Healthcare Conference

Brian Sackstein, CPA, is an Assurance Partner and leader of Anchin’s Not-For-Profit and Healthcare group. He has 30 years of experience and specializes in servicing healthcare and not-for-profit organizations. He has a deep breadth of experience in auditing, accounting, and management advisory services for a wide array of clients, including social service organizations, permanency and adoption services, residential group care, drug treatment programs, community & migrant programs, federally qualified health centers, and more. Brian collaborates closely with his clients to plan, coordinate, and review accounting and auditing processes, ensuring their organization’s missions and goals are met. His responsibilities include, but are not limited to, analyzing existing operations to improve efficiencies, performing financial budgeting and cash flow projections, and conducting internal control reviews. In addition, he performs audits for employee benefit plans. He has worked with organizations whose budgets range from $1 million to $15 billion. Brian works closely with boards of directors, CEOs, CFOs, and management to help clients effectively manage their businesses and achieve their objectives and visions. He has deep experience in training board members and decision-makers in the areas of federal audits and reimbursement analysis, conducting project feasibility studies, developing new programs, reviewing operations and rates to support reimbursement, and advising on rate reimbursement appeals and compliance verification. In addition, he supervises and reviews the preparation and the impact of cost reports, including the Consolidated Fiscal Report (CFR), Standards of Payment Report (SOP), Institutional Cost Report (ICR) for funding agencies in New York State, Medicare cost reports required for filing with Department of Health & Human Services, and Medicaid Cost Report (AHCF). Recognized as an industry thought leader, Brian is often featured in prominent publications and actively contributes to industry events as both a host and speaker. His engagements include Long Island Business News’ Annual State of the Not-for-Profit Industry and the City & State New York Conferences. Brian’s leadership and influence in the field have earned him several accolades including City & State’s Nonprofit Trailblazer honor, a spot on Long Island Business News’ 2025 Influencers in Accounting list, and inclusion on the Long Island Press Power List. He contributes to the development of Anchin’s professional staff and presents on relevant topics at in-house professional development seminars. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYCPA), where he serves on the Not-for-Profit Committee.

John E. Peterson, CPA, is a Principal in the Healthcare Audit and Consulting Practice of Freed Maxick. John joined the Firm in 1994 after working for a local financial institution. John is responsible for the overall planning, supervision and completion of various client engagements. He focuses on audits and consulting engagements within the not-for-profit healthcare industry with a concentration on hospitals and skilled nursing homes. John also is responsible for both the preparation and review of annual Medicare and Medicaid cost reports and overseeing payor audits of mentioned cost reports. John's responsibilities include in-depth reviews and compliance testing of healthcare internal accounting control systems and developing recommendations for suggested improvements to those internal controls. He has prepared financial statements in various formats including consolidations and combinations, as well as bankruptcy accounting. John has coordinated and reviewed work performed by internal auditors, aided in preparing annual budgets, and has presented numerous times to clients, boards of directors, audit and finance committees and management. In addition, John is involved with supervising and training 20 to 25 staff and senior members of the Firm’s healthcare group. Additionally, John has experience working for clients as a finance and operational leader. John served as Interim CFO from January 2018 through February 2020 for a hospital in upstate New York. During this assignment, John was actively involved in all the aspects of the CFO role including, but not limited to, the month end close and financial statement preparation and overseeing the year-end audit and the annual budgeting process. John ensured regulatory agency reporting was complete and accurate, and oversaw the hospital's cash strategy and management and managed care contracting, as well as assessing whether all existing reimbursement opportunities were obtained. John was responsible for annual cost report filings, the completion of disproportionate share, cost report and wage index audits. John has also served in an operational role for clients in managing the countless day-to-day activities including providing direction to employees, preparing strategic financial plans and reviewing and the revision of internal controls. In these leadership roles, John supervised up to 10 individuals. A graduate of D'Youville College, John is a member of the New York State Society Health Care Committee, the Western New York HFMA Reimbursement Committee and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He has been published in the Secured Lender trade magazine and has presented at seminars on numerous healthcare topics.

Nick is a Director with FORVIS, a Top Eight national professional services firm, created by the merger of BKD & DHG, providing assurance, tax and advisory services. Nick is a member of FORVIS’ National Health Care Industry Group and National Nonprofit, Education, & Public Sector Industry Group. He has more than 10 years of experience in public accounting, providing audit and attestation assurance services, including single audits, as well as other consulting advisory services related to financial accounting and reporting, healthcare reimbursement and regulatory matters, changes in accounting standards such as the new revenue recognition standard and the new standard for leases, and tracking and evaluation of COVID-19 funding for compliance and financial reporting. Nick is a member of FORVIS’ New York office and also spent time working in the firm's National Office as a national accounting and auditing assistant director where he researched and helped develop firmwide resources and guidance on new accounting and professional standards, assisted with internal office inspections, researched technical questions and helped provide support for accounting and auditing professionals across the firm. He recently served for 4 years as the learning and development director for the New York office and is involved in developing content and instructing local and national internal and external trainings, webinars and presentations, as well as performing internal quality control inspections. In addition to external presentations through FORVIS and presentations to clients, Nick has presented for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, multiple Healthcare Financial Management Association chapters and regions LeadingAge NY, and Accounting Today. Nick is a licensed CPA in New York and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA) and the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). Nick is a member of the Health Care Committee and Not-for-Profit Committee of the NYSCSCPA, and serves as chair of the NYSSCPA Annual Health Care Conference. Nick is an officer for the HFMA Metro NY chapter and is Chair of the HFMA Metro New York Chapter’s 64th Annual Institute and assists in coordinating the CFO Panel. Nick is a member of HFMA Metro New York chapter's finance and reimbursement education committee, where he previously served as chair of the committee for several years. Nick is a Certified Healthcare Finance Professional (CHFP) as issued by HFMA and is an HFMA Fellow (FHFMA). Nick is a graduate of Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, with a B.S. degree in business administration and accounting.

Andrew E. Blustein is the Vice Chairman of Garfunkel Wild, P.C. Mr. Blustein's practice includes the representation of hospitals, physicians, ambulatory surgery centers and other healthcare industry-related clients (both for profit and not-for-profit). Mr. Blustein has been a leader in developing and implementing Compliance Programs for healthcare providers and health plans, advising ambulatory surgery centers and assisting hospitals in strategic affiliations. He frequently lectures on physician practice issues, private equity transactions, cyber-security, telemedicine, corporate transactions practice mergers and computer contracting. Admitted to the New Jersey Bar, the New York Bar and the Connecticut Bar, Mr. Blustein is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the New Jersey State Bar Association (Health and Law Section); Past Co-Chairman of the Westchester County Bar Association (Hospital and Physician Law Section) and the American Health Lawyers Association. Mr. Blustein graduated from Vassar College in 1987 (B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, cum laude) in 1987 and Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude) in 1990.

Russell Safirstein is Partner in Charge of Digital Risk Solutions and President of Redpoint Cybersecurity. ADRS delivers and develops technology-driven risk and compliance advisory, and analytics-based services. Redpoint is a subsidiary of Anchin that delivers and develops cyber security services and consulting. A Senior Executive and a progressive thinker, Russell has been successful in bringing non-traditional solutions to an ever-changing work environment by combining audit, accounting, risk, compliance and technology in successful business engagements. He is a proven risk, audit and technology leader with more than 25 years of experience advising clients in a wide range of industries, including financial services, healthcare and management consulting. Russell is a highly regarded and sought after speaker on issues related to technology, audit and risk practices. Prior to joining Anchin, Russell was a Partner with PragerMetis Technology, leading their AI and Machine Learning initiatives, in addition to their cybersecurity and risk advisory practices. He also co-founded Paracon Group, and led its advanced analytic delivery platform as well as the balance of its risk advisory services. He was the General Auditor for Liquidnet, where he started the Internal Audit function of this growing organization. As the Deputy General Auditor for MetLife, he was able to transform the internal audit function through technology and business process improvements. For nearly ten years, Russell was SVP and Chief Auditor for Roslyn Savings Bank. Russell started his career with KPMG (Peat Marwick) in their Financial Institution practice. Russell received his B.B.A in accounting from Adelphi University.

Dorothea A. Russo has over 35 years of experience in healthcare accounting and auditing, specializing in healthcare reimbursement for nursing homes. Dottie has been involved in accounting, auditing and reimbursement matters relating to many healthcare facilities throughout New York State. Dottie’s work requires an extensive practical knowledge of the Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement systems, the rules and regulations relating to those systems and the administrative procedures employed by New York State. This work has provided her with the opportunity to have strong relationships with the staff at the New York State Department of Health, who are responsible for the processing of cost reports, rate sheets, appeals and cost certifications. Dottie has lectured extensively on reimbursement concepts, financial reporting and cost accounting methods, as well as third-party reports, rates and appeals. She has participated in the analyses of system controls, budgeting, forecasts, grant applications and affordability studies.

Allan brings more than 28 years of experience to the clients he serves, providing a wide range of audit and accounting transaction services. He works with a variety of entities within the nonprofit and healthcare industries, including hospitals, social service agencies, and religious organizations. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA), where he is a former chair of the not-for-profit organizations committee. A regular speaker, Allan has presented for NYSSCPA, New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants, and Connecticut Society of CPAs. Topics have included mergers and acquisitions, fair value measurements, endowments, related-party disclosures, and general accounting and auditing updates for nonprofit and healthcare organizations. He is a 1989 graduate of Queens College, City University of New York.

Erika Calderon has been an accountant for more than 25 years. She has a broad knowledge of general accounting and tax, and expertise in the areas of healthcare and construction. Ms. Calderon has taught on-site CPE courses for clients and staff. She is a member of the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA) and is an active member of the New York State Association of Health Care Providers, Inc., and the Home Care Association of New York State. Ms. Calderon is also the past treasurer of the Little Neck–Douglaston Community Ambulance Corp.

Alexander Buchholz has amassed more than 15 years of experience in public accounting, including with a Big Four accounting firm. He is also the Practice Leader of the Firm’s Cemetery Division. Alex is responsible for the development of the audit approach as well as the supervision of staff. Additionally, he is responsible for managing the audit so that it is performed on a timely basis with as little intrusion to client operations as possible. Alex’s expertise is in Single Audits and internal control/compliance audits. His industry experience is in healthcare and Not-for-Profit entities, including skilled nursing facilities, social service agencies, charter schools, diagnostic and treatment centers, homecare service entities, adult homes, and other long-term care facilities as well as special-needs entities and cemeteries. Alex also serves as a peer reviewer. Alex is also an adjunct professor at Brooklyn College and Lehman College of the City University of New York in the Department of Accounting, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in accounting and auditing. He conducts internal training seminars for the Firm and frequently speaks to outside organizations and associations. Alex is also a former member of the Firm’s continuing professional education (CPE) committee, with special emphasis on Single Audit training. He also writes various articles on accounting and auditing topics for a variety of professional publications. He has professional affiliations and civic involvement in the following: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA), Academic Advancement of Higher Education (Former Chair), Health Care Committee (Former Member and Chair), Not-for-Profit Committee (Former Member), Foundation for Accounting Education (Former Member), National Conference of CPA Practitioners, New York State Association of Cemeteries, New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA), Nonprofit Interest Group, Greater Washington Society of CPAs Nonprofit Interest Group, Metropolitan Cemetery Association, New Jersey Cemetery Association, American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service (Board Member and Chair), St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children (Board Member), and New York State Board of Public Health Accountancy (Board Member). His education includes Baruch College Master of Business Administration degree in Finance & Investments, and Brooklyn College Bachelor of Science degree magna cum laude in Accounting.