Robert Benirschke, PhD, MS, DABCC

Robert Benirschke is the Director of Clinical Chemistry and Point-of-Care Testing for Endeavor Health – NorthShore and an Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. His work blends laboratory medicine, informatics, and data science to make testing more efficient, accurate, and patient-centered. He has published on topics including test utilization management, error detection in clinical laboratories, and the use of large language models to improve patient communication. Robert is also active in professional service through the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine, contributing to committees focused on data analytics and public policy. He holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the Mayo Clinic and a master's degree in biomedical informatics from the University of Chicago.

Hanna Choi, CT(ASCP)^TM 

Hanna Choi is the System Manager of Anatomic Pathology and Digital Pathology at Endeavor Health. Prior to rejoining Endeavor Health, she worked in laboratory improvement programs at The College of American Pathologists and served on the Cytopathology Committee. With over a decade of experience in cytology and five years in operational leadership, she is dedicated to advancing interoperability through digital initiatives that streamline workflows and strengthen cross-organizational processes across multi-hospital systems.

Dr. Erin McElvania

Dr. Erin McElvania is the Director of Clinical Microbiology at Endeavor Health and a Clinical Associate Professor of Pathology at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.  In addition to her clinical duties, Dr. McElvania directs the Infectious Disease Diagnostics Research Laboratory which evaluates new instruments and assays for infectious disease testing.  Dr. McElvania is a Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Microbiology and is former president of the Illinois Society for Microbiology along with being active in the American Society for Microbiology. She serves as an Editor for the Journal of Clinical Microbiology and is further committed to enhancing the practice of clinical microbiology through research, with over 60 peer-reviewed publications. Her research interests including implementation and optimization of laboratory automation, digital pathology, rapid pathogen identification, and rapid antimicrobial resistance detection. Additionally, Dr. McElvania is active in education, providing mentorship to residents and fellows and acting as the Associate Program Director for both the Pathology Residency Program and Medical Microbiology Fellowship at University of Chicago (NorthShore).

Eric Merchant, MS

Eric Merchant is a seasoned healthcare IT executive with over 30 years of experience in systems management, technology implementation, and operational leadership. As System Assistant Vice President of Information Technology at Endeavor Health, he oversees teams supporting 300+ software applications across nine hospitals and 300+ ambulatory clinics, focusing on clinical systems, image management, digital pathology, cybersecurity, and data governance. His leadership has driven significant cost savings and operational improvements, notably through the Value Improvement Program. Eric’s prior roles include IT positions at Siemens Medical, McKesson, and Medaphis, where he led nationwide system implementations. He holds advanced degrees in Health Systems and Mechanical Engineering and is an active member of CHIME and HIMSS, with his work featured in industry publications and recognized through multiple leadership awards.