(Archived from September 18, 2021)
Session 1 – September 18th; 10am-12pm CST
Addressing Enrollment Gaps and Navigation in Underserved Communities
TennCare 2021: Improving lives through high-quality, cost-effective care – where we’ve been and where we’re going
Stephen Smith, Director of TennCare
Moderated by: Jacquelyn Dalton, MPH
THCC Board Member
Overcoming Barriers to Enrollment and Vaccination in Communities of Color
Tom Savage, THCC Staff
Byron Elam, THCC Staff
Relationship Building with Legislators
Darren Jernigan, State Representative
Tony Garr, THCC Board Emeritus
Partnering with Health Equity Focus
Dr. Jennifer Erves, Assistant Professor at Meharry Medical College
Enrollment & Volunteering with THCC
Judy Roitman, THCC Executive Director
Ann Lucas, THCC Volunteer
TennCare 2021: Improving lives through high-quality, cost-effective care – where we’ve been and where we’re going
Stephen Smith, Director of TennCare
Moderated by:
Jacquelyn Dalton, MPH,
THCC Board Member
Overcoming Barriers to Enrollment and Vaccination in Communities of Color
presented by:
Tom Savage, THCC Staff
Byron Elam, THCC Staff
Advocacy Trainings (concurrent, interactive sessions)
Relationship Building with Legislators
Facilitated by:
State Representative
Darren Jernigan
Tony Garr, THCC Board Emeritus
Partnering with a Health Equity Focus
Facilitated by:
Dr. Jennifer Erves,
Assistant Professor at Meharry Medical College
Enrollment & Volunteering with THCC
Facilitated by:
Judy Roitman,
THCC Executive Director
Ann Lucas,
THCC Volunteer
Learn more about our speakers:
Stephen Smith is the Deputy Commissioner and Director of TennCare, Tennessee’s Medicaid program. In his current role, Mr. Smith manages a $13 billion health care enterprise that provides services to 1.5 million Tennesseans. Before being appointed director by Governor Bill Lee, Mr. Smith served as the deputy director and chief of staff of TennCare. Prior to joining TennCare, Smith served as chief of staff to Governor Bill Haslam, where he oversaw day-to-day operations of the governor’s office and served as a top advisor and strategist. He previously served as deputy commissioner for policy and external affairs at the Tennessee Department of Education. Smith, a licensed attorney, lives in Nashville, with his wife, Christina and three young daughters.
Byron Elam and Tom Savage promote health equity through their work at the Tennessee Health Care Campaign. Tom encourages health insurance enrollment in rural communities of color in Middle Tennessee as THCC’s Volunteer and Enrollment Coordinator. A retired UAW organizer, he brings a wealth of labor and civil rights experience. Byron Elam is THCC’s Vaccine Equity Program Manager, promoting COVID vaccination in communities of color in rural West Tennessee. A resident of Jackson, and graduate of Union University, Byron is encouraging local leaders to break down the barriers to vaccination for community residents.