Executive Forum: Leadership Unlocked
October 5 - 7, 2026
Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center
201 Waterfront Street, Oxon Hill, MD 20745
Event Beginning:
Monday, October 5, 2026
Event Ending:
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
An Invitation-Only Experience for Health System Enterprise Leaders
Premier merges Executive Forum and Breakthroughs for the first time — pairing a fully curated executive agenda with exclusive access to the innovation, operators, policymakers and partners shaping healthcare’s future.
Registration is by invitation only and is subject to approval. For Members/Providers only.
Agenda:
Monday, October 5th
5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Welcome, Opening Remarks & Crucial Conversation
Executive welcome and opening remarks from Premier leadership, followed by a discussion, Beyond AI Hype, exploring where AI is truly improving operational performance, workforce productivity and clinical decision-making — and where it is falling short.
Emad Rizk, M.D., Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board, Premier
Moderator: Abhi Sharma, Managing Director, Premier
Panelists:
Karthik Raja, SVP, Chief Analytics and AI Officer, Ascension
Mike Sanky, VP and Global Industry Leader for Healthcare & Life Sciences at Databricks
John Barto, Chief Digital Transformation Officer, Microsoft Health and Life Sciences
Eric Leroux, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Quality Officer, Eisenhower Health
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Private Executive Reception & Networking Dinner
Networking experience with Premier leadership, speakers and industry executives.
Tuesday, October 6th
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
Executive Breakfast Session
Protecting Patients, Protecting Trust: Managing High-Stakes Safety and Reputation Risk
Moderator: Ashley R. Lynam, Partner, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Panelists:
Karen Chilton, M.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer, WakeMed
Emily Gerkin Guerrant, Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, Michigan State University
Jason Stopyra, M.D., Enterprise Vice President, Public Safety, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Crucial Conversation: The Next Five Years Will Reshape Healthcare
The strategic decisions health systems must make now to remain financially viable, operationally resilient and clinically competitive over the next decade.
Moderator: Maria Ghazal, CEO, Healthcare Leadership Counsel
Panelists:
Blake Allison, CEO, Employers Health Network
Simon Castellanos, CEO, AIS Healthcare
Tanvi Patel, Vice President & GM, Amazon Pharmacy
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Executive Roundtables
Private, role-based peer discussions designed for candid leadership exchange.
Lunch provided
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Crucial Conversation: The Margin Crisis Isn't Temporary
How leading healthcare organizations are redesigning enterprise performance through supply chain transformation, productivity redesign, AI-enabled operations and capital discipline.
Moderator: Crystal Climer, Chief Financial Officer, Premier
Panelists:
Rick McWhorter, CFO, THR
Deborah Dage, CFO, Saint Francis Tulsa
Brad Bond, CFO, University Hospitals
Thomas Otis, Chief Trade and Asset Officer, Palmetto Infusion
Kevin Randall, CFO, Crouse
2:30 - 4:00 p.m.
VIP Reverse Trade Show Experience
Flip the model—join your team as they showcase priorities and engage directly with suppliers in a high-impact, speed-format designed to accelerate alignment and innovation
4:00 - 4:30 p.m.
VIP Innovation Celebration Experience
A guided, behind-the-scenes tour of Premier’s Innovation Award winners—highlighting breakthrough solutions driving real-world impact.
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Executive Dinner Experience
Leading Through the Next Era of Healthcare
A Fireside Conversation on the Decisions That Can't Wait
Healthcare leaders are navigating a period of unprecedented disruption. Financial pressures, workforce challenges, evolving consumer expectations, artificial intelligence and shifting public policy are reshaping the environment faster than many organizations can adapt. In this candid fireside conversation, former U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin, M.D., joins Rick McWhorter, Chief Financial Officer of Texas Health Resources, for an executive discussion focused on the strategic decisions health system leaders should be making today to prepare for the next era of healthcare.
Drawing on experience spanning health system leadership, government and clinical practice, Dr. Shulkin will offer perspectives on the forces redefining healthcare and where executives should focus their attention over the next five years. Designed as an intimate conversation among peers, this session will explore the leadership choices, opportunities and challenges that will shape the future of healthcare while setting the stage for Wednesday morning's national policy discussion featuring Dr. Shulkin, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Mark McClellan and Dr. Dorothy Fink.
Rick McWhorter, CFO, Texas Health Resources
David J. Shulkin, MD., Ninth Secretary of the US Department of Veterans Affairs in the Trump Administration and VA’s Under Secretary of Health in the Obama Administration
Wednesday, October 7th
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
Executive Breakfast and Networking
Curated executive networking and peer engagement.
9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
General Session
Opening Keynote & Executive Policy Briefing
presentation of the Premier Trailblazer Award
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
VIP Tradeshow Tour
Join a guided walk through the tradeshow with Premier Leadership—featuring curated stops, live demos, and direct access to the innovations driving measurable performance.
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Peer Exchange Luncheon
Executive networking and facilitated peer discussion.
1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
VIP Innovation Tour & Live Demonstration
Private guided access to breakthrough technologies, operational intelligence platforms and next-generation healthcare solutions.
3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
General Session
Healthcare Executive Panel
presentation of the Premier Alliance Excellence Award
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
VIP Dinner Experience
Private executive dinner experience
6:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Backstage Experience: Meet Darius Rucker
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
VIP Lounge: Breakthroughs Concert
Darius Rucker
Thursday, October 8th
Executive Forum Closing & Continued Breakthroughs Access
Depart or continue your Breakthroughs experience with additional thought leadership, CE sessions, and the closing keynote featuring Erin Andrews and the Premier Cares Award.
Contact Information & Event Questions
If you are looking to attend one of our Premier Executive Events, please follow the above links to the specific event page and select “Register.” If you have any questions about upcoming events, or would like to connect with someone regarding an event, please reach out to us directly.