Promoting Partnerships To Improve Veterans’ Health

2025 Sponsors


Platinum Sponsor

Diamond Sponsor

Silver Sponsors

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


 

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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 

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
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.

      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

      Fiduciary Responsibility of Boards

      • Erik Daley, Multnomah

        Finance Workshop: Key Changes in the New Tax Bill

        • Bennie Lewis,CPA, Assurance Dimensions 

         12:00 PM - 1:15 PM Lunch on Your Own
        1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

        Strategic Planning with Your Board

        • Matt Dinsdale, Baker Tilly
        • Kinman Tong, Baker Tilly

        Unlocking the Dawn: How NPCs Can Harness AI Today

        • Hawk Tran, NAVREF
        • Brittany Baber, Lowcountry Center for Veterans Research

        Finance Workshop: Practical Applications & Tips

        • Bennie Lewis, CPA, Assurance Dimensions
         2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

         Refreshment Break

         3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

        NPC Essentials 

        • Lori Gould, Middle Tennessee Research Institute
        • Angie Smith, North Florida Foundation for Research and Education, Inc.

        Crowd Sourcing Solutions Workshop

        • Carol Meyer, Institute of Medical Research
        • Allison Shafer, Veterans Research and Education Foundation of St. Louis
        • Hawk Tran, NAVREF

        NPC Governance Workshop

        • Matt Dinsdale, Baker Tilly
        • Kinman Tong, Baker Tilly
        • Jessie Lenhardt, Baker Tilly
         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

          Tuesday, September 16th

          7:00 AM - 8:30 AM

          Breakfast

            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)
             10:00 AM - 10:15 AM Refreshment Break
             10:15 AM - 11:15 AM

            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

              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
               11:15 AM - 1:00 PM

              Lunch On Your Own

              Private Luncheon: 2026 Conference Committee Volunteers

               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 OfficerAAMC
              • Dr. Rajeev Ramchand, PhD, Codirector, RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute; Senior Behavioral Scientist; Professor of Policy Analysis, RAND School of Public Policy

              • Ric Nannini, PharmD, MBA, National Oncology Account DirectorVeterans Affairs, AstraZeneca

                2:00 PM - 2:15 PM  Refreshment Break
                 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM

                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.

                The Three Primary Responsibilities of Effective People Leadership

                • Patrick Donnelly, Doolittle Leadership Center
                 3:15 PM - 3:30 PM  Refreshment Break
                3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

                NPC Growth in the New Century Through Education, Industry, and Investment

                • Casey Braddy, Eli Lilly and Company
                • Lewis LeaMerrill Lynch
                • Greg CorsoMerrill Lynch Wealth Management, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.
                • David CennimoDepartment of Veterans Affairs, VA New Jersey Healthcare System

                Clinical Trial Budgeting


                • MaryAnne Bowman, Co-Founder, CollabTrials
                   4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

                  Social Activities!

                  • Rockies vs. Marlins Baseball Game
                  • Mini Golf


                  Wednesday, September 17th

                   7:00 AM - 8:00 AM Wellness Activity: Puppy Yoga
                   8:00 AM - 9:00 AM 

                  Breakfast

                     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
                    • Chris Wood, Executive Director, Dorn Research Institute

                    • Dr. Mike Ryan, PhD, Associate Chief of Staff for Research, Columbia VA Health Care System

                     10:00 AM - 10:15 AM Special Annoucement! Feat. Genentech Industry Partner
                     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
                     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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