Meet the RL Connections 2017 Speakers

August 21, 2017 Tina Dao and Anjali Arya

We're on our way to a city near you for RL Connections 2017! For the second year in a row, we'll be heading to cities across North America, bringing a complimentary day of education on industry trends and the latest news from RL with us. 

We're thrilled to welcome client speakers from five leading hospitals this year 

Los Angeles 

Meredith Pelty is a Patient Safety Coordinator at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. Before launching her career in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, Meredith worked as an RN in Labor and Delivery and as a Clinical Faculty member at UCLA School of Nursing. Meredith holds a Master's and Doctorate in psychology. She specialized in severe mental illness, behavioral disorders and learning disorders in children and adolescents. Meredith's current role includes system administration for the RL6:Risk Module.  

Fun Fact: "In between my first career as a psychologist and second career as a nurse I worked as a background actor. I love movies – I've watched five movies in a row at the theatre on more than one occasion." 

Aaron Clute is a Patient Safety Coordinator at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles since April 2016. Aaron has worked at CHLA for six years as a clinical Level III Respiratory Care Practitioner. He primarily worked as a core Respiratory Therapist in the CTICU and expanded his role to Relief Lead, Primary and Team Lead. Throughout his career at CHLA, he has been involved in multiple research projects, precepted respiratory residents and worked to update and approve policies and procedures. 

Fun Fact: Aaron loves playing guitar and writing songs - he previously worked in the music industry, including for A&M Records. 

Edahrline Salas is a Patient Safety Program Manager at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, where she's worked for more than 20 years. Since starting out as a nursing student, Edahrline has worked as a clinical staff nurse, a curriculum administrator for the Versant RN Residency Program. Her career interests focus on staff and professional development, change management, process improvement and patient safety. In her role as Patient Safety Program Manager, she has been part of various teams involved in an organization-wide bid to eliminate preventable harm entitled, "Safe and Sound: Aim for Zero Harm." 

Fun Fact: "I would be a food critic because I love to eat and have such an admiration for people who can cook great food and create a wonderful dining experience! But I only want to be the nice kind—the kind that doesn’t shut restaurants down—just the kind that gets to eat at wonderful places and write glowingly effusive reviews."

Pittsburgh 

Kevin O'Bryant is a Data Analyst at Vanderbilt University and Medical Center. Kevin has a degree in Risk Management and Insurance from Georgia State University. He has 10 years of Healthcare Risk Management experience and has been at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for five years. 

Fun Fact: "My wife and I spent our time as part-time taxi's getting our four kids to soccer, school activities, friend's houses and whatever else they have going on. I know all the shortcuts and backroads south of Nashville - anything to save a few minutes!"

Boston 

Ailish Wilkie is the Director of Patient Safety and Risk Management at Atrius Health. Ailish has worked in patient safety for her entire career and has spent the last 13 years in the healthcare setting, focusing on patient safety, risk management and quality improvement. In her current role at Atrius Health, she is responsible for facilitating organization-wide patient safety and risk management activities. Ailish received her bachelor and graduate degrees from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Chapel Hill 

Gloria Willis is a Corporate Clinical Claims Analyst at Novant Health. Gloria is an RN and holds a BSN from Western Carolina University. She currently works at Novant Health where she has worked in Risk Management since 2012. Previously she worked at Novant as a Business Systems Analyst, Nurse Manager, Nurse Manager Orthopedic Unit, Nurse Manager Gastrointestinal Unit, Nursing Supervisor, Head Nurse Float Pool, Head Nurse Neurology/Neurosurgery/ENT, Staff Nurse. She has been affiliated with the National Association of Orthopedic Nurses and is currently affiliated with the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management.
 
Fun Fact: You bring the wine and Gloria will bring the glass! Gloria enjoys painting wine glasses and selling them at local craft fairs. 

Beverly Groseclose is a Risk Management Data Coordinator at Novant Health. Beverly is currently attending Rockingham Community College for Office System Technology. She has worked in Risk Management at Novant Health since 2012. Previously, she was an Executive Assistant at Novant and with the Department of the Navy. 

Fun Fact: Beverly nourishes her analytical side at work and flourishes the creative side by crafting with her princess-daredevil granddaughter. 

Toronto 

Jo-Ann Latham is a Patient Experience Advisor in the Office of the Patient Experience at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Jo-Ann has a Bachelor of Applied Arts from Ryerson University where she specialized in Journalism and Public Relations. Additionally, she has undertaken her certificate in Human Resources.Along with her colleagues, Jo-Ann supports the hospital's clinical and non-clinical teams in their work with patients, their families and visitors to help make sure their hospital experience is a positive one.  

Fun Fact: She took a giant leap from a successful Human Resources career in the private sector to working in the Patient Experience Office at Sunnybrook. She has never looked back! You might see her zipping around Toronto in her beloved MINI convertible. 

Liane Chornobay is a Patient Experience Advisor in the Office of the Patient Experience at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Liane has a Master of Health Administration from Dalhousie University.  Prior to her graduate studies, she completed her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology and Physical Education at Wilfrid Laurier University. Along with her colleagues, Liane supports the hospital's clinical and non-clinical teams in their work with patients, their families and visitors to help make sure their hospital experience is a positive one. 

Fun Fact: Liane's favorite part of her job with working on a team and being able to talk to patients and families about their experiences. There is always something new to learn! She also enjoys traveling, cooking and the beach (preferably all at the same time). 

Register now for the RL Connections stop nearest you and stay tuned for more information about the educational content we're bringing on the road with us. 

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