About Us

Denise Balch

President, Connex Health Consulting  

Executive Director, Prior Authorization Framework and Accreditation (PAFA) Program

Project Manager, Simplify Prior Authorization (SPA)

Denise Balch has worked in the benefits and private healthcare sector since the 1980s. Since founding her own company, Connex Health, in 2000. Denise has provided strategic advice, market research and marketing support to mature corporations, non-profits, and innovative start ups.

Under the Connex Benefits Network and Benefits and Private Healthcare Association brands Denise oversees the delivery of networking and educational events, blogs and podcasts, to benefits and private healthcare stakeholders with a focus on advisors and insurers.

Denise is a frequent speaker on topical issues in benefits and contributor to industry publications. In recognition of her innovative work in workplace health innovation, Denise was recognized at the Rogers Workplace Health and Benefits Awards as a 2013 Lifetime Achievement Finalist. She continues to maintain her life license, is a Certified Excellence Professional – Healthy Workplace (CEP), and holds her Benefits and Private Healthcare Associate (BPHA) designation.

Denise is currently the chair of the Temiskaming Hospital in New Liskeard, Ontario and a part-time lifeguard and swim instructor at her local fitness center. She has a passion for education, health and helping others in her professional and personal life.

Nathan Smofsky

Events & IT Manager

Nathan is the digital architect here at Connex. He manages all of our IT systems, including the BPHA online learning platform, event and webinar management, and all of our technical needs. With a background and skillset spanning web development, audiovisual production, education and multimedia, Nathan is the one who allows the dots to be connected, enabling fluid communication between Connex and other industry stakeholders.

Radiyyah Karodia

Researcher & Educator

Radiyyah Karodia is a MSc graduate with experience across public and private healthcare sectors. Passionate about driving positive change, she has spent over two years working on prior authorization reform through Connex Health’s Simplify Prior Authorization initiative, co-authoring an article and multiple blogs. Her background spans global health, policy analysis, and healthcare consulting. She currently works as a Policy Analyst at the Canadian Association of Optometrists.