BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Pamela Bergsten - President
Vice President, Head of Large Case unit and Retention Management for RGA 2024 marks Pamela Bergsten's 30th year in life industry. As a seasoned underwriting professional, she has worked in the direct, reinsurance. markets. Currently, She is the Vice President, Head of Large Case unit and Retention Management for RGA. She was previously with Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance as their Divisional Chief underwriter. In addition, she spent more than 20 years at SCOR Global Life (formerly BMA and Generali USA) in a variety of roles and started her career at Transamerica. Pam has experienced many valuable growth opportunities over the years along with being a mentor, educator, and thought leader in various capacities including policyowner service, case underwriting, underwriting training. manual enhancement, accelerated underwriting, automated underwriting rules refinement, behavioral science, research and development, project management, strategic partnerships, business development, and client relations. She is a certified FALU, has earned her FLMI and ACS designations, and is also a certified scrum product owner (CSPO). Based on her strong passion for continuing education and professional development. Pam has held numerous volunteer positions within the underwriting community including serving as President of three different organizations - The Western Home Office Underwriters Association (WHOUA), Midwestern Underwriting Conference (MUC), and Kansas City Risk Selectors Club. During her tenure with the Association of Home Office Underwriters (AHOU), she was a Vice President in two different role: VP Program Development and VP Conference and participated on the program committee for three years. She is a previous Editor-in-Chief of On The Risk and is now the President of the Metropolitan Underwriting Discussion Group (MUD). Fun fact: Pamela can play 3 musical instruments—flute, piccolo & saxophone. 😊
Doreen Acampora - Vice President & Sponsorship Lead
VP Head of Underwriting and Underwriting Innovation, Afficiency Doreen began her career as an agent with Prudential, where she met her calling and decided to pursue a career as an underwriter. She has held executive level positions transforming underwriting at New York Life, HSBC, and MetLife to name a few. She's also made her mark in the InsurTech space with Health IQ and Milliman IntelliScript. Most recently, she has joined Afficiency as Vice President/ Head of Underwriting and Underwriting Innovation. Doreen is the MUD Board Vice President and has been a Board Member since 2015.
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Joe Lapine - Treasurer
CPA, HIA, MHP, ACS , Senior Vice President, Head of Business Development U.S. Individual Life, RGA Reinsurance Company Joe Lapine joined RGA in 2023 as head of the business development function for the company's U.S. Individual Life business. He leads a team of highly experienced business development executives who collectively have responsibility for working with direct writers across the U.S. to achieve successful outcomes through innovative reinsurance solutions. Joe came to RGA with nearly 30 years of reinsurance industry experience. Prior to joining RGA, he served as Senior Vice President and Head of U.S. Group and Medical Reinsurance at another global reinsurer and had responsibility for the business development and underwriting functions across group life, long-term disability, and medical reinsurance. Before that, Joe served as a Global Key Account Manager for that same reinsurer, responsible for managing global life and health reinsurance partnerships for several of the largest carriers headquartered in the U.S. across all lines of business and regions around the world. His experience also includes roles with two other global reinsurance organizations. Joe graduated from State University of New York Albany with a degree in accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Carolyn McAvinn - Secretary
Director, Underwriting Innovations , MIB Carolyn’s role at MIB crosses all product related activity with a concentration within the Medical Data Solutions platform. Prior to joining MIB in 2019, she has held various underwriting roles within the life and disability field supporting multiple member carriers, products lines and distribution platforms. Prior roles consisted of underwriting management, direct line production underwriting in the life, disability and long-term care markets and assisting with the development of underwriting engine automation and accelerated underwriting programs. Carolyn is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts- Amherst and lives in Massachusetts. Carolyn has been a Board Member since 2017, serving as the MUD Secretary."
Kevin O'Hanlon - Program Lead
VP & Underwriting Client Relationship Lead, Swiss Re Kevin has been in the insurance industry for over 30 years, with Swiss Re for over 20 years. Before Swiss, he spent 10 years with a prominent disability carrier. He has published in On the Risk, and has spoke at several regional underwriting meetings. Kevin lives in Mahopac, NY with his wife and 2 sons. He enjoys going to the movies, Broadway shows, and Yankee games. Kevin became an at Large Board Member in July 2024. Fun Fact: Kevin's birthday is on his parents' wedding anniversary
Erin McClintock - Marketing Lead
Director of Underwriting Innovation, Nationwide Financial Erin has dedicated her career and experience to be focused on life underwriting and innovation. She is currently Underwriting Director of Innovation at Nationwide Financial and focuses on leading initiatives to enhance non-invasive underwriting capabilities by harnessing the power of complex data. Her experience and passion in the life insurance industry, coupled with her focus on innovation and data-driven underwriting, have led her to advancing accelerated underwriting practices and enhancing customer experiences. Erin has been on the MUD Board for 2 years.
Kacie Williams - Operations Lead
Vendor Relationship Manager, Guardian Life Kacie has 15 years of experience in the Life and Disability Insurance spaces, specializing in vendor management, underwriting transformation and innovation, and relationship building. She loves international travel, interior design, and spending time with her husband and Westie. She has been on the Board for 2 years as Operations Lead. Fun Fact: Kacie's parents owned an ice cream store for 14 years
AVP, Senior Underwriting Specialist, Gen Re Gary has 30 plus years of life underwriting experience with both direct and reinsurance companies. Currently working as a large case facultative underwriter at Gen Re with specialties in Aviation and Financial Underwriting. He is the MUD Co-Treasurer and has been on the Board for 3 years. Fun Fact: Gary enjoys kayaking the coastal waters off Long Island.
Gary Kranich - Co-Treasurer
Stephanie Shumosic - Co-Secretary
ACS, AALU, Underwriting Manager, Penn Mutual Stephanie has over 35 years of life insurance experience. Stephanie holds a B.S. in Marketing and Statistics from New York University, in NY, NY. Stephanie resides in Wilmington, DE and Clearwater, FL. In her spare time she enjoys volunteer and philanthropic work through out the community. Most of her time is spent supporting the Delaware Art Museum and The University of Delaware. Stephanie has been a Board Member for 4 years, serving as Co-Secretary. Fun Fact: Stephanie is a self-professed Disney fanatic. She enjoys planning concierge level Disney Vacation Experiences for her close friends and family.
Elyssa Del Valle - Board Member Program
Chief Medical Officer L&H Americas, Swiss Re. Elyssa joined Swiss Re in January 2020 as Chief Medical Officer L&H Americas. In this role, Elyssa represents Swiss Re across the industry to interact with clients' underwriting and medical leadership. Prior to joining Swiss Re, Elyssa was Medical Director for RGA's US Division. In 2013 she transitioned into the life insurance market as AVP, Medical Director for MetLife, ending a 30-year career in direct patient care, which included private practice, emergency medicine, hospice, geriatrics, physician for Wittenberg University and Trinity college, as well as teaching critical reasoning at University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Quinnipiac University's athletic training and physician assistant programs. She was also former host of a live talk-radio show entitled “House Calls with Dr Lissy." She serves on the American Academy of Insurance Medicine (AAIM) scientific program committee, the Metropolitan Underwriting Discussion Group (MUD) and Northeast Home Office Underwriter Association (NEHOUA). She is board certified in insurance medicine. Fun Fact: Elyssa has a personal connection to the original case of Star Trek. Dr. Spock, Leonard Nimoy was her cousin. William Shatner was her mother's friend. When he was living in Montreal, and acting at the Montreal Playhouse, Elyssa's mom, Joyce, would help him learn lines before he was cast as Captain Kurt. Elyssa then went to his same camp in the Laurentian mountains, 20 years after him. Captain Kurt and Elyssa are alumni of Camp Massad.
Colleen Eng, DO - Board Member Program
Corporate Vice President & Medical Director, New York Life Insurance Company Colleen joined New York Life as Medical Director and Corporate Vice President in January 2020, after more than a decade in primary care treating pediatric and adult patients as well as teaching Columbia University medical students and osteopathic physicians. She is a board certified osteopathic family physician who was born and raised in NYC. She completed her undergraduate degree at Cornell University and her medical degree at the University of Medicine of New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine (now named the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine). She completed her internship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and completed her residency at Aria Health (now named Jefferson Health), where she was Chief Resident. She has been a Board Member and on the Programming Committee member, 4 years Fun fact: Colleen worked as a paralegal, marketing manager, strategist, and executive recruiter for several years prior to and during medical school.
Betsy Sears - Board Member Program & Carmine's Dinner Coordinator
Scientific Advisor for ExamOne, a Quest Diagnostics Company Betsy has over 38 years of experience in the insurance laboratory environment. She is the primary liaison for client medical and laboratory relationships and works closely with ExamOne's laboratory operations, and medical and sales staff on client end-to-end strategic solutions. She also supports insurance customers through a variety of presentations on laboratory, medical and risk assessment topics. Betsy has served on the MUD board of directors for almost 15 years. Prior to becoming Scientific Advisor at ExamOne, Betsy served as EVP Laboratory Strategy and Sales and before that was VP and Laboratory Director of Osborn Laboratories for 14 years. She also has over 11 years of experience in clinical & hospital laboratory settings in NYC and Chicago, specializing in microbiology. Betsy received her B.S. degree in Medical Technology from the University of Missouri - Kansas City and her Master's degree in Business Management from Baker University. Betsy has been on the MUD Board for 15 years. Fun Fact: Betsy has seen Book of Mormon 48 times and Wicked 37 times (kids in the business 😊)
Heather Haslam - Board Member Marketing & Carmine's Dinner Coordinator
Certified Professional Underwriter, ExamOne, USA & Canada Heather has worked as a production underwriter carrier and reinsurance for over 20 years. She has been with ExamOne since January 2021 as uwing SME to the commercial, sales, business development & analytics teams, as well as reinsurance liaison lead. She's also been published in Hot Notes, on the Exam One Blog, and been on the AHOU Program Committee for 3 years. First year At Large Board member; Marketing Team & Carmine’s Event Planner Extraordinaire. Heather lives in Ontario, Canada with her partner Kyle, her son and her daughter. Fun Fact: Heather loves a good ice bath
Keith Ax - Board Member Marketing
Underwriting Manager, Ladder Life Keith has been in Underwriting Life Insurance for nearly 15 years. He has been with Ladder Life since 2021 serving as Underwriting Manager, having been an Underwriter at New York Life for over 10 years previously. Keith is a Board Member since 2020, with the Marketing Team. He lives in Rockland County, NY with his wife and 2 daughters, and is a fan of the Yankees, Jets and Nets. Fun Fact: Keith passed his driving test at the end of December 1999, but he could not be given an actual drivers license that day. He had to wait several days as the computers at the DMV were shut down for Y2K.
Jennifer Clink-Ciollaro - Board Member Operations
Assistant Vice President, Underwriter, Swiss Re Jennifer has a Bachelor of Science in Movement Science with a Concentration in Athletic Training. She started underwriting at Mass Mutual where she spent the first 9 years of her career. After underwriting for a few years at Nationwide she moved into the reinsurance world with Swiss Re. Jennifer participates in a variety of roles at Swiss Re including production underwriting, mentoring/training, auditing, and system improvement testing. When not underwriting, you can find Jennifer with her children either on the sidelines of the soccer field or basketball court, attending concerts, or traveling. Jennifer lives in Massachusetts. She has been on the MUD Board since 2010, with the Operations Committee. Fun fact: Jennifer's son has been taller than her since he was 9. Jennifer's daughter is also taller than her, so she is officially the shortest person in her house.
Aaron Baack - Board Member Operations
VP, Underwriting - RGA Aaron started w/insurance carrier in 1997 with State Farm. In 2004 his role became leading underwriting, sales, and marketing for a large brokerage, until 2016 when he became a lead for underwriting teams with a direct carrier. In 2020 Aaron went on to lead 100 underwriters both onshore & offshore. He joined RGA in 2022 as Executive Director and in 2024 he was promoted to VP, Underwriting. Fun Fact: Aaron grew on a farm in Western Nebraska, attended a small school with only 6 kids in his class, most of whom he didn't like, but his least favorite classmate shares his birthday as well!
Joe Kotowicz - Board Member Operations
Executive Underwriting Consultant, MassMutual Joe has been in underwriting life insurance for over 35 years representing companies such as AIG, Home Life, North Atlantic Life, American Mayflower, and US Life. His current position is Executive Underwriter on Large Case unit at MassMutual. In addition to underwriting, he spent five years working in sales for a broker-dealer in NYC. He currently site on the Executive Board of Metropolitan Underwriting Discussion Group for the past fifteen years. Joe and his wife of 40 years live in NYC and share a passion for traveling. They both also enjoy music and theater, have seen many productions, including at the Globe Theatre in London, of their favorite playwright, William Shakespeare. For 25 years, he assisted his brother coaching a youth track team. His hobbies include golf and bowling.