Ellen Fink-Samnick

Dr. Ellen Fink-Samnick is an award-winning industry entrepreneur who empowers healthcare's interprofessional workforce. She is well-known for her innovative focus on ethics, integrated care, interprofessional teams, professional case management, quality, and trauma-directed practice. Dr. Fink-Samnick has authored seven scholarly texts, over 100 articles, and other valued content. The most recent titles include The Ethical Case Manager: Tools and Tactics, Behavioral Health for Case Management. and newly released text, Integrated Behavioral Health: Applying the Biodyne Model in Healthcare.

Dr. Fink-Samnick is a faculty member and academic advisor for the Doctoral Program at Cummings Graduate Institute of Behavioral Health studies, where she is also the school’s Culminating Project Lead and IRB Coordinator. She has served as adjunct faculty for George Mason University’s College of Public Health and the University of Buffalo School of Social Work. Recent award acknowledgements include:

• The Case Management Society of America (CMSA):

o 2025 Case Manager of the Year Award

o 2025 CMSA Foundation Research Award (with colleagues) for the project, Professional Identity in Case Management: Exploring Case Manager’s Perceptions & Looking Forward

o 2016 Award of Service Excellence

• The National Association of Social Workers for Virginia (NASW of VA)

o 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award

o 2022 Social Worker of the Year

• University of Buffalo School of Social Work’s 2017 Distinguished MSW Alumni Award

Dr. Fink-Samnick has a wide social media footprint as moderator of Ellen’s Ethical Lens on LinkedIn and author of the blog, Ellen’s Interprofessional Insights. She is a consultant for the Case Management Institute and a moderator for their Case Managers Community. Dr. Fink-Samnick is also Editor of the Heartbeat of Case Management Department for Wolters Kluwer’s Professional Case Management Journal and member of the journal’s editorial advisory board.

Dr. Fink-Samnick actively shares her expertise across industry professional associations, credentialing entities, and industry initiatives including, but not limited to the American Health Information Management Association’s Data for Better Health project, the Case Management Society of America, The Commission, the International Federation of Integrated Care, the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation, and the National Transitions of Care Coalition. She has a Doctorate in Behavioral Health with specialization in integrated care, quality, leadership, and trauma-informed practice. Dr. Fink-Samnick is a licensed clinical social worker, board-certified case manager, and certified clinical trauma professional. She is a Fellow in Case Management through the Case Management Society of America (CMSA) and member of the academic honor society, Delta Epsilon Tau