About URAC

Shawn Griffin, M.D., joined URAC as president and CEO in February 2019, with extensive experience in quality measurement and analytics for physician and hospital quality improvement. Most recently, he was Vice President for Clinical Performance Improvement and Applied Analytics at Premier, Inc, where he helped develop technology that supports value-based care, enterprise analytics and ACO reporting. Previously, as Chief Quality and Informatics Officer for MHMD Memorial Hermann Physician Network, Dr. Griffin directed the quality measurement and data collection programs for one of the largest and most successful ACOs in the country. A nationally recognized expert on population health, physician quality improvement, incentive design, clinically integrated networks and ACOs, Dr. Griffin has been a featured speaker for the National Quality Forum, HIMSS, American Medical Group Association, AMDIS, CHIME, American Medical Association and numerous system retreats.

Robin Adams, vice president of strategy and product development at URAC, has more than two decades of experience working in pediatric academic and community-based health systems developing strategic plans and leading multi-disciplinary teams to facilitate implementation. At Children’s National Health System in Washington, DC, she was responsible for the plan that introduced the population health-based strategy supporting the development of Children’s regional outpatient center strategy to facilitate access to the broader District, Maryland and Virginia populations. At INOVA, Adams served as chief growth officer and was a member of a system-wide cross-functional team that developed the INOVA Heart and Vascular Institute, INOVA Spine Institute, INOVA Breast Care Institute and the INOVA Neurosciences Institute. At Sentara Healthcare, she supported the system-wide effort to develop the inaugural out of Hamptons Road market to grow the Sentara brand in Northern Virginia. She received both her BS and MA in Finance from Cornell University and her MBA from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. She serves as adjunct faculty at George Mason University where she teaches Strategic Healthcare Management in the School of Health Administration and Policy.

Jeffrey Carr, vice president of business development, sales and marketing at URAC, has more than three decades of experience specializing in health care business development, marketing, sales, and the commercialization of “startup” services. As Inova’s Corporate & Consumer Services Growth Officer, Jeff was responsible for seeking new opportunities and revenue to deliver traditional and innovative health care services in a variety of consumer, employer, producer and new market settings. Jeff directed strategic business partnerships, employer and physician sales, marketing, growth and contracting efforts. Under Jeff’s leadership, he secured $450M+ in new business and revenue for Inova during his tenure. He was the co-founder of Inova VIP360°, a consumer and employer-based concierge subscription membership program.  He also served as the “Go to Market” leader, trainer and marketing expert with Aetna to rollout a new business entity, Innovation Health. Jeff also directed Inova’s marketing and physician call center. 

Jeff had several years of Public Relations experience prior to joining Inova. He has consulted across the U.S. as a resource and subject matter expert for dozens of organizations to include The Advisory Board, Forum for Health Care Strategists, Northern Virginia Technology Council, Washington Business Journal, Washington Post, Lakeland Health, Robert Wood Johnson, George Mason University and East Stroudsburg University.

Jeff is very active in the community serving on boards and volunteering for dozens of organizations. 

Maggie Cornett brings more than 35 years of healthcare and information technology experience to the nation’s independent leader in promoting healthcare quality through accreditation, certification, and measurement.

Prior to joining URAC, Cornett held senior IT positions at Inova Health System in Northern Virginia for more than 21 years. For almost three years, she was Inova’s vice president for IT enterprise applications, where she was responsible for overseeing the implementation of the more than $300 million enterprise-wide EpicCare electronic medical record system. Cornett earned a Master of Science in computer systems management from the University of Maryland. She is a member of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMISS) and College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME). She is certified in Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Foundation and the CHIME Certified Healthcare CIO program. Additionally, Cornett, a Registered Nurse, earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Pennsylvania State University.

Houeida Saad, general counsel, has a strong background in both the payor and provider side of health care, with extensive knowledge on the organizational structures of non-profits, healthcare regulatory matters, risk management, and employment and labor issues.

An attorney and a registered nurse, Saad previously served as general counsel to Renown Health in Reno, Nevada, deputy counsel and assistant vice president for Inova Health System in Northern Virginia, and associate counsel for the BlueCross BlueShield Association in Washington, D.C. She is a former adjunct professor of law at the Washington College of Law at American University in Washington, D.C., and was named Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year by both the District of Columbia Bar, and National Law Journal.

Saad earned a law degree as well as a master’s degree in law and international affairs from American University in Washington, D.C. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.

David Souders directs and manages all financial and other administrative support functions. Souders leads and coordinates business planning related to finance, systems, and budgeting. Before joining URAC, Souders was the CFO for Colonial Parking, Inc., the Mid-Atlantic region’s leading provider of parking services and solutions, where he was responsible for accounting and finance, information technology, risk management, human resources, customer care and office operations/administration. His other previous positions include CFO for BOWA Builders, the innovative high-end residential construction company, and corporate controller for Vastera, a technology company which he helped guide through a successful public offering. Souders is a licensed CPA in Maryland and Virginia. He has a B.S. from Virginia Tech and an MBA from Hood College.

Eleni Theodoropoulos is the Vice President, Quality, Research & Measurement at URAC. With over 15 years in healthcare and 20 years in information technology, she recognizes the challenges associated with data collection, measurement, technology, and the impact to healthcare consumers. She is responsible to lead resources from URAC, industry representatives, and contractors in the development and implementation of products for measurement and assessment of various types of health care companies. Additionally, she provides oversight for the quality activities within URAC. 

In previous healthcare and technology roles, she has led or participated in various healthcare projects that have led to multiple standardized system and process improvements, demonstrated performance excellence, and unbudgeted revenue streams. Eleni holds a Bachelor of Science in Decision Sciences and Management Information Systems from George Mason University. She is also a Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS) since 2013 and is currently pursuing her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Aaron Turner-Phifer, vice president of government relations and policy, has nearly a decade of experience advising and crafting public policy at the federal, state, and local levels. He has experience working on health care quality initiatives and public policy that impacts Medicare, Medicaid, and Health Insurance Marketplace enrollees. He is an expert political and policy analyst with a unique understanding of the intricacies associated with the development of health care policy. He achieved his Master of Health Administration degree from the George Washington University.

Views, thoughts and opinions expressed in my articles belong solely to me, and not necessarily to my employer.

Karen Watts, PhD, a Registered Nurse and a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, brings over 35 years of experience in healthcare operations including program development, managed care and clinical information technology development. While on active duty, Dr. Watts was a neonatal intensive care nurse before moving to conducting managed care activities and eventually working for the U.S. Air Force Surgeon General. She has extensive knowledge of the effects of health disparities on women's health and infant mortality. 

Prior to joining URAC, Dr. Watts served as Director of Medical Management for DC Chartered Health Plan, Project Director for Delmarva Foundation for Medical Care, and Bureau Chief of Perinatal and Infant Health for the District of Columbia Department of Health. As Bureau Chief, Dr. Watts was instrumental in working to achieve a 42% decrease in infant mortality rates in 2014 in the District.

Dr. Watts holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing; a Master of Public Administration, Health Service Management; a Master of Business Administration, concentration in Finance; a Master Certificate in Program Management; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration, specialization in Public Administration.