Thriving in 2026 with Data, Evidence-Based Practices, and Affordable Member-Centered Care

Laurel C. Soot, MD, MBA, FACS is the Chief Medical Officer of Providence Health Plan, a nonprofit, provider-aligned health plan within the Providence St. Joseph Health system. She leads enterprise clinical and affordability strategies across pharmacy, care management, behavioral health, medical management, and payment integrity. By aligning clinical, operational, and financial priorities she has a proven track record of delivering measurable improvement in member outcomes and total cost of care. Partnering closely with her data analytics team, Dr. Soot identifies emerging trends, outliers, and unwarranted variation and converts those insights into strategic action through policy design, operating model improvements, and disciplined execution to close gaps in care that drive preventable harm and avoidable utilization across Medicare, Medicaid, and Commercial populations.

A surgeon by training and an MBA graduate with a focus in Business Analytics, Dr. Soot is recognized for building high-performing, multidisciplinary teams and uniting stakeholders across payer and provider environments to translate real-world clinical workflows into scalable, data-informed programs. She designed and executed an multi-million-dollar cost-of-care savings portfolio in 2025 while preserving high-quality, equitable care. Nationally, she serves in leadership roles with the American College of Surgeons and is a Board Member for the American Heart Association in Portland, reflecting a sustained commitment to evidence-based, member-centered care and clinical excellence. 

Mitch Collier is an experienced software development leader with a demonstrated history of delivering successful solutions in the healthcare industry. Mitch focuses on improving member and patient engagement, optimizing workflows, and leveraging data to better manage population health. With nearly 25 years of experience in digital health, Mitch has specialized in virtual care solutions for health plans, health systems, and large employers. Mitch is passionate about using education and innovative technologies to improve health outcomes. He is very involved with all the platforms used to deliver digital experiences and how they integrate with the clinical workflows of providers and payers. As the healthcare industry continues to blend virtual and physical care, Mitch is committed to optimizing telehealth and virtual care to enhance the interactions between health consumers and clinicians with personalized experiences.

Deb brings over 20 years of healthcare leadership experience, spanning clinical operations, payer strategy, and product innovation. A pediatric pharmacist and former health system executive, Deborah has led transformative projects at the FDA, ASHP, Omnicell, and Surescripts, including national initiatives such as the Standardize 4 Safety program and the development of AI-driven tools to address drug shortages and optimize formularies. Her expertise lies at the intersection of clinical insight, real-world data, and digital product development.  

Deb received her Doctor of Pharmacy from Idaho State University, completed a post-doc fellowship at the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, and her Master of Health Administration from Walden University.