2026 Annual Conference
Health System Leadership Track: Strategic Insights for Systemwide Impact
This track is uniquely designed for health system leaders navigating challenges in integration between hospitals and their affiliated physician enterprises. Through peer-driven case studies, system-level strategy sessions, and forward-looking discussions, this track leverages AMGA’s unmatched expertise in guiding integrated systems to the forefront. You’ll gain actionable insights and proven strategies to align organizational goals, manage competing demands, and drive sustainable transformation in today’s evolving healthcare landscape.
Friday, April 17, 2026, 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Navigating the Policy Landscape for Health Systems and Medical Groups
With the dust settling after the 2026 elections, what’s next for healthcare policy? AMGA’s public policy experts will unpack the legislative and regulatory priorities emerging from Washington, DC, and what they mean for health systems and medical groups nationwide. From payment reform and value-based care initiatives to workforce challenges and quality reporting requirements, you’ll get an insider’s view of the new healthcare agenda for Congress, the administration, and key agencies. Learn how AMGA is advocating to protect physician reimbursement, advance patient-centered care, and ensure the concerns of health system and medical group leaders are front and center in policy decisions.
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Physician & Provider Unionization: Lessons from the Frontlines
Chuck Bruce, MBA, Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Legacy Medical Group, Legacy Health, and Mark Haas, MBA, Chief Administrative Officer, Cambridge Health Alliance Physicians Organization
Physician and provider unionization is accelerating, transforming from an occasional challenge to a movement reshaping healthcare employment. In this candid fireside chat, the moderator will lead a conversation with two health system leaders who have experienced it firsthand: Cambridge Health Alliance’s shift to a partially unionized workforce during a financial turnaround, and Legacy Health’s rapid leap from zero to 70% unionized providers in just two years. Hear real-world lessons, explore the root causes and operational realities, and leave better equipped to anticipate, respond to, and lead through this disruptive trend while protecting performance, engagement, and patient care.
Upon completion of this activity, learners should be able to:
- Explain the primary drivers behind the rise in physician and provider unionization and how they reflect broader workforce and cultural trends in healthcare.
- Assess the operational and financial implications of unionization on health system performance, resource management, and organizational stability.
- Apply effective leadership and engagement strategies to strengthen communication, trust, and alignment with providers in both unionized and non-union settings.
Intended Audience: CEO, CHRO / Chief People Officer, General Counsel / Legal Counsel, COO, CMO, Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)in health systems and large medical groups
Topic focus areas: Workforce, operations, finance, leadership
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Collaborative Value Alignment – The Art and Science of Aligning Incentives and Driving Outcomes
Ryan Nicholas MD, FAAFP, Chief Quality Officer, Mercy Medical Group, Sacramento, CommonSpirit Health
This highly interactive session explores how health system leaders can engage their workforce in value-based transformation using data-driven frameworks, behavioral insights, and structured incentives. Participants will apply the Cultural Change Curve to understand workforce responses, explore system-level structures to influence outcomes, and use the Bullseye Framework to sustain positive change. Through guided discussion, real-world examples, and audience collaboration, attendees will leave with practical strategies for metric selection, incentive design, and overcoming common obstacles to engagement—tailored to their organization’s stage in the value journey.
Upon completion of this activity, learners should be able to:
- Apply the Cultural Change Curve and Bullseye Framework to assess workforce readiness and sustain engagement in value-based care transformation.
- Design incentive structures and performance metrics that align provider and organizational goals to drive measurable improvements in quality, efficiency, and financial outcomes.
- Implement practical, data-informed strategies to overcome common barriers to collaboration, alignment, and accountability across clinical and operational teams.
Intended Audience: CMO, COO, Chief Population Health Officer, Chief Quality Officer, Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), CFO in health systems and multispecialty medical groups responsible for workforce engagement, financial sustainability, and value-based care transformation.
Topic focus areas: Value-based care, workforce, operational efficiency, compensation, finance
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“Ana" in Action: Scaling Patient Access with AI-Powered Outreach
Mark Kandrysawtz, MBA, Senior Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer, and David Vega, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, WellSpan Health
WellSpan Health is at the forefront of integrating generative AI into patient engagement. In collaboration with Hippocratic AI, WellSpan has introduced "Ana," a conversational AI agent that conducts empathetic, multilingual phone conversations with patients to enhance access to care and close critical health gaps. Ana reaches out to patients who may have missed digital notifications, such as those with normal diagnostic results, and provides friendly, empathetic follow-up. Additionally, Ana answers inbound calls for primary care practices, handles basic inquiries, and, in the near future, will dynamically schedule visits. This session will delve into the implementation of Ana, exploring the challenges and successes encountered, the impact on patient engagement, and the potential for scaling AI-driven outreach across diverse patient populations. Attendees will gain insights into the operational, ethical, and technological considerations of deploying AI in patient communications.
Upon completion of this activity, learners should be able to:
- Examine how AI-powered conversational tools can enhance patient access, engagement, and equity across diverse populations.
- Evaluate the operational, ethical, and clinical considerations involved in implementing AI-driven outreach within health system workflows.
- Assess strategies for scaling and sustaining AI-enabled patient communication to improve efficiency, workforce capacity, and care continuity.
Intended Audience: CEO, CMO, Chief Clinical Officer, COO, Chief Digital Officer, CIO, Chief Patient Experience Officer from health systems and large multispecialty medical groups.
Topic focus areas: Access, AI, workforce, care process, health equity & SDOH
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Friday, April 17, 2026, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Celebrating Excellence: AMGA Acclaim Award Recipient
Join us for an inspiring presentation to be delivered by the 2025 recipient of AMGA’s prestigious Acclaim Award, a distinction that honors organizations excelling across the Quadruple Aim: patient experience, population health, cost efficiency, and workplace wellness. In this session, the award-winning leader will share their organization’s journey toward delivering high-value care through innovation, comprehensive performance improvements, and a steadfast commitment to health equity. Expect an engaging blend of strategic insight and real-world examples showcasing how to drive systemic transformation that truly matters.
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Cracking the Code on Avoidable ED Use: Ochsner Virtual Emergency Room (OvED) <318>
Lisa Fort, MD, MPH, Associate Chief Medical Information Officer, and Philip M Oravetz, MD, MPH, MBA, Chief Population Health Officer, Ochsner Health
Emergency departments are often overwhelmed with visits that could be managed more efficiently in other care settings, creating overcrowding, higher costs, and strain on resources. The Ochsner Virtual ED (OvED) program is transforming this challenge by connecting patients with an emergency physician before they arrive at the ED, guiding them to the most appropriate care setting. Embedded directly within Epic, OvED leverages referrals from nurse on-call programs, primary care, and urgent care clinics to assess patient needs in real time. The results speak for themselves: 70% of patients are successfully directed to care outside the emergency department, 80% follow care recommendations, and thousands of referrals have improved patient navigation since the program’s launch. Join this session to see how OvED is revolutionizing emergency care, improving access, efficiency, and outcomes across an integrated health network.
Upon completion of this activity, learners should be able to:
- Describe how the Ochsner Virtual Emergency Department (OvED) model improves patient access, navigation, and care appropriateness through virtual triage and integrated workflows.
- Evaluate the operational and financial outcomes of redirecting avoidable ED visits to more efficient care settings.
- Apply lessons from OvED’s implementation to design or scale similar virtual or hybrid care models that enhance value-based care and system performance.
Intended Audience: COO, Chief Digital Officer / CIO, CMO, CFO (for operational/financial impact), Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), Chief Population Health Officer, in integrated health systems and large medical groups.
Topic focus areas: AI, Access, Value Based Care, Operational Efficiency
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One Hospital, Many Doors: AI-Driven Capacity & Care Optimization in a Rural Health System
Brian N. Bartlett, MD, MBA, MPH, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Chair, Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital Practice; Kelly N. Buchholtz, MSN, MBA/HCM, RN, Instructor in Nursing, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Regional Chief Nursing Officer; F. Kenneth Ackerman, MHA, Assistant Professor of Health Care Administration, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Administrative Chair; and Sarah B. Harper, MA, MBA, Assistant Professor of Health Care Administration, Manager, AI, Analytics, Automation, Mayo Clinic Health System
Rural and dispersed health systems face growing pressures from aging populations, complex chronic care, and financial headwinds. Mayo Clinic Health System’s 17-hospital network has tackled this challenge by combining AI-powered predictive analytics with a tiered staffing and “pull to full” admission strategy. A single Command Center integrates real-time census, acuity, staffing, and transport data to dynamically direct patients to the right hospital at the right time, optimize capacity, and preserve tertiary bandwidth for complex care. Early results show reduced patient transfers, higher occupancy at critical access hospitals, and improved operational efficiency all while maintaining workforce flexibility. This session shares a practical blueprint for replicating a digitally integrated, systemwide approach to patient flow and hospital utilization.
Upon completion of this activity, learners should be able to:
- Explain how AI-driven predictive analytics and centralized command centers can optimize capacity, staffing, and patient flow across multi-hospital health systems.
- Evaluate the operational, workforce, and patient experience outcomes of implementing a coordinated, data-informed hospital utilization model.
- Apply lessons from Mayo Clinic Health System’s approach to design scalable strategies that balance access, efficiency, and quality across diverse care settings.
Intended Audience: COO, Chief Digital Officer / CIO, CMO, CFO (for operational/financial impact), Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) in rural, multi-hospital, or integrated health systems.
Topic focus areas: Access, AI, workforce, value-based care, patient experience
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From Long Lines to Logins: The “Clicks and Mortar” Makeover to Improve Access and Reduce Costs
Brent Steineckert, MPH, PMP, Chief Administrative Officer, and Keith Fischer MD, Medical Director Contact Center/Patient Navigation, Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group
Discover how one multispecialty medical group successfully built a digital-centric culture that blends self-service tools—such as online scheduling, automated intake, and virtual care access—with modernized backend operations. This “Clicks and Mortar” strategy reduced operational costs, improved margins, enhanced patient convenience, and drove membership growth. Attendees will explore real-world outcomes, implementation insights, and lessons learned, including high patient portal adoption, measurable cost savings, and AI-assisted call center efficiencies, offering a practical roadmap for replicating success.
Upon completion of this activity, learners should be able to:
- Analyze how integrating digital self-service tools with operational redesign can improve patient access, satisfaction, and efficiency.
- Evaluate the financial and workforce impacts of adopting a “Clicks and Mortar” model that blends technology with human-centered care.
- Apply proven strategies for scaling digital engagement, optimizing call center operations, and sustaining cost-effective access transformation.
Intended Audience: COO, Chief Digital Officer / CIO, Chief Patient Experience Officer, CFO, CMO, Chief Population Health Officer, and VP/Director-level leaders responsible for access, digital health, operations, or patient engagement in integrated health systems or large medical groups.
Topic focus areas: AI, Workforce, Access, Value-based care
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Rethinking Access to Care: Strategies for 2026 and Beyond
JP Valin, MD, MHA, FACP, Chief Clinical Officer, Intermountain Health
As the Chief Clinical Officer at Intermountain Health, Dr. JP Valin leads a medical group of nearly 5,000 employed physicians and advanced practice providers at more than 400 clinics across a six-state region. In this session, Dr. Valin will examine the opportunities and challenges to expanding access to care across a health system, from engaging physicians and APPs, integrating technologies, to strategies that address prevention, early intervention, and coordinated care leading to better health trajectories. Gain insight on practical strategies for aligning workforce, digital infrastructure, and operations to improve access in both urban and rural communities. Join the discussion on advancing care delivery that is personalized, equitable, and sustainable, and equips leaders with the framework to address current challenges, while preparing for the demands of tomorrow.
Upon completion of this activity, learners should be able to:
- Assess strategies for expanding access to care across diverse clinical and geographic settings, including urban and rural communities.
- Evaluate the role of workforce alignment, digital infrastructure, and operational processes in improving patient access and care coordination.
- Apply practical frameworks to implement sustainable, equitable, and personalized care delivery models that prepare their organizations for future healthcare demands.
Intended Audience: CEO, CMO, Chief Clinical Officer, COO, Chief Nursing Officer, Chief Digital Officer in health systems and large multispecialty medical groups.
Topic focus areas: Access, workforce, operational efficiency, care coordination, AI
Saturday, April 18, 2026, 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Data-Driven Leadership: Using Enterprise Insights to Accelerate Value-Based Care Success
Learn how an AMGA member group turned an in-depth organizational analysis into a practical, data-driven improvement plan. This session will outline how leaders leveraged key findings within the High Performing Physician Enterprise (HPPE) assessment to redesign processes, track performance, and achieve meaningful gains in value-based care arrangements—while building a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
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Virtual Checkout: A Patient-Centered Solution to Drive Care Continuity
Scott Guttridge, Vice President, Ambulatory Operations; Ryan Patterson, Senior Director, Ambulatory Operations; and Celeste Gagliardi, Senior Director, Enterprise Central Scheduling, Jefferson Health
Jefferson Health’s Virtual Checkout program transforms patient discharge by leveraging telehealth to schedule follow-up appointments, provide instructions, and answer questions—all from the exam room. This patient-centered solution reduces referral scheduling lag from 18 to 5.5 days, minimizes wait times, and enhances satisfaction. With more than 100,000 virtual checkouts completed and more than 700 per day, this program also offers staffing flexibility through remote work options. Attendees will learn implementation strategies, workflow redesign insights, and practical steps to replicate this innovative approach to improve care continuity and operational efficiency.
Upon completion of this activity, learners should be able to:
- Describe how virtual checkout programs can enhance patient-centered care, reduce scheduling lag, and improve follow-up adherence.
- Evaluate the operational and workforce benefits of implementing telehealth-enabled discharge workflows in ambulatory and hospital settings.
- Apply strategies and best practices to redesign workflows and replicate virtual checkout solutions that optimize care continuity and efficiency.
Intended Audience: COO, CMO, Chief Digital Officer / CIO, Chief Patient Experience Officer, CFO (for efficiency/cost avoidance metrics) in health systems and large multispecialty medical groups seeking to enhance patient experience, streamline care coordination, and optimize discharge workflows.
Topic focus areas: Access, operations, workforce, care coordination, patient experience
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Eliminating Care Gaps: Northwell Health’s Scalable Model for Advancing Preventive Care
Ramsey Abdallah, DHA, MBA, FACHE, Assistant Vice President, Quality & Performance Improvement, and Nancy Beran, MD, MHCDS, FACP, CPE, Vice President, Chief Quality Officer for Ambulatory, Northwell Health
Preventive care performance often varies across ambulatory networks due to fragmented workflows, disparate data systems, and limited coordination. Northwell Health’s Ambulatory Quality Improvement Collaborative (AQIC) Framework provides a proven, scalable strategy to standardize preventive care, integrate digital tools, and engage care teams in measurable improvement initiatives. Participants will explore operational playbooks, performance dashboards, and change management strategies that have led to significant improvements in depression screening, hypertension control, and colorectal cancer screening rates. Through interactive exercises, peer collaboration, and real-world examples, attendees will leave with actionable methods to translate population health goals into frontline practice, improve outcomes, and enhance health equity.
Upon completion of this activity, learners should be able to:
- Analyze strategies for standardizing preventive care and closing care gaps across ambulatory networks.
- Evaluate the impact of digital tools, performance dashboards, and collaborative frameworks on clinical outcomes and health equity.
- Apply practical methods to engage care teams, implement scalable improvement initiatives, and translate population health goals into frontline practice.
Intended Audience: CMO, COO, Chief Population Health Officer, Chief Quality Officer, Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), in health systems or large multispecialty medical groups
Topic focus areas: AI, finance, value-based care, care coordination, health equity & SDOH, population health
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Creating a Triad: The Value of an Advanced Practice Leadership Structure
Britney Broyhill, ACNP, DNP, FAANP, Chief Advanced Practice Executive, and Esita Patel, PhD, RN, Advanced Practice Data Scientist, Atrium Health
As the employed provider workforce moves toward parity between physicians and APPs by 2033, healthcare systems must create dedicated leadership structures for Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) to ensure strategic integration, accountability, and operational impact. This session walks through one large health system’s journey from a simple APP committee to a five-level APP leadership structure, including a Center for Advanced Practice supporting academic and operational initiatives. Attendees will explore detailed roles, spans of control, and administrative/clinical time allocations, and learn how APP leadership has been successfully incorporated into medical director and triad structures. Outcomes data will illustrate the impact on turnover, productivity, revenue, and engagement, including insights from recent mergers and acquisitions. Participants will gain practical strategies to design and implement APP leadership frameworks that strengthen workforce engagement and enhance organizational performance.
Upon completion of this activity, learners should be able to:
- Explain the rationale and structure of multilevel Advanced Practice Provider (APP) leadership models within health systems.
- Evaluate the operational, workforce, and financial impacts of integrating APP leadership into triad and medical director structures.
- Apply practical strategies to design and implement APP leadership frameworks that improve engagement, productivity, and organizational performance.
Intended Audience: CMO, COO, CHRO / Chief People Officer, Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), Chief Strategy Officer in health systems and large multispecialty medical groups seeking to optimize APP workforce integration, leadership structures, and performance outcomes.
Topic focus areas: Workforce, value-based care, finance, operations, efficiency, APP, leadership
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Integration of a Medical Group: From Concept to High-Performing Reality
Matt Walsh, MHA, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Rush University System for Health, and Luis Garcia, MD, FACS, MBA, FACHE, President Rush Medical Group; Professor of Surgery, Rush University
Over the past decade, healthcare organizations have faced unprecedented pressures—from rising costs and workforce shortages to IT and cybersecurity challenges, regulatory complexity, and increasing demand for quality and patient satisfaction. In this session, attendees will explore the full spectrum of medical group integration, including: clinical integration, governance and leadership and nonclinical integration. Participants will gain insights on overcoming anticipated challenges, understanding expected outcomes, and measuring success. Key metrics will highlight improvements in access to care, operational efficiency, employee engagement, clinician retention, and financial performance. Through real-world examples and strategic frameworks, this session demonstrates why high-performing integrated medical groups are central to sustainable healthcare delivery, value-based care, and long-term organizational success.
Upon completion of this activity, learners should be able to:
- Analyze the key components of medical group integration, including clinical, leadership, and nonclinical structures.
- Evaluate strategies to overcome operational, workforce, and financial challenges during medical group integration.
- Apply metrics and best practices to create high-performing, integrated medical groups that enhance access, engagement, and value-based care outcomes.
Intended Audience: CEO, COO, CMO, Chief Clinical Officer, CFO, CHRO, Chief Strategy Officer in health systems and large multispecialty medical groups and academic systems.
Topic focus areas: Workforce, value-based care, operations, finance