Dominique Wilkins, Arjuna Swaminathan, and Edward C. Crooke will take the main stage at the 20th anniversary edition of RISE National, March 23-25 in Orlando, Fla.
Dominique Wilkins on winning through wellness
The NBA Hall of Famer will present a keynote that offers his perspective on health, discipline, and organizational strength.
Wilkins, the most iconic player in Atlanta Hawks history. will discuss how managing diabetes while competing at the highest level shaped his view on resilience, proactive care, and the role strong cultures play in sustained performance.
Today he serves as the Hawks’ vice president of basketball and special advisor to the CEO, shaping the franchise he once electrified on the court.
Off the court, Wilkins has built a powerhouse entrepreneurial career. Barron’s called his work a “full court press for tech” when he partnered with consulting leader 3Ci to connect software developers from underserved communities with start-ups. He is also an owner of the Birmingham Legion (USL soccer) and the New Jersey 5s of Major League Pickleball.
A passionate philanthropist, Wilkins serves as board chairman of KultureCity, the nation’s leading nonprofit for invisible disabilities and sensory accessibility. He also lends his influence to organizations such as JDRF, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Special Olympics, Muscular Dystrophy Association, and the American Lung Association
HHS-OIG’s Arjuna Swaminathan on AI and fraud prevention
Arjuna Swaminathan, the first chief artificial intelligence officer at the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), will discuss the future of health care fraud prevention through a human-AI collaboration.
Swaminathan has dedicated his career to advancing the use of artificial intelligence and has been instrumental in driving the enterprise adoption of AI technologies to enhance operational efficiencies and foster innovation.
Before his tenure at HHS-OIG, he was a principal at IBM’s Cloud and Cognitive Services Division. During his time at IBM, he specialized in partnering with health care organizations to develop and integrate AI solutions tailored to their specific business needs, thereby improving service delivery and decision-making processes.
Swaminathan holds dual graduate degrees from the University of Maryland, earning an M.B.A. and an M.S. in information systems. His education and extensive professional experience have equipped him with a deep understanding of both the strategic and technical aspects of AI implementation in health care.
Edward C. Crooke on enforcement efforts from the Department of Justice
Edward Crooke, assistant director in the commercial litigation branch of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, will describe the statutory and regulatory tools available to the government in investigating and pursuing fraud within the Medicare Advantage program.
His keynote will focus on the application of the False Claims Act to unlawful business practices involving Medicare Advantage plans, providers, and vendors. Crooke will also highlight the schemes underlying recent settlements and ongoing enforcement actions pending in federal court.
Crooke has represented the United States in a range of health care fraud matters involving Medicare Advantage plans, electronic health record vendors, pharmaceutical and device manufacturers, hospitals, clinics, and physician practices. His case work has contributed to fraud recoveries totaling over $6 billion for the federal treasury. Crooke has received the Attorney General Award for Fraud Prevention and the John Marshall Award, the highest award presented to Justice Department attorneys. He joined the department in 2007 following a federal clerkship in the District of Maryland and several years in private practice. He is a graduate of Haverford College and the University of Virginia School of Law.
RISE National 2026 will take place March 23-25 in Orlando, Fla. Click here for the full agenda, roster of speakers, and registration information.