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
                                                  • 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.                          Futurist Session – How is the health system changing and what does it mean?

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.                      NHC Health Equity Trusted Messenger Launch and Panel
                                                     The success of the 2023 COVID-19 Trusted Messenger Campaign demonstrated the NHC’s considerable ability to
                                                     disseminate public health messaging that is targeted and focused. The Untold Stories of Patients Living with Chronic
                                                 Disease: A Movement Toward Achieving Health Equity, trusted messenger campaign amplifies the often-untold
                                                     stories of communities of color to empower the patient community in the decision-making process aimed at
                                                     addressing unmet needs, advancing health equity, and dismantling access, affordability, and treatment barriers across
                                                     the health care ecosystem. This session will unveil the campaign for its first time to NHC members while highlighting
                                                     the stories of grassroots trusted messengers via a panel discussion

12:00 – 1:15 p.m.                         Hosted Lunch

1:15 – 2:00 p.m.                          The Current Policy and Advocacy Landscape 
                                                     In this session, we will explore the critical role of leaders in navigating the complex environment of public policy and
                                                     access. With politics influencing every aspect, leadership faces significant challenges. We will discuss strategies to
                                                     manage these dynamics effectively, interpret the ripple effects of recent elections, and develop approaches to address
                                                     these issues proactively.

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.                        Health Innovation Investment Session

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   

                                                    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.                       Leadership Session

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