March 19, 2026 11:30 am
LVBCH Special Event – Cell and Gene Therapy
Thursday, March 19, 2026 (Snow date: Thursday, March 26, 2026)
In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, staying up-to-date on emerging treatments such as Cell and Gene Therapies (CGTs) is crucial for making well-informed decisions about employee health benefits. CGTs are unique when compared to traditional therapies—they are potentially curative, may only require a one-time administration, and typically come with a high upfront cost.
Registration is required – please register now!
- Amanda Greene, LVBCH
- Jill Vanak, Johnson & Johnson
- Drew Wilkins, Deloitte
- Moderator: Drew Wilkins, Deloitte
- Will Shrank, Aradigm
- R’Kes Starling, Bowtie
- Shawn Hughes, BSI Corporate Benefits
- Kirby Eng, Outcome Rx
- Moderator: Jill Vanak, Johnson & Johnson
Engineering the Future: An Introduction to Cell and Gene Therapies
This keynote presentation will provide an engaging summation and overview of ‘precision medicine 101’ with a focus on defining what cellular and gene therapies (CGT) are, how current and future curative treatments do and will utilize genetic and genomic testing for optimal medication dosing, patient selection, and superior patient outcomes, and why these therapies are the epitome of what we call precision medicine. This presentation will focus on the clinical impact of cellular and genetic therapies and will “break down” complex manufacturing processes, patient access barriers, and clinical patient presentations into laymen’s terms, providing the audience with a sense of familiarity and a working knowledge regarding the concept of CGT.
By attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- define the key distinctions between cellular therapy and gene therapy, including the basic mechanisms of action and applications
- explain how cell and gene therapies function as the “epitome of precision medicine”
- identify common methods used for delivering genetic material into cells (e.g. viral vectors); describe current and emerging clinical applications for cell and gene therapies in cancer (e.g. CAR-T) and rare inherited diseases
- recognize key challenges in the development, manufacturing, and patient access for these therapies
- attain a basic working knowledge of cellular and gene therapy and be able to verbalize how they are utilized currently and how they will be used in the future.
Transformative Therapies Require Innovative Payment Models
Understanding cost drivers & innovative payment solutions: CGTs are unique when compared to traditional therapies and typically come with a high upfront cost which can range from $250,000 to $3.5 million per individual. New payment models need to be considered to help manage these financial risks effectively.
Jill Vanak, PhD, MBA, MSN, BSN
Jill Vanak, PhD MBA MSN BSN, joined Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine in 2018 and currently serves as a Medical Director within the U.S. Medical Affairs CAR-T department. Prior to this role, she was a Clinical Research Practitioner for first-in-human studies using immune-oncology approaches including CAR-T cells and T-cell redirecting bispecific antibodies within Early Development Clinical Oncology. She began her career in industry as a senior medical science liaison within U.S. Medical Affairs at J&J. Prior to entering the pharmaceutical industry, Jill spent three years at the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) as Clinical Director of the International Medicine program, and twelve years at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York as a healthcare outcomes strategist, research nurse practitioner, and clinical registered nurse. She is a board certified acute care nurse practitioner, advanced oncology nurse practitioner, and bone marrow transplant certified nurse who worked in direct patient care in academic medical centers until 2018. Her clinical expertise is in the care of patients with hematologic malignancies, specifically leukemias, lymphomas, and myeloma.
Education:
(BSN) from Georgetown University in Washington, DC
(MSN) with a concentration in acute care from Columbia University in New York, NY
(PhD) from the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research (CHOP-R) at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA
(MBA) from Villanova University in Villanova, PA
Drew Wilkins
Drew Wilkins is a Managing Director in Deloitte Consulting LLP’s commercial strategy practice. He has more than 20 years of consulting experience and focuses on commercial strategy and innovative business models for biopharmaceutical and medtech clients. He helps clients solve the strategic challenges associated with growth, innovation and ecosystem disruption. This includes a focus on innovative access models and health equity for commercial life sciences organizations. Drew also leads Deloitte’s efforts related to innovative financing models for advanced and emerging therapies, including cell and gene therapies. His recent work includes designing a novel supplemental risk pool to spread the cost of gene therapies across multiple payers. Drew earned his BS from Vanderbilt University and his MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He lives in Annapolis, Maryland with his school-aged children.
Will Shrank, MD
William Shrank, M.D., CEO and Co-Founder of Aradigm, has spent nearly three decades focused on improving access and affordability of medications. A former internal medicine physician and Harvard researcher, he has held senior roles across government and industry—including Director of Evaluation at CMS Innovation Center, Chief Scientific Officer of CVS Health, and Chief Medical Officer of UPMC Health Plan and Humana. He founded Aradigm driven by a belief that today’s payment and delivery systems are not built to sustainably support access to transformative therapies—and that a new, mission-driven approach is needed.
R'Kes Starling
R’Kes Starling is a mission-driven healthcare executive and board leader with over two decades of experience building and scaling innovative models that improve access, affordability, and equity in life-changing therapies—including cell and gene therapies. With a career spanning Fortune 5 healthcare organizations, high-growth ventures, and advisory roles in private equity, Mr. Starling brings a unique blend of strategic, operational, and clinical insight to the forefront of transformative medicine.
A recognized pioneer in access and patient support innovation, Mr. Starling has led the design and execution of new healthcare delivery models, wraparound care strategies, and digital solutions that address the affordability and complexity of advanced therapeutics. His leadership reflects a deep commitment to reimagining how high-cost, high-impact treatments—especially for rare and complex conditions—are delivered to patients, payers, and providers.
As the former Founder/CEO of Reveles, Inc., Mr. Starling led the development and deployment of an AI-powered engagement platform that integrated novel decentralized clinical trial (DCT) methodologies to expand access to research for historically underrepresented populations. Prior to that, as Vice President of Specialty Pharmacy and Clinical Research at McKesson, he held full P&L responsibility for a $300M+ portfolio, led national clinical operations, and partnered with over 30 biopharma companies to improve time-to-therapy and optimize market access for breakthrough therapies. His expertise spans reimbursement strategy, patient access, and care management across oncology, nephrology, immunology, hemophilia, and cystic fibrosis.
Mr. Starling’s board and governance experience includes serving as Board Treasurer and Executive Committee member for the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) and as a Board Director for The DEC Network, where he advises on financial health, regulatory compliance, and innovation in healthcare delivery. He also serves as an Operating Partner to private equity firms, providing expert counsel on value creation, operational scale, and diligence across healthcare platforms.
Leveraging his deep understanding of the systemic, structural, and human challenges in the adoption of advanced therapies, Mr. Starling is leading the charge to create scalable, sustainable pathways that ensure every patient—not just the privileged few—can benefit from the promise of curative science.
Mr. Starling holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Purdue University and an Executive MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Shawn Hughes
Shawn serves as Executive Vice President of Client Retention at BSI Corporate Benefits. He plays a pivotal role in ensuring the satisfaction and loyalty of all BSI clients. Reporting directly to the CEO, he is responsible for developing and executing strategies to enhance client retention and drive long-term growth for the organization.
Serving as a trusted advisor, Shawn provides leadership and guidance to his team by fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. He works cross-functionally with the account, marketing, and customer support teams to ensure alignment and seamless delivery of services to clients.
Prior to joining BSI Corporate Benefits in 2012, Shawn worked on the insurance carrier side for over twenty (20) years. He worked as the Director of Large Group Sales at Capital Blue Cross and also worked at CIGNA in Nashville, TN where he served as the Sales Manager for the Tennessee and Alabama markets. Before assuming his sales position, Shawn served as the Director of Underwriting for the Southeast Market. His extensive experience in the insurance industry helps him maintain a competitive edge when making strategic decisions regarding a client’s healthcare spend.
Shawn received an economics degree and a mathematics minor from Millersville University and currently serves on the KidsPeace Board of Associates and the LifePath Golf Committee. Shawn holds his life, accident, and health licenses and is licensed with over fifty carriers nationwide.
Kirby Eng, RPh
Kirby brings extensive experience across a broad spectrum of senior and executive leadership roles within the healthcare industry. His background spans managed care, specialty pharmacy, oncology utilization management strategies, business development, healthcare consulting, healthcare technology, provider network development, group purchasing, specialty distribution, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Prior to joining OutcomeRx, Kirby held key leadership positions with high-profile organizations, including Onco360, CVS Health, CuraScript/Express Scripts, US Oncology, Oncology Therapeutics Network, Sicor, Fujisawa, and Eli Lilly & Company.
As Chief Clinical Officer at OutcomeRx, Kirby leads the development and implementation of patient-centered clinical solutions for cell and gene therapies. His work focuses on aligning stakeholders with cost-effective approaches that complement OutcomeRx’s innovative reinsurance and therapy warranty models. He also oversees the creation of personalized patient support services that address both the clinical and financial complexities associated with advanced therapies, while also considering the needs of caregivers.
Kirby is a pharmacist with a B.S. in Pharmacy from the Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy. He is an active member of the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT), the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP), and the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP). His insights and expertise have been featured in numerous professional publications, including the Journal of NCCN, Specialty Pharmacy Times, Drug Topics, and the Journal of Managed Care.
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LVBCH is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP recertification activities.
