• Mridul Ganesh, MBA, CPO, Laudio 
  
  

2:30-3:15 PM: Driving Change Management with Laudio

Hear from fellow Laudio clients on how they've integrated the platform as a core technology for their leaders – and how they're leveraging it as a catalyst for meaningful, scalable change. 

Featuring:

• Katie Beach, VP, People Operations, Nebraska Medicine
• Kristen Long, VP, CNE, North Mississippi Medical Center
• Nancy Gaden, DNP, RN, FAAN, SVP, CNO, Boston Medical Center Health System
  
  

3:30-4:10 PM: Case Study: Culture Change in Action

Delve into UC Health’s journey as cross-functional leaders share how they've built a more consistent, connected, and accountable culture – with leadership enablement and engagement at the center.

Featuring:

• Lou Nazir, Director of HR Operations, UC Health
• Jen Jackson, VP Operations/CNO, UC Health

• Cheryl Reinking, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, DipACLM, CNO, El Camino Health
• Loraine Frank-Lightfoot, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, VP and Greater Winston-Salem Market CNO, Novant Health 

5:00-5:30 PM: Advancing Leadership with Objective Insights

Engage with the Laudio Insights team and explore the latest updates - from new research to the expansion of Leader Inspired Work – including a preview of new Benchmarking capabilities coming to clients!

Featuring:

• Tim Darling, MBA, President, Laudio Insights, Laudio
• Joel Ray, COL, USAF, NC, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Clinical Officer, Laudio
• Catherine Wilkosz, RN, VP, Strategic Content Development, Laudio 

*Open to all active Laudio clients as of October 2025*

Featuring:

• Russ Richmond, MD, CEO, Laudio
• Joel Ray, COL, USAF, NC, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Clinical Officer, Laudio (emcee)

Gain insights from Kotter International leaders on the science of change and what it reveals about how to build agile, adaptable organizations that succeed in the face of heightened complexity and rapid change.

Featuring:

• Vanessa Akhtar, Ed.D., Managing Director, Head of Consulting, Kotter International
• Gaurav Gupta, Managing Director, Kotter International; cofounder, Ka Partners 

Get an exclusive look at the top industry and policy dynamics affecting hospitals and health systems, plus a view into what to watch most closely on the horizon, from the CEO of Union Healthcare Insight.

Featuring:

• Christopher Kerns, MBA, CEO, Union Healthcare Insight

Hear top healthcare executives share how they're leading their organizations through healthcare's unprecedented pace of change - from changing industry and workforce dynamics to the rapid proliferation of AI.

Moderator: Russ Richmond, MD, CEO, Laudio 

Featuring:

• Alastair Bell, MD, MBA, President & CEO, Boston Medical Center Health System
• Mark Solazzo, MBA, President, Strategic Initiatives & COO, Northwell Health
• Dominica Tallarico, EVP & COO, Allina Health 

Engage in collaborative, thought-provoking discussions on today's change management challenges and opportunities with cross-functional peers from other health systems and Kotter International leaders. 

Breakout Group 1:

• Vanessa Akhtar, Ed.D., Managing Director, Head of Consulting, Kotter International 

Breakout Group 2:

• Gaurav Gupta, Managing Director, Kotter International; cofounder, Ka Partners 

Explore how leaders at the forefront today are approaching AI adoption and readiness at their organizations – at all levels – and how they're prioritizing use cases in a sea of possibilities.

Moderator: Payal Agrawal Divakaran, MBA, Partner, .406 Ventures

Featuring:

• Brian Hasselfeld, MD, Executive Medical Director, Digital Health & Innovation, Johns Hopkins Medicine
• Brent Lamm, SVP & CIO, UNC Health

Discuss the evolving role of middle management as health systems consider how best to structure frontline teams, drive efficiency, and strengthen their workforces - all while leveraging AI and containing costs.

Moderator: Tom Hills, MBA, EVP, Commercial Strategy, Laudio

Featuring:

• Brian Floyd, RN, MBA, COO, ECU Health
• Cynthia Latney, RN, DHA(c), MSN, NE-BC, SVP & CNE, OhioHealth 

Engage with Michael Dowling as he reflects on his leadership journey and shares strategies for transformative healthcare impact.

Moderator: Dan Gross, Former COO, Sharp Healthcare

Featuring:

• Michael Dowling, President & CEO, Northwell Health

Featuring:

• Joel Ray, COL, USAF, NC, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Clinical Officer, Laudio (emcee)

Understand how other health system executives are navigating healthcare's rapid pace of change and keeping their executive teams – and broader organizations – aligned and focused, while also agile. 

Moderator: Dan Gross, DNSC, MSN, RN, Retired EVP & COO, Sharp Healthcare

Featuring:

• Kelly Vaughn, MSN, RN, CNO, Nebraska Medicine
• Janice Walker, DHA, MBA-HCM, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, Former CNE, Advocate Health

Discover how forward-thinking executives are redefining, reinforcing, and strengthening their system's cultures by going back to core, enduring elements of organizational culture.

Moderator: CJ Floros, COO, Laudio

Featuring:

• Heather Brace, EVP CPO, Intermountain Health
• Shaun Smith, JD, Group SVP & Chief People & Culture Officer, NewYork-Presbyterian
• Nakesha Lopez, EVP, Chief People & Culture Officer, Advocate Health 

Hear how cross-functional executives at one of the nation's most integrated health systems are partnering to empower frontline leaders and enhance the employee experience for both them and their teams.

Featuring:

• Kim Gummel, MSN, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, CPN, VP CNO, Geisinger Health System
• Becky Miller, VP HR, Geisinger Health System
• Joe Fisne, MS, CPHIMS, CHCIO, VP & Associate CIO, Geisinger Health System 

Featuring:

• Tonya Jackman Hampton, Ed.D, PCC, Former CHRO, UC San Diego 

Take advantage of another opportunity to engage with leaders from other health systems to reflect on themes from the event and share perspectives on navigating healthcare's changing landscape.

Close out the event with a conversation on bridging big picture goals with daily frontline actions – focusing on operationalizing change by enabling leaders, driving innovation, and staying connected.

Moderator: Joel Ray, COL, USAF, NC, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Clinical Officer, Laudio 

Featuring

• Lorie Rhine, MSN, RN, NE-BC, CNE, UNC Health
• Susan Hernandez, DNP, MBA, RN, Health System CNE, UT Southwestern Medical Center
• Chris McLarty, DNP, ACNP-BC, Wood-Prince Family Chief Nurse Executive, Northwestern Medicine
• Corey Heller, Chief Human Resource and People Officer, The Christ Hospital Health Network