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InterQual® Clinical Leadership Team
We are proud to introduce the InterQual clinical leadership team. This group of clinicians authors content according to our rigorous, evidence-based content development process. Together, they build on InterQual’s tradition of continuous innovation and support our commitment to upholding the highest standards of quality and integrity.
Neil Udani, MD
Sr. Medical Director, InterQual® Level of Care
Dr. Udani has almost 20 years of experience in hospital and internal medicine and medical education. He previously served as Chief Medical Officer at Saint Clare's Health (where he still practices), with an increased focus on utilization and denials management.
Dr. Udani graduated from Ross University School of Medicine and is board-certified in Internal Medicine. He received his training from Drexel University School of Medicine and was also an associate professor at Emory University School of Medicine.
Katy Kehl, MD
Sr. Medical Director, InterQual® Care Planning Products
Dr. Kehl is experienced in intensive care, medical education, and clinical research. She served as a physician utilization management advisor at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas, where she oversaw the use of InterQual criteria. She is a practicing intensivist at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Mass.
Dr. Kehl is board certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, and Critical Care Medicine. She has a medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine.
Sarah Johnson, MD, MS
Sr. Medical Director, InterQual® Behavioral Health
Dr. Johnson has extensive clinical experience in inpatient and outpatient settings and is a practicing clinician at substance use facilities. She previously served as an associate medical director for Beacon Health Options and was on the faculty at the University of Louisville.
Dr. Johnson is board certified in Psychiatry, Neurology, and Addiction Psychiatry. She holds a medical degree and an MS in Clinical Research and Epidemiology from the University of Louisville.
Judith A. Melin, MD, MA, FACP
Medical Director, InterQual® Care Planning Products
Dr. Melin is a physician at Beth Israel Lahey Health with broad experience in ambulatory and hospital care and care management. She previously served as chief medical services officer for Lahey Clinic and medical director of managed care, taught at Harvard Medical School, and was a deputy editor at UpToDate.
Dr. Melin is board certified in Internal Medicine and holds a medical degree from Yale Medical School and an MA in Chemistry from Harvard University.
Linda G. Everett, MD, MHA, DABIM
Medical Director, Customer Experience
Dr. Everett has extensive clinical and utilization management experience. She most recently served as Medical Director for UnitedHealth Group as well as Physician Advisor for Executive Health Resources. Previously, she was in private practice following time as an Attending Hospitalist.
Dr. Everett is board certified in Internal Medicine and certified as a Diplomate by the American Board of Internal Medicine. She holds a medical degree from Jefferson Medical College and a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Widener University.
Laura Coughlin, RN, BSN, MBA
Vice President, Clinical Innovation and Development
Ms. Coughlin leads clinical content strategy and is responsible for product innovation across the InterQual suite. She chairs a cross-company program to ensure clinical content consistency and interoperability across Optum solutions. Ms. Coughlin served in leadership roles at Healthsource, New England Deaconess, and Olsten Kimberly Quality Care.
Ms. Coughlin is a registered nurse who earned her MBA from Boston University and BSN from Southeastern Massachusetts University.
Marisa Haimes Sanville, RN, MS
AVP, Care Management, Content Innovation & Strategy
Ms. Sanville leads the InterQual innovation team, developing new content solutions that use informatics and AI to drive automation and improve efficiency. She has more than 40 years of clinical experience including bedside nursing, hi-tech home care, and nutritional support.
Ms. Sanville is a registered nurse who earned her MS in Health Care Administration and a post-graduate certificate in Health Informatics from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and a BS in Health Care Administration from Merrimack College.
Chrissy Finn, RN, MSN, BSN
Director of InterQual® Content Products
Ms. Finn has worked with the InterQual product suite in a variety of roles, including as a clinical manager for the Level of Care team. In her current position, she is responsible for the suite’s overall roadmap and the definition of product enhancements. Ms. Finn’s clinical experience includes cardiac surgical intensive care nursing.
Ms. Finn is a registered nurse who holds an MSN from Mansfield University and a BSN from Northeastern University.
Kathleen Waisgerber, RN, MSN
Director of Care Planning Clinical Content
Ms. Waisgerber has extensive experience in the design and development of evidence-based content. She currently oversees the strategic initiatives of the InterQual® Ambulatory Care Planning suite. Her clinical experience includes direct patient care in ambulatory, acute, and post-acute settings, as well as clinical research.
Ms. Waisgerber is a registered nurse and a family nurse practitioner. She holds an MSN from Columbia University and a BSN from Boston College.
Michelle Primo-DeRosa, RN, MSN, CNP
Clinical Content Manager
Ms. Primo-DeRosa leads clinical development for InterQual Level of Care products, focusing on acute and post-acute criteria for both adult and pediatric populations. She has more than ten years of direct clinical experience working in inpatient adult medicine, and critical care settings.
Ms. Primo-DeRosa is a registered nurse and a certified nurse practitioner. She holds an MSN from Boston College and a BSN from Fairfield University.
Karla A. Knight, RN, MSN
Clinical Content Manager
Ms. Knight leads the clinical development team which supports molecular diagnostics, durable medical equipment (DME), Medicare DME, and specialty drug products for oncology and non-oncology. She has clinical experience in maternal and child health, long-term care, staff education, process improvement, and private practice.
Ms. Knight is a registered nurse with an MSN from Yale University School of Nursing.