Speaking Opportunities

The American Hospital Association invites hospital leaders transforming the future of health care to apply to speak at the 2026 AHA Leadership Summit.

Our immersive three-day program brings together executives, clinicians and experts to share innovative insights, inspiring ideas and disruptive solutions. We are seeking real-world strategies and proven solutions that will help hospitals and health systems address today’s challenges and prepare for tomorrow.

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Session Topics of Interest

The theme of the 2026 AHA Leadership Summit is (Re)Designing Care Delivery and Operating Models for the Future. Hospitals and health systems are facing an era of rapid change — balancing financial pressures, evolving patient and workforce demographics, policy shifts and the urgent need to strengthen public trust. At the same time, leaders are reimagining how, where and by whom care is delivered, while innovating the structures and technologies that support it.

We are seeking speakers who can share strategies, case examples and lessons learned that demonstrate how hospitals and health systems are addressing these realities in meaningful and measurable ways. Submissions should highlight scalable solutions, innovative approaches and actionable insights that peers across the field can adopt.

Areas of particular interest include:

  • Value-based care
  • Reimagined care team models
  • Capacity management and patient throughput
  • Virtual staffing
  • Primary care redesign
  • Care pathways, transitions and coordination
  • Hospital at home
  • On-demand care
  • Virtual care and telehealth
  • Remote patient monitoring
  • Point-of-care technology
  • AI, predictive and agentic technologies
  • Leadership and change management

How to Apply

Speakers can apply to:

  • Speak on a panel: Join a panel developed by the AHA that focuses on dynamic, evidence-based discussions addressing key hospital and health system challenges.
  • Present a case study session: Share your organization’s strategies and lessons learned from implementing new care models, improving operations or driving transformation.
    • Case Study Formats
      • Long-Form (45 minutes): A deeper dive into your initiative with time for audience interaction and discussion.
      • Short-Form (7 minutes): A concise, impactful presentation followed by a moderated discussion with other presenters.

Speaker Submission Deadline: November 7, 2025

There will be no extensions.

Selection Criteria

We are seeking speakers who:

  • Bring unique insights and share lessons learned from innovative projects their organizations have implemented.
  • Offer unexpected perspectives and provide actionable insights.
  • Preference is given to speakers from AHA member hospitals or health systems. If you are a solution provider or vendor, we encourage you to explore opportunities for sponsored sessions.
  • Presentations must be non-commercial; sales pitches or product promotions are strictly prohibited.
  • Accepted speakers will receive complimentary registration for the AHA Leadership Summit. Speakers are responsible for their own travel and hotel expenses.

Tips for a Successful Application

  • Highlight scalable solutions and innovative strategies relevant to hospitals and health systems.
  • Emphasize how your work can be adopted by other hospitals or health systems to drive transformation.
  • Be ready for dynamic discussions — this is your opportunity to engage with peers and share actionable insights.

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Key Dates

  • Submission Deadline: November 7, 2025
  • Notification of Selection: February 20, 2026

Questions? Contact leadershipsummit@aha.org