SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

American Medical Association, Vice President, Advocacy Resource Center

Kai Sternstein, JD is the Vice President of the AMA’s Advocacy Resource Center (ARC), the state legislative arm of the AMA. In that capacity, Kai oversees ARC staff attorneys’ development and execution of strategies for achieving AMA goals through state legislation and regulation. To achieve its goals, the ARC not only develops strategic collaborations aimed at influencing external policy-making organizations (e.g. National Association of Insurance Commissioners, National Conference of State Legislatures, National Governors Association), but also tailors solutions to the political, economic and health care environments of the individual states - in close consultation and partnership with state and national medical specialty societies. The ARC’s work is focused on issues such as state health system reform implementation, reforming Medicaid, private payer reform, medical liability reform, scope of practice, protecting the patient-physician relationship, public health improvement and other critical physician business and ownership issues. Under Kai’s leadership, the ARC has created and implemented turn-key state advocacy tools and initiatives such as the AMA Economic Impact Study and the AMA Geomapping Initiative, as well as the AMA’s Scope of Practice Partnership. Kai is responsible for the ARC’s focus on aggressive advocacy and lobbying of national state policy making organizations such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, as well as positioning the AMA as a proactive, impactful force at the state level. Kai received her JD from IIT-Chicago Kent College of Law and her BS in biology from Southern Methodist University. Prior to coming to the AMA, Kai practiced law for close to six years as a litigator, including over half of that time at one of Chicago’s oldest medical malpractice defense firms, Pretzel & Stouffer, Charted. Kai is the current president of the American Society of Medical Association Counsel (ASMAC). 

General Counsel for the Medical Association of the State of Alabama

Brandy Adkins Boone currently serves as General Counsel for the Medical Association of the State of Alabama. Prior to joining the Medical Association, she represented healthcare clients in private practice and most recently led the Risk Management Education team at ProAssurance, a large national professional liability carrier. She attained a BA from the University of Alabama and a JD from the University of Alabama School of Law.

Brandy is a member of the Alabama Bar, the Birmingham Bar Association, the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management, the Alabama Society of Healthcare Risk Management, and the American Society of Medical Association Counsel.

American Medical Association

Daniel Blaney-Koen, JD, is a senior legislative attorney with the American Medical Association Advocacy Resource Center (ARC). The ARC attorneys focus on working with state and specialty medical societies on state legislative, regulatory, and policy advocacy. In addition to his work in the ARC, Blaney-Koen has held several roles at the AMA, including serving as a public information officer, policy analyst, and speechwriter. Currently, he focuses on state legislation and policy concerning the nation’s opioid epidemic, with particular emphasis on overdose prevention and treatment. He also covers other pharmaceutical issues as well as insurance market reforms. Prior to joining the AMA in 1999, Blaney-Koen earned his Master of Fine Arts in Poetry from Colorado State University, and his bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona. 

Neubert Pepe Monteith, PC, Partner

Gregory J. Pepe, JD heads the Healthcare Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution & Mediation and Corporate & Business Transactions practice areas. His experience in the healthcare market, its accompanying regulatory constructs and related business matters, spans decades.

Greg provides his clients the understanding necessary to navigate the changing healthcare landscape. Healthcare issues that Greg often addresses include how providers can successfully negotiate new market ventures and grow their business strategically while operating within policies and legal regulations. Greg has extensive experience in addressing the myriad of business issues facing healthcare providers. He skillfully provides counsel and solutions for his entrepreneurial clients. The business issues that hospitals, doctors, lab companies, and other healthcare providers face are extremely complex. Greg works with clients to establish business relationships such as partnership agreements, corporation agreements, noncompetition agreements, compensation arrangements, and provider contracts. He represents numerous physician groups, including large integrated practices, IPAs, PHOs, and others involved in healthcare law issues. Mr. Pepe is a past president of the American Society of Medical Association Counsel (ASMAC).

Senior Legislative Attorney
American Medical Association (Chicago)

Emily Carroll, JD is a Senior Legislative Attorney for the American Medical Association’s Advocacy Resource Center. Emily provides legislative and legal support to state and national medical specialty societies on private payer practices and health insurance reforms.  Prior to joining the AMA, Emily worked as the Legislative Director at the law firm Powers, Pyles, Sutter and Verville, P.C. in Washington, D.C., representing health care and disability provider organizations.  She received her law degree from Chicago Kent College of Law, a Master of Social Work degree and Certificate in Health Care Administration and Policy from the University of Chicago, and her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan.