Module 7: Medical Professional Liability Insurance Intro

Deb Goldberg, RPLU is the Head of Allied Healthcare at AXIS Capital. She holds a J.D. from George Washington University School of Law and an MPH from George Washington University School of Public Health. Additionally, she has earned the RPLU designation from the Professional Liability Underwriting Society. 

With extensive experience in the medical malpractice liability sector, Deb has led both national and international underwriting teams. She is a recognized leader in her field and frequently speaks on emerging issues in medical malpractice liability. She has previously served as an instructor at PLUS University. Her areas of expertise include Allied Healthcare, Hospitals, and Senior Care Professional Liability. 

Abdul Al Hamamsy, JD, MPH, MBBCh, RPLU, ARM-E, CPHRM, CCI, AIC, AIS, AINS has spent his professional career in healthcare, providing clinical care as a physician then advancing patient safety as a risk management leader. For more than 15 years in healthcare claims, insurance, and risk management at academic health systems, Abdul’s passion has been the design and implementation of communication and resolution programs in response to unanticipated significant adverse outcomes of care. A certified professional in healthcare risk management, Abdul is also a licensed California lawyer who received his juris doctor from Santa Clara University and holds a master’s in public health with a focus on health administration and policy from Oklahoma University. Abdul is a registered professional liability underwriter, with associate designations in enterprise risk management, claims, insurance services, and general insurance, as well as certificates in captive insurance and in strategic decision making and risk management. In Abdul’s current role at The University of Kansas Health System (TUKHS), as Director of Claims and Risk Management, he is the go-to person responding to physician-related risk exposures and claims. Abdul leads the risk finance function at TUKHS and has been instrumental in the creation of its two alternative risk financing vehicles, Kansas Health Risk Retention Group, Inc., and Kansas Health Insurance Company Ltd., serving as board secretary/vice president, as well as managing the day-to-day operations with the captive manager, and co-chairing the claims committee. Prior to joining TUKHS, Abdul led the Claims and Litigation team at Stanford Health Care’s Indemnity and Trust Insurance Company and Stanford University Medical Network’s Reciprocal Risk Retention Group. One substantial accomplishment was the evolution of the Process for Early Assessment, Resolution, and Learning (PEARL), Stanford’s communication and resolution program, into a standardized, people-centered program, with resultant substantial indemnity and defense cost savings. Additionally, Abdul is certified by the International Coach Federation, as an iPEC Certified Professional Coach, Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner, and COR.E Leadership Dynamics Specialist, with a niche in healthcare leadership. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he co-created the Coaching Interest Group with the strategic goal of raising coaching awareness across TUKHS. Most recently, as part of a select core team of certified instructors, Abdul has been educating TUKHS leaders on system and behavioral accountability using the Just Culture algorithm.

Dan Joyal, CPCP, RPLU, has over a decade of insurance industry experience with both retail and wholesale brokerages; clients included senior care/ long term care, hospital systems, physician groups, allied healthcare facilities and life science organizations. Dan began his career at wholesaler broker CRC/Swett & Crawford working on Executive Risk and all types of Professional Liability. He joined HUB International where he worked solely in Healthcare, prior to joining EPIC Insurance Brokers.

Brian Kriger, ARM, RPLU is currently the Vice President of Underwriting for EmPRO Insurance Company. Brian has nearly 20 years of experience in medical professional underwriting. Brian is leading the expansion efforts for EmPRO outside the State of New York; he is responsible for creating and implementing the underwriting manuals, policy forms, and underwriting procedures for EmPRO’s expansion plans. Before working for EmPRO, Brian was with MDAdvantage Insurance Company for 17 years and led the expansion for the company from a mono-state medical professional liability carrier to a regional carrier.  In addition to his B.S. from Saint Joseph’s University, Brian has also earned the ARM & RPLU designations. 

Albert Peterson, RPLU began his career as a Property & Casualty underwriter for a wholesaler, before earning his RPLU and transitioning to a role as a Professional Lines underwriter and broker. There he managed a book focused on all professional lines but consisted predominantly of Medical Professional Liability Insurance. Working on multiple coverage lines and products enabled Albert to obtain a deep industry expertise and experience in handling complex accounts. Albert is currently a Manager - Coverage & Forms at Travelers, focusing on Public Company Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance, where he continues to apply his detailed analytical skills and comprehensive knowledge of insurance products. 

Moira Wertheimer, Esq., RPLU builds on her experience as a nurse and attorney to identify, evaluate and mitigate potential liability exposures for insured healthcare organizations. Moira’s credentials include Certified Professional Healthcare Risk Manager (CPHRM) and Distinguished Fellow of the American Society of Healthcare Risk Management (DFASHRM). Moira is admitted to the Connecticut Bar and active in several professional associations. Moira is a member of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) and has earned the organization's RPLU designation.  She is a frequent speaker at healthcare risk management industry events and has conducted continuing education courses on mitigating medical professional liability exposure and has published articles on healthcare risk management strategies and emerging liability exposures.