Dr. Steven Barefoot is the founder and principal of Agility Advisors, bringing a rare blend of clinical expertise, cross domain knowledge, strategic insight, and innovative problem-solving to Medicaid dental benefits and healthcare consulting. As a licensed dentist with years of experience developing Medicaid dental value-based care programs, Dr. Barefoot offers more than technical knowledge — he brings a fundamentally different way of thinking.

Throughout his career that has spanned multiple disciplines, Dr. Barefoot demonstrated an ability to see patterns, connections, and opportunities that others often miss. This ability, known in cognitive science as structure mapping, allows him to recognize the underlying relationships between systems rather than getting caught in surface-level details. To Dr. Barefoot solving complex problems is not about following a script — it's about taking a systems thinking approach to understanding how the parts fit together to reveal better, often simpler, solutions. Clients frequently describe Dr. Barefoot as someone who "sees things differently" and "connects the dots" in ways that change the trajectory of projects, strategies, and outcomes.

Whether developing innovative strategies to increase access to care or leveraging AI to turn data into actionable insights, he applies this unique relational thinking to create practical, sustainable results.At Agility Advisors, Dr. Barefoot’s mission is to help organizations tackle tough challenges by offering strategic solutions grounded in leveraging deep cross-domain knowledge, clear thinking, and a fresh perspective. His work bridges disciplines, combining clinical expertise, business acumen, and cutting-edge analytics to move healthcare forward — one smart solution at a time.

Specific areas of expertise

  • Licensed Dentist with extensive experience in Medicaid: Expertise in dental practice and Medicaid benefits management, enhancing care delivery and operational efficiency.

  • Advanced Analytics: Utilization of sophisticated analytical techniques, such as cluster analysis and Monte Carlo simulations, to decode complex patient and provider trends in Medicaid.

  • AI Integration: Seasoned developer of AI applications in RFP processes, enhancing decision-making and operational effectiveness.

  • Technology Leadership: Former US National Solution Director for an international IT consulting firm, focusing on enterprise collaboration solutions. Advanced certifications by IBM/Lotus in enterprise system administration and collaborative application development. He was also a senior product analyst and RFP response manager at a company providing backend messaging services for mobile devices.

  • Educational Leadership: Founder of an internationally recognized authorized education center for IBM-Lotus Notes, providing top-tier training and consultancy.

  • College Instructor: Teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses in Health Care Performance Innovation and Clinical Systems Management.

  • Research and Development: Background as a Cardiovascular Research Fellow with publications on reactive oxygen species and their systemic impacts, bridging clinical research with practical healthcare applications. During this time, he developed a nasogastric impedance catheter to minimally measure cardiac parameters using bioelectrical impedance. The results were presented at an international conference in Austria where he served as a section chair. He also served as the Vice President of Science and Technology at an environmental company where one of his roles was managing environmental forensic investigations. During this time, he was on the editorial board of the Journal of Environmental InvestigationsPublications.

Publications

  • Barefoot, S., & Linson, M. (2024). Value-based care and the sustainable dental practice. The Journal of the American Dental Association, 155(9), 731-732.

  • Barefoot, S., & Linson, M. (2023). Performance measures in oral health. Accessed online.

  • Fiehn, R., Okunev, I., Bayham, M., Barefoot, S., & Tranby, E. P. (2020). Emergency and urgent dental visits among Medicaid enrollees from 2013 to 2017. BMC Oral Health, 20, 1-7.

  • Barefoot, Steven DDS (2021) Ask the VBC Expert: What Have We Learned About Value-Based Care During the Pandemic? Accessed online.

  • Barefoot, S. (2019). A prescription to improve the health of Hoosiers: A second medical school in Indiana. LinkedIn. Accessed online.

  • Barefoot, S. (2017). Weak ties are the foundation of an adaptive organization. LinkedIn. Accessed online.

  • Barefoot, S. (2016). The telecoms evolution: how the operator becomes the digital telco. Digitalisation World. Accessed online.

  • Barefoot, S. (2016). Understanding REAL customer expectations could change everything for MNOs. Telecoms. Accessed online.

  • Barefoot, S. (2016). NFV as an enabler of new revenue streams for mobile operators. Vanilla Plus. Accessed online.

  • Barefoot, S. (2016). Are the towers ready to fall? South African Wireless Communications. Accessed online.

  • Barefoot, S. (2014). Has RCS "Crossed the Chasm?" Interop Technologies - Analyst Corner. Accessed online.

  • (1989). Small business and personal computers: Making sense of data management options. Indianapolis Business Journal, 10(27), 9-15.

  • Kleinhans, F. W., & Barefoot, S. T. (1987). Spin trap determination of free radical burst kinetics in stimulated neutrophils. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 262(26), 12452-12457.

  • Barefoot, S. T., Demeter, R. J., & Toth, P. D. (1987). Cardiac-output measurements determined by thermodilution and a nasogastric impedance catheter in the dog. Clinical Research, 35(3), A261-A261.

  • Hunt, D. A., & Barefoot, S. T. (1987). Effect of various platelet-activating-factor (PAF) antagonists on neutrophil degranulation. Clinical Research, 35(3), A478-A478.

  • Demeter, R. J., Ward, D., Blevins, W., Barefoot, S. T., Hawk, C. T., et al. (1987). Cardiac-output measurements determined by thermodilution and a nasogastric impedance catheter in the pony. Federation Proceedings, 46(3), 356-356.

  • Barefoot, S. T., Demeter, R. J. (1987). Nasogastric impedance catheter measurement of cardiac output in the dog. Proceedings of the seventh international conference on electrical bioimpedance.

  • Bhagwandin, B. D., Kleinhans, F. W., & Barefoot, S. T. (1986). Kinetics of hydroxyl radical (OH.) production from stimulated neutrophils. Federation Proceedings, 45(3), 308-308.

  • Barefoot, S. T. (1986). CV3988, a platelet-activating-factor (PAF) analog, selectively inhibits neutrophil aggregation. Federation Proceedings, 45(3), 308-308.

  • Salaris, S. C., & Barefoot, S. T. (1986). An improved method for measuring lysozyme. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science, 95.

  • Hill, M., Kleinhans, F. W., & Barefoot, S. T. (1986). Determination of OH• production by stimulated neutrophils using ESR spectroscopy. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science, 95.

  • Bhagwandin, B. F. W., & Barefoot, S. T. (1986). Lag time of OH• radical production by zymosan stimulated neutrophils. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science, 95.

  • Toth, P. D., Barefoot, S. T., DiMicco, J. A., & Judy, W. V. (1985). The effects of different mediator antagonists on hemorrhagic-shock in the pithed rat. Federation Proceedings, 44(5), 1574-1574.

  • Kleinhans, F. W., & Barefoot, S. T. (1985). Kinetics of the neutrophil metabolic burst via electron-spin-resonance. Biophysical Journal, 47(2), A405-A405.

  • Barefoot, S. T., Kleinhans, F. W., & Toth, P. D. (1985). Platelet activating factor (PAF) activation of neutrophils is selectively blocked by a PAF analog. Federation Proceedings, 44(4), 1041-1041.

  • Berkow, R. L., Weisman, S. J., Tzeng, D., Haak, R. A., Kleinhans, F. W., Barefoot, S., ... (1984). Comparative responses of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes obtained by counterflow centrifugal elutriation and Ficoll-Hypaque density centrifugation: II. Membrane potential. The Journal of laboratory and clinical medicine, 104(5), 698-710.

  • Barefoot, S. T., & Kleinhans, F. W. (1984). Inhibition of neutrophil aggregation by non-steroidal antiinflammatory agents. Proceedings Indiana Academy of Science.

  • Toth, P. D., Hamburger, S. A., Barefoot, S. T., & Judy, W. V. (1984). The effects of thyroid releasing hormone (TRH) on hemorrhagic-shock in dogs. Federation Proceedings, 43(4), 1027-1027.

  • Barefoot, S. T., Toth, P. D., Kleinhans, F. W., & Hamburger, S. A. (1984). Hydroxyl radical production by neutrophils-effect of endotoxic-shock. Circulatory Shock, 13(1), 56-57.

  • Barefoot, S. T., & Kleinhans, F. W. (1984). Phorbol-myristate acetate reduces calcium requirements for neutrophil stimulation. Federation Proceedings, 43(4), 818-818.

  • Kleinhans, F. W., Barefoot, S. T., & Hawley, D. A. (1984). Localization of hydroxyl radical production in stimulated PMN using EPR. Biophysical Journal (Abstract), 45, 242a.

  • Hawley, D. A., Kleinhans, F. W., & Biesecker, J. L. (1983). Determination of alternate pathway complement kinetics by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. American Journal of Clinical Pathology, 79(6), 673-677.

  • Toth, P. D., Hamburger, S. A., Barefoot, S. T., & Judy, J. W. (1983). The effects of different vasoactive mediator antagonists on hemorrhagic shock in dogs. Physiologist, 26(4), A-75.

  • Barefoot, S. T., & Kleinhans, F. W. (1982). EPR assay of the metabolic burst of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Bulletin of the American Physical Society, 18(6), 904.

Agility Advisors is part of the Agility Group