Women in Medical Practice Management Conference 2026

Dr. Lisa Patierne

Leadership Consultant & Founder, Rising to Greatness 

Dr. Lisa Patierne is an author, speaker, and leadership strategist who helps leaders build resilient teams, strengthen workplace culture, and lead with confidence in today's high pressure environments. With more than 30 years of leadership experience in education, including serving as a high school principal, Lisa earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership with a dissertation focused on school safety and active shooter preparedness. Through those experiences, she came to understand firsthand what it means to live and lead under pressure, making high stakes decisions while caring for the people who depend on you.

Today, Lisa partners with organizations across healthcare, government, education, and public safety to help leaders navigate change, build trust, and create workplaces where people can thrive. Her leadership development programs have equipped more than 3,500 police officers and thousands of leaders across multiple professions with practical tools to lead with confidence, resilience, and heart. Whether leading an orthopedic practice, a hospital department, a school, or a public agency, Lisa believes the greatest leadership challenges are rarely technical. They are human. Leaders need the confidence, resilience, and connection to bring out the best in themselves and the people they lead.

Known for her engaging and highly interactive style, Lisa believes leadership is not developed by sitting through another presentation. It grows through meaningful experiences, honest reflection, and practical application. Rather than delivering a one size fits all program, she begins by listening. Every leadership experience is designed around the unique needs of the people in the room, creating a shared language and practical tools that leaders can immediately apply with their teams.

Lisa is the author of the forthcoming book, The Meatball Mindset: How to Roll with Life, Lead with Heart, and Thrive Under Pressure, with a foreword by Jack Canfield. Her mission is simple: to protect, serve, and care for those who protect, serve, and care for others by helping them lead with courage, connection, and heart.

Real Admiral June Ryan

Learn more:  Motivational Speaking - June Ryan Global Solutions 

Rear Admiral June Ryan is a success trainer, speaker, and coach drawing upon her 35 years of military service. She holds four formal certifications in the Success Principles - Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want To Be®, by Jack Canfield and co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul®. She leads the Canfield Assisting Teams during the live Train the Trainer programs and holds the highest-level certification, Senior Trainer. Admiral Ryan is also a certified Barrett Values Centre Consultant®, transforming organizations’ workplace cultures to achieve purpose, performance, and profit. Along with other thought-leaders from around the world, she is a contributing author to the Jack Canfield book “Breakthrough Success” which reached Best Seller status on Amazon.

During her military career, Admiral Ryan was a trailblazer, achieving many historical firsts for women – including the first enlisted woman in the Coast Guard to rise to the rank of Rear Admiral, the first woman to serve as the Military Advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the third woman in our nation’s history to serve as the Military Aide to the President of the United States.

She served in a wide variety of leadership roles, including five command positions: two aboard Coast Guard cutters and three regional units ashore. She also served as the Chief of Staff of the Coast Guard Pacific Area, an area that encompasses 6 of the 7 continents, 71 countries, and more than 74 million miles of ocean from the U.S. Western States to Asia and from the Arctic to Antarctica. Prior to her retirement in October 2017, June served as the Commander, the Ninth Coast Guard District (Great Lakes Region), leading the 6,000 men and women of the Coast Guard across an area of responsibility that spanned 8 states and a 1,500-mile international maritime border. She again made history as the first woman to hold that assignment. Even her final Change of Command was historic. It marked the first time in U.S. history that a female Coast Guard Admiral was relieved as District Commander by another female Coast Guard Admiral. She continues to serve in uniform frequently volunteering with the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Rear Admiral Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Arts degree in Adult Education from the University of South Florida. She is a graduate of the National Preparedness Initiative (NPLI) from the Harvard School of Public Health/Harvard Kennedy School of Government. In addition to her four certifications in Success Principles, she holds the highest-level certification from the Barrett Values Center Institute, using powerful metrics to assist leaders in building values-driven cultures in their organizations. In addition to her corporate work, Admiral Ryan takes her work to schools and universities around the country. She has been a guest speaker at several colleges and universities. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Boler College of Business, John Carroll University, Masters in Business Administration (MBA) program, assisting in their executive leadership and communications program.

Her personal military awards include the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Award, two Defense Superior Service Medals, three Legion of Merits, and six Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medals, among many others. She wears the Presidential Service Badge, the Secretary of Homeland Security Service Badge, the Advanced Boat Force Operations pin, and the Coast Guard Cutterman pin.

In recognition of her distinguished military service and leadership, Rear Admiral Ryan was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Alumni at Bowling Green State University in September 2023. When not speaking or volunteering, she enjoys spending time with her husband of 35+ years, their adult daughter, Aisling, and their dog Lucy.

Andrea Nelson, MBA, LAT

Director Orthopedic Care Services, Heartland Orthopedic Specialists - A Service of Alomere Health

Andrea Nelson is the Director Orthopedic Care Services for Heartland Orthopedic Specialists – A Service of Alomere Health, located in west-central Minnesota. She has been with the group for 20years. She oversees the operations of all clinic sites, orthopedic physical therapy, and sports medicine program that provides care to over 12 area high schools, 2 area colleges, and area youth sports associations.

Andrea started her career with the group as an Athletic Trainer working with area high schools in addition to clinical roles of casting/brace fittings, post-op visits, DME management, and physician extender before transitioning into her current leadership role. Andrea is an avid golfer and enjoys outdoor activities, lake time, sports, and time with family and friends.

Brittany Powers

Practice Manager, Orthopaedic Center of the Virginias 

Brittany is the Practice Manager for the Orthopaedic Center of the Virginias. She has been with the practice for over 25 years and has been managing for the past 10 years. She manages day-to-day operations, the physicians’ personal and professional lives, and all other aspects of the practice.

Brittany has lived the ‘American Dream’ at her practice. She started her career with the Orthopaedic Center at 17 years of age in an entry-level position. From there, she started to move upward, attending college and obtaining her degree. As Brittany’s career path emerged, she has taken every opportunity to grow in her professional development, leading the way to her becoming the practice manager.  

She joined AAOE in 2016 and immediately sought out volunteer opportunities, becoming a member of the Membership Council in 2017. Her passion to enhance the member experience led her to chair this Council for the past 2 years and then seek a seat on the AAOE Board of Directors. Brittany is a strong advocate for AAOE, having traveled to Washington, DC twice to lobby on Capitol Hill with her fellow members.

Brittany enjoys spending time with her husband, Adam, and her three children, Tanner, Madison, and Paislee. In her free time, she loves to cook, read, and travel.

Lisa Warren, CPAR, CPC

Chief Executive Officer, Andrews Sports Medicine 

Lisa Warren has been the Chief Executive Officer of Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, AL and AAOE since 2011. She is the president of the Alabama Chapter of Orthopedic Excecutives. Lisa served as a physician practice management consultant with Warren, Averett for 10 years. Other work experiences include management of Brookwood Hospital’s primary care physician network and MedPartners, a physician practice management company. She has been a Member of the Board of Trustees for the Healthcare Worker’s Compensation Fund since 2014.