From August 23-26, industry leaders gathered in Orlando for the 80th Annual WCI Educational Conference. As an Elite Sponsor, Paradigm shared insights through panel discussions and WCI-TV interviews while connecting with partners committed to improving outcomes for injured workers.

Pre-conference kickoff
Paradigm began the conference with style on Saturday, August 22, at the Give Kids the World Village Putting on the Ritz Gala, where we participated as a Champagne Sponsor to raise awareness and funds for WCI’s charity of choice. On Sunday, August 23, we took part in the sixth annual Kids’ Chance of Florida Golf Tournament as a Gold Sponsor.

 

Left to right: Paradigm team members David Cruz and Simona Martinez representing
Kids’ Chance of Florida, Inc.
David Cruz poses with the Paradigm Gold Sponsor sign at the Kids’ Chance of Florida
Golf Tournament 

The Paradigm team ready for the week!

Showcasing big ideas in workplace injury management
Throughout the conference, thought leaders from Paradigm took part in four unique sessions exploring key challenges and innovations in workers’ compensation care management:

• On Monday, August 24, Gloria Fagan, Director, Provider Marketing and Chad Caldwell, Regional Sales Executive, were panelists in the breakout session, The Buy-In Blueprint: Engaging Injured Workers to Transform Recovery, Trust, and Outcomes. During the discussion, Gloria and Chad explored the critical role of psychological factors in the healing process, the importance of building trust through clear and compassionate communication, and the value of empowering workers with timely education and accessible resources.

Left to right: Gloria Fagan, Chad Caldwell, Taurus Glass, Jennifer Jordan 

• Later that day, Michael Choo, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Workers’ Compensation, took part in The Next Frontier: AI, VR, and Smarter Rehab Solutions, where he shared insights on current uses of emerging technologies in recovery and the potential for future applications in rehabilitation and medicine. The lively conversation explored how AI and VR can reshape rehab, the potential impact of digital imaging and AI on wound care, and the cost-saving implications of these advancements.

Left to right: Ashley Catapano, Josh Schuette, Dr. Choo, Amy Phelps, Robert McIver

• Tuesday, August 25, featured Kathy Galia, President, Workers’ Compensation Solutions, tackling the critical topic of behavioral health in workplace injury recovery. In The Hidden Drivers of Claim Outcomes: A Practical Behavioral Health Playbook for Catastrophic and Complex Cases, the panel discussed how behavioral health, psychosocial factors, and social determinants of health can influence recovery outcomes. They also shared practical strategies to identify risk early, address barriers, and keep complex claims moving toward successful recovery and return-to-work outcomes.

Left to right: Kathy Galia, Nate Wade, Michael Lacroix, Pam Bloom-Pugliese

• On Wednesday, August 26, Shannon Ford, Senior Vice President, Case Management, participated in Early Warning: Spotting Delayed Recovery Risk Before a Claim Deteriorates. This insightful session provided data-backed findings on the drivers of delayed recovery claims and their impact on outcomes and cost, and the role technology and early intervention can play in identifying claims at the highest risk for delayed recovery.

Left to right: Mike Theis, Tom Veale, Brook Rosenbaum, Shannon Ford

Forward-looking Paradigm solutions on WCI-TV
Throughout the event, senior leaders appeared on WCI-TV to highlight the latest developments and innovations from Paradigm:

Kathy Galia during her WCI-TV interview 

• Kathy Galia articulated why proven outcomes matter in catastrophic care. During the interview, she discussed the recently released results from an independent actuarial analysis, validating the medical cost savings and improved return-to-work rates of Paradigm HERO Catastrophic^® Outcome Plans. Kathy stressed the critical importance of proof, transparency, and measurable outcomes for injured workers, employers, carriers, and third-party administrators when determining the best solution for catastrophic care management.

Watch the full interview here: WCI-TV 2026: Kathy Galia

Lea Wagner and Nic Rizer pose for a photo after their WCI-TV interview 

• Lea Wagner, Vice President, Case Management, and Nic Rizer, Vice President, Sales, discussed the crucial early period following workplace injuries. They provided insights on the key role early intervention plays in case management and how it can positively impact injured workers, employers, and payers alike. By proactively identifying potential red flags and barriers that could impact recovery, Lea and Nic believe that case managers can help stakeholders prevent issues that often drive claim costs higher and hinder recovery later in the process.

Watch the full interview here: WCI-TV 2026: Lea Wagner and Nicolas Rizer

Kathy Galia and Viviane Ruiz during their WCI-TV interview 

• In a second WCI-TV appearance, Kathy Galia joined Viviane Ruiz, President of Workers’ Compensation, Casualty, and Managed Care for Davies North America, to discuss the importance of mentorship for building the next generation of insurance professionals. As a board member for Workers Compensation, Risk, Managed Care, and Claims (WRMC), Kathy shared her perspective on how acting as a mentor can turn professional exposure into confidence while protecting institutional knowledge for organizations in our industry.

Watch the full interview here: WCI-TV 2026: Kathy Galia and Viviane Ruiz

See you at National Comp
As always, a tremendous thank you to everyone we were fortunate enough to engage and connect with at WCI 2026. Looking ahead, we’re excited to sponsor and participate in the National Comp conference, which is returning to Las Vegas on September 29-30, 2026.

Stop by Booth #539 for a complimentary Seasonal Color Analysis and discover why understanding the individual is the first step to achieving better outcomes. Follow us on LinkedIn for upcoming insights, highlights, and the story behind the experience