General Sessions
SUNDAY, JULY 12 | 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM | Scaling Innovation: Leading Future-Ready Health Systems
Conference Welcome
Rick Pollack, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Hospital Association
AHA Board Chair Remarks
Marc L. Boom, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Houston Methodist, Houston; Chair-Elect, Board of Trustees, American Hospital Association
Scaling Innovation: Leading Future-Ready Health Systems
Moderator: Joy Rhoden, Senior Vice President and Executive Director, Division of Health Outcomes and Care Transformation, American Hospital Association
Panelists: Tina Freese Decker, MHA, MSIE, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer, Corewell Health, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Immediate Past Chair, Board of Trustees, American Hospital Association
Erik G. Wexler, President and Chief Executive Officer, Providence, Renton, Wash.
MONDAY, JULY 13 | 9:15 AM – 10:45 AM | From Challenge to Action: Transforming and Innovating Care
AHA Awards Presentation
Presentation of the AHA Quest for Quality Prize
The AHA Quest for Quality Prize honors hospitals and health systems committed to leadership and innovation in improving quality and advancing health.
Presentation of the Circle of Life Award
AHA Circle of Life Award honors innovative palliative and end-of-life care programs that exemplify best-in-care models for the field, fostering learning and spreading best practices.
Presentation of the Foster G. McGaw Prize
The Foster G. McGaw Prize recognizes hospitals and health systems that have distinguished themselves through efforts to improve the health and well-being of everyone in their communities.
AHA Town Hall: Washington Update
MONDAY, JULY 14 | 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM | Reimagining Care Delivery – What it Takes
Reimagining Care Delivery: High-Value, Patient-Centered Care Models
Moderator: Chris DeRienzo, MD, Senior Vice President, Chief Physician Executive, American Hospital Association
Panelists: Bill Gassen, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sanford Health, Sioux Falls, S.D; Chair-Elect, Board of Trustees, American Hospital Association
Fireside Chat - Redesigning the Workforce for the Future of Care
Moderator: Eva Saha, Founder and Principal, Eva Saha Communications
Fireside Chat - Leading Transformation at Scale: Making Change Work Everywhere
Moderator: Eva Saha, Founder and Principal, Eva Saha Communications
TUESDAY, JULY 14 | 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM | Future-Ready Leadership: The Skills and Mindsets to Lead In The New World of Work
Future-Ready Leadership: The Skills and Mindsets to Lead In The New World of Work
Jacob Morgan, Futurist, Best-Selling Author of The Future of Work
Artificial intelligence (AI) promises to liberate providers from their clerical and documentation burdens; it might also ease the epidemic of provider burnout and allow for more meaningful patient interactions. Historically, how do you lead when everything is changing — from AI to evolving employee expectations — and the old playbook no longer applies? Leadership is being redefined in real time, and the pace of change shows no signs of slowing. Today’s leaders are navigating uncharted territory, making clarity, adaptability and trust-building more essential than ever.
This session introduces a powerful model built around four mindsets and five essential skills leaders must embrace to thrive in a rapidly shifting world. This isn’t about theory — it’s about transformation. Through compelling stories, forward-looking insights and practical guidance, Jacob shows how leaders can evolve their approach and become the kind of leader people want to follow — today and into the future.
Participants will learn how to think like a futurist and lead with the clarity and support of a coach, building relevance and resilience as the landscape continues to change. The session offers practical tools leaders can apply immediately to strengthen and transform their leadership approach.