Schedule
2025 Health Leadership Conference
The Future of Leadership
February 4 – 6, 2025
Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, FL
AGENDA OUTLINE
Tuesday, February 4
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Pre-conference Activities (Pre-registration required)
• NHC’s Community Connect: Pantry of Broward
The Pantry of Broward serves seniors in need living on low, fixed incomes and grandparents
raising their grandchildren.
• The Historic Stranahan House Museum
Built in 1901, the Historic Stranahan House Museum is Fort Lauderdale’s oldest surviving
structure, is steeped in history, and is central to Fort Lauderdale’s development, significantly
influencing the city’s economic and social life.
2:00 – 8:00 p.m. Registration Open
3:00 – 5:30 p.m. AI Horizons: Steering Teams Towards Tomorrow’s Tech Triumphs (only for CEOs, Board
Leaders, and Senior Staff)
This interactive workshop delves into Generative AI and related technologies, such as AI Agents
and Machine Learning, within the context of leadership and governance. Participants will
receive a technical foundation in AI and explore leadership-specific strategies for integrating AI
into their roles. Through a combination of presentations, case studies, and interactive
discussions, attendees will gain practical insights into leveraging AI for strategic success while
upholding ethical standards.
The workshop features engaging activities, including table discussions, role-play scenarios, and
hands-on exploration of AI tools, fostering a collaborative and forward-thinking environment.
Facilitator:
• Kiki L’Italien, VP, Marketing & Community Engagement, Big Red M
4:15 – 4:30 p.m. Break
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Opening & Networking Reception
• Live Music provided by TBD
• Open Bar, Small Bites, and Heavy Hors D’ Oeuvres
Wednesday, February 5
6:30 – 7:15 a.m. Sound Bath Meditation (Pre-registration required)
No matter your lifestyle, everyone can benefit from some self-care and stress relief. This class
offers sound meditation using a variety of instruments to help you achieve a deeply meditative
state, providing rapid rejuvenation and rest.
Participants will be guided through verbal meditations that transition into a soothing journey
of sound.
Instructor:
• Michelle Cash, Instructor, Divine Wave Sound
7:00 – 5:45 p.m. Registration Open
7:30 – 8:30 a.m. Networking Breakfast Discussion Roundtable
• Large Patient Organizations (Invitation only)
• Others TBD
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Conference Breakfast
9:00 – 9:10 a.m. Opening Remarks and Conference Objectives
Join us for the opening session of our conference, where we will set the stage for an inspiring
and productive event. Attendees will gain insights into the key topics and sessions to look
forward to, setting the tone for a collaborative and engaging experience. Don’t miss this
opportunity to start the conference on a high note!
• Randy Rutta, Chief Executive Officer, National Health Council
• Schroeder Stribling, MSW, President & CEO, Mental Health America
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Executive Coaching Sessions (Pre-registration required)
The NHC is excited to announce a partnership with Brad Kerschensteiner, President of
Kerschensteiner Executive Coaching & Training, to offer CEOs and Board Leaders of patient
organizations, and partners of patient organizations, the chance to participate in focused,
high-impact mini-coaching sessions. These 20-minute individual sessions will address specific
leadership challenges, opportunities, strategies, and goals, and will take place onsite at the
conference. Participants are expected to complete pre-work before their session, and a
post-assessment along with follow-up will be provided after the conference concludes.
• Brad Kerschensteiner, President, Kerschensteiner Executive Coaching & Training
9:10 – 9:55 a.m. Keynote Address: Leading Through Polarization
This session explores the current state of polarization, highlighting the lack of trust in
institutions and the cultural, historical, and psychological factors driving division. Session will
examine the risks this presents for organizations and stakeholders and introduce a theory of
change for navigating polarization by embracing the new reality. Participants will gain
insights into how to lead effectively in an increasingly divided landscape.
• Bill Doherty, Co-Founder, Bravers Angels
9:55 – 10:05 a.m. Break
10:05 – 10:50 a.m. NHC Member Reactor Panel
10:50 – 11:00 a.m. Break
11:00 – 12:00 p.m. Advocating for Patients Living with Chronic Diseases: Movement Toward Prevention and Management
The Advocating for Patients Living with Chronic Disease: A Movement Toward Prevention and
Management, an NHC Trusted Messenger campaign, amplifies the often-untold stories to
empower the patient community in the decision-making process aimed at addressing
unmet needs, access, affordability, and treatment barriers across health care. This campaign
is focused on the prevention and management of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular
disease. This session will unveil the campaign to NHC members while highlighting the stories
of grassroots trusted messengers via a panel discussion.
Moderator:
• Omar A. Escontrías, DrPH, MPH, SVP, Equity, Research and Programs, National Health
Council
Panelists:
• Tara Chico-Jarillo, DrPH, MPH, Deputy Director, Health Services Division, Pascua Yaqui Tribe
• Patricia Nece, JD, Member and Past Chair, National Board of Directors, Obesity Action
Coalition
• Caleb Snead, JD, Graduate Research Assistant, University of Georgia Institute of Gerontology
12:00 – 1:15 p.m. Hosted Lunch
1:15 – 2:00 p.m. The Regulatory Environment and Access
In this session, we will explore the role that government institutions play in helping, and
hindering, access to treatment for patients. The expert panel will provide insight into the
opportunities and challenges on the horizon.
2:00 – 2:15 p.m. Break
2:15 – 3:00 p.m. Whole Person Health Session
3:00 – 3:15 p.m. Break
3:15 – 4:00 p.m. The Power of Patient Engagement in Innovation
Join us for a session on the critical importance of early patient engagement in drug
development. From an investor’s perspective, we’ll explore the benefits of early patient
involvement in clinical design and trials, emphasizing the importance of the patient voice.
Hear from a patient advocate and rare disease leader transforming biotech industry practices
and learn about innovative work in patient engagement related to drug candidates and
identifying optimal therapeutic areas and clinical trials.
Speaker:
• Gunnar Esiason, Senior Director, Head of Patient Engagement and Patient-Centered
Innovation, Blackbird, Raven (RA Ventures)
4:00 – 4:15 p.m. Break
4:15 – 5:00 p.m. Attendees Show & Tell
Sign up in advance to have 5 minutes to enlighten your colleagues with success stories, “ah ha” moments, emerging
best practices, pitfalls, partner opportunities, and other news to inform and inspire.
5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Partner Networking Reception
Connect with those you’ve met throughout the day on topics of mutual interest.
• Live Music by Greg Diamond (Guitarist)
• Open Bar & Light Refreshments
6:00 p.m. Attendees are free for the evening. Dinner on your own
Thursday, February 6
6:30 – 11:00 a.m. Registration Open
7:00 – 8:00 a.m. Conference Breakfast
8:00 – 8:15 a.m. Opening Remarks & Conference Reflections
Kick off the last day of our conference with a session designed to energize and inspire. Join us
to gain a fresh perspective, connect with fellow participants, and prepare for the exciting
sessions ahead.
Remarks by:
• Susan Gaffney, EVP, Membership, Development & Events, National Health Council
Conference Reflections:
• TBD
8:15 – 9:00 a.m. General Session
9:00 – 9:10 a.m. Break
9:10 – 9:55 a.m. Lessons from Chief Influencers: The ROI of LinkedIn
For each of the last two years, the Health Leadership Conference has shown NHC’s members
how to go from “From Chief Executive to Chief Influencer.” We learned that “faces are the new
logos” and how our personal brands can support our professional aims. This year, three of our
own chief executives will discuss their own journeys of becoming “Chief Influencers.” These
leaders will share how leading on LinkedIn has generated ROI for their organizations:
engaging with employees to build company culture, reaching new funders to expand
partnerships, and advancing policy goals through advocacy work. Whatever your skill level,
this panel will provide real-life examples from the world of patient advocacy that you and your
team can apply immediately.
Moderator:
• Anthony Shop, Chief Strategy Officer & Co-Founder, Social Driver
Panelists:
• Charles “Chuck” Henderson, Chief Executive Officer, American Diabetes Association
• Steven Taylor, President & CEO, Arthritis Foundation
• Kathryn Schubert, President & CEO, Society for Women’s Health Research
9:55 – 10:40 a.m. NHC Member Reactor Panel
10:40 – 11:25 a.m. Crisis Communications Panel
Join us for an insightful panel discussion where leaders from NHC member organizations will
share their compelling stories of crisis communication successes. Each panelist will recount a
significant crisis their organization faced and the strategies they employed to navigate
through it. Attendees will gain valuable insights from these real-world experiences, learning
about the challenges encountered, and the strategies developed. This session will provide a
unique opportunity to understand the best practices that have emerged from these
circumstances, offering practical lessons that can be applied to your own organization.
Moderator:
• Ann Searight Christiano, Founder & Director, Center for Public Interest
Communications; Clinical Professor, Department of Public Relations, University of Florida
College of Journalism and Communications
Panelists:
• Barbara Collura, President & CEO, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association
• Nicole Friedland, President & CEO, National Alopecia Areata Foundation
• Amy Sonderman, Senior Director, Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement, US
Pharmacopeia
11:25 – 11:45 a.m. Closing Remarks
• Randy Rutta, Chief Executive Officer, National Health Council
11:45 a.m. Grab & Go Lunch Provided for Conference Attendees