Executive Staff

Robin J. Thomashauer
Executive Director

As Executive Director of CAQH, Robin Thomashauer leads a broad based coalition of health plans and trade associations dedicated to creating solutions that dramatically streamline healthcare administration. A recognized industry leader, Thomashauer has more than 30 years of experience in managed care operations and hospital administration.

Prior to joining CAQH, Thomashauer served as a Director in the PricewaterhouseCoopers Healthcare Consulting practice. She has also served as an executive manager in several health care organizations, including the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, overseeing a wide range of functions, including Medical Facilities, Clinical Services, Information Systems, Strategic Planning, Public Affairs and Alliances/Acquisitions. Thomashauer has also held management and administrative roles in several teaching hospitals, including Rockford Memorial Hospital in Rockford, Illinois, and Mercy Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.

Thomashauer is a Diplomate in the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves on the board for Adventist Healthcare. She holds an M.H.S.A in Hospital Administration from The George Washington University and a B.A in Social Sciences from Colgate University.

Gwendolyn Lohse
Deputy Director and Managing Director, Committee on Operating Rules for Information Exchange

Gwendolyn Lohse is the Director of the Committee on Operating Rules for Information Exchange (CORE) at CAQH, a nonprofit alliance of leading health plans and industry trade associations located in Washington, D.C. CAQH’s mission is to be the catalyst for industry collaboration on initiatives that simplify healthcare administration, resulting in a better care experience for patients and caregivers.

CORE creates national business rules to govern the electronic exchange of administrative data, regardless of technology. To demonstrate their adoption of the CORE rules, entities must complete a certification process that verifies that their IT systems and products are in compliance with the rules. Lohse led the design and implementation of CORE, and oversees the day-to-day aspects.

Under her leadership, over 100 organizations, including health plans, hospitals, vendors, CMS, and other healthcare industry leaders, have joined CORE. CORE participants collectively cover more than 130 million lives, or more than 75 percent of the commercially insured plus Medicare and some state-based Medicaid beneficiaries. Numerous leading national healthcare organizations have completed CORE certification or become CORE Endorsers. Lohse currently is overseeing CORE’s second phase of rules development.

Prior to joining CAQH, Lohse was a Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), serving both domestic and international healthcare clients, and an associate within Johns Hopkins’ internal consulting unit.

Patricia Smith
Managing Director, Universal Credentialing Datasource

Patricia Smith manages the day-to-day operations of the Universal Credentialing Datasource. Her primary focus is the contract management with the vendor who provides development, administrative and operational support of the UPD.

Smith has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry, the majority in healthcare IT. Prior to joining CAQH, Smith held the position of HIPAA Privacy Specialist at the American Postal Workers Union Health Plan. She has also served as CIO for a Maryland based healthcare corporation where she gained extensive experience in healthcare information systems management, vendor management and end -user support.

Smith holds a B.A. in economics from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

Sorin Davis
Director of Marketing & Business Development

With more 30 years in health insurance, healthcare management, benefits administration, sales and marketing, Sorin Davis has served the healthcare industry from many perspectives.

Davis currently supports CAQH, the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare, a not-for-profit alliance of the nation’s leading health plans and networks as its Director of Marketing and Business Development; responsible for the national launch of its universal provider credentialing data source initiative.

Previously, Davis was executive vice president of MultiPlan, and CEO of its subsidiary, CareAway USA, providing services to over 200 HMOs. During his tenure, he was instrumental in transforming MultiPlan into one of the nation’s largest and best know independent PPOs. He also, represented MultiPlan, as its deputy board member to CAQH. Before MultiPlan, Davis was Director of Labor Sales and Account Management at Empire Blue Cross, leading the team responsible for the then largest block of labor healthcare business in the country. Earlier, he was director of claims administration for the Amalgamated Life Insurance Company, and assistant administrator of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union Health and Welfare Funds.

Davis holds a master’s degree in public administration from New York University, specializing in health services management. He served on the Democratic Leadership Council’s Progressive Policy Institute Health Care Committee, and held positions on HIAA and AAHP committees, including chair of HIAA’s Managed Care Committee. A frequent guest speaker at industry events, Davis presents on a range of topics, including managed care, cost containment and marketing techniques.

Chris McNamara
Director of Communications

Chris McNamara is responsible for the strategic direction and execution of all internal and external marketing communications programs for CAQH. Programs elements include a national trade advertising program, direct mail advertising, online promotion, media relations, member outreach and recruitment, federal and state legislative and health IT agency outreach, and the organization's website.

A communications veteran with more than 25 years of experience, McNamara has developed and implemented communications campaigns for Fortune 500 pharmaceutical companies, healthcare trade associations, national nonprofit disease organizations and the United Way. Immediately prior to joining CAQH, he ran a healthcare marketing communications consultancy.