2026 Keynote Speaker
Kristie Tobias, BA, MHA, PCCP
Chief Executive Officer, Fearless Existence, LLC
Kristie Tobias is the Chief Executive Officer of Fearless Existence, LLC an Executive Coaching and People Strategy firm. As a former Senior Vice President of People and Culture and Prosci-certified Change Management consultant, she specializes in aligning people strategy with business transformation. She ensures leadership teams can execute ambitious growth, system implementations, and cultural shifts without losing critical talent. With 20+ years of healthcare clinical and business experience, she has a proven track record of ensuring healthcare organizations achieve measurable improvements in engagement, retention, and performance by building sustainable infrastructures over temporary fixes.
With a concentrated expertise in professional development and leadership alignment, she has upskilled thousands of employees and leaders to the next phase in their career journey. She excels at bridging communication and relationship gaps at all levels of leadership to create high-performing organizations of effective and proactive change competency, improved environments of inclusivity, high employee engagement, and reduced turnover results. She is an expert in assessing organizational operating models, identifying opportunities to align leaders in the right positions at the right times, and building programs that support succession planning and accelerated revenue growth.
As a national speaker and nationally published author, Kristie has spent over a decade sharing her struggles with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and believes that everyone deserves to have a voice. She released her first book, podcast, and streaming series all of the same name, Fearlessly Made You to foster an environment of safety and open conversation for those who feel like their voices have not been heard, and she is excited to share that her second and third books are both set to be released this year! When Kristie is not inspiring others with her quick wit, charm, and engaging attitude, she lives in Atlanta, GA. She is a self-proclaimed wine enthusiast, certified fitness instructor, and mother to her dog Cooper Bartholomew.
2026 Speakers
Carmen Anderson, MS, CCC, SLP
Reimbursement & Market Access Consultant
Carmen is a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) with a blend of clinical expertise, reimbursement knowledge, and durable medical equipment (DME) industry insight. Her hands-on clinical experience provides her with an understanding of the challenges patients face and the intricacies of delivering effective care. Carmen has engaged with medical device and insurance companies nationwide to provide education, facilitate product coverage, effect positive changes in medical policies, and collaborate to secure new contracts.
Over the past two years, Carmen has partnered with the U.S. Medical Compression Alliance (USMCA) to support the implementation of the Lymphedema Treatment Act. This effort involved advocating with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and their contractors to promote coding, coverage, and reimbursement for lymphedema compression products.
Carmen’s unique perspective and passion for bridging the gap between health care providers, payers, patients, and the industry continues to drive her towards obtaining quality interactions and outcomes for all stakeholders.
Tracy Bender, OTD, OTR/L, CLT, CMF
Director of Rehabilitation and Durable Medical Equipment, Cancer and Urology Partners of Nebraska
Tracy Bender received her doctorate in occupational therapy at Creighton University and is specialized in lymphedema therapy and cancer rehabilitation, with additional training in myofascial release, scar and wound care, head and neck cancer, feeding and swallowing, women’s health, mindfulness/meditation, and sexual recovery. She is the Director of Rehabilitation and Durable Medical Equipment for Cancer and Urology Partners of Nebraska, at the April Sampson Cancer Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. She is a certified Lymphedema therapist, has completed expert training in breast cancer care through Klose Training, and is certified through the Board of Prosthetics and Orthotics as a Certified Mastectomy Fitter.
Tracy was named Occupational Therapist of the Year in 2021 by the Nebraska Occupational Therapy Association. She was the state leader in Nebraska, and an advocate for the Lymphedema Treatment Act. She is passionate about providing lymphedema and cancer rehabilitation services and education on the importance of cancer rehabilitation. She also teaches the specialty topic areas of Lymphedema and Cancer Rehabilitation within the Creighton University Doctoral Residency Program.
Tracy is the owner and founder of Resilience Survivorship LLC, which provides needed education and connection of survivors of cancer to resources, fellow survivors, and community partners involved in cancer care and overall physical, mental and emotional wellness. She holds an annual cancer survivorship conference in Lincoln, NE, currently planned for the spring of 2026.
Heather Ferguson
Founder and Executive Director, Lymphedema Advocacy Group
Heather is Founder and Executive Director of the Lymphedema Advocacy Group, as well as the Founder and President of the Lymphedema Education & Awareness Project. Her son Dylan, who was born with primary lymphedema, was prescribed his first set of compression garments when he was seven months old. When their insurance plan refused to cover these items, she dedicated herself to closing this coverage gap and improving access to care.
In 2009, Heather worked with her State Representative to pass the North Carolina Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Act in an unprecedented four months’ time. She then turned her efforts to improving coverage nationwide, and later that same year secured her Congressman as the sponsor for the first-ever federal Lymphedema Treatment Act. In 2010, Ms. Ferguson founded the Lymphedema Advocacy Group, to raise the support that would be necessary to move a bill through Congress. In late 2022, the Lymphedema Treatment Act became law, and on January 1, 2024 the new coverage went into effect. While the Lymphedema Advocacy Group continues to focus on insurance coverage and policy changes, in 2025, Heather launched the Lymphedema Education & Awareness Project, and the two groups work hand-in-hand.
Ryland Gore, MD
Dream Breast Care Center Owner & Breast Surgeon
Dr. Ryland Gore is a board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeon specializing in breast surgical oncology and practices exclusively at Dream Breast Care Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Gore is an Atlanta native, growing up in nearby Decatur and Stone Mountain. She graduated from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. From there, Dr. Gore completed her Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Maternal & Child Health at The George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services in Washington, DC. She then returned home to Atlanta where she obtained her Medical Degree (MD) at Morehouse School of Medicine. Dr. Gore completed her general surgery residency at Rush University Medical Center and John H. Stroger Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, then went on to complete her breast surgical oncology fellowship at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
In addition to her passion for women’s health and breast care, and devotion to her patients, Dr. Gore brings a wealth of knowledge and breast health and cancer care experience to the medical landscape. She has been voted numerous times as one of Atlanta’s top doctors (Atlanta magazine) and as an Influential Atlantan in Medicine (Modern Luxury Atlanta magazine). She was also named a Top Doctor in 2024 from Memphis magazine. Dr. Gore is a highly sought-after speaker, medical contributor, consultant, and lecturer on breast cancer, breast health, breast cancer disparities, and surgical disparities, and other women’s health topics.
Dr. Gore prides herself on spending as much time as it takes with each patient, thoroughly explaining their diagnosis; the steps of treatment tailored specifically to the patient’s particular case; the necessary surgical procedure; and carefully coordinating referrals to other specialists with attention to detail to ensure that patients feel comfortable and more importantly, empowered and educated about what their cancer journey entails by the time they leave her office and beyond.
Matthew Gruskin, MBA, BOCO, BOCPD, CDME
Chief Operating Officer, BOC
Matt is responsible for leading the direction, strategy, policies, and day-to-day operations of the Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) accreditation and certification programs. With nearly a decade of experience in the O&P field, most recently serving as Director of Orthotic Operations for a chain of more than 20 O&P clinics, Matt is focused on growth of the credentialing programs and ensuring the delivery of excellent customer service. He holds an MBA in healthcare from Florida International University, a graduate degree in O&P from University of Hartford and a post graduate certification from the International School of Pedorthics.
Binju Joel, MD, FOMA
Founder, Joel Wellness Clinic
Binju Joel, MD, FOMA, is a dual board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine and the founder of Joel Wellness Clinic, a multi-specialty medical practice with locations in Ann Arbor and Livonia, Michigan. With more than two decades of clinical experience, she provides comprehensive, evidence-based care with a focus on obesity medicine, internal medicine and lipedema.
Dr. Joel completed her residencies in Internal Medicine and Preliminary Surgery at Trinity Health System in Ann Arbor. She is board certified in Obesity Medicine and Internal Medicine and has dedicated much of her career to the treatment of metabolic disease and chronic weight-related conditions.
A significant portion of Dr. Joel’s practice is dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of lipedema, a chronic and frequently underrecognized fat disorder. She works closely with the Lipedema Foundation and is actively involved in advancing education and research in this field. Dr. Joel also founded a Lipedema Provider Roundtable in partnership with the foundation, creating a collaborative space for clinicians to share best practices and improve patient outcomes. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Joel has published research in peer-reviewed medical journals and has participated in international medical mission work. She regularly attends national and international conferences to remain at the forefront of developments in obesity and lipedema care.
Courtney Mascio, OT/L, CLT
Professional Education Manager, Lipedema Foundation
Courtney Mascio is the Professional Education Manager for the Lipedema Foundation. After receiving her B.S. in Exercise Science from Appalachian State University in 2010, she went on to receive her M.S. in Occupational Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2014. Shortly after graduating from OT school, Courtney completed the required course to become a Certified Lymphedema Therapist. Since then, she has been passionate about serving the Lipedema community through advancing advocacy and creating better awareness surrounding the disease.
Noel Neil
Chief Compliance Officer, ACU-Serve
Noel joined the ACU-Serve team in 2021. He has over 16 years’ experience in the DME industry working in Intake, Billing and Compliance Departments. He brings to the team years of experience in audit defense. He represents multiple suppliers in practically all types of Medicare audits from initial request all the way to the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) and in some cases the Depart of Appeals Board (DAB). In his current role, Noel is responsible for implementing and monitoring of the company’s corporate compliance program. He also oversees our Internal Audit Department.
Noel serves on the Medicare Provider Outreach and Education Advisory Groups for Jurisdictions A, C and D, the MYCGS Advisory Group and the Medicare Jurisdictions B and D Councils. He speaks at Medtrade and various state associations on topic related to Medicare reimbursement and audit and appeal strategies.
Noel received a Juris Masters (JM) Law Degree, from Florida State University College of Law, with concentration in Health Care Regulation. Noel is also a Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC), Certified Durable Medical Equipment Specialist (CDME) and a subject matter expert (SME) for the 2021 – 2022 revision of the CDME exam.
Noel enjoys interacting with suppliers and breaking down seemingly complex policies in simpler terms most suppliers can relate to.
Corey Packer
Franchise Marketing Leader & Growth Strategist
Corey Packer is a franchise marketing leader with 15+ years of experience driving growth for national brands. He helped scale Hounds Town USA from 5 to 250+ locations, iLoveKickboxing from 200 to 1,000+ studios, and Taste Buds Kitchen from 5 to 20+ franchises, managing over $10M in ad spend along the way. Today, Corey runs CoreVision Marketing, a digital agency serving 100+ businesses nationwide, delivering scalable advertising, automation and content strategies that fuel predictable growth. They offer:
- Full-scale digital advertising management (Meta, Google, YouTube, TikTok)
- Automations & CRM buildouts for lead nurturing and conversions
- Content creation including video, graphics, and social posting
- Reputation management with review generation and SEO enhancement
Whether managing multi-million-dollar budgets or guiding a single-location business, Corey’s approach is rooted in strategy, storytelling, and systems that deliver measurable results.
Mary Reineke-Ferguson
DME Provider Outreach and Education Consultant, Noridian Healthcare Solutions
Mary Reineke-Ferguson proudly serves as a Provider Outreach and Education (POE) Consultant, offering expert guidance and support to both Jurisdiction A and Jurisdiction D Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors (DME MACs) administered by Noridian Healthcare Solutions. With an impressive 25 year tenure at Noridian, Mary brings a wealth of experience, insight, and passion to every aspect of her work.
In her role as an Education Consultant, Mary is deeply committed to empowering the supplier community. She develops and delivers comprehensive training courses that break down complex billing, coding, and coverage requirements into clear, actionable guidance. Her goal is always the same: to ensure suppliers have the knowledge and confidence needed for accurate claim submission and proper Medicare DME reimbursement.
Mary has also had the privilege of presenting at numerous collaborative events across the supplier community. Through these partnerships, she has helped DME suppliers strengthen their understanding of Medicare DMEPOS policies, navigate evolving guidelines, and improve compliance with program requirements. Her dedication to education, combined with her approachable style and deep subject matter expertise, makes her a valued resource and trusted voice within the Medicare DME community.
Joshua Trock, DPT, CLT-LANA
Doctor of Physical Therapy and Lymphedema
Joshua Trock is the Doctor of Physical Therapy and Lymphedema Specialist at San Antonio’s leading vein treatment center, Medical Vein Clinic. He has more than a decade of experience caring for patients suffering from various forms of lymphatic disease. He is passionate about creating novel and adaptive plans of care that positively impact the socioeconomic, emotional, and relational outcomes for lymphedema and lipedema patients and their caregivers.
After receiving his doctorate in Physical Therapy from UT Health San Antonio in 2011, he went on to complete his CLT with Klose Lymphedema Training that same year. Joshua developed the first and only in-home lymphedema treatment program in South Texas. During his work with a locally owned home health company, he grew the program, training a large team of treating therapists to care for hundreds of patients throughout multiple counties. Through this volume and assortment of cases, he developed and optimized the best practices for the diversity of venous-lymphatic disorders along with associated wound care.
Joshua is accredited with the Lymphedema Association of North America (LANA), certified as an Edema Wound Specialist through Norton Lymphedema Training, certified as an Exercise Expert for Aging Adults through the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy, and certified through APCA for diagnostic ultrasound physics.
Belinda Yandell
Provider Relations Senior Analyst, CGS Provider Outreach and Education
Belinda began her career with CGS Administrators, the DME MAC for Jurisdictions B and C, in 2013 in Medical Review, but quickly found her true calling with the Provider Outreach and Education team. As a Senior Analyst, she is dedicated to helping suppliers understand Medicare policy and achieve compliance. In addition to regular webinars and workshops, Belinda collaborates with other MACs, supplier associations and tradeshows to provide education to the DMEPOS supplier community.
Belinda also is the Community Coach for Georgia and Tennessee, acting as the primary contact for suppliers in those states. Before coming to CGS Administrators, she worked with TennCare, Tennessee’s state Medicaid program.
