2025 Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor
Diamond Sponsor 
Silver Sponsors  
 
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Contact us to inquire about our sponsor/exhibitor opportunities by emailing info@navref.org or by
calling 703-202-8113
Conference Questions?
David Stout Program Support david@navref.org
Hawk Tran
Chief Operating Officer
htran@navref.org
Need help with PowerPoint slides? Use NAVREF's template deck! Template Conference SlidesEmail estout@navref.org for questions.
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Sunday, September 14th
| 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM |
Registration Opens |
| 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM |
Pre-Conference: Networking Blitz |
| 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM |
NAVREF Annual Membership Meeting |
| 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM |
Welcome Reception |
Monday, September 15th
| 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM |
Breakfast
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| 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM |
National Anthem and Welcome
- Rashi Romanoff, NAVREF CEO
- Melissa Swoope, PharmD, CSP, Senior Director, Patient Engagement: Access and Retention – Global Community Engagement Strategy, Eli Lilly and Company
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| 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM |
Keynote: Voices of Veterans
- Chris Blomgren, Voice of the Veterans, NAVREF
- Cindy Parsons, Warriors Speak Spokesperson, Wounded Warrior Project
Veteran and former Army medic Chris Blomgren and military caregiver Cindy Parsons share their powerful stories of service, resilience, and recovery. From the battlefield to the home front, they offer candid insights into the challenges veterans and families face, and the hope found in treatment, advocacy, and community.
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| 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM |
Refreshment Break |
| 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM |
Federal Grants Management
- Pamela Sharpe, Center for Veterans Research and Education
- Leah Phillips, James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital
- Christiane Perry, Veterans Medical Research Foundation
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Reducing Fiduciary Risk: Governance Strategies for Non-Profit Boards
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Finance Workshop: Key Accounting Standards and Government Best Practices
- Bennie Lewis,CPA, Assurance Dimensions
- Preston Jenson, CPA, Panda Accounting
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| 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM |
Lunch on Your Own
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| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM |
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Strategic Planning with Your Board - Jessie Lenhardt, Baker Tilly
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Unlocking the Dawn: How NPCs Can Harness AI Today
- Hawk Tran, NAVREF
- Brittany Baber, Lowcountry Center for Veterans Research
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Finance Workshop: Practical Applications & Tips
- Bennie Lewis, CPA, Assurance Dimensions
- Preston Jenson, CPA, Panda Accounting
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| 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM |
Refreshment Break
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| 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
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Workshop: Executive Leadership Excellence: Essential Skills for High Impact Leadership
- Lori Gould, Middle Tennessee Research Institute
- Angie Smith, North Florida Foundation for Research and Education, Inc.
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Workshop: Crowd Sourcing Solutions
- Carol Meyer, Institute of Medical Research
- Allison Shafer, Veterans Research and Education Foundation of St. Louis
- Hawk Tran, NAVREF
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Workshop: NPC Governance
- Matt Dinsdale, Baker Tilly
- Kinman Tong, Baker Tilly
- Jessie Lenhardt, Baker Tilly
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| 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM |
10th Annual NAVREF Awards Dinner
- Join this evening of celebration and recognition of award recipients.
- Hear from our Diamond Sponsor, Johnson & Johnson, Ken Marcy, MBA, Associate Director, Strategic Account Lead Oncology
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Tuesday, September 16th
| 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM |
Breakfast
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| 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM |
Keynote: Celebrating 100 Years and Looking Forward
- Dr. Grant Huang, PhD, Acting Chief Research and Development Officer (CRADO), Veterans Health Administration, Office of Research and Development (ORD)
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| 10:00 AM - 10:15 AM |
Refreshment Break |
| 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM |
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What it Takes to Get to the Next level: Affiliate Research Relationships (none/needed)
- Jeremy Greene, MS, Executive Director, Arizona Veterans Research and Education Foundation, Dayton Veterans Affairs Research and Education Foundation
- Dr. Sam Aguayo, MD, Associate Chief of Staff for Research, VA Phoenix Health Care System
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What it Takes to Get to the Next level: Affiliate Research Relationships (existing/growing)
- Rebecca Rosales, MBA, CRA, CEO, Northern California Institute for Research and Education
- Danielle Fluemer, MPA, Executive Director, Seattle Institute for Biomedical and Clinical Research
- Dr. Irene Zoesch, MD, Associate Chief of Staff for Research, and Designated Education Officer VA, Mann Grandstaff Medical Center
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| 11:15 AM - 1:00 PM |
Lunch On Your Own
Private Luncheon: 2026 Conference Committee Volunteers
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| 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM |
Policy and Progress at the Dawn of a New Century for Veterans Research
- Dr. Elena Fuentes-Afflick, MD, MPH, Chief Scientific Officer, AAMC
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Dr. Rajeev Ramchand, PhD, Codirector, RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute; Senior Behavioral Scientist; Professor of Policy Analysis, RAND School of Public Policy
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Ric Nannini, PharmD, MBA, National Oncology Account Director, Veterans Affairs, AstraZeneca
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| 2:00 PM - 2:15 PM |
Refreshment Break |
| 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM |
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Strategies for Recruiting New PIs into Research and Marketing Your VA-NPC Within the VA
- Dr. River Smith, VA Eastern Oklahoma Health Care
- Carmen Mincy, Bedford VA Research Corporation, Inc.
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The Three Primary Responsibilities of Effective People Leadership
- Patrick Donnelly, Doolittle Leadership Center
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| 3:15 PM - 3:30 PM |
Refreshment Break |
| 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM |
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NPC Growth in the New Century Through Education, Industry, and Investment
- Casey Braddy, Eli Lilly and Company
- Lewis Lea, Merrill Lynch
- Greg Corso, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.
- David Cennimo, Department of Veterans Affairs, VA New Jersey Healthcare System
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Clinical Trial Budgeting
- MaryAnne Bowman, Founder & Strategic Growth Partner, ClinGRO | CollabTrials | Coffee To GRO
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| 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM |
Social Activities!
- Rockies vs. Marlins Baseball Game
- Mini Golf
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Wednesday, September 17th
| 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM |
Wellness Activity: Puppy Yoga |
| 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM |
Breakfast
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| 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM |
General Session: Tomorrow’s Care, Today’s Commitment
The NPC and the VA Research Office: Working Together Towards Common Goals
- Dr. Irene Zoesch, MD Associate Chief of Staff for Research, and Designated Education Officer Mann Grandstaff Medical Center
- Dr. Amado Baez, ACOS-R&D, VA Augusta Health Care System
- Brittany Baber, Executive Director, Lowcountry Center for Veterans Research
- Dr. R. Amanda C LaRue, PhD, Associate Chief of Staff for Research, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center
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Chris Wood, Executive Director, Dorn Research Institute
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Dr. Mike Ryan, PhD, Associate Chief of Staff for Research, Columbia VA Health Care System
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| 10:00 AM - 10:15 AM |
Special Annoucement!
- Dawn Brown PhD, Field Medical Health Equity Lead/ Principle MSL, Genentech
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| 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM |
General Session: Tomorrow’s Care, Today’s Commitment
The Next 100 Years of VA Research
- Dr. Jay Gorman, Ph.D., MIRREC Clinical Research Investigator, Director, Social Reintegration Research Program, VA Bedford Healthcare System
- Dr. Rona Relova, M.D., Research Health Scientist, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System
- Dr. Arash Harzand, M.D., M.B.A., FAAC, Director of Digital Cardiology, Atlanta VA Medical Center
- Moderated by Rashi Romanoff, NAVREF CEO
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| 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM |
NPC Conference Wrap-Up and Adjournment
- Hawk Tran, NAVREF COO
- Katrina Washburn, Executive Director, South Florida VA Foundation For Research and Education, 2025 Conference Committee Chair
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Promoting Partnerships To Improve Veterans’ Health
