AHOU 2010 Conference Presentations
 


  • Conference Presentations
  • Supplemental AHOU Historical Documents and information

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Monday, April 12, 2010
1 Opening Ceremonies
2 Medical Innovations

Sanjay Gupta, MD, prominent neurosurgeon and media personality on health-related issues.

An assistant professor of neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine and associate chief of the neurosurgery service at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, he is best known as CNN's chief medical correspondent, hosting the network's weekend health program House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta and making frequent appearances on American Morning, Larry King Live, and Anderson Cooper 360°.
3 LUB and Achievement

Jane V. Hall, FALU, FLMI, CLU Chair, ALU Board (new Life Underwriting Board - LUB)
4 FALU Recognition

Lee A. Janecek, FALU, FLMI Chair, Education Committee, Academy of Life Underwriting (ALU)
5 AHOU Update

Thomas McCarthy, FALU, FLMI, CLU President, AHOU
6 "Tame the Lions in Your Life", Dealing with Complainers, Bullies, Grumps & Curmudgeons

Connie Merritt, RN, PHN, has a reputation for delivering breakthrough information to get that spark for life – including timely research gathered from top leaders in medicine, business and brain-response studies. She is a nurse, speaker, business professional and award-winning author, with a new book just released: TOO BUSY FOR YOUR OWN GOOD (McGraw-Hill) – which is particularly timely in these “do more with less” economic times.

This session provides step-by-step strategies and approaches to help you when you’re faced with unruly “lions”— those difficult people like complainers, bullies, grumps, curmudgeons, and passive-aggressives. These people can tear you apart, decrease your productivity and increase your stress. There are certain people in every circle that could win awards for Curmudgeon of the Year. As well, there are those better known for their bullying behavior, unrealistic demands, condescending tones and unhealthy controlling gestures -- while others specialize in Whine n‘Jeez Parties! Learn powerful skills for resolving conflict as well as options for handling hostility and reducing frustration, intimidation and manipulation from difficult people. You will master the skills for the confidence, professionalism and competence for a positive, successful outcome.
 
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
7 Chronic Pain Underwriting Challenges: Medical Marijuana, Coexisting Depression

Marianne E. Cumming, BSc (Pharm), MSc, MD, AALU Vice President & Medical Director, Swiss Re

Chronic pain is both a common and challenging underwriting impairment. Dr Cumming will provide an innovative framework for underwriting as well as an overview of chronic pain and its favorable and unfavorable underwriting features. Chronic pain further complicated by depression will also be addressed with a logical underwriting approach. Dr Cumming will discuss the latest information and trends in medical marijuana use and what factors underwriters need to know when underwriting medicinal marijuana use.
8 Bladder Tumors: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Steven Zimmerman, MD, FLMI, CLU Vice President & Chief Medical Director, Transamerica Re

Bladder tumors can be benign or malignant and occur with increasing frequency as we age. This workshop will address the various types of bladder neoplasms and include an approach to assessing the mortality risks associated with life underwriting.
9 Older Age Underwriting – Why Age Isn’t Just a Number

Mark E. Skillan, MD Vice President & Medical Director, Munich American Re

Whether or not your company currently offers products tailored to the “mature age” market, demographic trends will require most companies to consider offering coverage to older age applicants in the future. Given the heterogeneity within the older age applicant pool, appropriate risk assessment of this population requires knowledge of key morbidity and mortality risk indicators. This talk will define “mature age”, discuss the aging process, and offer an overview of helpful tools for morbidity and mortality risk assessment for the older age applicant.
10 Controversies in CAD and Diabetes Underwriting

Michael B. Clark, MD, FACC, DBIM Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Director, Swiss Re

Underwriting life insurance applicants with diabetes and coronary disease as co-impairments is always a challenge. However, new information is emerging that may settle several previously unresolved issues such as: the impact of tight glucose control; the predictive value of cardiac screening tests; the mortality benefit of cardiac bypass and stenting. Armed with this data, an updated underwriting approach to the diabetic with coronary disease has developed.
11 Aerospace Medicine: What does flying have to do with Medical Underwriting?

Raymond Webster, MD, MPH Medical Director, Aviva USA; Major General & Chief Flight Surgeon, Air National Guard, Medical Asst, US Air Force Surgeon

Let your knowledge take flight in this presentation as you learn about the various types of aviation, the physiologic and medical aspects associated with these types of flying and the potential for medical underwriting issues.
12 Effective Financial Underwriting of Large Cases in 2010, It Ain’t What it Used to Be

Kent D. Major Vice President & Chief Underwriter, Aviva USA
Joseph P. Manczuk, FLMI, CLU Vice President & Chief Underwriter, RGA

Financial justification in an age of STOLI and economic turmoil is paramount, with the goal of guiding profitable business to issue while avoiding buyer’s remorse and/or legal fees. A sound partnership between the reinsurer and direct writer is essential when packaging a case and tying up loose ends. Listen to the tips and concerns presented from both direct and reinsurance company perspectives.
13 Claims – A puzzle where Underwriters, Claims and Legal need to Work Together

Josee Malboeuf, FLMI, ALHC Vice President, Underwriting and Claims, RGA Canada
Lucie Cossette, FLHC, ACS Director, Individual Life Claims, RGA Canada
Peter Speers, FLMI, AALU Director, Underwriting, National Producer Relations, RBC Insurance
Gregory Geatros, LLB/B Associate General Counsel, Aegon Canada

Claims are not always as straightforward as they appear. Working in synergy with the underwriting, legal and claim departments will ensure that a clear and complete picture emerges. Putting the experts from these pieces together will also help identify weaknesses in the application and their consequences. Join our panel of experts in a debate on the impact of application wording and underwriting on claim payments.
14 Reaching New Heights – The Abundance Mentality

Douglas A. Ingle, FALU, FLMI Vice President, Underwriting Research, Hannover Life Re
Janice Jones, FALU, FLMI, HIAA Regional Vice President, ExamOne
Jeffrey J. Kruger, AALU Senior Vice President, Insurance Services, ValMark Securities

Unleash the knowledge! Today’s underwriters have an abundance of expertise they may not know they have. This session will help them realize the potential applications of the vast array of knowledge they posses and skills they have honed. This can’t miss session boasts a diverse panel of underwriting professionals who have utilized their underwriting skill sets to reach new heights.
15 New Frontiers in Melanoma Staging

J. Carl Holowaty, MD, DBIM Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Director, RGA

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear more about the new American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC)’s revised guidelines for staging melanoma. What has changed? What should you be looking for? Be sure to join Dr. Holowaty to find out!
16 HIV – is it insurable?

David Winsemius, MD, MPH Vice President and Medical Director, Heritage Labs

What a question! Attend this workshop to see an analysis of mortality-survival trends and markers to follow that trends survival prognosis. Survival comparisons are made of newly infected and treated versus diagnosed 5-10 yrs ago. You can then decide…is HIV insurable?
17 Controversies in CAD and Diabetes Underwriting (repeat)

Michael B. Clark, MD, FACC, DBIM Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Director, Swiss Re

Underwriting life insurance applicants with diabetes and coronary disease as co-impairments is always a challenge. However, new information is emerging that may settle several previously unresolved issues such as: the impact of tight glucose control; the predictive value of cardiac screening tests; the mortality benefit of cardiac bypass and stenting. Armed with this data, an updated underwriting approach to the diabetic with coronary disease has developed.
18 Underweight: How Low Can You Go?

Jean-Marc Fix, FSA, MAAA Vice President, Research & Development, Optimum Re

When is a low BMI too much? We often hear in passing during presentations on obesity that mortality is a J curve as a function of Body Mass Index (BMI). What does that really mean? We will be looking at the true mortality picture of low BMI as well as some of the red flags that should alert any vigilant underwriter.
19 Challenges of the Economy

Jordan J. Carreira, FALU, FLMI Vice President & Chief Underwriter, Lincoln Financial Group
Robert A. Diefenbacher, FSA, MAAA Senior Vice President, Life Reinsurance, Manulife Reinsurance
Tim Ash President & CEO, Ash Brokerage

This powerful panel of life insurance executives will discuss the impact of the deflated economy on the life insurance industry. You will get a unique perspective through the eyes of an actuary, a producer and an underwriter. See what the economy has done to our Industry and what we can expect in the future.
20 Underwriting the Military Risk in the Post 9/11 World

John Sherman, FALU, FLMI, MBA Director of Underwriting Projects & Policy, American General

What exactly is the occupational risk of military members in today’s world? Different military occupations and risks associated with deployment will be discussed along with financially underwriting the military risk and containing exposure. John Sherman, a recently retired Lt. Colonel in the Army Reserves and seasoned life underwriting professional, will provide some first hand knowledge to this important and timely discussion.
21 Ask Your Reinsurer

Jack D. Clabough, FLMI Vice President & Chief Underwriter, SCOR
Kenneth L. Conners, FALU, FLMI, CLU Vice President & Chief Underwriter, Transamerica Re
M. Cristina Downey Vice President & Chief Underwriter, ACE Tempest
William L. Moore Vice President, Underwriting & Medical Director, Munich American Re

Are trends in mortality changing with changes in the economy? When it comes to audits and pricing - what do reinsurers look at from an underwriting shop? What do they think of exams? Testing? Using innovative technology and a pre-session survey, voting buttons will be provided and a 3/3 grid with topics (like Jeopardy) will answer what the audience wants to know.
22 A Wheeze is Just a Wheeze, or Is It?

Paul Quartararo, MD, FACP, DBIM Medical Director, New York Life

Wheezing, shortness of breath and cough can be caused by a variety of illnesses. We will review several cases to differentiate between asthma, COPD, CHF and other causes of these symptoms. We will emphasize practical underwriting pearls that will have you breathing a sigh of relief.
23 Connective Tissue Disease: Update on Recent Major Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment

Ronald C. Fraback, MD Medical Director, Standard Insurance

This informative session will begin with a review of the major connective tissue disorders such as lupus, mixed connective tissue disease, scleroderma, and rheumatoid arthritis. It will include current information on diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Mortality and morbidity guidelines will be discussed along with case studies.
24 Unifying the Worlds of Pricing and Underwriting

Jason H. Rickard, FSA, MAAA Vice President-Actuary, Hannover Life Re

Underwriters and actuaries have long been considered two of the cornerstones of any insurance company. They both bring specialized perspectives and abilities to the risk management process. This presentation looks to delve into some of the unique issues we face in the life insurance industry and how underwriters and actuaries must inevitably work together to ensure the success of their companies.
25 Operational Risk Management in a Pandemic

Peter Wald, MD, MPH, BA Vice President & Enterprise Medical Director, USAA

Pandemic is a word we’ve heard frequently of late. Are you prepared? How do you reduce the risk? Business continuation is essential. This presentation will explore business continuation in the workplace with regards to risk/infection as well as business continuation with work from home/UPN. Estimates of impact will also be examined: usual mild infection vs. high infectivity and how it changes the impact.
26 Challenges of the Economy (repeat)

Jordan J. Carreira, FALU, FLMI Vice President & Chief Underwriter, Lincoln Financial Group
Robert A. Diefenbacher, FSA, MAAA Senior Vice President, Life Reinsurance, Manulife Reinsurance
Tim Ash President & CEO, Ash Brokerage

This powerful panel of life insurance executives will discuss the impact of the deflated economy on the life insurance industry. You will get a unique perspective through the eyes of an actuary, a producer and an underwriter. See what the economy has done to our Industry and what we can expect in the future.
27 Issues Around Jumbo Limits

Stephen A. Bloom, FALU, FLMI, CLU First Vice President & Chief Underwriter, New York Life
Nate A. Johnson, FALU, FLMI, CLU Vice President, Underwriting, Generali
Brian S. Millman Senior Manager, New Business Development, MIB Solutions

A direct writer, a reinsurer and an MIB representative will lead a panel discussion on the issue of jumbo breaches. The direct writer will define the issue, describe the history of jumbo limits and how the issue has changed over time. The reinsurer will describe the affect of jumbo breaches on the direct writer and reinsurer relationship and how these issues are handled from their perspective. The MIB representative will describe a study performed for multiple U.S. reinsurers aiming to scope the jumbo limit issue and describe various means the issue could be addressed in the future.
28 Mortality Impact: What's in Your Audit?

Sandy J. Kelly, FLMI Vice President & Chief Underwriter, John Hancock
Barbara J. Lutz, FALU, FLMI, ACS Director, Line Underwriting Life & Health, CUNA Mutual

If all of the corporate waste and redundant staff were cut out of an organization, the addition to the bottom line would not exceed the mortality savings achieved through consistent underwriting decisions that align with pricing. A strong internal underwriting audit program is a critical component to this formula. Whether a small or large organization, one with a fine tuned audit program or none, this session will generate at least one new idea and possibly plant the seeds for a complete audit overhaul. Learn about a program developed in spite of minimal available management information and see what can be accomplished with the benefit of robust management information. Empower your underwriters through a well defined, well managed underwriting audit program. The underwriting department holds the mortality purse strings. Given the right audit program, underwriters can maximize profits and be one of the most valuable assets in the organization (despite what the actuaries and marketing department might say!).
29 New and Blue: Breast Cancer Update

Laura Vecchione, MD Second Vice President & Medical Director, Gen Re Life Health

Come learn about the new and old prognostic and predictive factors, including the new molecular categorization of breast cancers with the triple negative subtype and the concept of targeted therapy. Discuss mortality patterns in early and advanced breast cancers and answer the question of sentinel lymph node biopsy – do microscopic metastases or isolated tumor cells affect the risk?
30 Demystifying Myeloproliferative Disorders

Gina C. Guzman, MD, DBIM, ALMI Second Vice President & Medical Director, Munich American Re

This presentation will provide an easy to understand approach to underwriting this complex group of disorders. It will define Myeloproliferative Disorders and the major clinical diagnoses included in this group. Diagnostic as well as prognostic factors will be covered, to help underwriters stratify risk assessment of these conditions.
31 Current Topics in Insurance Laboratory Testing – Expert Panel

Richard E. Braun, MD, FLMI Senior Vice President and Medical Director, ExamOne
David Winsemius, MD, MPH Vice President & Medical Director, Heritage Labs
Robert L. Stout, PhD President, Clinical Reference Laboratory

Advances in technology and understanding are expanding the value of laboratory testing for underwriting mortality and morbidity risks. Industry experts on insurance laboratory testing, Dr. Braun, Dr. Winsemius, and Dr. Stout will share insights into the cutting edge of laboratory testing. The panel will also address questions drawn from the underwriting community.
32 Risky Sports: Updates on Mountain Climbing and Auto Racing Risks

Michael Clift, FLMI, AIAA, ACS Second Vice President, Underwriting Manager
Cecil R. Ramotar, FALU, FLMI Second Vice President, Risk Management, Gen Re Life Health

In underwriting we do a good job of keeping up-to-date on the latest medical trends affecting mortality; however, we don’t do nearly as well when it comes to avocations like Mountain Climbing and Auto Racing. This presentation will provide a review of the latest trends in Mountain Climbing and a fresh perspective of emerging activities in Auto Racing.
33 You've Been Asked to Make a Presentation – Now What? (MP3 AUDIO ONLY)

William Sheridan, CLU, ChFC President, Sheridan Writes, LLC

Does it strike terror in your heart? Or are you excited about the speaking opportunity? This class is designed to create the latter experience. Sheridan will give you terrific ideas on taking advantage of every minute of your time in front of your audience, while having fun in the process. He will share the best techniques on communicating with your audience of one hundred or one; verbally or in writing. Finally, he will teach you how to avoid being convicted of involuntary manslaughter due to the horrific crime of “Death by PowerPoint.”
34 Different Strokes for Different Folks:
Neuroanatomy and Pathophysiology, Demographics and Treatment, Risk Modification and Mortality


Irvin N. Heifetz, MD Vice President & Medical Director, MetLife

We will ask and answer the following questions: What are the several kinds of strokes and how do they differ? What accounts for the highly variable symptoms and signs of stroke? What are the risk factors and the pathogenesis of different strokes? What demographic groups are at increased risk for stroke? What treatments for stroke have been developed recently? What are the mortality risks associated with stroke and TIA?
35 Thyroid Disorders – A Pain in the Neck?

Cathy Percival, RN, BSN, MBA Vice President & Medical Director, American General Life

Hot nodule, cold nodule, Hashimoto’s, toxic goiter—what do they mean and when should you care? This presentation highlights the anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of the thyroid gland with an emphasis on interpreting the studies and understanding the mortality implications associated with various thyroid disorders.
36 Current Topics in Insurance Laboratory Testing – Expert Panel (repeat)

Richard E. Braun, MD, FLMI Senior Vice President and Medical Director, ExamOne
David Winsemius, MD, MPH Vice President & Medical Director, Heritage Labs
Robert L. Stout, PhD President, Clinical Reference Laboratory

Advances in technology and understanding are expanding the value of laboratory testing for underwriting mortality and morbidity risks. Industry experts on insurance laboratory testing, Dr. Braun, Dr. Winsemius, and Dr. Stout will share insights into the cutting edge of laboratory testing. The panel will also address questions drawn from the underwriting community.
37 Data Mining Tools – Their Role in Underwriting

Ronald J. Schaber, Jr., FALU, FLMI, ACS, AIAA, HIA Assistant Vice President, Underwriting Research & Development SCOR Global Life U.S. Reinsurance Company
Bruce B. Coates, CPCU, CIC Vice President-Market Development-Life, LexisNexis
Chris Stehno Senior Manager, Actuarial, Risk & Analytics, Deloitte Consulting LLP

Data, data, and more data. It’s out there in abundance with lots of data mining tools to go with it. But will its use become mainstream in underwriting? Using credit scores or purchasing data? Analyzing database information and correlating credit scores with mortality studies? What are the implications of using the data given the Fair Credit Reporting Act? Data mining tools, are they unobtrusive to the client? This session explores these questions and more.
38 Critical Issues in STOLI Litigation

Thomas F. A. Hetherington Partner, Edison, McDowell & Hetherington, LLP
David T. McDowell Partner, Edison, McDowell & Hetherington, LLP Attorneys

Attorneys Thomas Hetherington and David McDowell of Edison, McDowell & Hetherington, LLP will present findings of their research into the many interrelated aspects of stranger originated life insurance.
39 Financial Services and the New Web: How Social Media Will Change the Way We Work

Keith Hickerson, MSM Senior Strategy Consultant, The American College

What impact will Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and all of the other tools of the new web have on financial services? Get an overview of what's hot and what's not online and better understand how each of these tools is being used in financial services today.
 
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
40 The Value of Education and Development – The Bottom Line

Robert A. Kerzner, CLU, ChFC President & CEO, LIMRA, LOMA, and LL Global Inc.
Roland G. Paradis, FALU, CLU Vice President, Lincoln Financial Group

These two esteemed speakers will talk about the state of the Industry today and how continuing education is more important than ever in today's volatile economy.
41 Overcoming Adversity in Achieving Goals

Sean Elliott Former San Antonio Spur and current Spur’s television broadcaster

Color commentator for the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs' local broadcasting, Sean Elliott began his basketball career at the University of Arizona where he was the all-time leading scorer in Pac-10 history. One of the premier perimeter shooters of his day, Sean helped the Spurs to their first championship. His #32 Spurs jersey was retired. Sean was the first player to ever come back from a kidney transplant to play in the NBA. Sean has led a national education campaign to raise awareness among the nearly 16 million people in the United States at risk for kidney disease and to encourage people diagnosed with kidney disease to learn about their treatment options.
42 Business Session