Advancing healthcare through evidence, innovation, and systems transformation
Thought Leadership
Shaping the Future of Health Care
Thought leadership in healthcare is not about visibility—it is about contributing to how the field evolves. The most meaningful contributions translate evidence, experience, and real-world application into insights that inform practice, guide decision-making, and shape the future of proactive health and person-centered care delivery.
Contributing to the Field
Thought leadership is most valuable when it is grounded in practice and measured by its impact.
1. Research and Publication
Contributing to peer-reviewed research and industry publications that advance understanding of care delivery, population health, and clinical innovation.
→ Published across leading journals and professional associations
2. Industry Collaboration
Partnering with clinical, operational, and policy leaders to develop and refine care models, frameworks, and standards that improve outcomes and system performance.
→ Collaborated with national organizations, academic partners, and interdisciplinary teams
3. Translating Insight into Practice
Bridging research and real-world application—ensuring that insights are not only shared, but implemented in ways that improve care delivery and patient outcomes.
→ Developed frameworks and models adopted across multi-site healthcare organizations
The future of healthcare will be shaped by those who can connect evidence, innovation, and execution into systems that work in practice. Thought leadership is not a separate endeavor—it is the extension of that work, contributing to a broader understanding of how care can be delivered more effectively, more equitably, and with greater impact.
Presentations
Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), Digital Health Society
March, 2026
Panel Presenter: Crisis to Catalyst – Reinventing Hospitals, Payors and Caregivers
Aveanna Healthcare, National Meeting
April, 2025
Session Speaker – ClinTech: Demonstrating Value to Patients and Payor-Partners
Aveanna Healthcare, National Meeting
March, 2023
Main Stage Speaker – Innovation and Systems Transformation: Secrets to Being a 30%’er
Aveanna Healthcare, Executive Strategy Symposium
December, 2022
Session Speaker – Outcomes that Demonstrate the Value of Strategic Focus and Evidence Aligned Care
Internationally Broadcasted Clinical Symposium* – Humana / CenterWell / MyHealth Connection
February, 2020
Main Session Moderator and Plenary Session Presenter: Holistic Management of a Complex, High-Risk Population Characterized by Heart Failure, Multi-Morbidities, Frailty and Geriatric Syndromes
Humana/CenterWell Home Health, Collaboration Summit
March, 2019
Featured Speaker – Population Health Management: Meaningful Outcomes as Defined by Patients and their Family Caregivers
Kindred Healthcare, National Clinical Symposium
September, 2017
Filmed Speaker* - Demonstrating Value via Evidence Aligned Assessment and Interventions
Kindred at Home, Division Support Center
December, 2016
Keynote/Filmed Speaker* – Zōntago™ with the 1+ Principle™
Florida Assisted Living Association, Statewide Meeting
August, 2016; Orlando, FL
Keynote Speaker - Empowering Older Adults to Improve Daily Engagement and Health Resilience
Alabama Assisted Living Association, Statewide Meeting, Keynote
September, 2015; Dothan, AL
Filmed Speaker* – Empowering Older Adults to Improve Physical Activity and Independence
Alabama Assisted Living Association, Featured/Filmed Presentation
August, 2015; Birmingham, AL
Featured/Filmed Speaker* – Step On It
American Physical Therapy Association, Combined Sections Meeting
February, 2014; Las Vegas, NV
Presentation – Functional and Gait Predictors in Persons with Parkinson’s Disease Receiving Home-Based Rehabilitation
Asiri, F; Marchetti GF; Ellis JL; Otis L; Sparto PJ; Whitney SL
American Physical Therapy Association, Combined Sections Meeting,
January, 2013; San Diego, CA
Platform Presentation – Improvement in Activities of Daily Living Function in Patients with Heart Failure Receiving Home-based Rehabilitation: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Marchetti, GF; Asiri, F; Ellis, JL; Otis, L; Whitney, SL
2nd International Conference on Design & Modeling in Science, Education & Technology. (DeMsET 2012) and 3rd International Multi-Conference on Complexity, Informatics & Cybernetics (IMCIC 2012) – March 2012; Orlando, FL.
DeMset Award: Best in Session
A Case Study in USA Rehabilitation Service Delivery Using a Classification Regression Tree Analysis to Reduce Balance Impairments and Falls In the Older Population: Impact on Resource Utilization and Clinical Decision-Making
Pfalzer, L; Yorke, A; Ellis, J; Otis, L; Gorski, B
World Confederation for Physical Therapy, World Physical Therapy Association,
June 2011; Amsterdam, Netherlands
Poster Presentation – Gentiva Safe Strides & AusTOMs Utilization
Whitney, S; Marchetti, G; Ellis, JL; Otis, L
American Physical Therapy Association, Combined Sections Meeting,
February 2011; New Orleans, LA
Platform – Balance Changes in Older Adults Receiving Homecare Services
Whitney, S; Marchetti, G; Ellis, JL; Otis, L
The 3rd International Congress on Gait & Mental Function – The Interplay
Between Walking, Behavior and Cognition; February 2010; Washington, D.C.
Juried Poster Presentation – The Relationship Between Cognition and Gait Performance in Older Adults Undergoing Physical Therapy Intervention in Various Settings
Whitney, S; Marchetti, G; Ellis, JL; Otis, L
Ask for the password to view filmed presentation
Publications
Peer Reviewed
Whitney SL, Ellis J, Otis L, Marchetti G. A multidimensional exercise program in the home for older adults designed to improve function. Home Healthcare Management & Practice, 2019; 00(0); 1-8; doi.org/10.1177/1084822318820531. [epub ahead of print].
Ellis J, Lu Y, Altenburger P. Change in depression, confidence, and physical function among older adults with mild cognitive impairment. JGPT, 2017; doi: 10.1519/JPT.0000000000000143. [epub ahead of print].
Lu YY, Ellis J, Yang Z, Weaver MT, Bakas T, Austrom MG, Haase JE. Satisfaction with a family-focused intervention for mild cognitive impairment dyads.
J Nursing Scholarship, 2016 Jul; 48(4) 334-44.
Whitney SL, Marchetti GF, Ellis JL, Otis L.
Outcomes of Usual Versus a Specialized Falls Balance Program in the Home.
Home Healthcare Now, 2015 May; 33(5): 265-74.
Asiri FY, Marchetti GF, Ellis JL, Otis L, Sparto PJ, Watzlaf V, Whitney SL.
Predictors of Functional Gait Outcomes for Persons Poststroke Undergoing Home-based Rehabilitation.
J of Stroke and Cerebraovascular Disease, 2014; in press: 01-09.
Whitney SL, Marchetti GF, Ellis JL, Otis L, Asiri F, Alghadir A.
Relationship Between Cognition and Gait Performance in Older Adults Receiving Physical Therapy Interventions in the Home.
J Rehabilitation Research & Development. 2013; 50: 1089-1098.
Whitney SL, Marchetti GF, Ellis JL, Otis L.
Improvements in Balance in Older Adults Engaged in a Specialized Home Care Falls Prevention Program.
J Geriatr Phys Ther. 2013; 36: 3-12.
Pfalzer L, Yorke A, Ellis J, Otis L, Gorski B.
A Case Study in USA Rehabilitation Service Delivery Using a Classification Regression Tree Analysis to Reduce Balance Impairments and Falls in the Older population: Impact on Resource Utilization and Clinical Decision-Making.
e-pub 3/22/2012 in conference proceedings for The Summer 2nd International Conference on Design and Modeling in Science, Education, and Technology: DeMset 2012 at The 16th World Multi-Conference on Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics: WMSCI 2012, July 17th - 20th, 2012, Orlando, Florida, USA.