42nd National Symposium:
November 4 - 6, 2026
"The Healthcare Renaissance:
Leading a New Era of Excellence Together"
This year’s theme captures the transformative moment unfolding across the health care industry, emphasizing that we are in an era defined by rapid innovation, renewed focus on cross-disciplinary and cross-generational collaboration, and reimagined care delivery. The symposium will invite you to engage with each other as partners in leading towards a future where health care organizations are more resilient, human-centered, digitally empowered, and committed to excellence now and in the decades ahead.
Registration Now Open!
We are excited to announce that registration is officially open. We are offering early bird pricing and group discounts so don't miss out.
Grand Bohemian Hotel: Birmingham, Alabama
The Grand Bohemian Mountain Brook, Autograph Collection is a AAA Four Diamond hotel offering a boutique experience just minutes from downtown Birmingham. It is a haven of creative inspiration in beautifully adorned spaces where ideas and innovation flourish.
The hotel is offering a special group rate of $339.00 USD per night for the UAB National Symposium for Health Executives. The deadline to reserve at this rate is Monday, October 5, 2026. The start date for the reservation is Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and the end date is Saturday, November 7, 2026.
In Collaboration with ACHE of Alabama
The ACHE of Alabama expects to seek approval for nine in-person ACHE education credits and will share updates once available. They will also be providing Qualified Education Credits from each Keynote Speaker that can be used to achieving or recertifying for FACHE status.
Keynote Speakers
Thomas Lee, MD
Chief Medical Officer, Press Ganey
Social Capital in Healthcare
Vivian S. Lee, M.D., Ph.D.
Health Care Tech Executive and Author
Agentic AI to Advance Healthspan: What Healthcare Can Learn from Startups and Other Industries
Katherine A. Meese, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer, HuMargin Group
Leading for Hope When You Can’t Change the Circumstances
Thibaut van Marcke
Senior Vice President, Alabama Region, Orlando Health
Closing Keynote
Panels & Panelists
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Healthcare Leadership in the AI Era
Healthcare Leadership in the AI Era
Wednesday, November 4, 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Program Moderator: Christy Lemak, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President for Research and Learning
Scottsdale InstitutePresenter/Panelist: Aaron Bujnowski
Managing Director
Alvarez & Marsal Healthcare Industry GroupPresenter/Panelist: Kierstin Kennedy, MD, MSHA
Chief of Hospital Medicine
UAB HospitalPresenter/Panelist: Caroline Russell, FACHE
Chair, Business Development
Mayo Clinic in FloridaPresenter/Panelist: Jeffrey Sturman
Managing Partner, Information Technology and Digital Leadership Practice
WittKieffer -
Driving Change in Rural Health: Strategic Partnerships, Evolving Policy, and Innovation
Driving Change in Rural Health: Strategic Partnerships, Evolving Policy, and Innovation
Thursday, November 5, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Program Moderator: Vivian Lee, MD, PhD
Health Care Tech Executive and AuthorPresenter/Panelist: Anthony Brocato
CEO
Southeast Colorado Hospital DistrictPresenter/Panelist: Garrett Jackson
CFO
Intuitive HealthPresenter/Panelist: Stephanie Martin
Advisory Health Director
PWC -
GenFluence: Leading a Multigenerational Workforce
GenFluence: Leading a Multigenerational Workforce
Thursday, November 5, 1:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Program Moderator: Katherine Meese, PhD
CEO
HuMargin GroupPresenter/Panelist: Nia Close, MSHA
Manager
Department of Neurology, Mayo ClinicPresenter/Panelist: Jordan DeMoss, MSHA
Executive Vice President
UAB MedicinePresenter/Panelist: Deborah Grimes, RN, JD, MSHQS
Senior Vice President, Chief Health Outcomes and Inclusion Officer
Ochsner Health System -
AI Governance and Policy in Organizations
AI Governance and Policy in Organizations
Thursday, November 5, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Program Moderator: Ryan Allen, DSc
Associate Vice President & Chief Security Information Officer
UAB Health Services Information SystemsPresenter/Panelist: Beth Keyser
President
Commercial West Region, Anthem Blue Cross Blue ShieldPresenter/Panelist: Eric Wallace, MD
Chief Medical Information and Digital Health Officer
UAB Health SystemPresenter/Panelist: TBD
TBD
TBD -
Navigating the Journey to High Reliability
Navigating the Journey to High Reliability
Friday, November 6, 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Program Moderator: Charles Hagood, DSc
Managing Partner
Press GaneyPresenter/Panelist: TBD
TBD
TBDPresenter/Panelist: TBD
TBD
TBDPresenter/Panelist: TBD
TBD
TBD -
C-Suite Panel with Healthcare Renaissance
C-Suite Panel with Healthcare Renaissance
Friday, November 6, 9:45 a.m. - 11:15 p.m.
Program Moderator: Perry Ann Reed, DSc
Director, Ethics and Palliative Care
Texas Children’s HospitalPresenter/Panelist: Kemberly Blackledge, DSc, FACHE
Chief Financial Officer
Nashville General HospitalPresenter/Panelist: Ken D. Haynes, MBA, MSHA, FACHE
Executive Vice President & Chief Enterprise Services Officer
Advocate HealthPresenter/Panelist: TBD
TBD
TBD