Richard Lovich, Esq.

Mr. Lovich is Managing Partner at Stephenson, Acquisto & Colman, the premier healthcare reimbursement litigation firm in the country.He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; and all federal and state courts in California.

Mr. Lovich has 37 years of litigation and trial experience including 15 years as the chief trial lawyer and managing attorney for the Los Angeles law offices of American International Group (AIG) and The Hartford, two of the country’s largest insurance companies.

Since 1995, he has held a Preeminent A-V Rating, by Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting the highest possible peer ratings in legal ability and ethical conduct; and has been named a "Southern California Super Lawyer" since 2011.In addition, , he has been selected as one of the Nation’s Top One Percent of Attorneys as selected by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel, since 2016.

Mr. Lovich proudly serves as National Legal Counsel to the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM). In that capacity, in 2016, he testified before the United States Senate Commerce Committee on needed changes to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the difficulties presented by that law to the healthcare industry. In 2019, he was appointed by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Pai to serve on the FCC advisory group providing best practices to voice service providers in relation to curbing illegal robocalls to hospitals.

Mr. Lovich has served as superior court arbitrator and judge pro tem, and since 1991, he has been responsible for the development, implementation, and presentation of national trial advocacy training programs. He is a nationally certified Trail Advocacy trainer by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and has served on national legal audit teams auditing both financial and litigation management requirements.

He has lectured nationally on numerous revenue cycle topics at large health systems and top university academic medical centers,including Stanford University Health, UCLA Health, University of California Irvine Health, University of California San Francisco Health; the Regents of the University of California, Providence-St. Joseph Health, Trinity Health, andDignity Health.

Mr. Lovich is married with 5 daughters and two grandchildren. He possesses a love for silent movies and a passion for classic rock and roll.

Wendy Sasser

Wendy Sasser is a healthcare leader with more than 15 years of experience advancing population health, innovation, and health equity across organizations including Kaiser Permanente and L.A. Care Health Plan. Her work focuses on developing and scaling community-based programs that address social determinants of health, improve maternal health outcomes, and strengthen engagement with Medicare and Medi-Cal populations.

Wendy brings a multidisciplinary perspective, bridging policy, data analytics, and frontline community engagement to design strategies that are both effective and practical. A key area of her expertise is the responsible application of artificial intelligence in healthcare, with an emphasis on transparency, ethics, and equitable impact.

She holds a Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Irvine, along with advanced training in AI in Healthcare from Stanford University School of Medicine.

Susan Sangini

Susan Sangani is a self-directed healthcare leader with over a decade of experience driving operational excellence.

Throughout her career, she has successfully increased hospital revenue, strengthened cross-functional teams, and improved clinical workflows through a strong focus on data-driven decision-making.

She is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and is deeply passionate about continuous process improvement and delivering meaningful results in healthcare.

Outside of her professional work, she enjoys exploring local coffee shops, trying new cuisines, and traveling with her husband, always bringing that same curiosity and enthusiasm into everything she does.

Monica Hicks

Monica Hicks is an accomplished Revenue Cycle Leader with more than two decades of experience driving operational excellence, financial performance, and payer optimization within acuteâcare hospital systems. Known for her strategic mindset and handsâon leadership style, Monica has built a strong reputation for transforming processes, elevating team performance, and strengthening crossâdepartmental collaboration across Patient Financial Services.

In 2026, Monica will take on a new executive role as the Vice President of Revenue Cycle for College Medical Center Long Beach, where she will oversee multiâfacility revenue cycle operations, lead strategic initiatives to enhance reimbursement performance, and guide the organization through continued growth and regulatory complexity. Her deep expertise in patient accounting, managed care contracting, denial management, and A/R optimization positions her as a key driver of financial stability and operational excellence for the organization.

Throughout her career, Monica has led highâperforming teams in nonâgovernment billing, managed care operations, denial prevention, and cash acceleration. She is recognized for her ability to interpret complex payer requirements, streamline workflows, and implement corrective action strategies that reduce errors, accelerate cash, and improve clean claim rates. Her leadership has contributed to measurable improvements in reimbursement accuracy, staff development, and organizational efficiency.

Monica is also deeply committed to mentorship and professional growth. She is known for empowering staff through training, coaching, and clear communication, helping team members advance in their careers while strengthening departmental performance. Her expertise spans Cerner Millennium, Chancellor, electronic billing systems, and compliance oversight, making her a trusted resource for both technical and operational challenges.

Beyond her operational achievements, Monica is an active contributor to the HFMA SoCal Chapter, where she supports event planning, sponsorship outreach, and community engagement. Her blend of strategic vision, operational discipline, and peopleâcentered leadership makes her a highly respected figure in healthcare revenue cycle management.

Dr. Steve Kim

As co-founder and CEO, Dr. Steve Kim leads Valer’s overall mission and strategy. With more than 20 years of medical experience and a passion for studying value-based care outcomes, Dr. Kim’s expertise has been vital in navigating the evolving complexities of the healthcare industry and identifying the administrative roadblocks and bottlenecks delaying access to care.

Before his transition into business entrepreneurship, Dr. Kim was an Assistant Professor of Urology at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine, where he served as the Director of Clinical Research Informatics for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in addition to practicing pediatric urology.

He earned his undergraduate degree at Yale University and was awarded his MD from Cornell University Medical College. He also has two master’s degrees, a Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology (MSCE) from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business.

In his free time, Dr. Kim enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters.

Rewa Cooper

Rewa Cooper is an inspiring leader whose dedication to patient care has shaped healthcare access for nearly three decades. From her early days in ER registration to her current role as Systems Sr. Director at PIH Health, Rewa has set the standard for excellence and compassion in every phase of her career. Her unwavering commitment to mentoring staff and fostering growth has empowered countless professionals and elevated patient experiences across multiple facilities.

Passionate about creating a patient-first environment, Rewa motivates the next generation of healthcare leaders, ensuring her team delivers clarity and support to every individual navigating the registration process. As a long-standing member and award recipient of CAHAM, she continues to drive innovation and community within the industry. Outside of work, Rewa cherishes time with her husband, fur babies, and family, finding joy and inspiration in travel and connection.

P

Andrea Torres

Andrea Torres, also known as Andee, has been a dedicated professional in Patient Access for 21 years. She recently joined Southwest Healthcare, Rancho Springs and Inland Valley Hospitals as the Director of Patient Access. Before this role, Andrea spent three years as the Manager of Patient Access at Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside, California. Her career also includes seven years at NorthBay Healthcare in Northern California, where she served as the Patient Access and Communications Supervisor and later as the Quality Assurance and Training Coordinator. Andrea's journey in healthcare began at Doctor’s Medical Center in Northern California, where she worked for ten years as an Admitting Representative and Lead.
 
During her tenure at Tri-City, Andrea navigated a staffing shortage, implemented and optimized systems, and ensured compliance amidst a state investigation. Her ability to adapt and improve processes has been a significant asset to her teams and organizations. Andrea has carried this same commitment and expertise into her current role at SouthWest Healthcare.  
 
Andrea holds a Bachelor of Science in Business. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time at the San Diego beaches with her four children, ages 7 to 16. Her hobbies include baking, crafting, and reading.