HLTH, scheduled for October 20-23 at the Venetian Expo Center in Las Vegas, spotlights individuals across the healthcare ecosystem from high-powered executives such as Fred Abnousi, the head of health technology at social media company Meta to actress and advocate Halle Berry sharing the patient experience of menopause. Here’s a preview of who will be speaking at HLTH and what they’ll bring to the conversation.
Note: All times provided are Pacific Time
To register for HLTH 2024, click here.
Andrea Willis M.D., SVP and Chief Medical Officer, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee The payer employs 6,500 people and has more than 3.4 million members. As part of her role, Andrea oversees total health management and pharmacy management. She is responsible for achieving and maintaining clinical quality excellence, optimizing member care and medical management functions, oversight of clinical risk management and collaboration with the provider community. Before joining BlueCross, Willis was director of the CoverKids program and was responsible for developing Tennessee’s federally approved State Children’s Health Insurance Program. She also previously served as deputy commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Health. Andrea will take part in the panel discussion Childproof Care Models. The discussion will highlight the need for innovation in pediatric care across urgent care, primary care and pediatric specialties. Between 2019 and 2021, the overall pediatric mortality rate increased by more than 18%. The panel will highlight how they are using partnerships and new tech to achieve better clinical outcomes, remove barriers and increase utilization rates for our pediatric patients. The panel discussion will take place on the Evergreen Stage at 12:50 pm to 1:30 pm, Sunday, October 20.
Karin Tollefson is the Chief Oncology Medical Officer at Pfizer, where she leads the Oncology Global Medical Affairs Division. Prior to joining Pfizer, Karin was Head of Global Medical Affairs at Seagen Inc. where she led the medical organization through the successful launches of three practice-changing medicines and established a global medical affairs organization. At Eli Lilly and Company she served in progressive leadership roles in clinical operations, clinical development, portfolio and program management, and global medical affairs. She supported Lilly’s acquisition and integration of ImClone Systems in 2008 and was part of the Oncology Business Unit Leadership team until her retirement in 2017. She has been involved in the launch of eight new medicines serving patients in more than 10 tumor and therapeutic areas. Karin will be part of The Cancer Conundrum panel discussion, which will highlight early detection initiatives, reimbursing annual screenings at a younger age and a better understanding of the risk factors. It will take place on the Disco Stage, 2:30 pm to 3:10 pm, Sunday October 20.
Greg A. Adams, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Kaiser Permanente, which includes integrated care and coverage under the Kaiser Permanente brand, the KP Medical Foundation, and Risant Health and its subsidiaries. The group provides coverage for more than 13.2 million people, and has 260,000+ employees and 25,700 physicians. He also presided over the launch of value-based care business Risant Health in 2023. Greg has championed the shift of traditional quality measures to health outcomes measured through the lens of race and ethnicity. As a multicultural, multi-racial organization, Greg is also committed to advancing workforce equity and inclusion for the employees and physicians who represent all the communities Kaiser Permanente serves. Greg has over four decades of experience in the healthcare industry. He has held leadership roles at Kaiser Permanente for the past 25 years. Prior to assuming his current roles in 2019, Greg served as executive vice president and group president, with direct responsibility for health plan and hospital operations in all Kaiser Permanente regions. He will take part in a fireside chat on the Main Stage at 4:30 pm to 4:50 pm, Sunday October 20.
To register for HLTH 2024, click here.
Lance Bass is a Grammy-nominated singer, host, actor, podcaster and film and television producer. He rose to fame as part of NSYNC, which became one of the best-selling boy bands. Bass came out publicly as gay and was awarded the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award later that year. A few years ago he was diagnosed with diabetes. He will speak about his own health journey and how Dexcom has helped him manage his condition as part of the talk Getting in Sync with Glucose on the Main Stage at 4:50 to 5:15 pm, October 20.
Freddy Abnousi M.D., M.B.A, MSc., VP of Health Technology at Meta A practicing cardiologist, he has previously led innovative healthcare efforts at companies such as McKinsey and Google. He also served as Founder and CMO of CorDynamix Inc., an interventional heart failure company. He will participate in the fireside chat Sight Unseen: How Meta’s AI-Powered Wearables Are Bridging the Accessibility Gap on how wearables are being used to transform healthcare. He will talk about a case study for Be My Eyes using Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, how this technology is being used to improve accessibility, as well as the human impact of this emerging technology and where it needs to improve. The fireside chat is scheduled for the Main Stage at 5: 15 pm to 5:35 pm, Sunday, October 20.
Dr. Taha Kass-Hout, Chief Science and Technology Officer with GE Healthcare, has merged his background in interventional cardiology with machine learning. He’s driving advancements in AI-based medical imaging and diagnostics. His previous role at Amazon as Vice President/Distinguished Engineer of Machine Learning and Chief Medical Officer saw him spearhead pivotal health tech projects, including Amazon HealthLake, Amazon Comprehend Medical, and Amazon Pharmacy. Prior to Amazon, Taha was the first Chief Health Informatics Officer at the FDA, where he championed data transparency through initiatives like openFDA and precisionFDA. In the talk Byte-Sized Care: AI’s Mega Impact on Health, Taha will talk about the future of healthcare, the emergence of technologies that prioritize compassion alongside intelligence and how GE Healthcare’s AI innovations are transforming patient care. The talk will take place on the Main Stage, at 9:00-9:20 am, October 21.
Tom Mihaljevic M.D., CEO & President, Morton L. Mandel CEO Chair, with Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland Clinic is a globally integrated healthcare system with 23 hospitals and 276 outpatient locations on three continents. Mihaljevic has led Cleveland Clinic and its 81,000 caregivers since January 2018. He has been with the health system since 2004 when he became a cardiac surgeon there. In a fireside chat, AI: Powering Patient Care, Research, Caregiver Wellbeing and Organizational Efficiency, he will discuss how the standard AI tech and generative AI is crucial to harnessing important information that will help us advance patient care, accelerate the pace of medical research, support caregivers and address organizational challenges. AI tech will also enable positive impacts for the future of healthcare delivery by reaching more patients in need, with a higher level of safety, quality and patient experience. The fireside chat is scheduled for the Main Stage at 9:20 am to 9:40 am, Monday, October 21.
Kimberly Powell, Vice President, Healthcare and Life Sciences, NVIDIA, is a 16-year veteran of the tech giant. As head of its worldwide healthcare business, she is responsible for hardware and software platforms for accelerated computing, AI, and visualization for medical imaging, life sciences, drug discovery, and healthcare analytics. She previously led NVIDIA AI Labs, and the NVIDIA Inception program, with more than 7,000 AI startup members. Against a backdrop of digital health evolution, Kimberly will talk about how generative AI at NVIDIA seeks to shape the next chapter of healthcare. Her keynote talk on the Main Stage is scheduled for 9:40 am to 10:00 am on Monday, October 21.
To register for HLTH 2024, click here.
Paul Markovich, President & Chief Executive Officer, Blue Shield of California, has launched and led initiatives such as funding support for a statewide provider directory, making it easier for Californians to find physicians and facilities in their plan; and supporting the development of a statewide health information network for patients’ records. He also invested in a partnership with the California Medical Association to help physicians pilot new care delivery models and leverage technology. As a keynote speaker, he’ll talk about big tech initiatives he’s undertaken at Blue Shield of California and new developments for the future. Paul is scheduled to speak on the Main Stage at 10:00 am to 10:20 am on Monday, October 21.
HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the department. Prior to this role, Palm served as Secretary-designee of the Department of Health Services (DHS) in Wisconsin, overseeing one of the largest state agencies as a member of Governor Tony Evers’ cabinet. Her role also included responsibility for the state’s Medicaid program, its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and behavioral health programs. In a fireside chat with Town Hall Ventures Partner Andy Slavitt called Bolstering Health Sector Data and Technology Policy, the conversation will focus on the rise of data and technology strategy, policy and operations at HHS, particularly cybersecurity and AI and how HHS is meeting the moment. Deputy Secretary Palm and Andy Slavitt will dive into the ways that HHS views cybersecurity and artificial intelligence policy and envisions their future. Andrea and Andy’s fireside chat is scheduled for the Everest Stage at 12:15 pm to 12:50 pm on Monday, October 21.
Abigail Buckwalter is CEO of Nestlé Health Science U.S. An integral leader at NHSc since its inception, Abigail has supported accelerated product development, geographic expansion, and brand-building initiatives. Her diverse background and entrepreneurial mindset fuel her ability to drive results for the business. Abigail most recently served as U.S. President of Active and Medical Nutrition and Global Head of Strategy, Marketing, and Innovation at NHSc. In these capacities, she led the strategic direction for key brands including BOOST®, Vital Proteins®, Carnation Breakfast Essentials®, Pure Encapsulations® and Compleat®. She will take part in a panel discussion on GLP-1 Co-Pilots. The GLP-1 companion ecosystem includes specialized supplements aimed at mitigating nutrient deficiencies, tailored fitness programs to preserve muscle mass during weight loss, customized nutrition plans that complement the appetite-suppressing effects of GLP-1s and even AI to personalize care and track down supply. Additionally, mental health support services are increasingly being integrated into GLP-1 treatment plans, recognizing the complex psychological aspects of significant weight loss and lifestyle changes.The panel discussion is set for the Evergreen Stage at 2:20 pm to 3:00 pm, Monday October 21.
Halle Berry, Actor, Director, Producer, Advocate, and Founder of Respin Known for her achievements in entertainment and women’s health advocacy, Halle made history as the first African-American woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress in 2002 for Monster’s Ball. Her film credits include X-Men, Die Another Day, Gothika, and BRUISED, which she also directed and produced. In recent years, Berry has focused on changing the cultural dialogue around women’s health, particularly menopause. Respin is a female longevity brand that empowers women through their midlife journey and “second act” – reframing this transition as a moment of empowerment. The brand focuses on providing solutions at the intersection of science, technology, and community to help women navigate this life stage with ease and grace.
Halle will discuss menopause and female longevity, and the work she is doing at Respin to help women to feel empowered to talk about their experiences and not feel shame. As an advocate for women’s health, she will share her experiences and insights on navigating this transition, helping to shine a light on a topic that affects millions but is often overlooked. Her session is scheduled for the Main Stage at 4:00 to 4:20 pm, Monday, October 21.
Joe Petro is the Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Health and Life Sciences (HLS) Solutions and Platforms, which develops integrated healthcare experiences that provide greater access to care, enhance the clinician-patient relationship, and improve health outcomes. He is responsible for overseeing strategy, solutions, and engineering as it relates to the HLS Solutions and Platform business, which includes both first and third-party applications. Prior to this role, Joe served as the Chief Technology Officer for Nuance Communications, which was acquired by Microsoft in 2022. In a session titled How Purpose-Built AI is Transforming Healthcare, Joe and Microsoft CSO Dr. Eric Horvitz will talk about the ways in which the technology platform, data, and clinical applications inform industry best practices and guide purpose-built AI that generates enduring value to patients, clinicians and the healthcare ecosystem. The session will take place on the Main Stage at 9:00 am to 9:20 am, Tuesday, October 22.
Joaquin Duato is the Chairman & CEO of Johnson & Johnson. Under his leadership, J&J is now exclusively focused on tackling the toughest health challenges by developing innovative medicines and medtech solutions. J& J is accelerating healthcare innovation using data science and the latest technology to create breakthroughs in care, from cell therapy to robotic-assisted surgery. Prior to moving into his current role, Joaquin served as Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee, where he led the company’s pharmaceutical and consumer health businesses, as well as technology and global supply chain teams. In the fireside chat Time for Bold, Joaquin will discuss how the healthcare industry is positioned to cure cancer and manage cardiovascular disease. He will also talk about how the healthcare worker shortage and health equity gap can be addressed. The fireside chat will be on the Main Stage at 9:45 am to 10:05 am, Tuesday October 22.
Andy Slavitt, General Partner, Town Hall Ventures, invests in underrepresented communities. He was President Biden’s White House Senior Advisor for the response to Covid-19. He is currently a commissioner on the National Academy of Medicine’s Commission on Investment Imperatives for a Healthy Nation. He previously served as a working member of President Biden’s President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) working group on public health. He has led many of the nation’s most important health care initiatives, serving as President Obama’s head of Medicare and Medicaid and overseeing the turnaround, implementation and defense of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
In a session titled Election 2024: What You Need to Know, Andy will talk with Seema Verma, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Oracle Health, who also served as head of CMS during the Trump administration. They will discuss some of the key healthcare issues at stake in the upcoming election. These issues include the fate of ACA, abortion access, drug pricing negotiations, and addressing healthcare worker shortages. Both presidential candidates face pressure from their respective bases and industry stakeholders, making it difficult to predict the exact direction of healthcare policy post-election. Slavitt and Verma will also share their perspectives on the future of healthcare. The session is scheduled for the Main Stage at 10:05 am to 10:30 am Tuesday, October 22.
Lennie Kravitz, Artist and Founder, Let Love Rule Foundation The Let Love Rule Foundation provides care, raise funds and develop services for a variety of causes around the world. For example, it has a longstanding partnership with Glo Good Foundation to bring free dental care clinics and education to the underserved in the Bahamas. They have also dedicated support to providing Bahamians suffering from food insecurity during the pandemic as well as rebuilding efforts from Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Kravitz will be part of the conversation, Systemic Care for Health Equity, emphasizing the critical connection between oral and overall health. The conversation will show how providing comprehensive care to underserved communities can profoundly impact people’s lives and advance health equity, creating meaningful change in the healthcare landscape and beyond. It is scheduled for the Main Stage at 4:45 pm to 5:10 pm, Tuesday, October 22.