Tuesday, June 13, 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
      Shirley Franklin was elected the 58th Mayor of the City of Atlanta in 2001. A first time candidate for public office, she became the first female mayor of Atlanta and the first African American woman to serve as mayor of a major southern city. Her accomplishments as mayor include improvements in services for the homeless, decreased crime and murder rates, a strong ethics reform program, and infrastructure enhancements to improve pedestrian and vehicle safety. Mayor Franklin also currently serves as a member of the Democratic National Committee and Treasurer of the Democratic Party of Georgia. In 2005, TIME Magazine named her one of the top five mayors in the country.

Tuesday, June 13, 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM
      Tamra E. Merryman, RN, MSN, FACHE, Vice President, Center for Quality Improvement and Innovation, UPMC Health System, has been with the system and its predecessor Shadyside Hospital for 15 years. Prior to her current position, she was Vice President of Patient Care Services. More than nine years ago, Ms. Merryman created the Clinical Design Initiative at Shadyside Hospital to provide clinicians more time with their patients, create excellent systems, and enhance patient satisfaction. Her participative but decisive style of leadership has resulted in millions of dollars being reinvested back into patient care. Ms. Merryman is also part of the hospital team participating in the IHI and RWJF project, Transforming Care at the Bedside.

Wednesday, June 14, 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
      Donald M. Berwick, MD, MPP, FRCP, is the President and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and is one of the nation’s leading authorities on health care quality and improvement. He is also clinical professor of pediatrics and health care policy at the Harvard Medical School. Dr. Berwick has served as vice chair of the US Preventive Services Task Force, the first “Independent Member” of the Board of Trustees of the American Hospital Association, and as chair of the National Advisory Council of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Wednesday, June 14, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
      Carolyn M. Clancy, MD, Director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), is also Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, at George Washington University School of Medicine. Previously, she held positions at AHRQ as Acting Director and Director, Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research. Dr. Clancy is Senior Associate Editor of Health Services Research and she serves on numerous other editorial boards. She has publishedwidely in peer-reviewed journals and has edited or contributed to seven books.