Mary Ann Buckley holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work. She has worked in the field of aging for 30 years in a variety of settings: hospital, rehab hospital, nursing home and Care Management. She has led support groups through the Alzheimer’s Association and has provided education presentations for older adults and their family members as well as professionals on topics related to aging.

Currently, Mary Ann’s professional and personal life are similar as she is a long-distance caregiver for her 95-year-old mother. Mary Ann thanks her mom and the many older adults she has worked with for sharing their wisdom and teaching her the benefits of independence and resilience in the aging process.

Session:

Breakout 203: What is Compassion Fatigue? How to Recognize When the Professional Needs Support

Daniel Gold is a seasoned healthcare executive and entrepreneur, known for building, scaling, and selling multiple healthcare technology and service companies. His extensive career includes leadership roles in venture-backed startups and publicly traded companies, with expertise in homecare, healthcare technology, and senior care services.

Recently, he led Lifematters, a $40M+ multi-state homecare company, through a successful acquisition by HCA/TheKey. Before that, he drove the growth of Homecare.com, a marketplace for healthcare workers valued at over $1.5 billion. Mr. Gold excels in organizational transformation and value creation, particularly at the intersection of technology and healthcare. His pioneering work in telemedicine, healthcare monitoring, and innovative care models highlights his impact. Holding both a J.D. and MBA, Mr. Gold’s blend of legal, financial, and operational skills has led to successful acquisitions to industry leaders like GE Healthcare, Bosch Healthcare, Tunstall Health UK, and Walgreens, showcasing his strategic growth and innovation expertise.

Session:

Breakout 201: Revolutionizing Healthcare: The AI Adventure Begins!

Lindsey Howard serves as the regional director of government affairs for Maxim Healthcare Services, focusing on 10 northern states. There, she advocates for patient access to care, the needs of caregivers and nurses, and the importance of private duty nursing. She has 15+ years of experience within the home health care industry including caregiving to patients as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Since then she has moved through the ranks throughout the industry as a Client Services Manager, Home Health Aide Recruiter, Quality Assurance auditor, and in the past 5 years has worked as a member of a Government Affairs team. Understanding all parts of home health care has been essential to her professional development and career. She is passionate about ensuring quality care is delivered to those requiring care in the home and working with industry partners to improve those services.

Session:

Breakout 103: Advocacy 101

Throughout her career Danna has worked in various levels of State government and in the private sector. She has established a reputation as a problem solver and consensus builder who can handle complicated issues in a trusted and professional manner.

Beginning in 1997, Danna served as Counsel to the then House Environmental Matters Committee, working on complex health care issues, and then spent three years as a senior legislative advisor to Governor Glendening, where she worked on a wide range of issues in the areas of health, environment, civil rights and homeland security. Immediately prior to joining the Firm, Danna served as the Senior Vice President of Public Policy for LifeSpan Network, the leading senior care provider association in Maryland.

Raised in Howard County, Maryland, Danna holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from Towson University, where she graduated cum laude. In 1996, she graduated with honors from the University of Maryland School of Law, where she was an editor on the Maryland Law Review. Prior to entering State government service, Danna began her career as a litigation attorney at Smith, Somerville and Case, P.A. Danna resides in Annapolis with her two children.

Session:

State Legislative Update

Michelle Lynn is the senior director for clinical support services at MedStar Health Home Care, working primarily with the Intake, Scheduling, and Physician Orders teams. Michelle represents MHHC on the systemwide EI&D core council and is the co-chair of MHHC’s EI&D committee. Previously, Michelle served as President of the Board of Directors for the United States Lactation Consultant Association and was instrumental in their implementation of EI&D strategies, including significant business operation decisions that increased the accessibility of the organization to all lactation care providers.

Michelle holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration and is an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant. Michelle and her husband reside in Columbia, MD, with their beautiful, blended family of eight children.

Session:

Breakout 202: Equity, Inclusivity & Diversity in Home Care: Lessons Learned & Future Planning

Dr. Monika Virk, an accomplished home healthcare expert, brings over 13 years of experience to her role as the Founder and CEO of HOP into Homecare! Her career is highlighted by pioneering work in developing home-based clinical programs, including Enhanced Ortho Care at Home, MD House Call, and hospital at home. At Inova Health Systems, she was instrumental in enhancing clinician onboarding and training program as the Director of Quality, Education, and Program Development.

Currently, Dr. Virk is committed to increasing the pool of trained home health care clinicians through her focus on comprehensive orientation and continuous education in the sector. She lives in Northern Virginia with her family and a dog named Rex.

Session:

Breakout 102: Empowering Home Health Providers: Strategies for Success with 2025 VBP, Sepsis Management, and Complex Patient Care