President's Message

Beyond Participation: Becoming the Voice of Healthcare Risk Management

As healthcare risk professionals, we spend much of our careers working behind the scenes. We analyze events, identify system vulnerabilities, facilitate difficult conversations, and help organizations navigate uncertainty. Much of our greatest work is invisible—measured not by what happened, but by what was prevented.

Yet there is one area where we cannot afford to remain behind the scenes.

Our profession needs your voice.

Healthcare continues to evolve at an extraordinary pace. Artificial intelligence, workforce challenges, cybersecurity threats, workplace violence, patient expectations, regulatory changes, and financial pressures are reshaping how care is delivered. Risk management is no longer simply about responding to events—it is about helping organizations anticipate what comes next.

That requires leadership.

Leadership is not defined by a title. It is demonstrated every time you mentor a new risk manager, present at an educational meeting, contribute to a committee discussion, publish an article, or ask a thoughtful question that changes the direction of a conversation. Small contributions often create the greatest long-term impact.

One of MSHRM's greatest strengths has always been the willingness of its members to learn from one another. Our members represent health systems, physician practices, insurance organizations, attorneys, patient safety professionals, and consultants from across Michigan. Each brings unique experiences that help strengthen our collective knowledge.

The question is not whether you have expertise worth sharing.

You absolutely do.

The question is whether you will share it.

As I have traveled throughout my own career, I've discovered that some of the most valuable lessons have come not from textbooks or conferences, but from conversations with colleagues willing to openly discuss challenges, successes, and lessons learned. Those conversations have made me a better professional, and I suspect many of you can say the same.

This year, I encourage each of you to take one step beyond your comfort zone.

Volunteer for a committee. Submit a conference presentation. Write an article for a risk management or patient safety publication. Mentor someone new to healthcare risk management. Introduce yourself to someone you've never met at our next meeting and take steps to begin building a connection with them. Every one of these actions strengthens not only MSHRM, but our profession as a whole.

Together, we have the opportunity to shape the future of healthcare risk management —not simply by responding to change, but by leading it.

Thank you for the expertise, generosity, and professionalism you bring to this organization. I look forward to seeing what we accomplish together.

Warm regards,

Michelle Tuckerman, MBA, BSN, RN, CPHRM, CPPS, FASHRM
President, Michigan Society of Healthcare Risk Management

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Education Committee Update

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Sponsorship Committee Update

2026-2027 Sponsorship is OPEN

As we head into the fall season, the Sponsorship Committee is busy cultivating new relationships and growing support for MSHRM. Sponsorship outreach for 2026-2027 is underway, and we are excited to reconnect with existing sponsors while engaging new organizations interested in supporting our mission. We are also deeply grateful for the time, energy, and commitment our committee members continue to invest in this important work.

The Sponsorship Committee meets on the second Friday of each month from 10:00-11:00 a.m. If you enjoyed the Scavenger Hunt at our recent Annual Conference, consider joining our committee! The event was such a success that we plan to bring it back for the 2027 Annual Conference. To learn more about joining the committee, contact Judy Klein at [email protected] or Clarence Rucker at [email protected].

Our goal for the new fiscal year is to raise $30,000, and we're off to a promising start with several sponsors already expressing interest. MSHRM has also introduced updated sponsorship levels, providing organizations with additional opportunities to support our society. Be sure to visit the sponsorship page on the MSHRM website to learn more.

A special thank-you goes to our sponsors, whose generosity and partnership help make MSHRM programs, education, networking opportunities, and member engagement possible. Their continued support strengthens our ability to serve healthcare risk management professionals across Michigan.

We also want to recognize the valuable feedback shared by committee members and the board. That input is helping us work hard to streamline the sponsorship process, clarify opportunities for sponsors, and make participation easier and more meaningful for everyone involved.

The committee recently met with Idea People in Lansing to discuss the possibility of creating an online "MSHRM Store" for members. Additional discussions with the board will continue following completion of the MSHRM website update.

We are always looking to expand our network of supporters. If you know of an organization or individual who may be interested in becoming an MSHRM sponsor, please introduce them to us or share their contact information. We would be happy to schedule a one-on-one conversation to discuss the benefits of partnering with MSHRM.

As a reminder, members can also support MSHRM through individual donations. Visit mshrm.org and scroll down to DONATIONS to contribute. Every gift helps strengthen the organization that supports healthcare risk management professionals throughout Michigan.

As the leaves begin to change, we're looking forward to another season of growth, engagement, and partnership. We hope to see you at the Fall Education Meeting in October!

Respectfully Submitted by Judy Klein and Clarence Rucker, Sponsorship Committee Co-Chairs

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Membership Committee Update

JOIN THE COMMITTEE!

Membership Committee meetings are in the process of being scheduled. Reach out today to join!

Transitioning into the role of chair is Jessica Creekmore. Jessica was previously a member of MSHRM as a risk manager for Trinity Health and has returned to MSHRM after a move and job change. She formerly served on the membership committee and is looking forward to reengaging this group. Jessica has been an RN for 14 years, graduated law school in May, and anxiously awaiting her Bar exam results.

Supporting Jessica in her role as co-chair is Michelle Voss. Michelle has been an active MSHRM member since 2015 and currently serves as a member of the Education, Communication and Emeritus committees, as well as a member of the MSHRM Board of Directors. Michelle has been an RN for 28 years and has worked as a Clinical Risk Manager for University of Michigan Health – Sparrow since 2015.

We are currently exploring additional options to best meet the needs of our members as far as scheduling future committee meetings. We will be sending a survey to active members to see what days and times work best to ensure successful attendance by our membership.

Additionally, we are actively working on contacting expired members to ensure they renew their membership to take advantage of all the benefits that being a MSHRM member provides, including the upcoming September webinar, “How Medical Providers Can Defend Themselves Before They Get Sued: The Risk Management Edition.” This webinar will be presented by our very own Membership Committee chair, Jessica Creekmore, JD, RN, MSN, Nurse Paralegal from Foley, Baron, Metzger, Juip, PLLC.

If you are interested in learning more about the Membership Committee or getting involved, we would love to hear from you. Your participation helps shape the future of our organization and ensures that all members feel welcome and connected.

Jessica & Michelle

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Communications Committee Update

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Government Issues Committee Update

The Government Issues Committee meets the 3rd Friday of the month from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm. 

Doe #1 v Pispidikis, _____ Mich App _____; _____ NW3d ____ (2026) (Published 3/17/2026)

An Interstate-Commerce Nexus Must Exist To Nullify An Arbitration Agreement Mandating Arbitration Of Sexual Assault or Sexual Harassment Claims Under the Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (EFAA).

DISCLAIMER – THE MICHIGAN SOCIETY OF HEALTHCARE RISK MANAGEMENT (MSHRM), ITS MEMBERS, AND THE AUTHOR DO NOT CONDONE, ENCOURAGE, OR ENDORSE ANY KINDS OF ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT. This article is for education purposes only.

By Michael E. Geraghty, Esq. – Government Issues Committee Chair

In 2022, Congress enacted the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (EFAA), PL 117-90, which included section 402(a). Section 402(a) provides:

Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, at the election of the person alleging conduct constituting a sexual harassment dispute or sexual assault dispute . . . no predispute arbitration agreement . . . shall be valid or enforceable with respect to a case which is filed under Federal, Tribal, or State law and relates to the sexual assault dispute or the sexual harassment dispute.1

Section 402(b) mandates an issue as to whether Chapter 4 applies with respect to a dispute shall be determined under Federal law.2 (emphasis added)

The plaintiff in the case before the Michigan Court of Appeals alleged her former chiropractor touched her inappropriately in the course of medical treatment. Plaintiff sued him alleging, among other claims, battery and sexual battery. The defendant, jointed by his employer, filed a motion for summary disposition to dismiss plaintiff’s case asserting she had signed an arbitration agreement when she began treatment, and that agreement provided:

[A]ny dispute . . . as to whether any medical services . . . were improperly, negligently or incompetently rendered, will be determined by submission to arbitration” including “any dispute that does not relate to medical malpractice.” (emphasis added)

Plaintiff argued the subject arbitration agreement was void under 9 USC 402(a), and defendant countered that § 402(a) only applies if the underlying transaction involves interstate commerce and maintained it did not. The court denied the motion because the defendant had not produced sufficient authority demonstrating the transaction needed to involve interstate commerce for 9 USC 402(a) to apply. The Court of Appeals reversed.

The Court of Appeals noted the general rule of the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) is to make arbitration agreements valid and enforceable by providing:

A written provision in . . . a contract evidencing a transaction involving commerce to settle by arbitration a controversy thereafter arising out of such contract or transaction, or the refusal to perform the whole or part thereof, or an agreement in writing to submit to arbitration an existing controversy arising out of such a contract, transaction, or refusal, shall be valid, irrevocable, and enforceable save upon such grounds as exist at law or in equity for the revocation of any contract or as otherwise provided in chapter 4. [9 USC 2]

9 USC 1 defines “commerce” as:

Commerce among the several States or with foreign nations, or in any Territory or the United States or in the District of Columbia, or between any such Territory and another, or between any such Territory and any State or foreign nation, or between the District of Columbia and any State or Territory or foreign nation . . . .

The Court of Appeals held the EFAA is an exception to the general rule of 9 USC 2 and applies no more broadly than 9 USC 2 itself – that is, to transactions involving “commerce” as defined in 9 USC 1. (emphasis added) So, absent an interstate-commerce nexus, it is unclear what enumerated power would authorize federal regulation of arbitration agreements governing purely intrastate sexual assault or harassment claims, and plaintiff identified no alternative constitutional basis. (emphasis added)

The Court of appeals vacated the trial court order denying defendant’s motion for summary disposition,but remanded the case to the trial court so a determination could be made whether the contract containing the arbitration agreement that plaintiff signed involved a “transaction involving commerce” under 9 USC 2 before the EFAA may apply.

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MSHRM Call for Volunteers

MSHRM encourages each member to consider volunteering for a committee this year.  Not only are our committees a great way to get connected and form friendships with colleagues in our organization, but they are also a way to both share your experience and gain new perspectives.  Giving back to this organization is also rewarding and fun!

There are five committees that serve MSHRM and report to the Board of Directors: 

1)       Education Committee plans topics and speakers for our educational conferences each year

2)       Membership Committee manages membership renewals, new members, and all things members

  3)       Government Issues Committee keeps abreast of things that are happening in the law and at the level of the state that can and do affect healthcare, and do the important work of keeping us all informed

  4)       Communications Committee manages the social media pages for MSHRM as well as website content

  5)       Sponsorship Committee works to connect with both past and new sponsors each year, collecting funds that help our organization

More Information on each committee is located here:  https://mshrm.org/Committees

Getting involved is easy and low-pressure; it’s as simple as signing up! The time commitment is small with most committees meeting just once per month.  Please reach out to Sarah at [email protected] to sign up.  You will benefit as much as MSHRM.

If you are currently a committee volunteer, we send a heartfelt thank you from the Board.  Your contributions are appreciated! 

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