Staff

CMSS Staff Team

Consultants  

CMSS engages several consultants and contractors who provide unique expertise to support CMSS programs and operations. We are grateful for their contributions to advancing our mission! To be connected with any of CMSS’s Consultant Contributors, please contact info@cmss.org.   

John Bernot, MD, Clinical and Data Consultant  

Heidi Bossley, MSN, MBA, Quality Consultant 

Melody Boykin, Registration Coordinator 

Martie Lamano, CPA, Accounting Manager 

Damon Marquis, MS, MA, Education Consultant 

Cheryl Sadowski, Strategic Communications Consultant 

Michelle Sarcletti, Meeting Planner 

Sarah Simmons, MPH, Project Administrator 

Joan Williams, Project Administrator 

Jessica Vacha, Exhibits Manager 

Contact CMSS: 

Membership 
membership@cmss.org 

Education 
education@cmss.org 

Equity Programs 
equityprograms@cmss.org 

Registration Services 
registration@cmss.org 

General Inquiries 
info@cmss.org 

Helen Burstin, MD, MPH, MACP

Helen Burstin, MD, MPH, MACP

Chief Executive Officer

Helen Burstin, MD, MPH, MACP is the Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS), a coalition of more than 50 specialty societies representing more than 800,000 physicians. In her role, Dr. Burstin advances the expertise and collective voice of medical specialty societies in support of physicians and the patients they serve.

Dr. Burstin formerly served as Chief Scientific Officer of The National Quality Forum (NQF). Prior to joining NQF, she was the Director of the Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Prior to joining AHRQ, Dr. Burstin was an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and served as Director of Quality Measurement at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She is the author of more than 100 articles and book chapters on quality, safety, equity, and measurement. She serves on the American Society of Hematology Research Collaborative Board of Directors and the Oversight Committee of the National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) of the American College of Cardiology. Dr. Burstin recently joined the Coalition for Trust in Health and Science Board of Directors.

A graduate of the State University of New York at Upstate College of Medicine and the Harvard School of Public Health, Dr. Burstin completed her residency training in primary care internal medicine at Boston City Hospital and fellowship in General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. She is a volunteer preceptor and Clinical Professor of Medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She was awarded Mastership in the American College of Physicians. She is a member of the National Academy of Medicine.

julia peterson

Julia Peterson, CAE

Chief Operating Officer

As chief operating officer, Julia Peterson is responsible for partnering with CMSS’ CEO to devise and implement strategy; overseeing all operational and financial performance; and building systems to support organizational growth and capacity. In addition, she oversees all CMSS member-facing programs and implementation functions, including communications, meetings, governance, finance, human resources, and IT.  

Julia’s experience lies in helping medical associations realize and achieve their missions. Prior to CMSS, she worked as manager of association management for the American College of Surgeons, a program that provides professional management services for over 30 component and affiliate medical organizations. Julia is a Certified Association Executive, a credential of distinction from the American Society of Association Executives. She received a bachelor’s degree in communications and French from Hope College. 

Sarah Imhoff, MPA

Senior Program Director

Sarah Imhoff serves as project director of two large multi-year programs funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Specialty Societies Advancing Adult Immunization program advances immunization for high-risk adults in specialty settings. The Public Health System Components Strengthening Public Health Systems and Services through National Partnerships to Improve and Protect the Nation’s Health program bridges the gap between the health care and public health systems. Sarah also directs the Encoding Equity Alliance, a three-year initiative to address the problematic use of race in clinical algorithms. 

Sarah is an expert in learning systems design and implementation. Prior to joining CMSS, she was a consultant with The Lewin Group, where she managed large-scale national learning systems to accelerate quality improvement in healthcare in hospital and ambulatory care settings. She holds a Master of Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. 

suzanne pope

Suzanne Pope, MBA

Senior Advisor

Suzanne Pope works with medical specialty societies on CMSS programs that address AI/ML, health equity, medical misinformation, and patient engagement. She directs the PCORI-funded CMSS and NHC Patient-Centered Partnerships Summit: Building Meaningful Collaboration to Advance Patient Care and Research. Suzanne also manages CMSS’ Diagnostic Feedback in Clinical Registries grant program. In 2023, she worked on the Reconsidering Race in Clinical Algorithms, and in 2024 she helped launch the Encoding Equity Alliance. 

Suzanne’s career includes both advisory and leadership roles. Prior to CMSS, she consulted with healthcare organizations on health policy and performance, medical writing, and guidelines development. She also served as the director of quality and the director of guidelines for the American Urological Association (AUA). Suzanne holds a Master of Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University. 

Brian Stevenson

Brian Stevenson

Member Engagement Manager

Brian Stevenson serves as CMSS’ primary liaison to current and prospective member organizations, in addition to overseeing the organization’s Professional Peer Groups (PPGs). Brian is responsible for enhancing the member experience by ensuring that CMSS delivers value to each member. He is recognized for his deep expertise in membership engagement, marketing management, association management systems, and data analysis. 

Prior to CMSS, Brian held a variety of leadership roles in associations, managing multi-million-dollar membership dues and collaborating with vendors to enhance operations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. 

ashlan ruth

Ashlan Ruth, PMP

Program Manager

Ashlan Ruth manages CMSS’ Specialty Societies Advancing Adult Immunization (SSAAI) and Driving Measurable Improvement in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Physician Workforce programs. Ashlan’s work helps CMSS and member societies to address emerging issues and to channel member contributions that advance healthcare for all. In addition, Ashlan lends her expertise to oversight of CMSS’ learning management system and to facilitation of the annual meeting. 

Ashlan is a Certified Project Manager. Prior to CMSS, she worked in a variety of management roles, including as project manager at the National Quality Forum. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in business administration from the Darden School of Business. 

shaniece rigans

Shaniece Rigans

Operations Manager

Shaniece Rigans serves as the primary liaison to the CMSS Annual Meeting Program Committee, overseeing proposal submissions and reviews. In addition, she supports various educational functions, including CAE accreditation, the CMSS Learning Center, and member services. Shaniece also helps to manage office operations and offers administrative support to CMSS’ COO, Board, and Executive Committee. 

Prior to CMSS, she worked as the leadership support and board specialist at the Federal Bar Association, where she provided operational support to national leadership, committees, and affiliated organizations. She also held positions with the American Financial Services Association and the Society for Pediatric Radiology. Shaniece received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Saint Paul’s College. 

ndifreke ikpe

Ndifreke (“Ndi”) Ikpe, MHA

Civic Science Fellow

Ndifreke Ikpe collaborates with specialty societies on shared learning programs and best practices that support health equity, clinical guidelines and algorithms, research, informatics, and publishing. Ndi’s work helps CMSS and member societies to build capacity around race-conscious clinical guidelines, and algorithms to better inform equitable clinical practice and clinical decision-making.  

Previously, Ndi served as a senior associate at the Aspen Institute, where she supported the development and strategy for the institute’s Health Innovators Fellowship. She also served as a Maternal Mental Health Clinical Care Coordinator at the Joseph J. Peters Institute on developing strategies to improve mental health outcomes. Ndi holds a Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Maryland. 

Darlene Wyatt

Executive Coordinator

Darlene Wyatt provides advanced executive support for the CEO as well as administrative support for CMSS team members to ensure effective operations. Darlene also coordinates activities of CMSS Governance and Leadership Groups. Darlene is a seasoned executive coordinator, having held previous roles at the National Quality Forum and Verizon.  

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Staff

Consultants  

CMSS engages several consultants and contractors who provide unique expertise to support CMSS programs and operations. We are grateful for their contributions to advancing our mission! To be connected with any of CMSS’s Consultant Contributors, please contact info@cmss.org.   

John Bernot, MD, Clinical and Data Consultant  

Heidi Bossley, MSN, MBA, Quality Consultant 

Melody Boykin, Registration Coordinator 

Martie Lamano, CPA, Accounting Manager 

Damon Marquis, MS, MA, Education Consultant 

Cheryl Sadowski, Strategic Communications Consultant 

Michelle Sarcletti, Meeting Planner 

Sarah Simmons, MPH, Project Administrator 

Joan Williams, Project Administrator 

Jessica Vacha, Exhibits Manager 

Contact CMSS: 

Membership 
membership@cmss.org 

Education 
education@cmss.org 

Equity Programs 
equityprograms@cmss.org 

Registration Services 
registration@cmss.org 

General Inquiries 
info@cmss.org