Today’s CTOs are at the forefront of business operations and are more vital than ever. They are developing strategies to stay ahead of a rapidly changing industry. Chief Technology Officers must have the best tech planning, selection, and implementation practices. Providers who can leverage technology to reduce workload, improve operational efficiencies, and produce/report improved outcomes will not just succeed but have a significant advantage over competitors. This competitive edge drives CTOs to excel and stay ahead in the industry.
The OPEN MINDS Chief Technology Officer Learning Path was created to equip today’s CTOs with cutting-edge strategies for leveraging technology to improve consumer engagement, advance hybrid delivery models, strengthen your care network, improve organizational efficiency, and use AI to enhance clinical productivity.
View featured courses and sessions below and take the next step towards enhancing your skills and strategies!
Finding An EHR For Your Future: The 2026 OPEN MINDS Best Practices Seminar On EHR Selection, Implementation & Optimization
Sponsored By: 
Over the past twenty years, adopting electronic health record systems (EHRs) has changed how health services are managed and delivered. As the health care system has continued to evolve with more value-based reimbursement, the push towards integrated care coordination, and the rise in consumerism, the technology infrastructure needed by provider organizations has changed—including EHRs. For most executives, the EHR is a significant investment, and choosing the right system (or keeping the wrong system) can make or break any organization.
This essential seminar is for any executive considering a new EHR system—whether it is your organization’s first EHR or upgrading a system that isn’t delivering the functionality needed for sustainability. Also, OPEN MINDS Associates will guide you through a step-by-step process for selecting an EHR that fits all your organization’s needs. The seminar will cover:
- The best practice model for assessing the tech functionality your organization needs for future success
- Steps for vetting vendors and their products and services
- Budgeting for EHR software and implementation
- Ensuring the best value and performance in contract negotiating
Joseph P. Naughton-Travers, EdM
Joseph P. Naughton-Travers, EdM, Senior Associate, has more than 30 years of experience in the health and human service field. In this tenure as senior associate with OPEN MINDS since 1998, he has served as lead of dozens of client initiatives, served as editor of OPEN MINDS publications, and is the author of many groundbreaking articles and presentations.
Mr. Naughton-Travers brings to OPEN MINDS a broad range of experiences in private and public sector delivery of behavioral health and social services. He started his career as a behavioral health clinician, working in both child welfare and community mental health clinic settings. Subsequently, Mr. Naughton-Travers held a senior business operations management position for a psychiatric hospital system and its community mental health clinics. Later, he was vice president of a firm specializing in information systems and billing and receivables management for community-based mental health programs.
Since joining OPEN MINDS, Mr. Naughton-Travers has developed business solutions for provider and professional organizations, state and county government, technology companies, and venture capital firms. His primary areas of expertise include strategic planning and metrics-based management, electronic health record (EHR) and technology selection and implementation, operations improvement, and corporate compliance. For the past decade, over half his consulting practice has focused on aiding organizations in technology selection and implementation, including all aspects of strategic technology planning, functional specifications development, request for proposal development, vendor selection, and contracting.
He has written numerous articles, including “Winning the Human Resource Wars: Tried, True and New Strategies for Behavioral Health and Social Service Organizations,” “Five Pillars of Management Competency,” “Data Driven Decision Making: Moving to an Organizational Measurement Culture,” “Survival of the Smartest: What is Your Organization’s Information Literacy IQ?,” and “Strategic Human Resource Management: Aligning Compensation with Employee Performance and Organizational Strategy.” Mr. Naughton-Travers is also a nationally recognized speaker, having conducted hundreds of executive and professional executive training events around the nation.
Mr. Naughton-Travers received his Bachelor’s degree from Miami University of Ohio and his Masters’ of Education in Counseling Psychology from Boston University.
Creating A Winning Tech Strategy: The 2026 OPEN MINDS Seminar On Building A Digital Transformation Roadmap
Sponsored By:
As the rate of technological advancements continues to progress, and an emphasis is put on consumer experience, much focus has shifted to digital strategies for health and human service organizations. These strategies involve a multi-pronged technology-driven approach that leads to streamlining processes and higher performance. While the post-pandemic era has accelerated the use of technology to support consumer access, using a technology strategy to assure business success goes beyond a consumer digital interface is essential. This seminar will focus on the key dimensions of digital transformation and provide a road map for executive teams to integrate and incorporate their entire organization. Attendees will gain insights into a digital-first approach focused on consumer experience, organizational efficiency, resiliency, growth, and sustainability.
Key objectives include:
- Â A road map for digital-first evolution and what it means to be a digital-first organization
- The eight dimensions of a digital-first framework for quality and performance
- Critical organizational competencies needed for leading-edge technology transformation
Sharon Hicks, MSW, MBA
Sharon Hicks, OPEN MINDS Senior Associate, has more than 20 years of experience in the health and human service field. She has extensive experience and wide range of expertise in health plan management, in clinical operations management, and technology.
Prior to joining OPEN MINDS, Ms. Hicks spent two decades in a number of executive positions within the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) system and within its health plan division. Ms. Hicks served as the Chief Operating Officer for Community Care Behavioral Health, a managed behavioral health organization. She was responsible for all aspects of the organization’s operations including fiscal, information systems, the claims processing department, and the design of clinical systems. In addition Ms. Hicks managed the day-to-day operations of including human resources, facilities, purchasing, and security.
Ms. Hicks also served as the Vice President, Internet Strategy, UPMC Insurance Services Division and, since 2002, as the Chief Executive Officer of Askesis Development Group, Inc. since May of 2002. In this role, Ms. Hicks was responsible for the growth of the company, profitability of the company, and the direction of software development.
Ms. Hick started her impressive health care career as a psychiatric social worker before being promoted to Assistant Director of Social Work. Prior to her executive promotions, Ms. Hicks served as a Clinical Administrator for both Ambulatory Services and Emergency and Intake Services at the UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. In this role, Ms. Hicks managed the behavioral health division, the budgets for all departments, and implemented new software replacing paper billing for clinical services.
Ms. Hicks received both her Masters of Business Administration and Masters of Social Work degrees from the University of Pittsburg. Before pursuing her graduate education, Ms. Hicks received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.
Protecting What Matters: How To Know If Your Organization Is Cyber Secure
As behavioral health organizations become increasingly digital, protecting sensitive patient, clinical and financial data has never been more critical—or more complex. Cyber threats, ransomware attacks, and evolving regulatory requirements place executive leaders at the center of data security and organizational risk.
This session will provide behavioral health executives with a how to guide to secure their whole environment, including data, systems, email, and the people they serve—empowering leaders to protect patient trust, ensure compliance and safeguard the long-term stability of their organizations. Â
Attendees will leave with:
- How to identify vulnerabilities across clinical systems, EHRs, third party vendors and remote work environments
- The ability to distinguish between perceived and actual risks; and ask the right questions of internal teams and technology partners
- Strategies for governance, accountability and incident-response planning to prepare for and prevent breaches
Innovative Dashboards & Predictive Analytics To Make Your Data Work For YouÂ
Behavioral health organizations generate vast amounts of data, yet many executive teams struggle to turn that information into timely, actionable insight. Disconnected systems, manual reporting, and unclear dashboards often limit leaders’ ability to make confident strategic and operational decisions.
This session pulls the curtain back on the innovative tools and dashboards developed by Pacific Clinics, California’s largest community-based non-profit provider of mental and behavioral health services. Hear how they are transforming raw data into meaningful intelligence, including identifying the highest risk patients and recommended treatment paths. Attendees will gain a practical overview of data platforms, analytics tools, and reporting solutions being used in a leading behavioral health organization. Â
Key takeaways include:
- How these tools integrate with EHRs and financial systems to improve visibility into clinical outcomes and operational performance
- The best tools and strategies to support data-informed decision making across the organization
- How to evaluate solutions and align technology investments with strategic priorities
Daniel Lakin, Ph.D.
Dr. Dan Lakin is the Director Of Outcomes & Evaluation for Pacific Clinics. He completed his doctoral and postdoctoral training at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Global Mental Health Lab, where his research focused on mental health program implementation and evaluation in humanitarian settings. Dr. Lakin has worked with the World Health Organization, HealthRight International, and USAID on mental health programming for survivors of torture, gender-based and intimate partner violence, and conflict. Dr. Lakin remains interested in the evidence-based development of mental health programming for last mile populations. At Pacific Clinics, he continues to focus on empowering providers in the use of research-motivated thinking in their everyday practice, and expanding access to meaningful psychosocial interventions for the most vulnerable beneficiaries.
Daniel is speaking during Preparing For CalAIM – Creating The Tech Infrastructure Needed For Success In A Population Health & Performance-Based Service Delivery System.
How To Build AI Governance For Responsible AdoptionÂ
As AI adoption accelerates, organizations need more than just tools and policies. They need a governance framework that enables safe, compliant, and scalable implementation. Join industry leaders as they discuss how to build effective AI Governance Committees, overcome common governance gaps, and establish the structures needed to guide responsible AI decision-making across the organization.Â
Chris Seigel, MA, LPC
With more than 13 years of experience in behavioral health leadership and as a licensed professional counselor, Chris Seigel is a systems-focused executive known for building high-performing, regulation-ready service lines across numerous environments. As Chief Program Officer for Mental Health & Substance Use Services, Queen of Peace Center and Saint Louis Counseling, two ministries of Catholic Charities of St. Louis, he provides oversight of a multi-site continuum of care spanning residential and outpatient treatment, supportive housing, community-based therapy, psychiatric services, medication-assisted treatment, and more than 100 school-based locations across 11 counties.
He maintains program-level accountability for operational performance, financial sustainability, workforce stability, and quality governance across the service line. Chris led the enterprise-wide implementation of the AI-powered clinical documentation tool to move his organization from manual notes to measurable performance gains. By aligning technology with governance, compliance oversight, and operational discipline, he reduced administrative burden, strengthened documentation integrity, and expanded access capacity without compromising clinical standards.
He now leads ongoing efforts to evaluate and implement AI systems that enhance client access, strengthen screening and assessment processes, and drive measurable improvements in outcomes across the continuum of care. His work demonstrates how responsible AI adoption can transform documentation from a regulatory requirement into a strategic lever for efficiency, scale, and sustainable impact.
Karen Baker
With 20 years of expertise in IT strategy, application management, and program management, Chief Information Officer (CIO) Karen Baker leads Qualifacts’ corporate systems, security, and infrastructure. Previously, she transformed the technology infrastructure and user experience at Savista, and held senior roles at nThrive and MedAssets, spearheading program management initiatives during periods of acquisition and growth. Karen holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.
The CEO Playbook For Digital Transformation: Why Most Fail & How To Get It Right
Digital transformation is on every leader’s mind, and most systems will fail not because of the technology but the lack of direction. In this session, executives will share how they are navigating the complexity by setting vision, aligning stakeholders, and driving enterprise-wide change in an increasingly digital ecosystem.
Explore the critical decisions that define successful transformation efforts—from technology investment and governance to culture change and workforce readiness. This executive-level discussion will focus on the speed of technological advancements versus the risk of adoption, the pros and cons of centralized versus decentralized decision-making, and keeping up with the pace of accelerating innovation while balancing the stability that comes with being operationally streamlined and disciplined.
The Data Analytics Needed For Effective Integrated Care
Integrated care lives or dies on whether you can see the whole consumer across services, and that takes the right data, not just collaboration.
Thomas Grant, who runs both finance and technology for Woods System of Care and its 200-plus programs, shows the analytics an integrated model actually requires: how to align clinical, operational, and financial data into one view of the consumer, track outcomes across service lines, and manage risk as payment moves toward value.
Thomas Grant
Tom Grant was appointed Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer for Woods System of Care in March, 2016. Mr. Grant engages in short and long-range strategic and operational growth planning for the organization. He brings more than 20 years of finance and strategy consulting experience to the organization. Prior to coming to Woods, he ran his own management consulting firm specializing in efficiency initiatives, leadership, strategic planning, turn-arounds, and business development needs of both non-profit organizations and for-profit businesses. In this role, he served as the Chief Financial Officer for Archway Programs in New Jersey.
Before launching his own company, he held similar management consulting positions with a number of business development companies. Mr. Grant has counseled clients on a wide range of topics including process optimization, cash flow management, fund raising, structure, best practices, profitability and pricing arrangements. He also has worked as an emerging markets analyst in Thailand, Hong Kong, and a number of South American countries. Mr. Grant holds an MBA from the Darden School of Business of the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree from Davidson College.
From EHR To Ecosystem: Building The Tech Stack For What’s Next
As the pace of innovation accelerates, behavioral health organizations must rethink the foundation of their technology infrastructure. This session dives into what a modern, future-ready tech stack looks like—from interoperable EHRs and data platforms to AI-enabled tools and patient engagement solutions. Hear how forward-thinking organizations are moving beyond fragmented systems to create integrated, scalable systems that support growth, improve outcomes, and enhance consumer experience. Gain insights into how to evaluate, prioritize, and future-proof your technology investments in an evolving landscape.
Key takeaways include:
- Understand the need to shift from an EHR-centric platform to a more encompassing tech ecosystem
- The integration capabilities and tools needed for a modern infrastructure that improves patient engagement
- Strategies to transition your organization from your legacy system to an ecosystem architecture Â
Health Care Beyond Medicine: How Highmark Is Reducing The Total Cost Of Care Through Its Social Care Network
Health outcomes are influenced by many factors that go far beyond the walls of the clinical setting, and forward-thinking organizations are redefining their care delivery strategies accordingly. In this inspiring session, Nebeyou Abebe, Senior Vice President of Social Health at Highmark Health, explores how Highmark is leading the way by integrating social determinants of health into their core business and care delivery models to drive better outcomes through their Social Care Network.
Highmark’s Social Determinants of Health Department was created in 2019, starts with a 15-question assessment that screens for things like housing, physical and social environments, transportation, and income, and members/patients who screen positive for a health-related social need get referred to a curated network of community-based organizations who remediate the social barrier. Highmark’s home-grown social care network has seen significant results in terms of reducing the total cost of care as well as reducing avoidable inpatient and emergency department visits. During this session, Mr. Abebe will highlight how Highmark is addressing the factors such as food insecurity, finances, transportation and social isolation to significantly impact both physical and behavioral health outcomes, and why these interventions are increasingly essential as organizations transition to value-based care models.
Knowing What Data You Need To Collect & What To Avoid
In an environment of tightening margins, increasing payer scrutiny, and rising expectations for outcomes, behavioral health leaders can no longer afford to collect data without purpose. The challenge is not access to information—it’s knowing which data truly matters and how to use it to drive performance, quality and growth.
This session is designed to identify the operational, financial and compliance data points that are essential to informed decision making. Attendees will learn how to align data collection with organizational strategy, regulatory requirements, and value-based care expectations, while avoiding common pitfalls such as over-collection, siloed systems, and underutilized reports.
Learn to:
- Define meaningful metrics and improve data governanceÂ
- Ensure you’re capturing the right information to support accountability, performance improvement and long-term sustainabilityÂ
Kevin Eccleston, MPA
Kevin Eccleston, MPA, CReC, CPMC-T is an innovative and results-driven healthcare executive with nearly 30 years of diverse leadership experience across strategic design, operational excellence, financial execution, and multi-site service expansion. Throughout his career, he has led transformative initiatives that scale healthcare services, enhance revenue streams, and position organizations for long-term success in competitive markets. Mr. Eccleston’s passion lies in advancing community health solutions and engaging a passionate and dedicated workforce, while implementing person-centered care models that make a lasting impact. Known for building high-performing teams, securing critical funding, and ensuring financial sustainability, he brings a strong, mission-driven approach to every endeavor—always focused on delivering measurable results and meaningful change.
Yisroel Len
Yisroel Len is the Director of Data Analytics at Pesach Tikvah Hope Development Inc, CCBHC in Brooklyn, where he leads the strategy and implementation of systems that improve data quality from the point of collection through final reporting.
Data does not simply live in a database, it lives at the messy intersection of people, processes, and technology, where fields are mislabeled, requirements change mid-year, and temporary workarounds become permanent. Yisroel’s work has focused on closing that gap through workflow redesign, data engineering, and analytic tools that address data quality problems at their source while also managing them downstream.
Yisroel has presented for the National Council for Mental Wellbeing on the CCBHC data analytics lifecycle as part of a SAMHSA-required webinar for CCBHCs nationwide. A strong believer in collaboration across CCBHCs, he also developed the open-source CCBHC Quality Measurements Python package.
He writes about the realities of building healthcare data and reporting infrastructure at stevesgroceries.substack.com
AI In Analytics: What It Can Do Now
Artificial intelligence is changing how behavioral health organizations turn data into decisions, but only where it is applied well. Cody Thomas, a longtime chief information officer, cuts through the hype to what AI can do for your analytics now, from predictive modeling to routine reporting, and where it still falls short. You leave with a clearer sense of which AI investments in analytics are worth making this year and which to wait on.
The session will explore the future of AI in behavioral health analytics, highlighting practical applications that drive better clinical outcomes, operational efficiency and financial performance.
Key takeaways include:
- Understand AI applications in behavioral health analytics to identify practical ways AI can enhance data analysis, from predictive modeling to operational and clinical decision support
- Evaluate opportunities and challenges to recognize the benefits, limitations, and ethical/regulatory considerations of implementing AI tools
- Create strategies to leverage AI-driven analytics for informed decision-making and improved outcomes
Cody Thomas
Using Data & Technology To Improve Recovery Outcomes
Despite ongoing investment in technology and digital infrastructure, many SUD providers still struggle with fragmented workflows, disconnected systems, and limited reporting and visibility into outcomes. These gaps can directly impact the ability to support long-term recovery.
This session will feature findings from Cantata Health Solutions’ 2026 national survey of SUD providers, highlighting how organizations are leveraging data, EHR functionality, and other digital tools to address operational complexity and strengthen care delivery. Attendees will gain practical insight into where providers are struggling the most today, which operational and technology investments are emerging as priorities, and how organizations are working to build more scalable SUD programs.
Christy Winter, LMSW
The Intersection Of Trauma-Informed Approaches & Quality Improvement
Building a truly data-driven culture in behavioral health requires more than dashboards, metrics and performance targets, it requires an approach that builds trust, engagement, and shared accountability across the organization. In this session, Social Current will explore how health care leaders can apply trauma-informed principles to quality improvement and transform the way teams engage with data, performance, and organizational change.
Using the principles of safety, choice, collaboration, trustworthiness, and empowerment, this session will examine how organizations can move beyond viewing quality improvement as a compliance function and instead make it a strategic driver of better outcomes. Attendees will hear perspectives from both quality improvement and clinical leadership and learn how trauma-informed approaches can strengthen engagement, improve performance, and create a culture of continuous improvement.
Key Takeaways Include:
- Identify the organizational and cultural barriers that can prevent quality improvement and data initiatives from gaining traction
- Understand the importance of applying trauma-informed tactics to data and quality improvement
- Hear practical scenarios to apply trauma-informed principles for effectiveness
Karen Johnson, MSW, LCSW
Creating Better Access Through Telehealth & Integrated Care Models
Telehealth and integrated care offer major opportunities for addiction treatment providers, but they also introduce operational, clinical, regulatory and engagement challenges that make implementation complex. For addiction treatment executives, the difficulty is often balancing accessibility and convenience with consumer safety, compliance, and quality outcomes.
This session will explore how addiction treatment providers are implementing integrated care to reduce barriers to care, extend services to underserved communities, improve consumer engagement, and create more flexible treatment pathways. Executives will hear lessons learned around technology adoption, regulatory considerations, workforce integration, digital engagement, and balancing virtual and in-person care to meet the changing needs of today’s consumers.
Philip Hutson
Accelerating Performance Through Your Technology Strategy
In this closing keynote, Monica E. Oss, Chief Executive Officer of OPEN MINDS, will examine the technology trends transforming behavioral health care and outline the strategic decisions executives need to make to maximize organizational performance. Participants will leave with a framework for aligning technology strategy with organizational priorities and actionable takeaways to help their organizations remain competitive in an increasingly digital health care environment.
Monica E. Oss
Monica E. Oss, M.S. is the founder of OPEN MINDS and serves as its chief executive officer, executive editor of its publications and websites, and executive lead of its consulting engagements. For the past three decades, Ms. Oss has led the OPEN MINDS team and its research on health and human service market trends and its national consulting practice. She is well known for her numerous books and articles focused on the strategic and marketing implications of the evolving health and human service field – and its focus on the verticals of the field serving consumers with chronic conditions and complex support needs.
Ms. Oss has extensive experience in developing and implementing growth strategies for a wide array of organizations in the field. She has expertise in industry trend analysis, reimbursement and rate setting, and creating actionable plans for market success. In her role, she has led numerous engagements with state Medicaid plans, county governments, private insurers, and health plans, service provider organizations, technology vendors, neurotechnology and pharmaceutical organizations, and investment banking firms – with a focus on the implications of financing changes on delivery system design.
Prior to founding OPEN MINDS, Ms. Oss served as an executive with a nationally managed behavioral health organization, responsible for market development, actuarial analysis, and capitation-based rate setting. She also held a position as vice president of the U.S. risk management and underwriting division of an international insurance company.
Ms. Oss has been the keynote speaker at the conferences of dozens of national associations and has been published in a wide range of professional journals and trade publications. She has provided Congressional and state legislative testimony on issues as diverse as the financial impact of parity and payer medication access policies.
Ms. Oss has led a range of industry research and consultation initiatives, serving as principal investigator on research projects that include the examination of national managed care enrollment and service patterns, development of provider rate structures for government entities, creation of return-on-investment models for technology investments; design of performance-based compensation models within public and private health plans; and analysis of the economic impact of changes in benefit design, adoption of evidence-based practices, and new technologies.