Early bird pricing ends in

Days

Early bird pricing ends in

Days

sessions

Day 1
Day 2

Tuesday, october 27

8:00 - 9:30 a.m.

Keynote: The Trust Blueprint: Building High-Performing Teams Through Trust

Lisa Sun, Founder and CEO, GRAVITAS

FLW EF

9:45 - 10:45 a.m.

A Three-System Partnership Advancing Regional Pediatric Care

FLW AB

Building the Children’s Hospital Workforce: Strategies from Blueprint to Action

McArthur 5-6

Activating Philanthropy as Strategic Capital for Transformation

McArthur 2-3

Medicaid Policy 201: The Rules, Realities, and Reforms Shaping the Program

FLW CD

Building the Leadership Bench: Talent Assessment, Development and Succession

McArthur 1

11:00 – 11:45 a.m.

Driven by Members, Powered by Data: What’s Next for PROSPECT

McArthur 1

Unlocking Value in Indirect and Purchased Services

McArthur 5-6

Rethinking Specialty Compensation: Strategies for Equity and Sustainability

McArthur 2-3

Together for Kids: The Power of Family Advisory Councils

FLW CD

A Cross-Border Conversation on Children’s Health Care

FLW AB

1:25 – 2:25 p.m.

Airplane Mode: Preparing for Planned and Unplanned Downtime

McArthur 5-6

Smarter Space, Better Access

FLW AB

Workforce Redesign in Action: Using Automation and Navigation to Improve Nursing Care and Well-Being

McArthur 2-3

Leveraging EPSDT to Strengthen Reimbursement

FLW CD

Elevating the Pediatric Analytics Experience: Easier Access. Smarter Insights

McArthur 1

2:45 – 3:30 p.m.

Lightning Talks: Operational Innovation

FLW CD

Lightning Talks: Workforce

FLW AB

The Litigation Playbook: Understanding the Federal Courts and Their Impact

McArthur 1

Community Engaged Responses to Addressing Firearm Injury and Violence

McArthur 2-3

The C Suite’s Guide to Strategic Change: Lessons From the CHA Brand Transformation

McArthur 5-6

3:45 – 5:00 P.M.

Keynote: The Future of Health Care Depends on Caring for the Workforce

J. Corey Feist, JD, MBA, CEO and Co-Founder, Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation

FLW EF

“This is my favorite conference of the year.  Love the networking, and targeted education to timely topics of high interest.”

Wednesday, October 28

8:00 - 9:00 a.m.

Unlocking the Full Potential of Advanced Practice Providers

McArthur 2-3

Building Community as an Anchor Institution

FLW CD

Every Nurse a Leader, Every Team Stronger

FLW AB

Crisis Communication in a Cyberattack: Lessons for Leaders

McArthur 5-6

Leading the Launch: Operational Readiness for a New Pediatric Facility

McArthur 1

9:20 – 10:20 a.m.

Strategic Navigation of the AI Influx Without Pilot Paralysis

FLW CD

How Agentic AI Is Delivering Real ROI

FLW AB

Building a Strategic Partnership with OpenAI

McArthur 2-3

Owning the Block Without Being the Expert: An AI-Assisted Approach

McArthur 1

Responsible AI in Health Care: Dual Perspectives on Governance and Approval

McArthur 5-6

10:40 – 11:55 A.M.

Keynote: Leading AI and the Future of Children’s Hospitals

Robert M. Wachter, MD, Professor and Chair, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco​

FLW EF

The Trust Blueprint: Building High-Performing Teams Through Trust

Oct. 27  |  8–9 a.m.  |  1.5 CE  |  FLW EF

In a time of increasing complexity, uncertainty and workforce challenges, trust has become one of the most valuable assets a leader can build. Lisa Sun, founder and CEO of GRAVITAS and a recognized expert in leadership and personal development, brings a practical and evidence-informed approach to strengthening trust in teams and organizations.

Through research, real-world scenarios and interactive learning, Sun will help leaders understand the measurable components of trust and how they influence communication, accountability, collaboration and performance. Designed specifically for leaders seeking to strengthen culture and engagement, this session will provide actionable frameworks for navigating difficult conversations, repairing trust after setbacks and fostering deeper connections across teams. Participants will gain tools they can immediately apply to create stronger relationships, improve alignment and build organizations that perform at their best under pressure.

Lisa Sun
Founder and CEO, GRAVITAS

Drawing on research, real-world scenarios and interactive exercises, Lisa Sun will help leaders understand the five components of trust and develop a personalized blueprint for building stronger teams and lasting organizational impact.

A Three-System Partnership Advancing Regional Pediatric Care

Oct. 27  |  9:45–10:45 a.m.  |  1 CE  |  FLW AB

Connected for Kids is a joint operating agreement that unites three health systems across 25 counties and two states. This partnership was designed to expand pediatric specialty access, reduce fragmentation, and improve quality outcomes for more than 180,000 kids by aligning pediatric specialty services with the primary care medical home.

Presenters

Aly Capp, PhD, FACHE, vice president, Connected for Kids, Children’s Wisconsin

Katherine Rebholz, MBA, PMP, director, strategic partnerships, Children’s Wisconsin

Matthew Buelow, MD, MS, medical director, Connected for Kids; Children’s Specialty Group medical director – Northeast Region, Children’s Wisconsin

Building the Children’s Hospital Workforce: Strategies from Blueprint to Action

Oct. 27  |  9:45–10:45 a.m.  |  1 CE  |  McArthur 5-6

Children’s hospitals are rethinking how they build, prepare, and sustain the workforce needed for the future. This session will begin with an overview of CHA’s Workforce Blueprint and national advocacy, followed by examples from children’s hospitals putting their strategies into practice.

Presenters will share approaches to strengthening talent pathways, expanding training opportunities and improving recruitment and retention, along with practical lessons other organizations can apply to their own workforce priorities.

Presenters

Dianne Bennett, DNP-ENL, E-MBA-HA, APN, CENP, chief nurse executive and senior vice president of patient care services, Phoenix Children’s

Mamoon Syedd, senior vice president and chief people officer, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Michelle Ednacot, MA-PPS, program manager, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland

Activating Philanthropy as Strategic Capital for Transformation

Oct. 27  |  9:45–10:45 a.m.  |  1 CE  |  McArthur 2-3

Health care leaders must rethink how major facilities are funded and delivered. North Carolina Children’s Hospital and UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital explore how philanthropy and community engagement can unlock investment, align stakeholders, and accelerate transformational pediatric initiatives.

Presenters

Marissa Kiefer, MHSA, president, UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital

Amy Einhorn, director of development, UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital

Sarah Brownell, FACHE, principal and national health market strategist, CannonDesign

Morgan Jones, MSPH, chief strategy officer, Duke Health, chief strategy officer at North Carolina Children’s Hospital

Medicaid Policy 201: The Rules, Realities, and Reforms Shaping the Program

Oct. 27  |  9:45–10:45 a.m.  |  1 CE  |  FLW CD

This session will build on the foundational concepts introduced in the 2025 session Basics of Medicaid and Recent Policy Changes at the Federal Level. This advanced discussion will examine today’s evolving Medicaid landscape, including key policy opportunities and challenges.

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how children’s hospitals can individually and collectively impact these crucial policies for children.

Presenter

Children’s Hospital Association

Building the Leadership Bench: Talent Assessment, Development and Succession

Oct. 27  |  9:45–10:45 a.m.  |  1 CE  |  McArthur 1

Building a strong leadership pipeline takes a thoughtful approach to identifying talent, preparing leaders for broader roles, and planning for succession. In this session, children’s hospital leaders will share how their organizations assess senior-level talent, select high-potential leaders, and support their development through coaching and other leadership strategies. 

Presenters will also discuss how these efforts influenced succession planning, including the selection of a new CEO, and share lessons learned, results achieved to date, and next steps

Presenter

Laurin Cathey, senior vice president, chief human resources officer, Children’s Minnesota

Driven by Members, Powered by Data: What’s Next for PROSPECT

Oct. 27  |  11–11:45 a.m.  |  0.75 CE  |  McArthur 1

Join CHA for an update on PROSPECT’s latest innovations and learn how children’s hospitals are using analytics to better understand staffing needs, resource utilization, productivity, and performance.

We will review key advancements from 2026, explore emerging analytic capabilities, preview CHA’s data and analytics priorities for 2027, and hear directly from a member organization using new enhancements to support decision-making.

If you’re looking for new ways to navigate uncertainty and make informed decisions, this session offers a glimpse into what’s ahead.

Presenters

Troy Richardson, PhD, vice president, analytics and data strategy, Children’s Hospital Association

Mike Roco, vice president, data transformation, Children’s Hospital Association

Unlocking Value in Indirect and Purchased Services

Oct. 27  |  11–11:45 a.m.  |  0.75 CE  |  McArthur 5-6

Learn practical approaches for evaluating and managing indirect and purchased service expenses.

Through a partnership between a Pediatric Alliance member and Vizient, this session will examine opportunities to drive savings and value through both local action and aggregation group strategies.

Presenters

Joseph Carr, RN, MBA, vice president, supply chain and support services, Akron Children’s Hospital

Keith Gregory, senior principal, advisory solutions, Vizient

Tom Swapp, senior vice president, spend management, Vizient

Rethinking Specialty Compensation: Strategies for Equity and Sustainability

Oct. 27  |  11–11:45 a.m.  |  0.75 CE  |  McArthur 2-3

Children’s hospitals face growing workforce challenges that threaten access to pediatric specialty care. NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital shares practical strategies to advance pediatric physician pay equity and strengthen workforce sustainability through funding, compensation, operational, and policy solutions.

Presenter

Sallie Permar, MD, PhD, department chair of pediatrics, pediatrician-in-chief, NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital

Together for Kids: The Power of Family Advisory Councils

Oct. 27  |  11–11:45 a.m.  |  0.75 CE  |  FLW CD

Family advisory councils are more than advisors. They are essential partners in shaping patient- and family-centered care. Learn how UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital is leveraging family voices in strategic planning, quality improvement, and care design to drive meaningful change, strengthen partnerships, and improve outcomes for children and families.

Presenters

Jon Decker, MSE, LMHC, NCC, director of brain Health at Crescent Community Health Center and co-chair of Family Advisory Council, UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital

Jim Leste, MS, FACHE, chief administrative officer, UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital

Racheal Niensteadt, MS, CCLS, director of patient and family centered services, UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital

A Cross-Border Conversation on Children’s Health Care

Oct. 27  |  11–11:45 a.m.  |  0.75 CE  |  FLW AB

In this candid fireside chat, health care leaders explore how political landscapes, workforce challenges, governance decisions, and access to care are shaping the future of children’s health across North America.

Presenters

Emily Gruenwoldt, president and chief executive officer at Children’s Healthcare Canada and Executive Director at Pediatric Chairs of Canada

Matt Cook, chief executive officer, Children’s Hospital Association

Paul R. Haut, MD, president, Children’s Hospital Association

Airplane Mode: Preparing for Planned and Unplanned Downtime

Oct. 27  |  1:25–2:25 p.m.  |  1 CE  |  McArthur 5-6

When technology goes offline, clinical and operational teams must be prepared to maintain safe care without access to network-dependent systems.
This session will explore how Akron Children’s Hospital developed and tested an enterprise-wide approach to network downtime through a four-hour planned outage, live clinical simulations and ambulatory drills.

Presenters will share lessons learned from both testing and a real downtime event, including gaps identified in communication, workflows, and recovery processes. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for evaluating readiness, strengthening response plans, and building measurable resilience across their organizations.

Presenter

Akron Children’s Hospital

Smarter Space, Better Access

Oct. 27  |  1:25–2:25 p.m.  |  1 CE  |  FLW AB

Clinic space is often an untapped resource for growth. This session highlights a data-informed approach to optimizing utilization, expanding access, and supporting strategic expansion within an existing footprint.

Presenters

Alisa Chandrabose, MBA, BSN, RN, MBA, associate director of children’s and women’s services, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Ben Dahlberg, MBA, MHA, chief operating officer, Children’s Wisconsin

CJ Lilly, MBA, senior director of digital health, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Nicole Nelson, MPT, executive director of ambulatory services, Children’s Wisconsin

Workforce Redesign in Action: Using Automation and Navigation to Improve Nursing Care and Well-Being

Oct. 27  |  1:25–2:25 p.m.  |  1 CE  |  McArthur 2-3

Nurse burnout is not a resilience problem. It’s a work design problem. Discover how Children’s Mercy Kansas City and Children’s Health, Dallas integrated navigation, automation, and workforce redesign to reduce administrative burden, return valuable nursing time, and improve care coordination and outcomes.

Reducing Nurse Burnout by Redesigning Non-Clinical Work

At a time when nurse burnout threatens workforce stability across children’s hospitals, Children’s Mercy Kansas City demonstrates how redesigning non-clinical work returned 90 minutes per nurse per shift and restored joy in practice.

Eliminating Gaps Through Integrated Navigation, Automation, and Workforce Redesign

Nurse-led workforce redesign integrates navigation, centralized coordination, and automation to expand capacity and reduce burden. By closing care gaps, improving transitions, and targeting avoidable utilization, Children’s Health, Dallas’s model enhances outcomes, efficiency, and workforce sustainability.

Presenters

Alejandro Quiroga, MD, MBA, president & CEO, Children’s Mercy Kansas City

Stephanie Meyer, MS-FNP, RN, NEA-BC, senior vice president/chief nursing executive and chief operating officer of acute care, Children’s Mercy Kansas City

Roxane Mulenex, BSME, MBA, senior vice president of enterprise care management, Children’s Health, Dallas

Paula Teagle, RN, MSN, CCM, ACM, senior director of enterprise care management, Children’s Health, Dallas

Leveraging EPSDT to Strengthen Reimbursement

Oct. 27  |  1:25–2:25 p.m.  |  1 CE  |  FLW CD

This session will introduce the early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment (EPSDT) toolkit and highlight how children’s hospitals can use it to support improved reimbursement.

Two hospitals will share brief examples of how they have successfully leveraged EPSDT in practice, along with lessons learned and perspectives on how the toolkit can help peers strengthen their own approach.

Presenter information coming soon.

Elevating the Pediatric Analytics Experience: Easier Access. Smarter Insights

Oct. 27  |  1:25–2:25 p.m.  |  1 CE  |  McArthur 1

CHA’s pediatric analytics experience is transforming through enhanced member engagement, deeper collaboration, expanded analytic capabilities, and continued innovation.

See how we are making analytics easier to access, smarter in the insights it delivers, and more powerful in the value it creates for children’s hospitals.

Presenters

Mike Roco, vice president, data transformation, Children’s Hospital Association

Troy Richardson, PhD, vice president, analytics and data strategy, Children’s Hospital Association

Lightning Talks: Operational Innovation

Oct. 27  |  2:45–3:30 p.m.  |  0.75 CE  |  FLW CD

Sit back, relax, and enjoy 5-minute lightning rounds of the incredible work your peers are doing to innovate in their hospitals’ operations.

This session will highlight select poster presentations, including:

  • Improving Patient Access Through Neurology Phone Workflow Redesign
  • EHR Refresh: Turning Data into Action for Clinician Efficiency
    Calm and Clear in Cyber Chaos
  • Measuring What Matters: A National Review of CMC Track-and-Treat Programs
  • Safer Transitions: Leveraging Clinical Pharmacy Technicians to Reduce Medication Errors
  • Creating Capacity Through Design: A Leadership Approach to Space Optimization
  • Beyond the PCP: Solving Pediatric Access Gaps with Community Visits

Presenters

Rady Children’s Health

Children’s Health, Dallas

SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital

Cook Children’s Health Care System

Seattle Children’s

Levine Children’s Hospital

Lightning Talks: Workforce

Oct. 27  |  2:45–3:30 p.m.  |  0.75 CE  |  FLW AB

Sit back, relax, and enjoy 5-minute lightning rounds of the incredible work your peers are doing to meet the evolving needs of the workforce landscape.

This session will highlight select poster presentations, including:

  • Leading Through Uncertainty Using Collectivistic Leadership
  • Core Project Team Model for APP Advocacy and Workforce Stability
  • Data-Driven Tools to Prioritize RN, Physician, and APP Staffing
  • The Power of GRIT: Developing Engaged, Resilient Leaders 
  • Investing in Tomorrow: Health Science Academies as a Workforce Strategy
  • When Productive is Mistaken for Busy: The New RVU

 

Presenters

UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital

Children’s National Hospital

Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital

Camber Children’s Mental Health

Children’s Medical Center Plano

St. Luke’s University Hospital – Bethlehem

The Litigation Playbook: Understanding the Federal Courts and Their Impact

Oct. 27  |  2:45–3:30 p.m.  |  0.75 CE  |  McArthur 1

Federal litigation can shape policy, operations, and advocacy in ways that directly affect children’s hospitals and health care organizations. In this session, Children’s Hospital Association will provide a practical overview of how federal cases move through the courts, key legal concepts to watch for, and what leaders need to know when litigation impacts their work.

Presenters

Blake Schofield, general counsel, Children’s Hospital Association

Jared Lee, specialist, public affairs, Children’s Hospital Association

Community Engaged Responses to Addressing Firearm Injury and Violence

Oct. 27  |  2:45–3:30 p.m.  |  0.75 CE  |  McArthur 2-3

As firearm injuries remain the number one killer of kids, children’s hospitals are working to reduce those deaths through both injury and violence prevention programs.

This session will highlight examples from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Renown Children’s Hospital that are partnering in their communities to provide awareness and resources. These communities have seen positive outcomes through lowered gun-related injuries and incidence of violence.

Presenters

Leslie Helmcamp, executive director of Strengthening Chicago’s Youth, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Jorge Montano-Figueroa, pediatric injury prevention specialist & Safe Kids Washoe County coordinator, Renown Children’s Hospital

The C-Suite’s Guide to Strategic Change: Lessons from the CHA Brand Transformation

Oct. 27  |  2:45–3:30 p.m.  |  0.75 CE  |  McArthur 5-6

Reputation isn’t static. It shifts as your organization grows, as leadership changes, and as the needs of the communities you serve evolve. Over time, those small shifts can add up and create a gap between how people see you and where you know you need to go.

If you’ve been wondering whether it’s time to close that gap, this session is for you. This type of strategic momentum can be spurred by brand. Leaders from the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) and TILT, a health care brand and creative consultancy, will walk through CHA’s brand transformation as a case study.

Presenters will explore what moved leadership to act, how we approached the shift, and early wins since our launch. Topics will focus on brand as a business driver for strategic plan alignment, board engagement, internal ownership, and beyond. If it’s time for your organization to shift the narrative, this is the session to explore.

Presenter

TILT

Children’s Hospital Association

The Future of Health Care Depends on Caring for the Workforce

Oct. 27  |  3:45–5 p.m.  |  1.25 CE  |  FLW EF

The pressures facing the health care workforce continue to affect organizations across the country, making clinician well-being and workforce sustainability critical leadership priorities. J. Corey Feist, JD, MBA, CEO and co-founder of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, has become one of the nation’s leading advocates for advancing health care worker well-being and creating healthier work environments.

An influential voice on workforce resilience, Feist helped lead the effort that resulted in the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, the first federal law dedicated to supporting the mental health and well-being of health care professionals. In this timely session, he will explore the state of today’s health care workforce, the organizational factors that contribute to burnout and disengagement, and the actions leaders can take to build cultures where caregivers can thrive. Attendees will gain insights and strategies for strengthening their workforce, supporting long-term resilience and advancing organizational performance through a people-centered approach to leadership.

J. Corey Feist, JD, MBA
CEO and Co-Founder, Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation

J. Corey Feist is a nationally recognized voice on health care workforce well-being, resilience and leadership. He played a key role in advancing the first federal law focused on supporting the mental health of health care workers.

Unlocking the Full Potential of Advanced Practice Providers

Oct. 28  |  8–9 a.m.  |  1 CE  |  McArthur 2-3

Learn how leading organizations are addressing critical shortages in developmental-behavioral pediatrics, physiatry, and home health through innovative workforce models. This session highlights advanced practice provider development, APN fellowships, and targeted training programs that expand capacity, decrease readmissions and length of stay, strengthen care teams, and improve access to home care and specialty care for children and families.

Presenters

Kelly Keefe Marcoux, PhD, APN, CPNP-AC, PPCNP-BC, vice president of patient care and chief nursing officer, Children’s Specialized Hospital

Colin O’Reilly, DO, FAAP, FACOP, FCCM, vice president and chief medical officer, Children’s Specialized Hospital

Building Community as an Anchor Institution

Oct. 28  |  8–9 a.m.  |  1 CE  |  FLW CD

With deep roots in the communities they serve, hospitals can improve the overall well-being of their local neighborhoods through anchor mission strategies. Hear how two hospitals have focused their efforts on local hiring, sourcing, and investing with the goal of promoting equity and expanding opportunities in their communities.

Presenters

Allison Gertel-Rosenberg, MS, vice president and chief policy and prevention officer, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware

Janet Viveiros, senior program and policy analyst, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware

Michael Rinker, vice president and chief supply chain officer, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Every Nurse a Leader, Every Team Stronger

Oct. 28  |  8–9 a.m.  |  1 CE  |  FLW AB

This session shows how Norton Children’s Hospital and UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh are investing in leadership at every level. These efforts can transform workforce stability, increase engagement, and deliver significant organizational value. Participants will explore practical approaches that produced sustained retention gains and strong returns on investment.

Leadership is a Mindset: Building Nurse Leaders at Every Level

Norton Children’s Hospital launched a mentor-enabled hybrid leadership program for bedside nurses. Leveraging microlearning, mentorship, and in-person engagement, the program has achieved a 99% two-year nurse retention rate, over $1 million in savings, increased engagement, and 2000% ROI.

Rebuilding a Pediatric APP Workforce: From Crisis to Stability

UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh faced rising advanced practice provider turnover, disengagement, and operational strain. This session presents data-driven workforce analysis and leadership interventions that resulted in rapid, sustained gains in retention and engagement, and offer a practical framework for APP stabilization.

Presenters

April Hollenbeck, MPAS- PA-C, advance practice providers supervisor for the division of pediatric emergency medicine, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh

Erin Kirk, RN, MSN, CPN, director of patient care services, Norton Children’s Hospital

Whitney Lerch, PA-C, director of advanced practice, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh

Crisis Communication in a Cyberattack: Lessons for Leaders

Oct. 28  |  8–9 a.m.  |  1 CE  |  McArthur 5-6

Effective communication can determine how an organization responds to a cyber crisis. Join FTI Consulting and Nationwide Children’s Hospital to examine the infrastructure, governance, and leadership approaches that support resilient communication, with real-world perspectives.

Presenters

Arundi Venkayya, vice president of public affairs and media relations, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Jamie Singer, senior managing director of crisis communications, FTI Consulting

Rebecca Pitt, managing director of corporate reputation, health care and life sciences, FTI Consulting

Leading the Launch: Operational Readiness for a New Pediatric Facility

Oct. 28  |  8–9 a.m.  |  1 CE  |  McArthur 1

Building something new requires more than construction; it requires leadership. Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital & Health Center and Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital will highlight practical strategies used to launch a first-in-state pediatric med-psych unit and safely open a new pediatric hospital while maintaining operational excellence, team alignment, and uninterrupted care.

Building First-in-State Pediatric Medical Psychiatric Unit 

Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital will provide hospital and system leaders with actionable operational strategies, partnership structures, and performance metrics used to design, launch, and sustain a first-in-state pediatric med-psych unit.

From Blueprint to Bedside: Leading a Safe Hospital Opening

How do leaders safely transition from construction to care delivery? Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital & Health Center explores executive strategies used to activate and relocate a pediatric hospital while maintaining uninterrupted care, managing risk, and aligning teams for a successful opening day.

Presenters

Jennifer Wood, MHA, director of operations, Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital

Megan Parker, RN, BSN, MBA, NE-BC, director of acute care services, Corewell Health

Benjamin Whitworth, FACHE, chief operating officer, Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital & Health Center

Jessica Allen, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC/AC, advance practice providers manager of inpatient pediatrics, director of interprofessional education, GME, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida

Lori Chudnofsky, RN, MN, NEA-BC, CNO, Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital & Health Center

Strategic Navigation of the AI Influx Without Pilot Paralysis

Oct. 28  |  9:20–10:20 a.m.  |  1 CE  |  FLW CD

To address the AI tool influx without endless pilots, Seattle Children’ proposed a tiered framework that replaces slow trials with rapid, data-driven “silent validations” and risk-based implementation strategies. By categorizing tools based on impact, hospitals can prioritize safety and mandate ongoing monitoring.

Presenters

Clara Lin, MD, chief medical information officer, Seattle Children’s

Mark Lo, MD, medical director of telehealth, Seattle Children’s

Theresa Kim, MD, associate chief medical information officer, Seattle Children’s

How Agentic AI Is Delivering Real ROI

Oct. 28  |  9:20–10:20 a.m.  |  1 CE  |  FLW AB

Learn how agentic AI is redefining productivity in pediatric health care. Join Children’s Nebraska to explore how AI agents eliminate manual work, automate Medicaid eligibility, expand foundation operations, and uncover IT portfolio savings with real, measurable results.

Presenter

Ryan Cameron, EdD, CHCIO, CDH-E, chief information and innovation officer, Children’s Nebraska

Building a Strategic Partnership with OpenAI

Oct. 28  |  9:20–10:20 a.m.  |  1 CE  |  McArthur 2-3

Stanford Medicine Children’s Health and Boston Children’s Hospital partnered with OpenAI to accelerate AI adoption across its organization. Leaders will share how the partnership was established, the governance and decision-making structures that support it, early clinical and operational use cases, lessons learned, and what’s next on their AI roadmap. Attendees will leave with practical insights for evaluating strategic AI partnerships and advancing enterprise AI within their own organizations.

Presenters

Keith Morse, MD, MBA, chief medical informatics officer, Stanford Medicine Children’s Health

Rick Majzun, MHA, FACHE, president and chief operating officer, Stanford Medicine Children’s Health

Ryan Nagy, president, system chief operating officer, Boston Children’s Hospital

Owning the Block Without Being the Expert: An AI-Assisted Approach

Oct. 28  |  9:20–10:20 a.m.  |  1 CE  |  McArthur 1

Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health will share how their new perioperative leadership team used existing AI tools to overcome turnover, limited expertise, and pressure for change. Implementing these AI tools allowed the team to responsibly own OR block scheduling. They will showcase how AI can support clearer thinking, transparency, and defensible decisions without replacing governance.

Presenter

Rachel Fogleman, perioperative services project manager, Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health

Responsible AI in Health Care: Dual Perspectives on Governance and Approval

Oct. 28  |  9:20–10:20 a.m.  |  1 CE  |  McArthur 5-6

This session brings together Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital to share how their organizations are building strong, responsible AI governance in health care. 

Lurie Children’s will highlight the structure they’ve put in place and the early AI capabilities they’ve begun deploying. Johns Hopkins will walk through their governance framework and the process they use to evaluate and approve new AI tools.

Presenters

Susan Goodson, senior vice president & chief digital information officer, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Dipti Amin, chief medical informatics officer, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital

Leading AI and the Future of Children's Hospitals

Oct. 28  |  10:40–11:55 a.m.  |  1.25 CE  |   FLW EF

Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving from experimentation to implementation, creating new opportunities and new challenges for health care organizations. Few experts are better positioned to help leaders navigate this transformation than Robert M. Wachter, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and one of the nation’s foremost authorities on health care innovation.

Widely recognized as a leading voice on the digital transformation of health care, Wachter will explore how AI is reshaping clinical care, operations and decision-making across the industry. Drawing on his deep expertise in technology and organizational change, he will examine what children’s hospital leaders need to know now, including emerging opportunities, potential risks and the leadership strategies required to responsibly integrate AI into care delivery. Attendees will leave with practical insights to help their organizations prepare for a future where AI is becoming an essential part of operations and strategy.

Robert M. Wachter, MD
Professor and Chair, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco​

As AI reshapes health care delivery, Robert M. Wachter will examine the opportunities, challenges, and strategic implications for children’s hospitals.

Pricing information

Payment options

  • Pay at the time of online registration via credit card
  • Request an invoice within registration (payment due by Oct. 24)
  • Contact CHA in advance to make arrangements if on-site payment is necessary

Refund and cancellation policy

  • All refund requests must be submitted in writing to Event.Services@childrenshospitals.org
  • Full refund available for cancellations received by Oct. 16
  • Refunds cannot be issued for cancellations submitted after Oct. 16 due to hotel guarantees and contractual obligations already submitted on behalf of attendees