Schedule
2024 Health Leadership Conference
The Urgency of Now: “Think Patient”
February 21 – 23, 2024
Hotel Valley Ho
Scottsdale, AZ
Wednesday, February 21
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West Tour
Docent-led tour of the #1 voted Western Museum in the U.S.
(Pre-registration required)
2:00 – 8:00 p.m. Registration Open
3:00 – 4:15 p.m. Quality Care and Patient Access: A Panel Discussion with Leaders in Health Insurance
(CEOs and Board Members Only)
Ms. Corlette will give an overview of the landscape of the health insurance industry in the U.S. and identify
current market trends. Panelists will offer examples of best practices for engaging with the patient
advocacy community and offer possibilities for further collaboration. The audience – comprised of patient
advocacy CEOs and Board members – will have the opportunity to comment on and ask questions about
the health insurance sector, and its practices and contribute suggestions for collaboration. Facilitators:
• Randy Rutta, Chief Executive Officer, National Health Council
• Eric Gascho, Senior Vice President, Policy and Government Affairs, National Health Council
Speakers
• Adam Beck, SVP for Commercial, Product and Employer Policy, AHIP
• Sabrina Corlette, J.D., Research Professor, Founder, and Co-Director, Center on Health Insurance Reforms
3:00 – 4:15 p.m. Senior Staff Session – Feedback and Evaluation
All organizations have in common the critical need for stakeholder engagement in providing perspectives,
feedback, and evaluation of programs and activities. NHC staff will lead a discussion on what is working
and not working with the methods currently popular in use (surveys, event evals etc.). What do our
stakeholders tell us (or not tell us) about the best ways to engage them to inform our work? What tips,
tricks and best practices can we share with each other to help our organizations improve?
4:15 – 4:30 p.m. Break
4:30 – 5:15 p.m. NHC Member Organizations as Employers (CEOs and Board Members Only)
As EVP at Lockton Companies, the world’s largest privately-held independent insurance brokerage firm, Mr.
Brown is an expert in helping employers develop a deep understanding of their objectives regarding a well-
tailored benefits program that advances their human capital strategy for attracting and retaining key
talent. He will facilitate a dialogue with participants to explore current market trends for healthcare
purchasers and offer tips and hints for how to select and utilize the knowledge and skills of your health
insurance broker
Speaker:
• Jacob Brown, Executive Vice President, Lockton Companies
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Opening & Networking Reception
• Live Music, provided by Guitarres Flamencas
• 6:30 p.m. Opening Remarks by Randy Rutta
• Open Bar, Small Bites, and Heavy Hors D’ Oeuvres
Thursday, February 22
6:30 – 7:15 a.m. Sunrise Yoga (Pre-registration required)
What better way to start the day than with balance, strength, and watching the sunrise?
• Cortney Halstead, Wellness Guide, Daily Breath Yoga
7:00 – 5:45 p.m. Registration Open
7:30 – 8:30 a.m. Networking Breakfast Discussion Roundtable
• Large Patient Organizations (Invitation only)
7:30 – 8:30 a.m. Networking Breakfast Discussion Roundtable
• Filling in the Gaps – Small and Medium Patient Organizations With extensive experience in the political
sphere and public and private health insurance – Ms. Christy Ferguson is an expert in what’s missing
when leaders in the public and private spheres make decisions about healthcare. Recognizing this need
she has built a company to address it “providing leaders with information, intelligence, and insights into
how health care services, drugs, and devices are accessed and covered through health insurance, across
both markets and payers”. In this session, Ms. Ferguson will demonstrate the tool her company has
developed and preview and upcoming opportunity for patient advocates to access the tool on behalf of
their communities at no charge.
Moderator:
• Susan Gaffney, Executive Vice President, National Health Council
Speaker:
• Christine Ferguson, Principal, Leverage Global Consulting
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Conference Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Massage Therapy
Reduce stress, improve concentration, and increase relaxation. Our complimentary 15-minute chair
massage will provide attendees with a relaxing experience while improving their overall health and
wellness. Sign-up is available onsite.
Service provided by:
Tod Miller’s Spa & Wellness
9:00 – 9:10 a.m. Opening Remarks and Conference Objectives
Remarks by:
• Randy Rutta, Chief Executive Officer, National Health Council
• Jeff Todd, President & CEO, Prevent Blindness
9:10 – 9:55 a.m. The State of the Sector – Keynote Remarks
Dr. Watkins will share insights from her first year at the helm of Independent Sector, the leading voice for
America’s non-profit community. Her national listening tour has given her a pulse on the opportunities and
challenges for nonprofits in the current environment. She will also share highlights from the IS 2023 Health
of the Sector Report and provide her perspective on the workforce challenges facing non-profits.
Introductions by:
• Jeff Todd, President & CEO, Prevent Blindness
Keynote Remarks:
• Dr. Akilah Watkins, President & CEO, Independent Sector
9:55 – 10:05 a.m. Break
10:05 – 10:50 a.m. NHC Member Reactor Panel
Members discuss the state of the sector from their perspective; what is the “new normal” post-
pandemic? What innovations have come forward? What challenges have emerged and/or persisted?
10:50 – 11:00 a.m. Break
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Growing Health Equity Success from the Grassroots
A panel of experts in community-based care will offer expertise on how local care models are leading
the way for a more equitable and just health care delivery system. With representation from the
national, local, and patient perspectives, the audience will gain a deeper understanding of the thread
that connects national strategy all the way through to the individual experience.
Panelists:
• Wendy Armendariz, Chief Executive Officer, Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health (NOAH)
• Amanda Pears Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, Advocates for Community Health
• Tara McCollum-Plese, Board Member, Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health (NOAH)
12:00 – 1:15 p.m. Lunch
1:15 – 2:00 p.m. Amazon Chief Medical Officer: The Future of Health care
The business model of Amazon is characterized by a relentless focus on the quality of customer
experience. As the company turns its attention to the healthcare market, this focus translates to new and
different ways of addressing the needs of patients. Dr. Mishra will explore the company’s vision for its place
in the healthcare market – as a leader and a collaborator.
Moderator:
• Michael Osso, President & CEO, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation
Speaker:
• Dr. Sunita Mishra, Chief Medical Officer, Amazon
2:00 – 2:15 p.m. Break
2:15 – 3:00 p.m. The Future is Here – How Can Patient Advocates Ensure Patient Perspectives Inform the Role of
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
It seems there is no conversation about healthcare these days that does not include AI. Questions about
its role – and its potential, both good and bad – abound. The National Health Council has been exploring
how our members can make sure there is a place at the table for patient perspectives as decisions are
being made that impact everyone’s health. Dr. Anderson will lend some important perspective on how
the structures of decision-making are shaping up and how patient advocates can explore their role in
that framework.
Speaker:
• Dr. Brian Anderson, Co-Founder CHAI (Coalition for Health AI) and Chief Digital Health Physician,
MITRE
3:00 – 3:15 p.m. Break
3:15 – 4:00 p.m. Fireside Chat with a MedTech Innovator
From online scheduling and electronic health records to health tracker apps and wearables to surgical
robots and AI diagnostics – the role of medical technology in the lives of patients is undeniable. In this
exciting conversation, Mr. Paul Grand will pull back the curtain on innovation in the medical technology
space and invite the audience to explore with him how patient perspectives can be elevated in this
market to ensure innovation responds to patient needs.
Speaker:
• Paul M. Grand, CEO, MedTech Innovator
4:00 – 4:15 p.m. Break
4:15 – 5:00 p.m. Attendee Show & Tell
Sign up in advance to have five 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 provided by AJ Odneal
• Open Bar & Light Refreshments
6:00 p.m. Attendees are free for the evening. Dinner on your own.
Friday, February 23
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
Remarks by:
• Susan Gaffney, Executive Vice President, Membership, Development & Events, National Health
Council
8:15 – 9:00 a.m. Chief Influencer: Nonprofit Leaders Driving the Conversation
Back by popular demand, Mr. Shop will energize participants with tips and hints for how to lead the
conversation in their sectors for maximum organizational influence.
Speaker:
• Anthony Shop, Chief Strategy Officer & Co-Founder, Social Driver
9:00 – 9:30 a.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.
9:30 – 9:45 a.m. Break
9:45 – 10:30 a.m. NHC Member Panel – Leading the Patient Narrative as Thought Leaders
10:30 – 11:15 a.m. The Political Outlook for the 2024 National Election
Like it or not national politics has a major influence on how the healthcare system operates in the United
States. As patient advocates, we must keep our finger on the pulse of what is happening in Washington –
from the White House to Congress and the federal agencies – in order to advance our missions on behalf
of the stakeholder communities we serve. For our closing session we will be joined by the renowned
elections analyst, Mr. David Wasserman, to get an insider’s view of what to watch over the course of 2024
as we close in on election day in November.
Moderator:
• Schroeder Stribling, President & CEO, Mental Health America
Speaker:
• David Wasserman, Senior Editor & Elections Analyst, The Cook Political Report
11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Closing Remarks
• Randy Rutta, Chief Executive Officer, National Health Council
11:30 a.m. Grab & Go Lunch Provided for Conference Attendees