Speaker Biographies

Carol Calvin, RN, MS, CPHQ

Carol Calvin is the national director of health and wellness strategies for UnitedHealthcare. Carol is a board-certified registered nurse and cardiovascular clinical nurse specialist, and a Certified Professional in Health Care Quality (CPHQ). She earned a Bachelor's degree from Texas Woman's University and a Master's degree from the University of Oklahoma. An accomplished leader and national speaker on chronic conditions, prevention, health education and workplace health promotion, Carol has received numerous accolades, including Who's Who in Healthcare.

Linda Chous, O.D.

Dr. Linda Chous has more than 20 years of experience in private practice and is a specialist in pediatric optometry. She is past president of the Minnesota Optometric Association, and as the Chief Eye Care Officer for UnitedHealthcare, she provides clinical leadership for the advancement and delivery of eye care wellness and disease management programs.

Arleen Fitzgerald, L.I.C.S.W., Mental Health Consultant

Arleen Fitzgerald has a master's degree and has been an independently licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist for the past 20 years in public and private practice settings. She works in the field of integrating medical and behavioral health care. She is a behavioral health consultant for consumer health publications for OptumHealth, which includes the 100 Smart Choices book and UnitedHealthcare's member e-newsletter, Healthy Mind Healthy Body.

Arleen also has worked in the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) field of mental health where she was an account manager, providing manager and leadership development seminars. She provided essential critical incident stress management services in the Kobe, Japan earthquake, the Tokyo sarin gas attack, and to the families and survivors of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York.

Carol A. Harnett, MS

Carol Harnett is an absence and health care consultant, speaker and writer. She works with employers, insurance companies and health and disability organizations on personalized approaches to helping employees maximize their health and cope with situations that put them out of work. Carol received a bachelor of science degree in biological chemistry from St. Peter's College and a master of science degree in physiology and biophysics from Rutgers University.

Corliss N. Hill, MPA

Corliss Hill is the national director of African American marketing at UnitedHealthcare. She directs the company's Generations of Wellness initiative, designed to improve the health care outcomes of African Americans by providing health education and access to quality health care services. Prior to joining UnitedHealthcare, Corliss helped launch the American Heart Associations national "Go Red For Women" campaign, and was a lifestyle editor at Essence magazine. Corliss is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, and received her master of public administration from California State University, Long Beach.

Patricia T. Horvath, RN, MSN

An accomplished author, lecturer and national speaker on public health, health education and workplace health promotion, Trisha Horvath is managing director of health and wellness strategies for UnitedHealthcare. She previously served as executive director and CEO of HealthSpace Cleveland as well as president of the International Center for Health Promotion Inc. Prior to that, she was a cardiac nurse at the Cleveland Clinic, and assistant professor and director of cardiovascular specialty at Yale University's Medical-Surgical Graduate Nursing Program. Horvath earned a BS degree from St. Louis University and master's degree in nursing from Case Western Reserve University.

Winnie King, MD

A board-certified emergency medicine physician, Dr. Winnie King has practiced medicine for over 20 years, and has become a well-known and respected physician and talk show host. Dr. King won her fourth Emmy Award in 2008 as host of the nationally syndicated PBS show "Keeping Kids Healthy." She has also served as host for numerous other television shows on PBS, Lifetime Network, and America's Health Network and has made special guest appearances on Oprah, Montel and The John Walsh Show. An advocate for women's and children's health, Dr. King is known for her warmth, humor and ability to explain complex issues with ease.

After completing her medical school and emergency medicine residency training at Howard University in Washington D.C., Dr. King practiced in several cities including Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Los Angeles and Orlando. She currently practices in Houston and is affiliated with St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital.

John Luther, DDS

Dr. John Luther is the chief dental officer for UnitedHealthcare. He provides strategic direction for disease management and wellness programs, including those impacting oral health in early childhood. Dr. Luther is a graduate of the University of Southern California and Northwestern University. He previously served as senior vice president of dental practice at the American Dental Association (ADA).

Rhonda Medows, MD

Dr. Rhonda Medows is chief medical officer for UnitedHealth Group's government health programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and Military & Veterans. Before joining the company, Dr. Medows served as commissioner for the Georgia Department of Community Health and state health officer for Georgia. Dr. Medows is board certified in family medicine and a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. She practiced medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., and served as a clinical instructor there for medical students and residents.

Elizabeth Miller, MD, PhD

Dr. Elizabeth Miller is the Chief of Adolescent Medicine at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Her current research includes examining the prevention of sexual violence among teens.

Barbara K. Moeller, RN, PHN

Barb Moeller is the Manager of Evercare Solutions for Caregivers, a UnitedHealth Group company. A registered nurse for 44 years, Barb completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Minnesota and worked in emergency departments for the first 15 years of her nursing career. After obtaining her BSN, Barb worked as a Medicare nurse and then as a case manager for the Community Health department in Hennepin county.

Susan B. Parks, CEO, WalkStyles

Sue Parks is founder and CEO of WalkStyles, a company devoted to helping people live active, healthy lifestyles. Prior to the launch of WalkStyles, Parks held the number two positions at Kinko's and Gateway as well as executive roles at US West. It was during her corporate years that Parks became a 10,000 steps a day walker. She is the co-author (with Pat Bonavia, VP of Corporate Wellness for WalkStyles) of "I Count: 10 Simple Steps to a Healthy Life". Parks founded the Women's Philanthropy Fund with Orange County's United Way. She serves on the Orange County boards of the United Way, Susan G. Komen, UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business, WomanSage and the Girl Scouts.

Rhonda L. Randall, D.O.

Dr. Rhonda Randall is senior medical director and vice president of clinical performance for Ovations and national medical director for Evercare Hospice and Palliative Care, UnitedHealth Group Companies. She received her medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and completed her internship, family practice residency and geriatric fellowship at Florida Hospital in Orlando, Fla., where she served as chief intern and chief resident.

Dr. Randall is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, the American Geriatrics Society, the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, the American Academy of Home Care Physicians, and the American Medical Directors Association, where she currently serves as a state delegate, chair of the Florida chapter's education committee as well as the immediate past-chair of the hospice sub-section.

Jacqueline Stiff, M.D., M.S.P.H.

Dr. Stiff holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and received her medical degree from Columbia University. After completing her pediatric residency training at the University of California, Los Angeles, she completed the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, and received a Masters of Science in Public Health from UCLA. She is Board Certified in both General Preventive Medicine and Pediatrics.

Dr. Stiff is the Vice President, Health Care Strategies for UnitedHealthcare and represents UnitedHealth Group on the National Health Plan Collaborative, an organization of 11 national and regional health plans organized to improve quality of care through reducing racial and ethnic healthcare disparities, as well as the American Medical Association Commission to End Health Care Disparities.

Aretha (Hill) Thurmond, Olympic Athlete

Aretha (Hill) Thurmond was barely 14 years old when she picked up a discus for the first time in the spring of 1991, but by the end of that first track season she had developed a passion for throwing. She also developed a passion for winning. She took second at state that first year. Disappointed, she set a goal to take first. She took first for the next three years and broke her own state record in her senior year. Aretha received a track and field scholarship to the University of Washington and earned a berth on the United States Olympic Team in her sophomore year. After graduation from college, Aretha moved to Tennessee and then to Auburn, Alabama to train full time. She is committed to medaling at the Olympics before she concludes her throwing career.

Carrie Tollefson, Olympic Athlete

Carrie Tollefson, a 2004 Olympian and member of Team Adidas since 2000, won 13 state high school championships, including five consecutive individual cross country state championships, which is still a national record. She also won five NCAA individual championships and a team cross country championship while at Villanova University. Since turning pro, she has been a three-time national champion – in the 1500 meters, 3000 meters, at 4k in cross country – and an Olympian in the 1500 meters competing in Athens.

Nancy Williams, MS, RN, PHN

Ms. Williams has over 30 years of leadership experience in providing care to frail, vulnerable and chronically ill populations both in the US and UK. She has experience in program development ranging from comprehensive home care services, including hospice, palliative care, infusion therapy, and private duty services. She has designed and developed clinical models for public and private sectors including chronic disease and high-risk management. Currently Nancy is Senior Director of the Advanced Illness and Palliative Care Services for Ovations. Ms. Williams has a BSN with Distinction from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Science Degree in Public Health Nursing and Public Health from the University of Minnesota. Nancy is a member of Sigma Theta Tau.

Deneen Vojta, MD

Deneen Vojta, MD is senior vice president of the UnitedHealth Center for Health Reform and Modernization. In this role, she created the partnership with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the YMCA-USA, to launch the National Diabetes Prevention Program and now serves as executive vice president and chief clinical officer of the Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance.

Dr. Vojta previously served as vice president of research and innovation for UnitedHealthcare. Under her leadership, Vojta forged practical and sustainable solutions for issues confronting the health care system, including payment reform and chronic care delivery – most notably introducing a Diabetes Health Plan to the commercial marketplace.

Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD

Kathleen Zelman is a nationally-known nutrition correspondent, editor, and contributing writer of diet and nutrition articles. She currently serves as director-at-large on the ADA Board of Directors, and received the prestigious American Dietetic Association (ADA) "Media Excellence Award" for her contribution and commitment to educating consumers about food and nutrition issues through the media. Zelman's experience includes co-hosting a weekly radio program, serving 12 years as a national spokeswoman for the ADA, and making numerous print and television appearances including CNN, Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. She graduated from Montclair State University and received her Master's degree in public health from Tulane University.