Meet the Leaders
Bruce Shepard, Executive Director
Bruce Shepard is the executive director of the Community Quality Alliance, a clinically integrated network (CIN) affiliated with Northwest Health. Founded in 2016, the Community Quality Alliance was one of Arkansas’ first clinically integrated networks. In 2018, the organization launched a Medicare Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organization (ACO), Community Health Alliance of the Ozarks. Shepard oversees both organizations.
Prior to joining Northwest Health in 2016, Shepard was vice president of product strategy and implementation for Savvysherpa, Inc., where he built innovative solutions to lowering health care costs. Before that he was the director of health and wellness innovations for Walmart. His experiences also include serving as a hospital CEO in Georgia, where he was CEO for Dorminy Medical Center in Fitzgerald and Clinch Memorial Hospital in Homerville.
Shepard earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Georgia Southern University and a master’s degree in business administration from Georgia College & State University. He has also earned national certification as a healthcare consumerism specialist.
Andrea Read, D.O., Medical Director
Andrea Read, D.O., serves as the medical director for the Community Quality Alliance. Dr. Read is board certified in both internal medicine and pediatrics. She has also earned certification in health care quality and management (HCQM) from The American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review.
Dr. Read completed medical school at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and then did her residency at Christiana Care Health System. In addition to her work with the Community Quality Alliance, she also works as a hospitalist for Northwest Health.
Physicians who are certified in HCQM must demonstrate superior ability to critically evaluate industry literature, identify evidence-based best practices and make recommendations that balance appropriateness of health care services with cost and quality. Certified physicians must demonstrate practical knowledge and awareness of tools that can reduce medical errors, ensure patient safety and eliminate waste and unnecessary services, while avoiding potentially harmful delays in care. The result of their work is often a safer, more efficient and cost-effective system that better satisfies the needs of patients, providers, purchasers and payers.
Jesse Mangham, Director of Contracting and Operations
Jesse Mangham joined Community Quality Alliance in 2018 as the director of contracting and operations. Mangham manages the day-to-day operations of PremierCare Physician Hospital Organization (PHO) and also handles all Community Quality Alliance contracting activities.
Prior to joining CQA, Mangham served in several healthcare leadership positions including as an administrator of skilled nursing facilities, and also as an operations supervisor for Triwest Healthcare Alliance.
Mangham’s education includes a Bachelor of Science with an emphasis in health services administration from the University of Central Arkansas and he is also a licensed nursing home administrator.
Stephen Potts, Director of Quality Operations
Stephen Potts, R.N., RRT, joined Community Quality Alliance in 2019 as director of quality operations. Potts previously served as chief operating officer for Visiting Angels of NWA. Prior to that , he worked for seven years at the Walmart home office as senior buyer, pharmacy merchandising, and then as director of human resources – strategy, innovation & analytics. Other experience included serving as executive director of human resources and health services for Bentonville Public Schools.
Potts’ education includes a Bachelor of Science in nursing from University of Arkansas and a Master of Business Administration from University of Phoenix. In addition to being a registered nurse, he is also a licensed respiratory therapist.