Thirty individuals comprising eight teams recently graduated from the UAB Medicine High Performing Care Collaborative (HPCC) spring 2025 program. The program, presented by the UAB Medicine Leadership Development Office, recognized its graduates at a ceremony on March 6, 2025.

The HPCC is designed to immerse clinical leadership teams in fundamental management and leadership principles that drive successful outcomes, while empowering them to create collaborative action plans. The goal is to encourage cross-departmental and cross-entity collaboration, as well as to inspire creativity and problem-solving.

"These dedicated leadership teams collaborated over two intense days to create dynamic action plans for the teams that they lead," said Jean Ann Larson, Ed. D., Chief Leadership Development Officer. "In following up with these teams, we are already beginning to see their strategies in action."

Matthew Sherrer, M.D., Clinical Consultant to the Leadership Development Office, echoed Larson on the success of the program.

"Just a few short days after the HPCC workshop, their willingness to learn and grow as teams is already making an impact," Sherrer said. "We look forward to their ongoing updates and watching how they make a significant difference for our patients and employees."

The HPCC spring 2025 graduates include:

Emergency Medicine

Andrew Edwards, M.D.
Executive Vice Chair/Professor

Allyson Hill, PA-C
Senior Director of Advanced Practice Providers

Bobby Lewis, DMD, M.D., FACEP
Associate Professor

Andi Wright, CRNP
Lead Advanced Practice Provider Manager

Geriatrics Inpatient Consult Services

Jennifer Hicks, MSHA, MBA
Director of Clinical Operations

Emily Simmons, MSN, RN, CNL
Director of Program Development

Catherine Slay, CRNP
Advanced Practice Provider

Mark Newbrough, M.D.
Associate Professor, Medical Director for Inpatient Geriatrics Consult Service, Director of Age Friendly Health System Program, Director of Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program

Gardendale Freestanding Emergency Department

India Alford, MSN, NE-BC
Nurse Manager/Director

Benjamin von Schweinitz, M.D.
Medical Director

Jess Murray, MSN, R.N., CNL, LSSGB, SCRN
Manager of Quality and Safety

Sherichia Hardy, MPH, BSN, RN, CNL
Senior Director

Highlands Emergency Department

Heidi Martin, MSN, RN, GERO-BC
Nurse Manager/Director

Whitney Turner, M.D., FACEP
Medical Director/Value Officer

Sherichia Hardy, MPH, BSN, RN, CNL
Senior Director

Non-Operating Room Anesthesia (Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine)

Ryan Densmore, M.D.
Assistant Professor

Jessica Elmes, CRNA
CRNA

Gordon Eason, RN
Assistant Nurse Manager

Preoperative Assessment, Consultation, and Treatment (Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine)

Jordan Barksdale, MSN, CRNP
Advanced Practice Provider Supervisor II

Ashley Johnson, DNP, RN
Nurse Manager

Caitlin Lett, DNP, CRNP
Advanced Practice Provider Supervisor II

Andrew Sullivan, DNP, CRNP
Director of Peri-Anesthesia

Jeff Simmons, M.D., MSHQS, FASA
VP/Lead Physician

Accountable Care Team

Meredith Guthrie, MSN, RN, CNL
Manager/Director, Accountable Care Team Programs

Denise Peek, MSN, RN, CNL
Coordinator

Trevor Purter, RN, BSN
Coordinator

Carissa Purvis, BSN, OCN, AMB-BC
Coordinator

University Emergency Department

Cameron (James) Crosby, M.D.
Assistant Medical Director

Laine McDonald, M.D.
Medical Director

Chris Williams, DNP, MSHQS, RN, NE-BC
Senior Director of ES/Senior Nursing Director

Adam Wilson, MSN, RN
Nurse Manager

Learn more about the Leadership Development Office and its programs at Leadership Development Office - Heersink School of Medicine | UAB.