Pre-Conference Day (Sept. 22)

8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Registration

9 a.m.-Noon
Cybersecurity Workshop (additional ticket purchase required)
Scott Gee, Deputy National Advisory for Cybersecurity and Risk; and John Riggi, National Advisor for Cybersecurity and Risk, American Hospital Association; and local FBI and CISA Representatives
In this interactive workshop, hospital executives will gain critical insights into the evolving cyber threat landscape and the latest legislative updates impacting health care security. Participants will then engage in a hands-on tabletop exercise designed to test response strategies and identify vulnerabilities in a simulated cyber incident.

12-1 p.m.
Pre-Conference Lunch

1-4:30 p.m.
ACHE In-Person Education (additional ticket purchase required)
The Human Margin: Foundations of Trust
Katherine A. Meese, Ph.D., Faculty, University of Alabama Birmingham
Between employee burnout and disengagement, and staff departing from the healthcare field altogether, fostering a healthy and flourishing workforce is one of the biggest hurdles facing organizations today. But the research on what’s driving turnover, burnout and disengagement is not what it seems. Join our expert for an eye-opening, highly interactive seminar that translates decades of employee satisfaction research into evidence-based strategies you can use to successfully improve—and sustain—a thriving workforce.

1-3 p.m.
Networking Excursion: Drive, Chip and Putt Contest
*Limit to 40 participants, registration required

3-5 p.m.
Networking Excursion: The Cantina Challenge
*Limit to 40 participants, registration required

Main Conference Day One (Sept. 23)

8 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Registration

8-9 a.m.
Networking Breakfast

9-10 a.m.
Concurrent Breakout Sessions

• Advocacy 101
  Joe Gagen, Legislative Grassroots Trainer, Austin
  An important key to legislative success is effective communications with your federal and state legislators. In this highly interactive, entertaining presentation, Joe Gagen, a national speaker on legislative communications, will show you how to effectively get your message, and that of your hospital and patients, across to your local legislators.
• Responsible Use of AI in Health Care
  William Walders, MHA, MBA, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital and Information Officer, Joint Commission
  This session will examine the development of the first national AI guidance, tools, and certification program aimed at supporting safe, effective, and equitable AI adoption across U.S. health care organizations. The speaker will discuss how the partnership with The Joint Commission and the Coalition for Health AI combines evidence-based standards with clinician-led, consensus-driven best practices to create a trusted pathway for AI integration.
• Workplace Violence Prevention Panel
  Amanda Schweng, DNP, RN, CPHQ, CEN, Director Behavioral Health Regulatory, Quality, and Safety, Department of Psychiatry, JPS Health Network; Shanan Sims, DNP, RN, Executive Director of Psychiatric Nursing, Department of Psychiatry, JPS Health Network; more speakers coming soon
  This panel will examine the changing legislative landscape and share frontline strategies for preventing workplace violence. It will include insights into recent legislative developments from the 88th and 89th Texas Legislative Sessions. Additionally, hospital leaders will present real-world mitigation strategies and policies that have proven successful—despite ongoing challenges—especially in emergency departments and general admission areas serving behavioral health populations.
• Employment Law Update
  Mario Barrera, J.D., Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright, San Antonio
  In this session, Mario Barrera will analyze the latest updates in health care staffing laws, including key changes from the 89th Texas Legislative Session. Beyond state-level updates, Barrera will also examine evolving federal compliance issues under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act. With the DOJ’s recent rollback of ADA guidance documents and ongoing challenges in FMLA administration, health care employers face increased uncertainty in managing accommodations, leave policies, and workforce expectations. This session will highlight emerging trends, regulatory challenges, and practical strategies for navigating these changes.

10-10:45 a.m.
Networking Break

10-10:30 a.m.
Microlearning Session: Engaging Physician Leaders
Matt Bush, M.D., Chief Clinical Officer, Central US Envision Emergency Medicine/Hospital Medicine; Bridget Cafazza, Vice President, Anesthesia Operations; and Stewart Coffman, M.D., MBA, FACEP, Senior Vice President, Envision Healthcare

10:45-11:45 a.m.
Concurrent Breakout Sessions 

• Joint Commission Accreditation Revamp
  Robert Campbell, PharmD, BCSCP, Senior Director, Standards Interpretation, Accreditation Decision Management and Medication Safety, The Joint Commission
  The Joint Commission has introduced its most significant update to health care accreditation since 1965. Accreditation 360 streamlines hundreds of requirements, enhances patient safety practices, and boosts transparency for accredited facilities. This session will examine the main changes impacting hospitals, including how the overhaul simplifies compliance, aligns with modern care delivery, and establishes clearer expectations for stakeholders and the public.
  
• Human Resources Strategies In Health Care
  Terri Billiot, Human Resources Director, Chambers Health; Felicia Miller, Executive Vice President and Chief Talent Officer, Parkland Health, Plano
  Moderated by Ashley Todd, J.D., Partner, Husch Blackwell LLP
  As hospitals face increasing workforce pressures, human resources leadership must adapt to meet complex regulatory and operational demands. This panel of human resources leaders will examine key challenges in employment law and their effects on hospital compliance and employee relations. Panelists will also discuss urgent workforce issues—from mental health and burnout to staffing shortages—and share strategies for building resilient, high-performing teams. Attendees will gain practical insights into how human resources leaders can work effectively with executive teams to navigate change, promote employee well-being, and drive organizational success.
• Strengthen Your Social Media Strategy
  Julia Mann, Senior Manager of Communications and Content Strategy; and Alex Ratcliff, Senior Director of Marketing Communications, Texas Hospital Association, Austin
  Social media is a powerful, cost-effective tool for reaching hard-to-engage audiences — but reaching your audiences effectively with limited time, budget and bandwidth can feel overwhelming. This session will walk you through the building blocks of an impactful and engaging social media presence, including where AI comes into play, how to optimize your content by platform and meet your audience where they are. Designed with hospital industry challenges and stretched communications teams in mind, you’ll leave with practical insights to help you focus your efforts and elevate your impact—no matter your bandwidth.
• Payer Behaviors in Medicare Advantage
  Kathy Reep, Senior Manager, PYA; Martie Ross, Office Managing Principal and Director of PYA Center for Rural Health Advancement, PYA; and Robert Pert, Vice President of Finance, United Regional Health Care System, Wichita Falls
  Medicare Advantage plans are reshaping the health care landscape—often at the expense of hospitals and the communities they serve. This session will uncover the tactics MA plans use that can lead to financial strain and increased rates of uninsured patients. Hospital leaders will gain insights into how these plans operate and explore actionable strategies to counteract their impact.

Noon-1:30 p.m.
Opening General Session and THA Awards Luncheon

1:30-2:30 p.m.
Concurrent Breakout Sessions 

• Federal Update
  John Hawkins, President/CEO; Carrie Kroll, Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy; Anna Stelter, Vice President of Policy, Texas Hospital Association, Austin; and Cameron Krier Massey, J.D., MPH, Federal Lobbyist
  Federal policy continues to influence how hospitals operate and manage finances in Texas. This session will offer a thorough overview of the latest federal updates—including proposed Medicaid funding changes under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” updates to Affordable Care Act enforcement, and more. With possible shifts in reimbursement, coverage, and compliance expectations, attendees will gain the information needed to assess how these changes may affect their hospitals.
  
• Emergency Detention Order Updates
  Kama Harris, Director of Policy and Education, Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health; Marie Alvarez, Chief Executive Director, Acadia Healthcare; and Angela Ott, LMSW, Policy Specialist, Disability Rights Texas
  This panel will give a thorough update on recent legislative changes related to Executive Detention Orders, including the effects of SB 1164, which refines peace officer duties, clarifies detention criteria, and updates documentation standards under the Texas Health and Safety Code. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of the changing EDO landscape and practical advice for compliance, coordination, and compassionate care.
  
• Purpose-Driven Recruitment: The Key to Physician Retention
  Cheyenna Villarreal, Regional Vice President, Business Development, Jackson Physician Search; Tonya Hamlin, Regional Vice President, Recruiting, Jackson Physician Search; and Matt Chance, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Scottish Rite for Children
  Recruiting physicians who will stay and thrive has become a critical challenge for health care organizations. High turnover disrupts patient care and organizational stability, and studies show that early-career physicians are more likely to leave their first position within two years—compared to previous generations who stayed an average of six years. This trend underscores the need for recruitment strategies that go beyond compensation and focus on long-term fit and fulfillment.  Hear from a member hospital and seasoned recruitment professionals how purpose-driven recruitment can lay the foundation for physician retention and foster long-term loyalty.
• Leadership Fellows Capstone Presentations
  The capstone project aims to reinforce the mission and purpose of the Fellows program: to create change agents who drive improvement and innovation and have the confidence to be advocates on behalf of their hospital, community, and the hospital industry. Presenting capstones include: Transforming Behavioral Health Care and Integrated Mobile Medical Program (IMMP): Reducing readmission rates, establishing a reimbursement model
• Medicare Payment Outlook
  Fred Fisher, Vice President, Service Development, Toyon Associates Inc.; and Matt Turner, Ph.D., Senior Director of Quality and Payment, Texas Hospital Association, Austin
  This session will provide attendees an overview of Traditional Medicare payments and the changes on the horizon with Inpatient and Outpatient Prospective Payment Systems. The speakers will also discuss how changes to Texas’s area wage indices could impact hospital reimbursement, including reclassification strategies and rural floor considerations. Attendees will understand how these updates affect financial planning, operational strategies, and the long-term sustainability of hospitals across the state.

2:30-3:15 p.m.
Networking Break

3:15-4:15 p.m.
Concurrent Breakout Sessions

• Outcomes of the 89th Legislative Session
  Carrie Kroll, Senior Vice President Advocacy and Public Policy; Sara González, Vice President Advocacy, Public Policy, and Political Strategy; William Holleman, Vice President Advocacy and Public Policy; and Benjamin Williams, Vice President Advocacy and Public Policy, Texas Hospital Association, Austin
  This discussion will delve into the outcomes and implications of the last legislative session, dissecting key decisions and their impact on health care and hospital policies.
  
• Legal Hot Topics: Medical Staff Issues
  Ashley Todd, J.D., Partner, Husch Blackwell LLP
  This session will explore today’s most pressing medical staff legal challenges. With deep experience representing physicians, physician groups, hospitals, and health systems, Ashley will unpack complex issues surrounding peer review, credentialing, and regulatory compliance. Attendees will learn practical guidance and strategic considerations for hospital leaders navigating the evolving legal landscape of medical staff governance.
  
• Texas Medicaid and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
  Anna Stelter, Vice President, Policy, Texas Hospital Association, Austin
  This session will provide an overview of key updates to Texas Medicaid following the 89th Legislative Session, including updates to rural hospital payment rates and new oversight measures. Stelter will also examine the far-reaching implications of the federal legislation formerly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and explore how these developments will shape Medicaid delivery, funding strategies, and access to care across the state.
  
• AI, Machine Learning and Data Privacy in Health Care
  George Gooch, Sr. Executive Healthcare Advisor, Amazon Web Services, Austin
  As artificial intelligence and machine learning transform healthcare delivery, hospitals face critical decisions about implementation, governance, and data privacy. This session will provide a practical overview of AI/ML applications in healthcare settings, covering recent industry developments, key regulatory updates, and emerging best practices for AI deployment in healthcare environments. The session concludes with a discussion on how these recent developments affect developing AI governance structures.
• Story Power: Your Hospital, Your Voice
  Gerardo Muyshondt, Marketing Senior Director, Driscoll Children’s Hospital; Ashley Paredez, News Anchor, FOX San Antonio; and Leigh Strope, System Director for External Affairs, CHRISTUS Health
  Panel moderated by Carrie Williams, Chief Communications Officer, Texas Hospital Association, Austin
  Unmute your mission and elevate your hospital. This panel is for everyone, particularly those leading as experts, shaping hospital narratives and connecting with communities. Hospitals must take ownership of their story – who they are and why they matter – now more than ever. Whether it’s speaking to your own employees or broadly sharing via modern digital platforms, this panel will teach you how to lean into your own voice and develop compelling hospital narratives for advocacy. Panelists will offer real-world examples, strategies and lessons learned. We’ll cover being “real” vs. polished, and how to break through the noise, improve public perception and build authenticity and trust in an era of misinformation.
  

4:15-5:30 p.m.
Afternoon General Session
Becoming an Idea Factory: How to Turn Yourself (And Your Organization) Into an Innovation Machine
Kyle Scheele, Leadership and Innovation Keynote Speaker
In this engaging session, Kyle will show you how creativity is a skill anyone can develop—with the right tools and mindset. Learn how to inspire better ideas, foster innovation across your team, and avoid common creativity blockers. You’ll walk away with actionable strategies to build a more creative, idea-driven workplace.

5:30-6:30 p.m.
Welcome to San Antonio Reception

Main Conference Day Two (Sept. 24)

8-9 a.m.
Networking Breakfast

8-11:30 a.m.
Registration

9-10 a.m.
Concurrent Breakout Sessions

• Community Benefits and Charity Care
  Debbie Ernsberger, Principal, PYA and Isaac Squyres, Partner, Jarrard
  This session will explore how Texas hospitals can enhance their charity care and community benefit efforts through strategic reporting and effective communication. Attendees will learn organizational best practices for documenting and demonstrating impact, and gain insights into how to better convey the value of their mission-driven work to external audiences. Presenters will also discuss forward-looking strategies to consider ahead of the next Texas legislative session.
  
• Legal Hot Topics
  Steve Wohleb, J.D., Senior Vice President/General Counsel; Heather De La Garza-Barone, J.D., Associate General Counsel; and Nicole Lusardi, J.D., Associate General Counsel, Texas Hospital Association, Austin
  Hospitals face a range of legal issues on a day-to-day basis. This session will review the most pressing legal issues that Texas hospitals have had to address over the past year including updates on recent litigation, federal and state rulemaking, and more. In addition, the panel will discuss key legislation from the 89th Texas Legislative Session with the most impact to Texas hospitals.
• Workforce Development
  
• Rural Behavioral Health Access
  Terry Scoggin, CPA, Chief Financial Officer/Vice President of Finance, Hunt Regional Medical Center, Greenville
  Access to behavioral health services remains a persistent challenge in rural communities across Texas. This session will review the current landscape and barriers to care, including provider shortages, geographic isolation, and limited infrastructure. Attendees will also hear a case study from a member highlighting a successful rural telepsychiatry program that has expanded access and improved outcomes for underserved populations. Hospital leaders attending this session will explore scalable solutions to strengthen behavioral health care delivery in rural areas.

10:15-11:30 a.m.
Closing General Session
The Next Renaissance
Zack Kass, AI Futurist, Speaker, and Former Head of GTM at OpenAI
In the age of Artificial Intelligence, everything is changing, from how we work to how we create. As the former Head of Go To Market for OpenAI, Zack Kass has been at the forefront of AI’s global transformation for over 15 years. In this compelling keynote, Zack offers the potential for game-changing innovation, opportunity, and human potential. Audiences will come away understanding how technology will reshape their industries, organizations, workforce, and lives for the better.