My expertise is working with healthcare clients, both individuals and practice groups. Some individuals come to AMI following a licensure disciplinary action, but practitioners and/or groups also seek our services following contacts received from insurance carriers, credentialing committees, or law enforcement agencies.

In addition to individualized monitoring services, I facilitate our clinical skills assessments, which are specifically designed for individuals who have had multiple malpractice actions or are seeking re-entry after a period of inactivity for a variety of reasons. I find the cases involving specialists to be the most interesting, as the work stretches my knowledge base, seeks to identify the root cause or underlying problem which drives the practitioner’s issue, and enables me to provide more detailed services, such as the formulation of educational plans to remediate deficiencies.

I am most passionate about the incremental progress made with our clients and the impact the process has on the clinician. Knowing that the improvements also translate into improved patient care is thrilling for me! One of my first cases at AMI involved a physician who called me at the conclusion of the monitoring process. He confirmed that he was hesitant and disagreeable when he started the monitoring plan but, during the process, he understood how he had deviated from the training he had received in medical school and began to experience a renewed interest in the practice of medicine. The clinician thanked me for helping him to rediscover why he went into medicine in the first place. That was an affirming moment for me.

I have worked all facets of health care regulation, starting as an attorney litigating complex medical disciplinary cases, serving as counsel for licensure boards and divisions, and then directing program areas at the senior management level. During my tenure with state government, I formed partnerships with law enforcement agencies, multiple health care facilities, and external organizations to build trust and a cooperative working network. Understanding how these external agencies and facilities work, I try to bring the same balanced approach to my work at AMI, while maintaining the integrity necessary for independent monitoring.

With a committed effort for improvement and patience for the journey, our clients’ successes prove that our processes work! The AMI staff and specially trained clinical monitors bring broad-based experience to develop a monitoring plan specific to the needs of each client. In some cases, we have been a trusted resource for insurance panels, malpractice carriers, and credentialing groups, and clients are often allowed to retain privileges and stay in network based on our monitoring plans. We maintain a high degree of independence and have a genuine concern for the enhancement of patient care.

In my previous life, I was often a guest speaker for insurance fraud groups and health care associations and conducted presentations for local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. I was recruited to serve on the development team for the first drug diversion task force in Tennessee, which was formed through a partnership with law enforcement, regulatory agencies, and health care providers to address the growing issue of prescription drug abuse and misuse. During the Pandemic, I have limited myself to an AMI podcast and teaching (remotely) a literature and faith class, where I bring my love of classical and contemporary literature to serve as a catalyst for teaching theology.

I love the natural beauty of our country’s state and national parks, where I enjoy day hikes with my husband and, occasionally, with friends. I have always had a fascination with archaeological sites, so some of our travels are planned to include places such as the Badlands or a favorite mammoth dig site in South Dakota to satisfy my “inner archeologist”. We also try to immerse ourselves into the culture and music of the regions we explore. Most recently, we enjoyed the streams and waterfalls within the DeSoto Falls Recreation Area, located in the mountains of northern Georgia. The beauty of the mountains in autumn met all of my hiking checkpoints!

Denise on a hike in the DeSoto Falls Recreation Area.