Among the many achievements in his distinguished career, Mr. Thomas takes particular pride in his impactful work with Gaining Resources for Outreach.
FLEMING ISLAND, FL, January 24, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ — Ja’Karri M. Thomas has been included in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Drawing on nearly a decade of expertise in the field of health care, Mr. Thomas has distinguished himself as a healthcare consultant of Experian Health and as the implementation project manager of Wave HDC. Experian Health focuses on leveraging data and technology to improve the financial and operational aspects of healthcare. Its mission is to empower healthcare organizations to streamline processes, enhance financial performance, and deliver better patient experiences by providing innovative solutions across the healthcare revenue cycle. Wave HDC, which is now a part of Experian, is a health care technology organization that utilizes artificial intelligence to curate data for care providers and billers.
Renowned for his career longevity, Mr. Thomas began his journey in the health care field at Medical Support Los Angeles, where he served as a diagnostic case technician auditor, before becoming an associate of IQTalent Partners LLC from 2017 to 2021. He also worked as a health care navigator for the Family Healthcare Foundation and began a storied four-year tenure at AdventHealth in 2018. Starting as a Consumer Access Specialist, he was responsible for verifying patient file accuracy and ensuring that patients in the Emergency Department understood their legal and ethical rights. A year later, he ascended to the role of innovative research associate where he managed databases and conducted statistical analyses on projects leading to presentations and peer-reviewed publications. These included cost analyses of pancreatic cancer, liver disease, GERD, achalasia, and advanced minimally invasive surgery. While serving as an Innovative Associate, his commitment to patient advocacy and operational excellence earned him a promotion to Emergency Department Supervisor in 2021, where he managed daily operations during the critical challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. After AdventHealth, he transitioned to Wave HDC, a groundbreaking healthcare startup that rapidly emerged as an industry leader, culminating in its acquisition by Experian Health in 2023.
Prior to embarking on his professional journey, Mr. Thomas pursued an equally storied education. Securing scholarships to University of Arkansas, Miami University, Duke, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, University of Mississippi, Stanford University and Vanderbilt University. Thomas, ultimately obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Medicine, Health and Society with a minor in Sociology from Vanderbilt in 2016 while serving as a police intern and completing tasks at the Vanderbilt Hospital, the K-9 unit and the Criminal Investigations unit. Also, an accomplished student athlete, he represented the school’s football program as a linebacker and helped the team win the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl in 2012 as well as the BBVA Compass Bowl in 2013.
Continuing his higher education, Mr. Thomas earned a Master of Health Administration in health care administration and management from Pfeiffer University in 2021. To augment his experience, he was certified as a Six Sigma Lean Black Belt Professional (LBBP), a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt (LSSMBB) and in strategic project management by the Management and Strategy Institute in 2024. He was also federally certified as a marketplace navigator by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Known for his contributions as a civic-minded citizen, Mr. Thomas has been a donor to various charities supporting women and has served as a tutor at the Edgehill United Methodist Church. He is also an executive board member of the Williams Crossing Home Owners Association as well as Gaining Resources for Outreach, a 501c(3) organization devoted to the mentorship of children in the local community.
A prolific writer, Mr. Thomas has co-authored and published several academic papers relevant to his professional field, including “Cost Analysis of Pancreaticoduodenectomy at a High-Volume Robotic Hepatopancreaticobiliary Surgery Program” in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, “Cost analysis of robotic versus open hepatectomy: Is the robotic platform more expensive?” in the Journal of Robotic Surgery and “Evaluating the Cost for Robotic vs ‘Non-Robotic’ Transhiatal Esophagectomy” in The American Surgeon.
To commemorate his achievements, Mr. Thomas has been recognized with several accolades throughout his career. In college, he was nominated for the Wilma Rudolph Student Athlete Achievement Award by the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics. He later won the Calmer of Storms Award for his accomplishments at Wave HDC and was honored with both the Continuous Improvement Professional Award and the Six Sigma Black Belt Performance Award by the Management and Strategy Institute.
Among the many achievements in his distinguished career, Mr. Thomas takes particular pride in his impactful work with Gaining Resources for Outreach. Through this initiative, he has not only delivered vital assistance and social support to underserved communities but also spearheads with his organization annual events at a local homeless shelter in Tallahassee, FL—bringing hope, resources, and a sense of community to those in need.
Mr. Thomas attributes his success to the many mentors who have helped him throughout his educational and career pursuits. He was inspired to work in health care after watching his mother, Catina Ponder, bravely battle against breast cancer. While he had the opportunity to learn from several outstanding coaches, he is especially grateful to Coach James Franklin, who encouraged him to excel as a student athlete through a mantra of “giving of yourself completely, ask for nothing in return and success will be yours,” which showed dedication and selflessness. Additionally, he is thankful to have co-authored multiple academic papers with Dr. Alexander Rosemurgy II, a renowned pioneer in complex gastrointestinal surgery, stands as a transformative figure whose visionary contributions have propelled groundbreaking advancements in medical research and innovation, forever shaping the landscape of modern healthcare.
In the coming years, Mr. Thomas aims to earn an executive leadership position at multiple associations that can have a large-scale impact on the community. He also intends to open new clinics in rural areas with the goal of providing them with the same resources as other regions. With his unique blend of expertise, compassion and drive, he is well-positioned to make a lasting impact on the health care field and individuals all over the world.
About Marquis Who’s Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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