Healthcare Council

Priyesh Patel is general manager of Alluma, a provider-led, provider-focused alternative to the traditional pharmacy benefit manager, developed in partnership between Vizient and Mayo Clinic.

Patel brings 16 years of pharmacy leadership into this role, which focuses on bringing clinically focused, evidence-based pharmaceutical formulary and medication management to self-insured health care systems. This helps them uncover opportunities that optimize their benefits programs while supporting better health outcomes.

Prior to this role, Patel was vice president, innovation development at Vizient, responsible for identifying and evaluating emerging market opportunities for the company to strategically grow and diversify its overall portfolio. He managed the development of new product life cycles, prototyping and, ultimately, member and market testing.

Patel started his pharmacy career at UF Health Shands Hospital, an academic medical center in Florida, where he worked in a variety of pharmacy administrative leadership positions. In 2007, he moved to Providence Health and Services in the Pacific Northwest, where he focused on pharmacy business development and strategy. As chief pharmacy officer, he led a diverse team responsible for delivery strategies to serve a complex integrated health system and was a key member of the clinical services leadership team.

Patel earned his doctoral degree in pharmacy from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and an MBA from Warrington College, University of Florida. He also holds post-graduate residency certificates from UF Health Shands Hospital in health system pharmacy practice and pharmacy administration, both of which are accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

Rene Suntay is the Chief Financial Officer at Meadville Medical Center, which is a Hospitals & Physicians Clinics company with an estimated 1,587 employees; and founded in 1992. Rene is very focused on financial planning and the impact of catastrophic events such as the pandemic on the healthcare enterprise. Meadville is re-bounding from the pandemic and developing strategies to more effectively engage the stakeholders (i.e. patients, employees, board and community). Rene graduated from Xavier University and is currently based in Meadville, United States.

Cheri Glass, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is vice president of Employee Experience for Baptist Health a full-spectrum health system, which employs more than 23,000 people in Kentucky and surrounding states. Previously, Glass served as vice president of Human Resources for Baptist Health Medical Group, which encompasses the system’s employed providers; Baptist Health Home Care; and Baptist Health Community Care, the system’s value based care arm. Glass has more than 25 years of HR leadership and experience in Louisville, most recently as vice president of Talent Acquisition, Human Resources & Benefits for Signature Healthcare. She also has served as assistant vice president of Employee Benefits for BB&T Insurance Services; as the market practice leader, chief human resources and administrative officer for Fetter Printing Company; and as director of human resources for AAA of Kentucky. Glass holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration/personnel administration and industrial relations from the University of Louisville. She and her husband have been married for 36 years have two children and are currently planning for the marriage of their daughter. Living in Kentucky Cheri and her husband Doug also breed and race thoroughbred horses.

A healthcare executive with progressive military and civilian leadership experience, 12 years at the C-suite level, including COO Cleveland Clinic Lutheran Hospital and now as COO Fisher-Titus Health an integrated system with acute care, post acure care, employed physicians group and EMS ambulance company. Matt is able to adapt in ambiguous and shifting strategic environments, and achieve goals with constrained resources. Passionate about helping people and creating an environment where caregivers thrive to provide the highest quality care to patients. Quality and safety are the highest priorities. Understand, apply, and teach the business of healthcare, working to improve efficiency and effectiveness through a shared understanding of organization goals, objectives, and interconnectivity. A proven track record of resolving complex issues and achieving results that exceed expectations through effective physician relations, business acumen, training, teaching, and team building.

Nicole leads the human resources business partners (HRBP) team for the Spectrum Health system. The HRBP team serves as strategic, data driven problem solvers, influential disruptors of status quo and are trusted coaches to business leaders. The HRBP team maintains an independent voice and leverages their unique position in the organization to proactively drive and contribute to key business initiatives. The team provides expertise in change management, organizational development, team member experience, learning and development to the teams and leaders they support across the system. She has led organizational development, talent acquisition, employee relations, employee engagement, career development, reward and recognition, orientation and on boarding, benefits, corporate learning, leadership development, change management, culture and inclusion & diversity at Spectrum and previously with priority health. Nicole has an MBA from Grand Valley State University.

As Chief People Officer at Novant Health, Carmen has progressive experience in all aspects of human resources and talent management, including 15 years at the executive leadership level. She is a results-oriented visionary who focuses on organizational impact, maximizing talent, and building a resilient workforce.

Carmen's experience includes leadership roles in the healthcare, higher education, consumer goods, banking, and professional services industries. Prior to joining Novant Health, Canales served as the Chief Human Resources Officer at Wake Forest University, and as the Chief Talent Officer at the law firm now known as Womble Bond Dickinson, a role in which she held firm-wide responsibility for people and culture. Prior to her work at Womble, Canales held positions in Human Resources at Wachovia (now Wells Fargo) and Pepsi-Cola.

Carmen is bilingual in English and Spanish. She is an Al Día 2021 Woman of Merit. She has a Master of Labor and Industrial Relations degree from Michigan State University.