As the world continues to grapple with the pandemic and inch painstakingly toward a new normal with vaccine relief, U.S. health care leaders representing the major industry sections together with several regional health ministers will convene for a half-day virtual conference to explore impacts and innovations to chart the way forward.
“There’s no underestimating the value of bringing all these leaders together in one place during this pivotal time for health care,” said Steven Ullmann, director of the Center for Health Management and Policy at the University of Miami Patti and Allan Herbert Business School. “To learn from their significant insights on how we manage the many aspects that have come out of the pandemic and how best to move forward, offers incredible benefit to us all.”
Panelists and speakers will explore a range of health care issues—from clinical to policy to financial—that have impacted the industry at both the macro and micro levels.
Donna Shalala, former congresswoman and former president of the University of Miami, and Alex Azar—who both previously served as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—headline the last session of the day, “Health Care in a Changing Political Landscape.”
University President Julio Frenk, a global health expert whose insights have been sought frequently during the pandemic, will introduce the opening panel on “Health and Economy in the Americas.” The session includes the director of the Pan American Health Organization as well as health ministers from Uruguay and Costa Rica, among others.
In what has become a conference standard, heads of the leading professional health organizations serve as keynote panelists for the second session. Moderated by Pat Geraghty, president and CEO of Florida Blue and GuideWell, presenting sponsor of the conference, the panel will include Susan Bailey, president, American Medical Association; Matthew Eyles, president and CEO, America’s Health Insurance Plans; Joseph Fifer, president and CEO, Healthcare Financial Management Association; Halee Fischer-Wright, president and CEO, Medical Group Management Association; Ernest Grant, president, American Nurses Association; and Lisa Kidder Hrobsky, group vice president, Federal Relations, American Hospital Association.
The conference, celebrating its 10th anniversary, will be offered virtually for the second time. Nearly 1,500 people registered for the gathering held last October, postponed from its scheduled spring date because of the pandemic.
“We started as a regional conference and have grown to become a global gathering with significant impact—truly an indication that the issues that we discuss and debate have earned that level of import,” said Ullmann, noting that Florida Blue has provided support as a major supporter since the start.
Ullmann highlighted that the online platform has amplified the conference’s reach, attracting professionals from business and health care environments around the world and also an increasing number of students.
“2021 The Business of Health Care” takes place Friday, April 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact healthcare@bus.miami.edu.
