What’s your personal reason for being involved with HIMSS26 planning and how does it connect to your vision for digital health’s future? 

Kristine Barr, MBA, CHCIO, CDH-E: I am always so excited to learn, especially from others who come from unique backgrounds with very diverse experiences. It is interesting to me to be involved at this level and help craft an agenda that is engaging and helps others in our industry find that nugget of information that they can take home and use to improve their own organization. 

Leigh Williams: I’m involved in HIMSS26 planning because I believe the future of healthcare hinges on how well we connect innovation to the real-world needs of patients and the people who care for them. My vision for digital health is grounded in human-centered design, equity, and trust—principles that ensure our technology enhances care instead of complicating it. HIMSS26 gives us the chance to shape the national conversation and bring that vision to life in ways that are both aspirational and actionable. 

Jackie Rice: I joined the HIMSS26 Executive Summit Advisory Board because I’m deeply committed to transforming healthcare through technology. For me, this isn’t just about systems—it’s about people. Every innovation we champion has the potential to improve lives, empower clinicians, and create better experiences for patients. Being part of this committee gives me the chance to help shape conversations that matter and ensure we’re driving meaningful change for the future of healthcare. 

Anthony Stanowski: HIMSS26 is the nexus of innovation in healthcare technology. Being involved keeps me current on trends shaping the next generation of healthcare delivery and demonstrates how leaders can leverage emerging technologies to enhance patient care. 

Which session at the Executive Summit are you personally most excited for and why?

Isaiah Nathaniel: I am excited for all the sessions for my aforementioned statements. If I had to choose a session, I’d say, the opening keynote, Jenny Wood, who will be speaking on “Thrive in Change: The WILD COURAGE to be Resilient.” I am looking forward to this keynote because it will set the tone for the rest of the day. A successful opening leads to a successful conference.  

Nancy Levett: I’m excited about the whole agenda, but I think I’m most excited about the session “Discovering Untapped Sources of Revenue from Within: Using AI as a Strategic Driver” and leveraging podcasting from the stage, live! I think it will be very engaging and having a good CIO/CFO duo to learn from will be invaluable. 

Shane Rodabaugh: Breakouts are always great, but my juices always get pumping during keynotes.  I’ll put my iPad through the paces taking notes because there’s always a ton of nuggets to walk away with. With our pressure for change more evident than ever, I’m really excited to hear from Jenny Wood and some of the ideas she has on how to shift the culture within our teams. The breakouts look excellent. My challenge is having to rank them because I wind up wanting to be in two places at the same time. 

Stephen Beck, MD, FACP, FHIMSS: I’m looking forward to hearing Jenny Wood open the day with her inspiring perspective on change. Her message promises to be a powerful source of motivation as we prepare to engage with the broader HIMSS26 conference in the days to follow. 

What aspect of digital health do you feel you’re still learning about and how does that influence your HIMSS26 contributions? 

Anna Schoenbaum, DNP, MS, RN, NI-BC, FHIMSS, FAAN: I am continuing to learn about innovation trends that create real value, such as AI. As AI evolves, the challenge is balancing innovation with safety, transparency, and accountability. This perspective shapes my work with HIMSS26 by keeping the focus on practical frameworks, measurable outcomes, and leadership’s role in guiding responsible digital transformation. 

James Wellman, CHCIO, CDH-E, MSHCA: I’m deliberately still learning how to operationalize AI at scale with governance—from model risk management and bias monitoring to sustainable ROI in care management (CCM/RPM), documentation, and revenue cycle. I’m also pushing deeper on data liquidity (TEFCA/QHIN participation for smaller systems) and on the business model math that turns pilots into durable value. That curiosity shapes my HIMSS26 work in three ways: 

• Sessions with receipts—case studies that publish the playbook (people, process, tech, budget, KPIs) so others can copy it. 

• Guardrails first—templates for AI/data governance, cyber tabletop drills, and change-management checklists that a rural CIO can actually implement. 

• Benchmarks over buzzwords—spotlighting organizations that can show measurable outcomes (denials down, throughput up, time-to-note cut, readmits reduced) rather than demos. 

Isaiah Nathaniel, CPHIMS: I am still learning about practical applications for digitizing the entire visit from primary care to inpatient services.  This will influence my contributions to HIMSS26. 

Nancy Levett: I feel like the digital landscape is constantly changing, so I’m continually learning. Our organization is small and still what I would consider early on in our digital transformation, and the annual conference is always a great place to lean on others who are further along in their journey. 

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