Major Industry Stakeholders Convene to Address Policy, Pricing, and AI Innovation
The healthcare industry stands at a critical crossroads as policy reforms, pricing pressures, and artificial intelligence developments rapidly transform how care is delivered, financed, and managed across the United States. Industry executives leading some of the nation’s most influential healthcare organizations will gather to share strategic insights and collaborative solutions at a premier conference designed to address these mounting challenges.
Unique Platform for Cross-Sector Healthcare Dialogue
“The tremendous upside of the conference is that it’s typically the only time that all of these different stakeholders are convened and engaging in the same conversation at the same time,” explained Karoline Mortensen, professor and associate director of the Center for Health Management and Policy within the University of Miami Patti and Allan Herbert Business School. This distinctive gathering creates unprecedented opportunities for collaboration across traditional industry boundaries.
The 15th annual healthcare conference, hosted in person by the Miami Herbert Business School Center for Health Management and Policy with a livestreaming option available, takes place Friday, February 6 in the Donna E. Shalala Student Center on the University’s Coral Gables Campus. The comprehensive half-day conference opens with a networking breakfast session open to the public, followed by three specialized panel discussions featuring industry thought leaders and decision-makers.
Comprehensive Industry Representation Drives Strategic Insights
Steven Ullmann, professor and center director, emphasized the conference’s exceptional breadth of representation spanning all major healthcare industry sectors—including physicians, nurses, insurers, hospitals, medical practices, financial professionals, and the pharmaceutical industry. This diversity of perspectives creates valuable learning opportunities for both current healthcare professionals and students preparing to enter the field.
“Through the conference and scholarships offered, we’re giving the public and students access to all these organizations and thereby providing insights for improved outcomes over time,” Ullmann stated. The educational component extends beyond immediate attendees, creating lasting impacts through knowledge sharing and professional development opportunities.
Critical Policy and Technology Topics Take Center Stage
The opening keynote session, moderated by Brian Pieninck, president and chief executive officer of GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation and Florida Blue, the conference’s presenting sponsor, will tackle complex issues reshaping healthcare delivery. Discussions will address how providers, insurers, drugmakers, and patients are managing shifting policy and public health priorities while balancing the ongoing drive toward lower costs with essential access and quality considerations.
The panel will examine the significant impact of cuts to Medicaid expansion subsidies on vulnerable populations and healthcare systems. Additionally, speakers will explore how artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies can enhance clinical outcomes while improving operational efficiencies across healthcare organizations. These technological advances represent both opportunities and challenges as the industry navigates implementation hurdles and ethical considerations.
Interactive Sessions Foster Meaningful Engagement
A midmorning live question-and-answer session, moderated by Ullmann and Mortensen, follows the opening panel. This interactive format allows attendees to directly engage with industry leaders, seeking clarification on complex topics and exploring practical applications of discussed strategies within their own organizations and practice settings.
Distinguished Speakers Bring Federal and Academic Perspectives
The keynote late-morning panel features distinguished speakers representing federal policy, academic research, and healthcare administration. Panelists include Stephanie Carlton, deputy administrator and chief of staff at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, bringing federal policy insights directly from the nation’s largest healthcare programs. Stephen Parente, professor and Minnesota Insurance Industry Chair of Health Finance and associate dean at the Carlson Global Institute, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, contributes academic research and insurance industry expertise.
Former U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Donna E. Shalala, professor emerita at Miami Herbert Business School, rounds out the panel with her extensive experience in healthcare policy, administration, and leadership spanning decades of public service and academic achievement.
Strong Attendance Reflects Industry Interest and Engagement
Approximately 600 registrants attended the conference last year, demonstrating strong interest from healthcare professionals, students, and stakeholders across the industry. With the accelerating pace of change in healthcare and the participation of top healthcare leaders and scholars confirmed for this year’s event, Ullmann said he fully expects robust attendance once again, potentially exceeding previous participation levels.
The conference serves as an essential forum for networking, knowledge exchange, and strategic planning as healthcare organizations navigate unprecedented challenges and opportunities in policy, technology, and care delivery models.
Registration Information and Media Access
To register and obtain additional details about the conference agenda, speakers, and logistics, visit The Business of Health Care Conference website. Members of the media interested in covering the event should email healthcare@miami.edu with their attendance request and credentialing information.
