Scott Brinks currently serves as the Administrator of Diversion Prevention & Engagement for a large hospital system, where he is responsible for overseeing all activities related to controlled substances. Mr. Brinks is a former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Diversion Investigator with over 25 years of experience. He began his career with DEA in 2001, following prior service as a Military Police Officer in the U.S. Army and as a civilian police officer. During his time with the DEA, he served in the Detroit Field Division, Cleveland Resident Office, where he conducted major pharmaceutical investigations. He later held supervisory roles in Indiana and Illinois, managing complex national diversion cases. At DEA Headquarters, Mr. Brinks held several key leadership positions, including Staff Coordinator of the Policy Section, Unit Chief of the Liaison Section, and Section Chief of the Regulatory. Drafting and Policy Support Section. In that capacity, he directed agency-wide efforts on regulatory policy, regulatory drafting and legislative initiatives until his departure from the DEA in 2024. Mr. Brinks is widely recognized for his deep expertise in DEA regulations, policy development, and controlled substance compliance. Throughout his distinguished career, he has served as a trusted resource on matters related to pharmaceutical diversion, regulatory interpretation, and legislative initiatives. He has provided comprehensive training to hundreds of professionals, including federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, as well as members of the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. Mr. Brinks earned a Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from St. Leo University. Throughout his career, he has been honored with numerous awards and commendations, including the United States Attorney’s Award for Distinguished Service and the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association (NHCAA) Investigation of the Year Award.

Gray Fullwood, Director of Investigations with the NC Board of Pharmacy, leveraging extensive experience in regulatory compliance and enforcement. Over 19 years as a Special Agent with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, specializing in pharmaceutical narcotics and environmental crimes.

Danielle Gordon is a dual-credentialed healthcare professional and attorney, currently serving as Assistant General Counsel and Senior Compliance Manager at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). With a unique background in pharmacy and law, Danielle leads MSK’s Controlled Substance Compliance and Drug Diversion Prevention Program, ensuring institutional adherence to the Controlled Substances Act and DEA regulations. Danielle began her career at MSK in 2009 as a Senior Pharmacist, delivering clinical pharmacy services across inpatient and outpatient settings. In 2017, she transitioned to the Compliance Department, becoming MSK’s first Drug Diversion Manager—a role in which she pioneered the institution’s approach to controlled substance oversight and internal investigations. She provides strategic guidance on regulatory matters, including DEA licensing, prescribing practices, and incident reporting, and collaborates closely with clinical and research teams to uphold compliance standards. Danielle holds a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from Rutgers University School of Pharmacy and a Juris Doctor (JD) from New York Law School. She is admitted to the New York State Bar.

Ilisa Bernstein, PharmD, JD, FAPhA, is President of Bernstein Rx Solutions, LLC, where she advises clients on navigating the complexities of drug and pharmacy regulatory policy and compliance issues, strategies, and advocacy. Dr. Bernstein served nearly five years at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), including a 13-month tenure as APhA's 14th CEO and Executive Vice President -- the first woman to lead APhA in its 172-year history. She oversaw strategic operations for APhA, the Board of Pharmacy Specialties, and the APhA Foundation. She joined APhA in 2019 as Senior VP for Pharmacy Practice & Government Affairs and guided the association as the voice of pharmacists in all practice settings.
Her public service spans over 30 years at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where she held multiple senior leadership roles. As deputy director of FDA’s Office of Compliance in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, she shaped national policies and enforcement strategies for drug compliance. She also served for 19 years in senior policy advisor roles in the Office of the Commissioner, starting at FDA as a clinical pharmacology reviewer. Dr. Bernstein currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), and held other board positions, including the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies, Pharmacy Quality Alliance, and the APhA Board of Trustees. In 2023, she was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy and received the Top 50 Most Influential Pharmacy Leaders Award by the Pharmacy Podcast Network. Dr. Bernstein was also senior associate director of worldwide regulatory affairs at Pfizer and completed a post-doctoral clinical residency at the National Institutes of Health. She earned her PharmD from the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy and her JD from American University Washington College of Law.

Jaime McDermott is the Controlled Substance Compliance Director for Kroger Health, where she leads enterprise-wide efforts to ensure regulatory compliance and responsible pharmacy practices across one of the nation's largest retail healthcare organizations. With nearly 30 years of experience in pharmacy and over a decade dedicated to controlled substance compliance, she brings deep expertise in DEA regulations, risk mitigation, and operational execution. Throughout her career, Jaime has held a variety of leadership roles at both the Pharmacy and Corporate levels, giving her a broad perspective on patient care, pharmacy operations, and regulatory strategy. Her leadership reflects a balance of technical knowledge and a deep-rooted belief in the value of people and purpose in advancing the profession of pharmacy and helping people live healthier lives.

Karla Palmer serves as Director for Hyman, Phelps & McNamara. As a litigator with over 33 years’ experience, Karla advises clients throughout the pharmaceutical supply chain – from manufacturers and distributors to outsourcing facilities, pharmacies and doctors – on a range of legal and regulatory issues. These matters include DEA and FDA regulations and guidance, government inspections and investigations, Form 483 observations, warning letters, consent decrees, and administrative and federal proceedings. She represents entities and individuals in matters involving their DEA registration, including investigations, orders to show cause, immediate suspension matters, hearings and federal appeals of the same. Karla is a nationally recognized leader in the compounding space, both for Section 503A and 503B facilities. She regularly counsels clients on all aspects of compliance with state and federal statutes, regulations and guidance. Karla has written about and addressed industry audiences across the country on DEA and FDA and compliance, including all aspects of the passage and implementation of the 2013 Drug Quality and Security Act including both compounding and supply chain issues, its guidance documents, and implementing regulations.

Nisha Quasba is a seasoned government and regulatory affairs professional at Faegre Drinker Consulting with a proven track record of navigating the legislative landscape to drive meaningful policy reforms. Through her advocacy, she has successfully built bipartisan, bicameral support for critical legislation, shaping policies that resonate with diverse stakeholders. Her work has made a significant impact on the rare disease community, the telehealth sector, and the practice of pharmacy. A dedicated public health policy advocate, Nisha is committed to safeguarding public health and safety through informed policymaking. Before joining Faegre Drinker, she served as a public policy specialist with the Association of Public Health Laboratories, where she facilitated collaboration between government agencies, policymakers, and association members to advance key public health initiatives.

Professor Rick Roberts teaches at the University of San Francisco in both the Performing Arts Department and the Department of Rhetoric and Language. After being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 1988 he began taking AZT- the only drug available at the time. Since then, he has taken thousands of doses of medications, including counterfeit drugs. As a result of his experience, Roberts has appeared on national radio, television, and in print media discussing pharmaceutical counterfeiting and issues of medicine safety. He has testified before various governing bodies including the U.S. Senate and numerous state legislatures. He is an Advisory Board Member for The Partnership for Safe Medicines. Professor Roberts continues to advocate for the establishment of greater protections for consumers of pharmaceuticals in the U.S., along with working to effect policy related to the global drug counterfeiting crisis.

Jonathan Thacker is a pharmacy and compliance executive with experience leading enterprise-wide pharmacy operations and compliance programs across healthcare, retail pharmacy, and other highly regulated industries.

Amanda Ward, PharmD, MS, BCGP, DASPL, is passionate about pharmacy law and regulations and helping pharmacists find unique ways to impact patients, either directly or indirectly. Since graduation from West Virginia University School of Pharmacy in 2008, Dr. Ward has held several non-traditional pharmacist roles. She has worked as a long-term care pharmacist, community pharmacist, regulatory consultant pharmacist, managed care pharmacist, and an ambulatory care pharmacist. In 2021, Dr. Ward obtained her MS Pharmacy degree in Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy from the University of Florida, in the pharmaceutical regulation specialty track. In 2024, Dr. Ward completed the American Society for Pharmacy Law's Diplomat program.