MHSA Advisory Board
ALMIR KARAMOVIC '15, FACHE, FHFMA, PMP
SENIOR ASSOCIATE AT PwC
Almir Karamovic is a healthcare professional with expertise in programs incubation, organization redesign, operational improvement and financial turnaround. Over time, Karamovic has had various work experiences in healthcare settings with increasing levels of responsibility, growth and outcomes. He currently serves PricewaterhouseCoopers, which is a multinational professional services network of firms, operating as partnerships under the PwC brand. As a senior associate in the Heath Industries Advisory practice, Karamovic leads and supports PwC clients in operational transformation.
He has a Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration from University of Detroit Mercy, Master of Public Administration from the University of Michigan and is a graduate of the Rutgers Business School Executive Education training program on Project Management. Karamovic holds the globally recognized Project Management Professional designation from the Project Management Institute. He is certified in Lean Healthcare and Six Sigma from the University of Michigan and Basic Quality & Safety by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. He is a Board certified Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Healthcare Financial Management Association.
Karamovic serves on the board of the Midwest Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives; University of Detroit Mercy's MHSA Advisory Board; and the Detroit Economic Club - Young Leader Board of Directors. He also makes time to be active with World Medical Relief and Leaders for Kids.
When not working, Karamovic spends much of his time with family, friends and reading. Some of his favorite authors are Fydor Dostoevsky, Mesa Selimovic and Michael Lewis. He also enjoys exercise and is an avid fan of artisan coffee.
GWENDOLYN HENDERSON PARKER, MD, MBA, FACHE
SENIOR MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT BCBSM
Dr. Parker (radiation oncologist) has worked at BCBSM for 31 years and is a medical director in Care Management. She is certified in Healthcare Quality Management, a fellow in the American Institute Healthcare Quality and American College Healthcare Executives. She holds membership in the Healthcare Finance Management Association.
Dr. Parker serves on the board of directors for the Midwest Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives and iMPROve Health. She is an advisory board member for University of Detroit Mercy's MHSA Program.
Dr. Parker is a graduate of UDM, WSU School of Medicine and Lawrence Technological University.
DAVID T. BROOKS, FACHE
Dave Brooks is an experienced healthcare leader and executive currently serving as an advisor, coach, mentor, investor and educator to many leading providers and innovative development companies. He has served in multiple CEO and C-suite leadership roles for more than 35 years in very diverse, large market leading health systems.
Brooks recently served as chief strategy officer helping to redevelop and significantly grow and expand the digital healthcare firm People.Health (Patient Education Genius). Previously, he was a senior political appointee as Wayne County’s director of Health, Human & Veterans Services. In this role, Brooks was part of the leadership team for one of the largest counties in the county with 1.8 million residents. He led the public health and clinical services along with veterans, juvenile justice and medical examiner services.
Prior to joining Wayne County, Brooks was at Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, a member of Trinity Health, as president of St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor and Livingston. In this role, he led all operations and strategy for multiple hospitals as well as affiliated acute care facilities, surgery centers, emergency rooms and urgent cares, and numerous ambulatory and physician practices.
Brooks came to Saint Joseph Mercy Health System from Ascension St. John Providence Health System, where he served as president of St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit and senior vice president of the Health System’s East Region. Previously, he was chief executive officer of Providence Health in Everett, Wash. During his 10-year tenure there, he led its transformation from a community hospital into a regional referral network while advancing new models of clinical and community leadership.
Brooks served in executive roles at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit for 10 years, as well as at Christus Health in Texas, Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Health in Chicago and Lovelace Health System in Albuquerque, N.M.
A native of Detroit, Dave earned his bachelor's degree with honors from Wayne State University and his master's degree in Health Services Administration from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. He resides in Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich. with his wife and two children.
IMANI ADEGBUYI, MHA, CPC
DIRECTOR, HENRY FORD MEDICAL GROUP - ADMINISTRATION, HENRY FORD HEALTH
Imani Adegbuyi is a proud Nigerian-American from Queens, N.Y. who is passionate about advocacy and equity. She holds a Bachelor's in Health Administration and Policy with a minor in Social Welfare from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and a Master's in Health Administration from Penn State University. Adegbuyi is currently an executive director at Henry Ford Health, focusing on strategic growth for the Medical Group. She is also a certified professional coach and published author, helping people transform their lives, careers and relationships. In her spare time, she enjoys travel, singing and trying new restaurants.
YVONNE KING '19, LPC, MHSA, MBA
ASSISTANT DEAN OF STUDENT ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE
Yvonne King serves as an assistant dean of Student Academic Success and Inclusive Excellence. She is a dedicated professional with a background in mental health counseling, education and administration. King earned a Master of Science in Counseling, a Master of Health Services Administration and a Master of Business Administration, which have equipped her with a unique combination of skills. She is passionate about helping others and making a positive impact. King's extensive knowledge, diverse skillset and unwavering commitment to excellence make her a valuable asset to the advisory board and a trusted resource for individuals seeking support and guidance.
KENNETH RATES '14, MHSA, MBA
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS - PRIMARY CARE - MCLAREN MEDICAL GROUP
Kenneth Rates is the current director of Operations for the Bay, Caro and Thumb markets at the McLaren Medical Group. A self-described up-and-coming healthcare executive, Rates has built his career in the field of healthcare practice management. He is the 2015 recipient of the Midwest Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives Early Careerist Award, a past president of the Beta Gamma Sigma Detroit Alumni Chapter, served as president of the Michigan Medical Group Management Association from 2021-22, and hosts his own podcast called So You Want To Be A Healthcare Executive?
Rates is actively involved in the American College of Healthcare Executives and currently serves as vice chair for the Membership Committee in the Midwest Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Rates earned a Master's in Health Services Administration degree in 2014 and a Master's in Business Administration degree in 2017, both from University of Detroit Mercy.
TASHA GERMAN '09, MPA, BSHSA
SENIOR HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST AT U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
Tasha L. German is a passionate and dedicated human resources professional with more than 16 years of experience. German is a senior human resources specialist at the United States District Court-Eastern District of Michigan and adjunct professor in the Health Services Administration program at University of Detroit Mercy. She previously held roles at Trinity Health and Beaumont Health for more than 10 years combined.
German earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration from Detroit Mercy and her Master of Public Administration with a minor in Organizational Development from Oakland University. She also holds a graduate certificate in Human Resources Management.
She has a wealth of experience in strategic planning, employee relations, training and development, diversity, equity and inclusion, team building, succession development and management, HR policies, recruitment and retention, and performance management.
German has a strong commitment to developing leaders and serving the community through leadership and volunteerism. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated; National Diversity Council; Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM); Federal Court Clerks Association (FCCA); Federally Employed Women (FEW); National Conference of Bankruptcy Clerks (NCBC); American Society for Public Administration; MHSA Advisory Board (Detroit Mercy); Career and Professional Development Advisory Board (Detroit Mercy); National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE); Big Brother Big Sister; Donate Life Coalition of Michigan; and American Cancer Society. She has graciously agreed to co-chair the Health Services Advisory Council at Detroit Mercy.
She enjoys teaching, mentoring, career coaching, traveling and spending time with her family and friends.
CHRISTINA MICHAJLYSZYN, DScPT, OMPT, MPT, BSHS, FACHE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT DMC REHABILITATION INSTITUTE OF MICHIGAN
Christina Michajlyszyn is currently the chief executive officer at DMC Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan (RIM) since June 2024. Most recently Christina has served as hospital director of Patient Access and market director of Inpatient Rehabilitation Programs at RIM. She joined the DMC in 2005, working as a senior physical therapist, left for three years to serve as a civilian provider for the United States Army in South Korea and upon return became a director of Outpatient Therapy Clinics at RIM until 2018. She then moved to become a practice manager for an orthopedic therapy practice in California before her return to RIM in 2019.
Michajlyszyn is a board-certified healthcare professional with over 20 years of progressive experience in the rehabilitation industry. She has a proven track record of driving organizational success by leading diverse teams in effectively translating strategies into excellence in healthcare delivery and business growth. She has a strong reputation for excellent communication, collaboration, teamwork and relationship building at all levels.
Michajlyszyn earned her undergraduate, graduate and doctorate degrees in physical therapy from Oakland University. She is also a published researcher on the topic of cross-cultural education.
RICHARD HILLBOM
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
Richard Hillbom holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Administration and an MBA in Finance.
Hillbom began his career at Oakwood Hospital as a staff pharmacist and had several promotions along the administrative ladder to pharmacy supervisor, pharmacy director, corporate pharmacy director and hospital president. His tenure as hospital president spanned several campuses: Annapolis, Beyer, Heritage Hospitals and Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center (interim). Next, Hillbom served as the chief operating officer-Oakwood Hospital. He also assumed additional roles of service line executive for Pharmacy, Lab, Imaging and Ethics; service line administrator, Primary Care; corporate strategic planner/campus administrator at Oakwood Canton Center (Emergency Center/Primary/Specialty Care offices).
After 31 years at Oakwood, Hillbom left to become the chief operating officer and eventual interim chief executive officer at the Gift of Life Michigan (GOLM). GOLM oversees and administers organ/tissue donation for the state of Michigan. He also led the organization’s Malcolm Baldrige Journey, created a long-term strategic plan and built a $14 million organ/tissue surgical recovery/conference center--one of the first. Hillbom also served as adjunct faculty and designed/implemented a transplant rotation for Chicago State University PharmD students at GOLM. Under his leadership, GOLM received the Crain’s Detroit “Cool Place to Work Award.”
Hillbom then became a lobbyist for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, working with state legislatures/officials, pharmacy associations, state pharmacy boards and other organizations to lobby for legislative change/statute relating to pharmacy technician licensure/practice standards.
Next, Hillbom returned to assist Schoolcraft College in the design/development/implementation of a Pharmacy Technician Training Program. Currently, he serves as adjunct faculty for the Detroit Mercy Health Services Administration Program and works as a recruiter for the Beaumont ACO.
Hillbom serves as a board member for the Midwest Chapter of Healthcare Executives (MCACHE), co-vice chair and past chairman of the membership committee. He also serves as board chair for Personalized Nursing LightHouse (Substance Abuse/Detox Nonprofit).
Hillbom was recognized with the MCACHE Senior Careerist Regent Award, the Gift of Life Professional Service Award, the Beta Gamma Business Honor Society, Rho Chi Professional Pharmaceutical Honor Society and is a member of the William Beaumont Society.