Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Certificate Program

Carolyn Bailey B.S., CPHRM, CHSP

Carolyn Bailey, B.S., CPHRM, CHSP is the Director of Risk Management for the Blessing Health System located in Quincy, Illinois and has held this leadership position since 2008. The Blessing Health System consists of two hospitals, physician groups, a number of clinics, a four-year nursing and health sciences college, a captive, a foundation, TPA service for area employers who are self-insured, a CIN, and a group of medical specialty businesses (such as a linen company, durable medical equipment, retail pharmacies, etc.) all within a tristate region. Carolyn has oversight of the Risk Management Department on behalf of all the entities within the system and helped to create and sustain the system’s Enterprise Risk Management program. Carolyn has worked in the field of Risk Management for over thirty years. Carolyn has experience in all aspects of enterprise risk management, strategic planning, business continuity, claims and litigation, insurance and risk financing, process improvement, safety and security, including co-chair of the health systems Workplace Violence Prevention Committee and Employee Safety Committee, loss control, among other responsibilities. She has presented at various conferences, podcasts and was a contributor to ASHRM’s ERM Playbook and AHLA's and ASHRM's 4th Edition of Enterprise Risk Management For Health Care. She is also an instructor for ASHRM’s ERM Certificate Program and recently taught ERM to the leaders of Hamad Medical Corporation in Doha, Qatar. Carolyn currently serves on the Advisory Board of ASHRM and is President of ISHRM. She also has completed graduate studies in Management and Leadership.

Rebecca Cady BSN, JD Esq, CPHRM, DFASHRM, FACHE, CRW
VP Chief Risk Officer, Children’s National Hospital

Rebecca Cady is Vice President, Chief Risk Officer at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. She also serves as the deputy general counsel. She is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduate of Georgetown University, and a graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law. She has published extensively in the area of nursing and the law, and is a frequent lecturer to healthcare providers. She was named the 2018 Risk Manager of the Year by RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society, a global professional organization of risk professionals from all industries. She was also named the 2018 Risk Manager of the Year by ASHRM, the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management. She was recognized as a 2018 Woman to Watch by Business Insurance Magazine in December, 2018.

Rebecca is a Distinguished Fellow of ASHRM as well as a Certified Professional Health Care Risk Manager (CPHRM), and RIMS Certified Risk Management Professional (CRMP). She is also a board certified healthcare executive, holding the FACHE designation from the American College of Healthcare Executives. Rebecca holds a Certificate in Strategic Decision and Risk Management from Stanford University. She was President of ASHRM for 2023. She currently serves as a Director of the Board of the D.C. Bar.

Barbara McCarthy, RN, MPH, CPHRM, DFASHRM 
Retired as Enterprise Risk Officer, Beverly Hospital

Barb recently retired as Enterprise Risk Officer at Beverly Hospital, a member of Beth Israel Lahey Health, in Beverly Massachusetts. She was a resource for risk prevention and control for acute care, inpatient behavioral health, and insured physician practices. She was also a resource for the compliance, privacy, & environmental safety programs. Barb received a diploma in Nursing from New England Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing in Boston, a BSN from Northeastern University, and an MPH from Boston University. Past roles include critical care and inpatient nursing management; performance improvement, infection control, safety, privacy, & employee health leadership as well as Joint Commission coordination. Barb has been an active member of both state & national risk management associations & was Massachusetts state chapter president in 2009. Barb served as ASHRM President 2022 & is an ERM faculty member. Barb was ASHRM Risk Manager of the Year 2020 & Massachusetts Risk Manager of the Year 2021. She is a member of the Human Rights Committee at Melmark New England & received its Vision of Hope award in 2022. Barb is currently chair of the Rockport Board of Health.

Denise Dawson, BSN, MHSA, DFASHRM, ARM, CPHRM
Team Leader, Healthcare Risk Consultant, Unison Risk Advisors/RCM&D SISCO

Denise (Shope) Whiting Dawson joined RCM&D in 2008 as a Risk Management Consultant within the Healthcare Division. She is a nationally recognized healthcare enterprise risk management professional with extensive healthcare experience, and more than 30 years specializing in risk management, regulatory compliance, quality improvement and patient safety. Denise is a Team Leader for the RCM&D Healthcare Risk Management Services. She provides comprehensive risk management consultative services for her clients. In addition, she leads RCM&D’s Healthcare Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) service line. Denise is a past President of the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM) and is faculty for ASHRM's HRM and ERM Certificate programs.

Kristen Dyar, B.S. 
Administrator – ERM, IU Health

Kristen Dyar, B.S., is the Program Director of Enterprise Risk Management for IU Health located in Indianapolis, Indiana. She has over 20 years of healthcare experience with past roles in Supply Chain, Design & Construction, and Operational Excellence/Process Improvement. At IU Health, she has been instrumental in revamping the Enterprise Risk Management program, establishing an ERM charter, and facilitating risk assessments with executive leadership.

Kristen has demonstrated expertise in healthcare project management, change management, strategic planning, and organizational transformation. With strong skills in developing risk mitigation strategies, creating comprehensive reporting templates, and building cross-functional partnerships, she enhances organizational effectiveness through collaborative and strategic approaches.

Deb Lessard JD, MA, BSN, CPHRM, FASHRM
Risk and Communication Consultant, Lessard Consulting

Deb is nurse-attorney with 30 years of experience in health care risk management, patient safety, quality, and claims. I have worked in roles as an educator, consultant, interim system director, and vice president. My experience has been with insurance liability carriers, large multi-campus health care systems, critical access hospitals, professional associations, and universities. I have multiple publications and frequent speaking engagements.