Health Connect South, a non-profit that connects the top thought leaders and decision makers in healthcare, will host its third annual regional healthcare summit on Sept. 21 at the Georgia Aquarium. The summit will include a focus on how to combat the spread of Zika and the federal government’s new “moonshot” effort to cure cancer.

Entitled “Regional Assets, Global Impact,” the 2016 Health Connect South conference is expected to draw hundreds of the leading minds in medicine and healthcare from the public and private sector to collaborate on solutions and innovations concerning the top 10 diseases in healthcare.

“This summit will enable leading decision makers in healthcare to come together and compare notes about the greatest dangers to public health today, including Zika” said Judith Monroe, M.D., president and CEO of the CDC Foundation. “It is a great opportunity for collaboration and discovery.” Dr. Monroe will discuss collaboration and the role of public-private partnerships to address health challenges.

The all-day conference includes a panel on pre-term birth complications, vaccines and Zika including talks by:

• Lucky Jain, interim director of the Emory and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Pediatric Center of Georgia.
• Dr. David Hill, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Communications.

Meanwhile, another panel certain to draw much attention is one focused on the recent federal focus on a cancer “moonshot.” Earlier this year, President Obama established a new Cancer Moonshot to accelerate cancer research. Led by Vice President Biden, the effort is working to make more therapies available to more patients while working on early detection.

Among those speaking at cancer moonshot session will be:

• Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer, American Cancer Society.
• Dr. Maurie Markman, president of Medicine and Science, Cancer Treatment Centers of America.
• Dr. Samir Khleif, director of Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University/Medical College of Georgia.
• Dr. Ed Partridge, director University of Alabama Comprehensive Cancer Center.
• Dr. Walter J. Curran, executive director, Emory Winship Cancer Institute.

“We expect some incredible synergy as these brilliant minds in health and medicine come together to discuss the great assets in our region that can tackle the world’s health issues,” said Russ Lipari, CEO of Health Connect South. “Atlanta and the South are truly becoming ground zero for innovation in healthcare for the world.”

The 2016 line-up of distinguished industry leaders is expected to attract more than 500 industry innovators, top-tier decision makers and next generation health leaders from throughout the Southeast with the goal to foster and promote regional health collaborations. For more information and to register, please go to:  http://www.healthconnectsouth.com/2016-conference/