Thought-leaders representing critical health care sectors—hospitals, nursing, insurance providers, physician groups, and financial services—will share their insights on the current state of the industry and also on a post-COVID environment in a virtual half-day webinar on Friday, Oct. 30, hosted by the University of Miami.
CORAL GABLES — The “Business of Health Care Conference,” facilitated by the University of Miami Patti and Allan Herbert Business School, convenes national and global industry leaders—just days before the national election—to address “The Social, Political, and Economic Determinants of Health” in three keynote panels, a theme that features disparities which have been exposed and exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
“At this critical time in terms of health care access and delivery, influenced in part by COVID-19, this conference convenes thought-leaders from these many professional health care associations in one place and at one time,” said Steven Ullmann, director of the school’s Center for Health Management and Policy and special assistant to the provost.
University President Julio Frenk, whose public health expertise and acumen have been sought regularly by national and global media throughout the pandemic, headlines an opening panel “After the Pandemic: Building a Better Normal” together with Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the School of Public Health and professor of Health Services, Policy, and Practice at Brown University. He is also an adjunct professor of Global Health at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
A second panel on “Health Care Access, People & Policy: COVID and Beyond” will be moderated by Pat Geraghty, president and CEO of Florida Blue and GuideWell, which is the presenting sponsor of the conference. Participants on the panel include Barbara McAneny, former president of the American Medical Association, Matthew Eyles, president and COO of America’s Health Insurance Plans, and other leading industry officers.
“Florida Blue takes seriously our role as a leading health solutions company, which includes driving important conversations about the current state and future of health care,” said Geraghty. “Given all the challenges and opportunities currently facing health care, this is a critical time for this discussion, and we are proud to partner with UM to bring industry leaders together.”
Dr. Henri Ford, dean of the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, moderates a third panel on “Diversity and Inclusion” that includes Leon McDougle, president of the National Medical Association, Rosalyn Carpenter, senior vice president and chief of diversity with CommonSpirit Health, and other diversity and inclusion leaders.
The conference, a signature University event that includes participation from several deans and schools, was originally scheduled for late March, but was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The theme focusing on the influence of health determinants was set over a year ago.
“The importance of exploring these critical determinants has become even more critical given what has occurred in the last six to eight months,” Ullmann emphasized.
Now in its ninth year, the event generally draws a thousand or more attendees, according to organizers. An even larger audience is expected for this virtual session.
Register for “The Business of Health Care Conference” on Friday, Oct. 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. here.
