Watch the full session here. Additional Resources: Florida State Budget Analysis (Florida Policy Institute) Learn more about the Florida Voices for Health Advocacy Collaborative Speaker Bios: Ron Watson Mr. Ron Watson is Founder and President of Watson Strategies, a full-service healthcare lobbying firm based in Tallahassee. He is also a founder of MuV by Verano and was Director of Governmental Relations and NW Florida Outreach Coordinator. MuV is one of the Florida licensed medical marijuana treatment centers with 80 locations (MMTC) which Mr Watson helped form when he spearheaded the passage of the original “Charlotte’s Web / Low-THC Cannabis” bill as well as the passage of SB 8-A, which implements the Constitutional Amendment on medical marijuana. Mr. Watson has over 35 years of experience in Florida political, regulatory, campaign and lobbying endeavors. He previously lobbied for physicians and dentists with the Florida Medical Association (FMA), the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association (FOMA), and the Florida Dental Association (FDA). He was also formerly the Executive Director of the Florida Society of Cannabis Physicians. During this time, he has developed excellent relationships with executive, legislative and regulatory leadership throughout Florida government. Mr. Watson has a comprehensive knowledge of laws, rules, budgets and regulations concerning medical, dental, pharmaceutical, tort reform and insurance issues. He also has extensive political involvement with patient advocacy and grassroots organizations, as well as organizing and managing political action committees. Jonathan Webber Jonathan is the Florida Policy Director for the Southern Poverty Law Center, a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond. The SPLC works in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people. He has worked in Florida’s policy and political landscape since 2009, driven by a deep belief that the people of Florida deserve strong, principled advocates. In his current role, he leads statewide advocacy efforts across a wide range of civil and human rights issues, including voting rights, criminal legal system reform, eradicating poverty, education, and combatting hate and extremism. His expertise and advocacy have been featured in every major news outlet in the state, as well as in national and international publications including The New York Times, The Economist, and The Guardian. Jonathan graduated magna cum laude from Florida Atlantic University with a degree in political science and minors in anthropology and Latin American & Caribbean studies. He later earned his master’s degree in political science from Florida State University. Originally from Fort Lauderdale, he now lives in Tallahassee with his wife, Rachel, and their son, Raymond. Rep. Bruce Antone Former Florida State Representative Bruce Antone served twelve years (six terms) in the Florida Legislature from 2002 to 2006, from 2012 to 2020, and again from 2022, representing parts of Orlando. He was born in Mobile, Alabama. Antone earned a B.S. in electrical engineering from Tuskegee Institute. His career experience includes working as a consultant. Antone has served on the Orange County Planning and Zoning Commission and Orange Blossom Trail Development Board. Additional Resources:

Watch the full session here. Additional Resources: Map: Medicaid Coverage by County, 2023 (Georgetown Center for Children and Families) Learn more about Families USA’s Affordability Policy Agenda State and District-Level Medicaid Data and Research (Families USA) Speaker Bios: Adam Searing Adam Searing is an Associate Professor of the Practice at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy’s Center for Children and Families where he focuses on Medicaid and other health coverage programs. Before joining CCF, Mr. Searing served seventeen years as Director of the Health Access Coalition for the North Carolina Justice Center. The Health Access Coalition is North Carolina’s leading voice for health reforms that address the needs of the uninsured and underinsured. During his tenure, Searing fought to keep health plans and hospitals nonprofit and community-focused, won and helped implement expansions of the state Medicaid program, helped pass a model state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program and worked on passage and implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act. In addition, Mr. Searing taught public policy courses as adjunct faculty at both the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health and the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy. Bailey Reavis Bailey Reavis is the Senior Manager of Government Relations at Families USA, where she leads the organization's work to lower prescription drug costs and expand affordable oral health access. She also assists in legislative and administrative strategy while implementing the organization’s work with federal and state policymakers in Medicare Advantage and private insurance coverage, as well as on all of Families USA’s program areas. She has been active in federal advocacy work for over a decade and prior to joining Families USA, worked at Voices for Progress where she worked with members to advocate on a diverse portfolio of issues, including protecting and expanding the Affordable Care Act. She holds a BA in political science from University of Colorado at Boulder. Karla Martinez Karla Martinez is a Senior Policy Analyst at Community Catalyst. In this role, Karla provides policy expertise and technical assistance on immigrant health policy at the national level and to state partners. Before joining Community Catalyst, Karla was a Senior Policy Analyst at Every Texan where she provided policy expertise on statewide health coverage eligibility policy, health care access, and immigrant access. In that role, Karla led community-centered state campaigns and initiatives. Karla has diverse experience in health including providing direct patient education, as an enrollment assister in the Affordable Care Act, and with food programs and policy. Karla has a bachelor’s degree from Texas State University and a master’s in public health from the University of Texas Health Science Center. In 2023 Karla was one of 14 young leaders around the country invited to join the inaugural class of Rising Leaders for Results fellows with the Annie E. Casey Foundation. In 2024 Karla was the recipient of the Future of Texas Award for ther significant and demonstrable impact that improved the lives of Texans. Karla is a native Texan, daughter of Mexican immigrants, and current Austin resident.

Watch the full session here. Additional Resources: Building Power for Health: The Grassroots Politics of Sustaining and Strengthening Medicaid By Dr. Jamila Michener (Journal of Health Policy, Politics, and Law) Buy “Fragmented Democracy: Medicaid, Federalism, and Unequal Politics” (Amazon) Keynote Bio: Jamila Michener Jamila Michener, PhD is an associate professor of Government and Public Policy at Cornell University. She is inaugural director of the Center for Racial Justice and Equitable Futures and Associate Dean of Public Engagement at the Brooks School of Public Policy. She studies poverty, racism, and public policy, with a particular focus on health and housing. She is author of the award-winning book, Fragmented Democracy: Medicaid, Federalism, and Unequal Politics.

Watch the full session here. Additional Resources: Medicaid Adult Dental Benefit Impact Across Virginia’s Communities Webinar (video) Learn more about the Florida Oral Health Alliance Oral Health Care for Persons With Disabilities (UPenn) Speakers: Dr. Kasra Rafia Kaz has over two decades of experience in the healthcare space, spanning international development, startups, boards, government, non-profit, and academia. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Policy and Advocacy at the University of Pennsylvania and serves the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as the governor-appointed member of the Board of Registration in Dentistry. Prior to this, he served as the Chief Health Equity Officer at CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, leading the largest oral health grantmaking portfolio in the US and national programmatic initiatives advancing equity-centered care delivery and medical-dental integration. Previously, Kaz served as the State Dental Director for Oregon and collaborated with partner state agencies and the Federally Recognized Tribes on dental therapy scope of practice, expansion of Oregon Health Plan dental benefits for veterans and individuals with disability, as well as the inclusion of oral health education in school curriculum. Kaz is a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists, and the Academy of General Dentistry, and a proud alumnus of The Ohio State College of Dentistry, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, and the University of Illinois College of Business. Jolene Cartagenova Rodriguez Jolene is a mother of two medically complex children. She is a Family Advocate Champion with Wolfson Children's Hospital and its affiliated clinics. Jolene serves on multiple advisory boards on the local, state, and, recently, national levels. She partners with state and national organizations with her unique dual perspectives as a professional with lived experience in caregiving and navigating the healthcare system. Ben Barber Ben Barber, Vice President of Policy at Virginia Health Catalyst, champions policies that improve Virginians' health and well-being. He builds long-term policy agendas and leads coalitions that address community health needs, with a focus on ensuring all Virginians have comprehensive health insurance that includes oral health coverage as well as ensuring Virginia has the oral health workforce necessary to meet the needs of all Virginians. Ben has over ten years of experience in the health policy field, successfully working with fellow advocates to expand Medicaid coverage eligibility, allow public health professionals to lead Virginia’s local health districts, and secure funding for community health workers, among other policy wins. He is also an expert in health care policy implementation, with deep knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, Affordable Care Act, and how they work to benefit Virginians.

Watch the full session here. Additional Resources: Learn more about the Rural Health Redesign Center Learn more about WellFlorida and the Rural Health Partnership of North Central Florida Speaker Bios: Dr. Denise Schentrup, APRN, DNP Dr. Denise Schentrup is a clinical associate professor at University of Florida College of Nursing and the clinic director of Archer Family Health Care, a certified rural health clinic. She is responsible for administrative oversight of the College’s Faculty Practice Association and Archer Family Health Care. She supervises the clinical staff and provides oversight of the day to day operations of the practice and leads quality improvement initiatives to improve clinical outcomes. She is a member of the implementation team for the electronic health record and provides leadership in clinical documentation within the electronic health record. She is a practicing family nurse practitioner and preceptor to graduate students. She holds the position of secretary/treasurer on the board of the National Association of Rural Health Clinics. Dr. Charles Hobson MD MHA Phd, FACS FCCM Charles Hobson, MD is board certified in general surgery and in critical care medicine, and since finishing his fellowship his practice has been exclusively critical care. Dr. Hobson completed his MD at the University of Virginia, an MHA at the University of Washington and a PhD in health services research at the University of Florida. He trained in surgery at the University of Virginia and in critical care at the University of Florida. He spent 10 years in the surgical ICU at the Malcolm Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville Fl, and in 2018 began working in the ICUs at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital. In 2020 he was named as the ICU Medical Director and Chief of Critical Care Medicine, and in 2022 he was named Physician of the Year at North Florida Hospital. In 2023 he accepted the position of Chief Medical Officer at HCA Florida Lake City Hospital, a 113 bed hospital that serves rural North Central Florida ane South Georgia. Dr. Hobson’s research interests are in alternative payment methodologies, using clinical and administrative health data to better assess the costs and outcomes of health services. He helped build the joint Brandeis University / American College of Surgeons advanced Alternative Payment Methodology proposal that was approved for development by CMS. Dr. Hobson practiced family medicine in rural Washington State and emergency medicine in rural Virginia, served as medical director for a 2000 inmate maximum-security prison, and established and ran the Emergency Medicine Program for the International Medical Corps in Zenica, Republic of Bosnia and Hercegovina during the war there. He loves cooking with his wife, bodysurfing and snowboarding with his two sons, and loud electric guitars. Steven Davis Steven Davis is a seasoned healthcare executive with over 25 years of experience, the last ten years serving as CEO for two different rural hospitals where he led growth, strategy, improvements in operational excellence and most recently system integration for a ½ Billion-dollar health system in Western PA prior to joining the Rural Health Redesign Center. Steven holds an undergraduate in Health Policy and Administration and an MBA from Penn State University and is a long-time Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. In his current role as Director of Business Development and External Affairs, Steven is leveraging his passion in helping to shape a future for rural communities across the nation by preserving access to care and financial vitality through his experience and unrelenting advocacy. In 2023, Steven climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with a group of health care providers and leaders, pushing himself to discover a new level of resiliency, a resiliency he sees every day as rural health care organizations navigate and increasingly complex and uncertain landscape. Steven and his wife have three children and reside near Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Speaker Bios: Holly Bullard As chief strategy and development officer, Holly spearheads Florida Policy Institute’s fundraising, policy advocacy, coalition building, outreach and communications strategies. She serves, on behalf of FPI, as co-chair for the executive committee for Florida Decides Healthcare, the ballot initiative for Medicaid expansion in Florida. Holly previously served as senior director of Financial Stability Initiatives at United Way Suncoast, overseeing financial stability programs in the Tampa Bay and Sarasota/Manatee areas. She also served at United Way in a policy advocacy capacity. Prior to joining United Way Suncoast, Holly worked as legislative aide to Congressman Rubén Hinojosa, a senior member on the powerful House Financial Services Committee and Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. She served as his lead adviser on financial services and housing issues, with a focus on financial empowerment for low-income Americans. Prior to her work on Capitol Hill, Holly worked at the U.S. Department of Education and at United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona. Holly has a master's in public policy from Georgetown University and a bachelor's degree in political science from Emory University. In 2021, she was named to Emory University's Forty Under 40 list of distinguished alumni. She is proudly a product of Florida public schools. Patrick Haley Patrick Haley was raised in South Florida and attended Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota where he played college football. He spent time volunteering at a cervical and breast cancer clinic in Haiti and working as a clinical researcher in a Multiple Sclerosis clinic in Minneapolis before attending University of Florida College of Medicine. At the College of Medicine, Patrick founded Florida Students for a National Health Program (SNaHP), an organization of medical students, undergrads, and allied health professional students who advocate for Medicare for All. Through his leadership, Florida SNaHP has grown from 5 initial members at 2 medical schools to over 150 members across 7 schools in 3 years. Florida SNaHP has passed county resolutions in support of Medicare for All, has met with 5 legislators across the state to fight the privatization of Medicare under the Trump Administration, and sent students to the Capitol to advocate for the Healthy Florida Act that would transition Florida to a single payer system. Patrick Haley will be graduating from medical school and will be attending NYU Langone Hospital Pediatric Residency in New York City.

Watch the full session here. Additional Resources: Learn more about the Anne Braden Organizer Course Learn more about the Midwestern Academy Organizing Training Speaker Bios: Ali Bloomgarden Ali Bloomgarden is the Senior Manager of Advocacy Engagement at Partners In Health United States (PIH-US). At PIH-US, Ali stewards health justice movement-building efforts and advocates alongside community and public health leaders to advance policies that ensure equitable access to social services and build stronger, more just, and responsive community health systems. Ali works closely with Community Health Workers (CHWs) and CHW networks to develop advocacy strategies that elevate CHW power and demand sustainable financing and professional recognition at both the state and federal levels. At the heart of her work is a deep commitment to ensuring that CHW voices and lived experiences remain front and center in all advocacy efforts. Ali is the co-creator and co-leader of the National CHW Policy Working Group, a collaboration with the National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW). This open space brings together CHWs and allies from across the U.S. to share policy updates and strategize toward collective action. Ali has worked in advocacy and research positions at the intersection of many fights for justice, from educational equity and voting rights, to harm reduction, prevention, and decarceration efforts. Ali holds an MA in Policy, Organization, and Leadership Studies from Stanford University and a B.S. in Applied Psychology from New York University. Taylor Aguilera Taylor Aguilera is the Interim Director of Public Policy at Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, bringing a decade of experience in advocacy and campaign work. She has led organizing teams across the Southeastern U.S., driving voter registration, petition efforts, and get-out-the-vote campaigns for both issue-based and electoral initiatives. Taylor holds a degree from Hillsborough Community College in Political Science and has studied Communications at Florida International University. Most recently, Taylor served as the statewide organizing director for the campaign to qualify and mobilize voters for Florida’s Amendment 4, which sought to limit government interference with abortion. Under her leadership, 6 million voters were mobilized in support of the amendment. Before transitioning to political advocacy, Taylor worked in the criminal justice system, first as a courtroom clerk and then as a paralegal with the Public Defender's Office in Florida’s 10th Judicial Circuit. It was here that her passion for reform and social justice was ignited. Witnessing firsthand the systemic injustices in her community, Taylor decided to shift her focus to organizing, striving to create meaningful change through electing the right leaders and empowering communities to make their voices heard. Outside of her work in public policy, Taylor enjoys spending quality time with her two young sons, making family a top priority.

Watch the full session here. Additional Resources: Presentation Slides: The Power of Legal Advocacy (Disability Rights Florida) Presentation Slides: Public Charities Can Lobby: How Your 501(c)(3) Can Influence Policy for the Greater Good (Alliance for Justice) Speaker Bios: Tim Mooney Tim Mooney, Senior Counsel at Alliance for Justice, has guided nonprofits through the maze of political and tax-exempt law for over two decades. His ability to present legal concepts in an interesting and accessible way is heightened by his passion for making a positive difference for every community. At the heart of his work, Tim empowers organizations to elevate their impact, challenge the status quo, and drive meaningful progress. Caitlyn Gibbon Caitlyn Clibbon is the Director of the Community and Healthcare Services Team at Disability Rights Florida (DRF). Caitlyn leads a team of advocates and attorneys who assist individuals with disabilities in matters related to Medicaid and Medicaid Waivers, denials of medical services and equipment, and issues related to community integration. Caitlyn is an attorney passionate about advocating for the civil rights of all individuals. She was previously a Public Policy Advocate at DRF and, prior to joining DRF, represented individuals in various matters relating to healthcare, education, dependency, delinquency, and criminal justice. Prior to joining the legal profession, Caitlyn was a social worker who advocated for children in the foster care system and survivors of domestic violence. Katie Roders Turner Katie Roders Turner is the Executive Director of the Family Healthcare Foundation, a Tampa Bay nonprofit dedicated to the belief that everyone deserves access to affordable healthcare coverage. Katie is a distinguished expert in health policy, human services programs, public affairs, grants administration, and nonprofit management. Regularly featured on major media outlets, Katie's voice is pivotal in public health discussions. Rooted in civic service, Katie's leadership is shaped by her foundational experiences as a Peace Corps Volunteer, a Global Health intern with USAID, an AmeriCorps Nevada Conservation Corps member, Ryan White Medical Case Manager, and home health care provider for consumers with developmental disabilities; all of these guide her unwavering commitment to healthcare equity. Katie has a Master’s degree in Public Health and a Bachelor’s degree in Women Studies.

Watch the full session here. Speaker Bios: Dr. Joel Rudman Joel Rudman is an American politician and physician who served as a state representative for the 3rd district in the Florida House of Representatives from 2022 through 2025. Rudman resides in Navarre, his legislative district's largest community, and is a member of the Republican Party. In addition to being a state representative, Rudman is also a Board Certified family physician. He operates a local medical clinic called Holley Navarre Medical Clinic. He also worked for 13 years as a NASCAR staff physician at Daytona International Speedway. Alison Betty Alison is the co-founder of alignco, a Washington, DC-based consulting firm specializing in political and issue-based strategic communications and management. For the past decade, Alison has been one of the nation’s leading communications experts on health and health care policy. Alison is also a certified life and leadership coach and collaborates with senior, executive leaders from both the public and private sectors to help them align their passion and perspective with their management approach and public personas. Susan Harbin Susan Harbin is the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s (ACS CAN) Senior Director for Government Relations in Florida. Prior to her role at ACS CAN, she served as Deputy Director of Public Policy at the Florida Association of Counties (FAC), advocating for Florida’s counties before the state and federal governments. During her tenure with FAC, Ms. Harbin covered issues relating to health care and human services, agriculture, environment, growth management, and transportation. Prior to joining FAC, Ms. Harbin served as Legislative Counsel for the Broward County Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Professional Standards. She is a 2009 graduate from the Florida State University College of Law and has a degree in Environmental Economics and Management from the University of Georgia. Ms. Harbin is a native of Rome, Georgia and now resides in Tallahassee. She is also a member of the Florida Bar.