Lark Webinar - Weight Loss and the Cardiometabolic Crisis: What Benefit Leaders Need to Know

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As healthcare costs continue to soar and chronic conditions drive cost and infrastructure strains on employer health plans, benefit leaders are facing a pivotal moment. At the same time, technology is advancing more rapidly than the industry can keep up with. In 2026, success will hinge on balancing cost controls, compliance, and employee well-being while embracing innovations that reshape care.

This webinar brings together leading experts across digital healthcare, PBMs, and pharmaceutical innovation to explore what’s in store for the year ahead. We’ll dive into innovative strategies—from real-time data that enables faster processes, to transparent PBM models changing the way we think about drug pricing, to tackling cardiometabolic disease before it escalates into costly complications.

Speakers

Matt Gibbs, PharmD

President | Lark

Matthew Gibbs is the President of Lark Health. In his role Gibbs will be responsible for scaling operations, accelerating go-to-market strategies, and driving cross-functional execution to support rapid growth. Gibbs has demonstrated his ability to lead organizations through industry-changing events. Before joining Lark Health, he was Chief Pharmacy Officer at Blue Shield of California with the primary responsibility of launching the Pharmacy Care Reimagined initiative. Gibbs was also President of Capital Rx, overseeing operations, client success, clinical services, and government programs. In that role, he provided expert testimony for the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance regarding PBM transparency. Gibbs has also served as President at EnvisionRx, Chief Pharmacy Executive at Anthem, Chief Clinical Officer at Medco (now Express Scripts), and Vice President of Sales and Service at Walgreens.

Bethany Irvin

Senior Director of Pharmacy Transformation | Blue Shield of California

Bethany Irvin is Senior Director of Pharmacy Partnerships at Blue Shield of California, a nonprofit health plan serving nearly 6 million members in the state’s commercial, individual, and government markets. In her role, she drives provider relationships within Blue Shield’s “Pharmacy Care Reimagined” model - a program launched on January 1, 2025 with the goal of transforming the traditional pharmacy benefit manager model. As a results-driven leader with more than a decade of experience in Pharmacy, Bethany is currently focused on strengthening Blue Shield’s engagements with pharmacy benefits management service providers. Bethany recently joined Blue Shield of California from CarelonRx, where she served as Director of Pharmacy Portfolio Oversight. Bethany holds a Master of Education from American InterContinental University and has demonstrated a proven track record in operational improvement and strategic partnerships.

Joe Shields, Esq.

CEO | Transparency-Rx

Joseph M. Shields, Esq. is Transparency-Rx’s founder and President. Started in 2023, Transparency-Rx is a growing not-for-profit- 501c6 organization, representing over a dozen impactful pass-through PBM companies and aligned companies, serving over 22 million covered lives, and dedicated to improving and changing America’s healthcare and pharmacy supply chain for the better. Joe previously served three Governors in New York and New Jersey, both Republican and Democrat, as an executive and trusted counsel, overseeing a $100M state-wide agency, with over 700 employees for over half-a decade. His legal, policy and technology work garnered national recognition in the media and awards for innovation from the Council of State Government (CSG) and others. In the private sector, Joe’s representative clients include leading global companies and philanthropic institutions, emerging start-up firms, navigating complex business issues and environments in U.S. defense, energy, technology, pharmacy benefit and health care. Joe earned his law degree from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law and is a cum laude graduate of Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Public Affairs and Citizenship. He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife of over 20 years and their children.