Health Connect South, the Southeast’s leading healthcare collaboration gathering, is returning on September 17 at the Georgia Aquarium to unite innovators, policy leaders, health executives, researchers, and entrepreneurs under the theme of forging meaningful regional partnerships. The mission? To serve as a dynamic platform that dismantles silos and advances transformative healthcare through collective action and interdisciplinary engagement.(healthconnectsouth.com)

Why Attend Health Connect South 2025?

With over 1,000 senior health leaders in attendance, Health Connect South stands as the largest facetoface healthcare leadership convening in the Southeast. It’s where the “new” in health meets actionable collaboration—covering topics from AI and innovation to research funding and health access.(healthconnectsouth.com)

Attendees can expect:

• A diverse, highcaliber speaker roster representing government, academia, health systems, startups, philanthropy, and media.

• Targeted sessions that spotlight breakthrough ideas, public–private synergies, and investment in the region’s health future.

• Ample networking opportunities, including expo halls and curated breaks to foster real connection.(healthconnectsouth.com,

Highlight of Speaker Line-Up

• Dr. Mehmet Oz – Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

• Dr. Susan Monarez, Director, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

• Tom Price, MD – 23rd Secretary of Health and Human Services

• Corwin Harper, President, Kaiser Permanente, Georgia.

Moderator-Led Panel Sessions:

CEO Roundtable – The Innovation Agenda: Partnering for Health System Transformation

• Moderator: Caylee Noggle, President & CEO, Georgia Hospital Association

• Participants: Matt Hanley, MD (President & CEO, Northeast Georgia Health System);

• Vicki Lewis (President & CEO, Coffee Regional Medical Center);

• Jeff Myers (President & CEO, Vitruvian Health Care System)

Funding the Future – University Research in Action

• Moderator: Jimmy Childre, Jr., FACHE (Former Chair & CEO, Washington County Regional Medical Center; President, Childre Ford, Inc.)

• Speakers: Mary Klotman, MD (EVP for Health Affairs & Dean, Duke University School of Medicine);

• Tim Lieuwen, PhD (EVP for Research, Georgia Tech);

• Tim Denning, PhD (President & CEO, Georgia Research Alliance)

Advancing Healthcare Through Public–Private Partnerships

• Moderator: Cheryl Preheim (Anchor, 11Alive News, NBC Atlanta)

• Speakers: Candice L. Saunders, FACHE (CEO & President, Wellstar Health System);

• David C. Hess, MD (Dean, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University);

• Russell T. Keen, EdD (President, Augusta University)

Women First – Collaborating for Better Cancer Care

• Moderator: Kristin Higgins, MD (Chief Clinical Officer, City of Hope Atlanta)

• Speakers: Debora Bruno, MD (Medical Oncologist, City of Hope);

• Steven McCune, MD (Oncology Service Line Physician Lead, Wellstar Health System);

• Lynn Durham, EdD (President & CEO, Georgia CORE)

Increasing Access and Improving Outcomes Across the Southeast

• Moderator: Dean Anason (Editor-in-Chief, Atlanta Business Chronicle)

• Speakers: Nkem Chukwumerije, MD, MPH, FACP (President & Exec. Medical Director, Southeast Permanente Medical Group);

• Kathryn Lawler (CEO, St. Joseph’s Mercy Care);

• Shannon Sale (EVP & CAO, Grady Health System)

Healthcare Investments: The State of Healthcare Funding

• Moderator: Austin Poole (General Partner, BIP Ventures)

• Speakers: Paul Weintraub (SVP, Coker)

• Bob Crutchfield (Managing Director, 1824 Health Ventures & Mainsail Venture Funds);

• Alexander Despo (Director, Union Square Advisors, LLC)

Catalysts for Change: Philanthropy’s Role in the Health Ecosystem

• Moderator: Donald Mueller (President & CEO, Siskin Children’s Institute)

• Speakers: Jonathan Simons, MD (Chief Science Officer & Medical Director, Marcus Foundation);

• Kristy Klein Davis (President & CEO, Georgia Health Initiative);

• Joselyn Baker (President, Grady Health Foundation)

The Partnership Prescription: Innovating Personalized Medicine

• Moderator: Ellen Donahue-Dalton (Chief Growth Officer, VillageMD)

• Speakers: Chris Spears (Founder, OrderlyWellness);

• Joni Collins, DMS, PAC, CAC (Founder, Twelve Twenty Eight);

• Diane Koontz, CEO Fleets Bay Consulting

The Workforce Ahead: Building Healthcare’s Future Together

• Moderator: Deep Shah, MD (Owner/Operator & Physician, Gwinnett Clinic)

• Speakers: Shane Jackson (President, Jackson Healthcare);

• Neil L. Pruitt, Jr (Chairman & CEO, PruittHealth);

• Joon Lee, MD (CEO, Emory Healthcare & EVP Health Affairs, Emory University)

Innovation and the Changing Face of Healthcare Delivery (ACHE Panel)

• Moderator: Greg Jungles (HealthTech Startup Catalyst, ATDC)

• Speakers: Moses Ike (Principal, Catalyst by Wellstar);

• Jesse Goodwin, PhD (Chief Innovation Officer, Medical University of South Carolina); Chris Lee (Chairman, CEO & Co-founder, Huxley Medical)

Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

• Moderator: Sweta Sneha, PhD (Founder & Chair, Digital Health Transformations, KSU)

• Speakers: Charles Elliott (Head of Industry Architects, Google);

• Josh Hargraves, MD (Divisional President, ApolloMD);

• Sumayah Rahman (Director of AI & ML, Cedar)

Partnerships in Public Health: Bridging Agencies and Communities for Impact

• Moderator: Darcie Johnston (Principal Deputy Director, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)

• Speaker: Thomas J. Engels (Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS)

Exclusive Discount for Georgia CEO Readers

We’re excited to offer 20% off tickets exclusively for readers of Georgia CEO. Use this code/link when registering:
www.eventbrite.com/e/1109391653299/?discount=GACEO