregon Technical Assistance Corporation, a consulting group specializing in technical assistance to improve service system delivery to persons with developmental disabilities. Ms. Tuller was the Special Programs Director for the National Program Office on Self- Determination at the University of New Hampshire. She was based at the Center for Medicaid and State Operations at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). At CMS, her policy analysis responsibilities included self-determination and Medicaid implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, especially as it has been interpreted in the Olmstead v. L.C. Supreme Court decision. In that capacity, she was on the leadership team for the development of the Independence Plus waiver template. Ms. Tuller also served as Project Director for the Maryland Self-Determination Initiative, a broad-based systems change effort, as well as a senior policy analyst for the Commonwealth of in Massachusetts. Ms. Tuller holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Massachusetts. Her advanced academic training includes Senior Executive Management Programs at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University as well as Harvard Business School.
Provider and Individual Subcommittee Members
Kathy Brown
Tarrytown Expocare Pharmacy
Kathy, BA RN CDDN has worked in the field of developmental disabilities for 36 years. She currently serves as the Director of Development for Tarrytown Expocare Pharmacy. She is the past president of the Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association and presents at national conferences across the country. Kathy helped start the Northern Illinois DDNA Chapter and continues to serve as its president. She helped craft legislation for medication delegation in Illinois and has trained hundreds of nurses on the topic. She is passionate about promoting certification in the specialty of IDD nursing.
Donna Catalano
Eastlake Solutions
Donna has worked in this field for over 30 years. She most recently founded Eastlake Solutions, a company that provides consulting and training to nonprofit organizations in the areas of project management, organizational development, and change management. Donna previously served as the Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer at Search, Inc. in Chicago, Illinois. Donna’s strong operations and service delivery experience is supplemented by an extensive working knowledge of state and federal regulations governing community based services for adults with intellectual disabilities. For over 18 years Donna has served as a part-time surveyor for the Commission for the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). This position allows her to travel throughout the United States and Canada to consult on best practices in non-profit management and service design and delivery for individuals with disabilities. Donna, a certified Project Management Professional, received a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Western Michigan University and a Master of Science degree in nonprofit management from DePaul University.
Dr. Tom Pomeranz
Universal LifeStiles
Dr. Tom Pomeranz is a nationally recognized authority, trainer, clinician and consultant in the field of services for people with disabilities. Over the last 55 years, Tom has conducted thousands of seminars and programs throughout the United States and Canada. His audiences praise his ability to combine information, humor, passion and storytelling into an informative whole that does not just present the information, but really communicates it in a memorable fashion. Tom was the keynote speaker at the Fifth International Conference on Developmental Disabilities and Aging in Cyprus. He is the highly acclaimed creator of Universal Enhancement, which teaches strategies promoting community participation and supporting people to have a quality life. Additionally, he is noted for his innovative approach to leadership and management training. Tom has authored numerous articles in various professional publications and The Principles and Practices of Universal Enhancement. Published by High Tide Press, this book details with humor and compassion the autocratic and clinical restraints of supporting people with developmental disabilities and the alternative “Universal Enhancement” way. Tom has also created a seven part staff training DVD series The Principles and Practices of Building Community. Co-produced with Tierra Del Sol it covers seven critical topics that provide staff with best practice tools to enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities. Tom received his Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees in Special Education and a Doctorate in Mental Health Administration from Indiana University, Bloomington IN, followed by post-graduate work from the University of Notre Dame in the area of experimental psychology. He has held a variety of top level administrative posts in community based service organizations and three large state-operated facilities. Tom is a Policy Fellow and Visiting Lecturer for Minot State University – North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities, a University Center of Excellence. Tom is also the President and CEO of Universal LifeStiles with offices located in Indianapolis, IN.
