Alexis Kayser, Health Care Editor, Newsweek

As hospitals and health systems navigate increasingly complex IT landscapes, integration remains elusive. This panel will explore the challenges health systems face when pursuing interoperability, and potential solutions for seamless data-sharing across platforms. Experts will discuss how to align IT investments with strategic priorities, so technology enhances care delivery rather than hindering it.

Speakers:

Aaron Buck, Chief Technology Officer, Ochsner

Simon Nazarian, EVP, Chief Digital and Technology Officer, City of Hope

Danny Sama, Chief Digital Executive and VP, Information Services, Northwestern Medicine

Sean Turner, Chief Data Officer, Banner Health

Hospitals are under significant financial pressure—so every dollar spent must deliver a measurable return. This panel will explore the financial calculus behind tech investments and reveal how digital transformation can drive efficiency and reduce costs. Experts from financially strong health systems will give advice for building a tech portfolio with an impressive ROI.

Speakers:

Geoff Brown, CIO, Piedmont

Brad Reimer, CIO, Sanford Health

Chief medical and nursing informatics officers play a critical role at their health systems, serving as a liaison between health care providers and the data they log and produce. Although most health systems struggle with change management, few have created a role to target the gap between IT and clinicians. In this presentation, CMIOs and CNIOs will explain their unique positions and share lessons they’ve learned from their vantage points.

Speakers:

Dr. Gregg Nicandri, CMIO, UR Health

Dr. Lavonia Thomas, Nursing Informatics Officer, MD Anderson

Virtual care was once an add-on for health systems—but now, it’s a strategic imperative. This panel will explore advancements in telehealth, hospital-at-home and remote patient monitoring from some of the best in the game. Leaders will also discuss the regulatory hurdles that executives should be aware of.

Speakers:

Ed Banos, President and CEO, University Health

Dr. Jill Kalman, Chief Medical Officer, Northwell Health

Speaker:

Dr. Eric Alper, Chief Quality and Chief Clinical Informatics Officer, UMass Memorial Health

This panel will review AI advancements and best use cases, drawing from the experiences of leading health systems. It will also address the challenges of AI implementation and the most realistic possibilities for the future. Attendees should leave feeling like they can differentiate hype from reality, and like they’re “up-to-speed" on their peers’ AI strategies.

Speaker:

Dr. Despina Kontos, Chief Research Information Officer, Columbia University Irvine Medical Center

Health tech is moving fast, but health systems have a lot to consider before they keep pace. This panel will discuss how to vet, implement and scale new technologies without disrupting care teams or straining budgets. Leaders will also define “healthy risk” and explain how they approach it at their own systems.

Speakers:

Aneesh Chopra, Chief Strategy Officer, Arcadia / First U.S. Chief Technology Officer under the Obama Administration

Dr. Daniel Yang, VP of AI and Emerging Technologies, Kaiser Permanente

Dr. Baligh Yehia, President, Jefferson Health

Technology is more than just an add-on for health systems in 2025. If deployed correctly, it could address long-standing challenges and drive improvements at every layer of the organization—from the frontline workforce to the business’ bottom line. But health care leaders must be cautious when driving digital transformation. In an industry laden with sensitive data, legacy tech systems and extensive regulations, progress inevitably takes risk. In this panel composed of Newsweek CEO Circle members, we will explore how executives around the world are deciding on technological investments, shifting their leadership strategies and navigating enterprise-wide innovation.