Special Session Speakers

Loren Kirk, PharmD, MBA, BCGP 
Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships, Pharmacy Quality Alliance

Loren Kirk serves as PQA’s Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships. He develops strategies to engage PQA members and other stakeholders through partnerships and sponsorships that advance PQA’s mission. He also manages PQA's stakeholder engagement, education and convening programs. Loren completed an Executive Fellowship at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation where he collaborated with stakeholders and PQA members on pharmacy practice advancement, professional association governance, and healthcare policy. Loren graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from North Carolina State University. He earned with his Doctor of Pharmacy from the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy at East Tennessee State University. 

Heather Kirkham, PhD, MPH
Director, Health Analytics, Research & Reporting, Walgreens
Dr. Heather Kirkham is a Director of Health Analytics, Research & Reporting at Walgreens. She oversees research and reporting to measure and articulate the value of Walgreen’s programs and services supporting specialty medications or health system partnerships. Dr. Kirkham’s research interests include specialty medications, pharmacy and disease management programs, hospital readmissions, immunizations, diabetic complications, administrative data analyses, continuity of care, and application of the social-ecological model. Dr. Kirkham holds a doctorate in public health epidemiology from Walden University and a Master of Public Health in community-oriented primary care (COPC) from George Washington University. 

Chris Kotschevar, PharmD, 
Director, Stakeholder Engagement, Pharmacy Quality Alliance
Christopher Kotschevar is the Director of Stakeholder Engagement for the Pharmacy Quality Alliance. Kotschevar develops and maintains relationships with PQA’s diverse stakeholders, seeking to connect members with opportunities to work together to improve quality medication use. Kotschevar earned his Doctorate of Pharmacy from the South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Profession. Upon graduation, he was awarded the college’s highest honor, Distinguished Graduate, for his professional service and scholarly work throughout his time at SDSU.

Dani Markus, PharmD, MBA
Director, Payer Products and Clinical Programs, Outcomes
Dani Markus, PharmD, MBA is the Director of Payer Products and Clinical Programs for Outcomes. Dr. Markus leads quality and product development strategy for Outcomes programs to optimize medication use and improve patient outcomes. She guides continuous quality improvement efforts to advance program efficiency and enhance value of MTM programs. Markus is a staunch advocate for high quality patient experiences and advancing pharmacy. 

Richard Schmitz
Chief Engagement Officer, Pharmacy Quality Alliance
Richard Schmitz provides visionary leadership for engaging PQA members and quality-focused health care organizations in PQA’s work to improve medication safety, adherence and appropriate use. Through meetings, events, communications, marketing, public affairs and compelling content, he leads an integrated approach to creating and overseeing programs that increase engagement and strengthen relationships and partnerships among PQA members and medication use quality stakeholders. An award-winning communicator, Schmitz has won the North America SABRE Award for Medical Technology and multiple FREDDIE Awards for Women’s Health. He is the author of numerous publications including “The Brain and Degenerative Diseases,” a chapter in “The Savvy Woman Patient: How and Why Your Sex Matters to Your Health."

Rajiv Shah, MD
Director, Chief Executive Officer, MyMeds
Dr. Shah is the Founder and CEO of MyMeds. He is a serial entrepreneur who focuses on big healthcare challenges and approaches them with common sense solutions. He combines his front-line experience as a practicing nephrologist with his understanding of human behavior to improve outcomes for patients. His TEDx talk – The New Disruptors in Healthcare: Patients and Pharmacists – have established him as a thought leader in the medication experience field. He received his M.D. from the University of Minnesota Medical School, and his B.A. in Cognitive Psychology from Boston University.

Matt Simmons
Product Manager, Payer Products, Outcomes
Matt Simmons leads product strategy, innovation, and development for Outcomes' Adherence product. He is an experienced technologist and product leader, and brings a unique perspective to healthcare having built and managed digital experiences for many leading ecommerce brands (you've probably stopped in at a few at your local mall). He joined Outcomes in 2020 eager to use his background in digital to advance Outcomes' mission of achieving healthy, adherent medication regimens, and delivering better outcomes for all.