2024 Speakers and Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

Christopher T. Sununu

Keynote Speaker

82nd Governor
State of New Hampshire

Christopher T. Sununu, New Hampshire's 82nd Governor, now in his fourth term, holds the record for the most votes in state history (2020). Under his leadership, New Hampshire ranks as the #1 state for personal freedoms and fiscal responsibility, per the Cato Institute. He's achieved three balanced budgets with no new taxes, cutting the Interest & Dividends Tax for retirees, offering tax relief to employers and small businesses, reducing property taxes by $100 million, introducing voluntary paid family medical leave, and increasing public education funding. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he balanced health and economic concerns effectively, making New Hampshire one of the safest states for COVID. The state is now the Northeast's fastest-growing, boasts low unemployment, and has the nation's lowest child poverty rate. Governor Sununu pioneered The Doorway and the Recovery Friendly Workplace initiative, national models for substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery. New Hampshire, per the CDC, was one of four states to reduce drug overdose deaths in 2021. Chris is an MIT graduate with a BS in Civil/Environmental Engineering and a former environmental engineer. He also completed a five-month through-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 1998. Governor Sununu resides in Newfields with his wife, Valerie, and their three children.

Robert Geyer, MBA '89

Panel Speaker

Senior Advisor, Office of the President
Medica

With 35 years of health plan management experience, Mr. Geyer is a seasoned health care executive currently serving as Senior Advisor to the CEO for Medica, overseeing a $6B health plan serving 1.5M members in the Midwest. Previously, he held the role of chief operations officer at Medica for five years, where he ensured the organization's operational and IT readiness for growth in products and geography. Prior to his tenure at Medica, Rob served as the chief executive of Reta Trust, a nonprofit health care trust, and held executive leadership positions at Blue Shield of California for 20 years. With an MBA from Pepperdine University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of California at Davis, Rob is also actively involved in mentoring and teaching at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School while balancing family life as a married father of two.

Randy Hyun

Panel Speaker

Chief Executive Officer
CarepathRx

Randy Hyun, the Chief Executive Officer of CarepathRx, oversees the company's portfolio and capabilities, prioritizing company culture, talent, strategy, execution, and growth. Previously serving as Chief Operating Officer, Randy focused on the strategy and operations of CarepathRx, particularly in the health systems solutions segment. Prior to joining CarepathRx, he served as CEO of Aetna Medicaid, overseeing national Medicaid managed care operations across sixteen states. Randy's extensive industry experience includes an 18-year tenure at McKesson Corporation, where he held various senior leadership roles, including leading Provider Solutions in McKesson Specialty Health and managing home care and hospice software. Randy is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and holds an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Dee Anna Smith, '86

Panel Moderator

Chief Executive Officer
Sarah Cannon Research Institute

Chair
Pepperdine University, Board of Regents

Dee Anna Smith, CEO of the Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI), a prominent oncology research organization, is celebrated for her transformative leadership. In 2022, she facilitated a groundbreaking collaboration with US Oncology Research, connecting physicians across 250+ locations in 26 states to enhance patient access to clinical trials. A former CPA at KPMG, Smith's entrepreneurial journey led to founding two clinical trial service companies, one acquired by Oracle and the other integrated into HCA Healthcare. Committed to philanthropy, she has earned accolades, including being recognized as an AACSB Influential Leader and one of Pepperdine University's Outstanding Alumni in Healthcare. Dee Anna, named a Health Care Hero by the Nashville Business Journal, actively contributes to organizations like the American Institute of CPAs and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Additionally, she chairs Pepperdine's Board of Regents and serves on the Nashville Health Care Council's board.

Rachel Zayas

Panel Speaker

Founder and CEO
AGED Diagnositics

Rachel Zayas, Founder and CEO of Active Genomes Expressed Diagnostics (AGED), is a distinguished professional with a Master of Science in Biotechnology and Business. Renowned for launching a successful molecular diagnostic venture, she has contributed significantly to cancer research at MIT, specializing in the development of gene silencing therapeutics. Zayas operates at the intersection of genomics and entrepreneurship, securing funding from the National Science Foundation and serving as an adjunct instructor at George Washington University, imparting business expertise to technology ventures navigating product market fit. Recognized for her exceptional achievements, she has been a fellow for prestigious programs such as 757 Accelerate, Halcyon, and Healthworx, the latter being the discerning investment arm of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, selecting less than 2% of applicants. Zayas has showcased her expertise at the annual Liver Disease Conference and made impactful contributions to Hepatology, the leading journal for liver diseases. A versatile professional, she is also an accomplished science fiction novelist. In her role at AGED, Zayas oversees all facets of R&D, guiding her team to achieve technical and commercialization milestones with unwavering leadership.