Global learning, local action for every patient

IHF World Hospital Congress

20–22
October
2026

(Welcome reception, workshops, hospital visits, governance on 19 Oct)

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COEX Magok Convention Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea

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Share valuable knowledge

Gain insights from industry leaders and experts and share your good practices.

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Exchange innovative ideas

Collaborate and brainstorm innovative solutions for healthcare challenges.

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Connect with healthcare headers

Network with senior executives and expand your professional network.

About the event

The World Hospital Congress is the premier global forum bringing together leaders and decision-makers from hospitals, health services, and healthcare organizations to exchange knowledge and innovations and explore solutions to the sector’s most pressing challenges.

As the only organization connecting executives of hospitals and health systems worldwide, the International Hospital Federation’s Congress provides a unique opportunity to engage in a 360-degree learning and networking experience with global peers.

First held in 1929 in Atlantic City, USA, the Congress has since travelled across regions and, since 2015, has been organized annually. After 19 years, the Congress will return to South Korea to gather 1700 participants from 80+ countries.

Our co-host:

Korean Hospital Association

Key dates in 2026

Here are the dates to take note of for the upcoming congress.

1st Quarter

  • Sponsorship opportunities available: January
  • Call for Abstracts opens: 6 January
  • Member speaker nominations: 6 January
  • IHF Awards nomination opens: 2 February
  • Innovation Hub submission opens: 2 February
  • Call for Abstracts deadline extended: 13 March
  • Member speaker nomination deadline: 20 March
  • Delegate registration opens: 24 March

2nd Quarter

  • IHF Awards nomination deadline: 24 April
  • Innovation Hub submission deadline: 24 April
  • Abstract results notification: 5 June

3rd Quarter

  • Announcement of IHF Awards finalists: 2 July
  • Early bird registration deadline: 24 July
  • Announcement of selected Hub innovators: 28 August
  • WHC2026 App launch: 21 September

4th Quarter

  • Online registration deadline: 16 October
  • World Hospital Congress: 19–22 October

Register for WHC 2026 in Seoul

Register now

Featured speakers and session chairs

Dr Henry Gallardo

President, International Hospital Federation; Director General, Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá (FSFB), Colombia

Dr Henry Gallardo is Director General of Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá (FSFB), Colombia.

After earning his medical degree he specialized in hospital management and in healthcare administration with an emphasis on social security systems.

Before his current role, Dr Gallardo was the Director of FSFB’s university hospital. He has also worked with Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices & Diagnostics as Health Economics and Reimbursement Director for Latin America and served as Health Director at Fundación Corona.

Dr Gallardo has served on various boards in private companies and is Vice President of the Colombian Hospital Association Board. He is also part of the editorial committee of its journal, Hospitalaria. Throughout his career, Dr Gallardo has lectured on healthcare systems at different universities and has published widely on topics related to the Colombian healthcare sector and its reform.

Dr Gallardo has been a member of the IHF Governing Council since October 2018. He was the IHF Treasurer between February 2022 and October 2023, and was elected as President-Designate in October 2023. He started his mandate as IHF President in November 2025.

Sessions

Opening Ceremony & Keynote

  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 08:30–09:15

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Closing Ceremony

  • 🎧

When: Thursday 22 October | 12:00–13:00

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Dr Kyung-Ha Ryu

President, Korean Hospital Association; President, Ewha Womans University Medical Center, Republic of Korea

Sessions

Opening Ceremony & Keynote

  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 08:30–09:15

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Closing Ceremony

  • 🎧

When: Thursday 22 October | 12:00–13:00

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Dr Natalia Allué

Medical Director, Fundacio Sanitaria Mollet, Spain

Dr. Natalia Allué is a healthcare executive with extensive experience in hospital management, healthcare leadership, and organizational transformation. She is committed to advancing patient-centred, sustainable, and value-based healthcare through innovation, quality improvement, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Her professional interests include healthcare transformation, organizational innovation, quality improvement, digital health, and environmental sustainability. She has led and contributed to initiatives that enhance patient experience, optimize clinical pathways, and promote greener healthcare systems, believing that innovation is most successful when driven by collaboration and a shared commitment to excellence.

Dr. Allué actively participates in international healthcare forums, sharing best practices and learning from professionals across diverse health systems. These experiences have strengthened her expertise in leadership, change management, and building resilient healthcare organizations capable of responding to future challenges.

She is also passionate about mentoring healthcare professionals, fostering collaborative cultures, and supporting the next generation of clinical leaders. Her leadership approach is grounded in empathy, transparency, and continuous improvement, with the aim of creating meaningful and lasting impact for patients, healthcare teams, and the wider community.

Sessions

Plenary session 1: Real-world sustainable care: A patient and workforce journey through the hospital

  • Environmental sustainability
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 09:15–10:30

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Leading transformation: Building the workforce and organizations of the future

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 13:15–14:15

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Dr Marc Boom

President and CEO, Houston Methodist, USA

Marc Boom has served as president and CEO of Houston Methodist since 2012. The health system includes more than 2,700 beds, 35,000 employees, an academic medical center, a leading research institute, seven community hospitals, a continuing care hospital, two physician organizations, and more than 50 graduate medical education programs. Its flagship, Houston Methodist Hospital, has been named a U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll hospital nine times and ranked the No. 1 hospital in Texas for 14 consecutive years.

Houston Methodist is affiliated with Weill Cornell Medical College, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Texas A&M University, and Rice University.

Dr. Boom earned degrees from The University of Texas at Austin, Baylor College of Medicine, and The Wharton School. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he became a national leader in vaccine advocacy and led the first U.S. hospital system to require vaccines for employees and physicians.

Sessions

Plenary session 2: Making AI in healthcare deliver: From hype to real-world impact

  • Digital transformation and AI
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 12:45–14:15

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Mr David Entwistle

President and CEO, Stanford Health Care, USA

David Entwistle is President and CEO of Stanford Health Care (SHC). A recognized thought leader on AI and digital health innovation, hospital quality improvement, and sustainability in health care, David has more than two decades of experience leading top academic health systems. Since joining Stanford Health Care in 2016, he has driven major growth and transformation, strengthening SHC’s reputation as a leader in patient care, innovation, and community impact. Under his leadership, SHC has continued to achieve recognition for quality, safety, and excellence from Vizient, the Leapfrog Group, U.S. News & World Report, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The health system has also been recognized for health information technology innovation from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, and for nursing excellence through the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet program. David serves on the boards of Vizient and Redesign Health; and he is a past board member of the American Hospital Association, the Association of American Medical Colleges Council of Teaching Hospitals and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Prior to joining Stanford Health Care, David served for nine years as CEO of the University of Utah Hospital & Clinics (UUHC).

Sessions

Plenary session 2: Making AI in healthcare deliver: From hype to real-world impact

  • Digital transformation and AI
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 12:45–14:15

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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H.E. Mubaraka Ibrahim

Chief Information Officer and Chief AI Officer, Emirates Health Services, UAE

Her Excellency Mubaraka Ibrahim, CIO & Chief AI Officer of Emirates Health Services has over 30 years of experience in IT driving digital transformation and AI across government entities. She has forged a bold vision for AI in government healthcare – creating a harmonized enterprise foundation that integrates innovation, ethics, scalability, and impact across the emirates.

Under her leadership, EHS has launched network-scale AI governance, widely deployed predictive models and enterprise AI platform and piloted latest technology in hospitals like AI agents, Digital twin etc.

Under her leadership Emirates Health Services has demonstrated how AI can deliver measurable, system-wide transformation across clinical, operational, and public health domains.

HE Mubaraka has led AI governance initiatives, developing the first responsible AI framework for government health entities. She has supporting UAE’s vision of building AI ready workforce by launching more than 10 AI training programs, which are developing AI capabilities at all levels. She launched ‘Masar Al Thakaa’ initiative, which has trained 6700+ government employees in AI skills. She led the development and launch of the Safe AI policy, which ensures that any AI systems implemented in EHS follow a strong governance framework to ensure safety.

Sessions

Plenary session 2: Making AI in healthcare deliver: From hype to real-world impact

  • Digital transformation and AI
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 12:45–14:15

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Mr Irfan Khan

Group CEO, Evercare Group, UAE

Irfan Khan a healthcare leader with more than 25 years of experience shaping high-performance health systems across South Asia and Africa. As Group CEO of Evercare Healthcare Group, he lead a multi-country platform of hospitals and clinics focused on clinical reliability, human-centred care, and system resilience.

His leadership has been shaped by work across emerging markets, where he have seen how strong governance, trusted institutions, and capable health workforces influence community well-being and economic stability. Throughout his career, he have focused on advancing models that improve access, affordability, and quality for growing populations.

At Evercare, he has championed standardised clinical systems, digital enablement, data integrity, and culturally grounded patient experience. He believes healthcare excellence depends not only on clinical outcomes, but also on workforce development, operational discipline, and daily human interactions that build trust.

He is committed to developing leaders who combine ethical clarity, empathy, and execution discipline. Under his leadership, Evercare has strengthened partnerships with governments, investors, global health institutions, and technology partners to expand capacity and build resilience.

His work is driven by responsibility to patients, frontline teams, and the societies we serve, and by a belief in building healthcare institutions that endure over time.

Sessions

Plenary session 3: Reimagining cost and care: Operational strategies for financial sustainability

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Thursday 22 October | 09:00–10:30

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Mr Robert Mardini

CEO, Geneva University Hospital, Switzerland

Since 1 September 2024, Robert Mardini has been serving as CEO of the Geneva University Hospital (HUG), Switzerland’s largest university hospital. A leading institution in healthcare, research, and education, HUG employs more than 13,000 staff and operates with an annual budget of CHF 2.5 billion. In this role, Robert Mardini steers the institution’s strategic direction, working closely with the Board of Directors, political authorities, and key partners within the healthcare system.

Prior to this appointment, he led the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from 2020 to 2024, overseeing humanitarian operations in more than 100 countries and managing a workforce of 20,000.

A graduate in civil and hydraulic engineering from École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), he joined the ICRC in 1997 as an engineer and held several senior leadership positions, including Deputy Director General, Regional Director for the Near and Middle East, and Head of Delegation to the United Nations.

He has received several distinctions, including the EPFL Alumni Award in 2020, and was elected to the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW) in 2021. He is also a member of the Geneva Diplomatic Club, the EPFL Strategic Advisory Board, and serves as Executive in Residence at IMD.

Sessions

Plenary session 1: Real-world sustainable care: A patient and workforce journey through the hospital

  • Environmental sustainability
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 09:15–10:30

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

Find out more

Prof. Dr Henriette Neumeyer

Vice-Chair of the Board, German Hospital Federation; President, European Hospital and Healthcare Federation (HOPE), Germany

Prof. Neumeyer MD, MBA is the Vice-Chair of the Board of the German Hospital Federation and President of the European Hospital and Healthcare Federation (HOPE). She leads the German Hospital Federation’s Department of Political Affairs and Hospital Workforce.

Following her medical studies and a subsequent MBA, she worked as a consultant—primarily in the fields of medical technology and IT development—and holds professorship for Healthcare Management at a University of Applied Sciences.

Sessions

Plenary session 3: Reimagining cost and care: Operational strategies for financial sustainability

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Thursday 22 October | 09:00–10:30

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

Find out more

Dr Paul Quitiquit

Medical Center Chief, Saint Louis University Sacred Heart Medical Center, Philippines

Dr. Paul Adlai B. Quitiquit, MD, FPCS, FACS, FPSGS, MHA is a distinguished surgeon, professor, and hospital executive with over three decades of experience in clinical practice, academic teaching, and healthcare leadership. A Fellow of the Philippine College of Surgeons, the Philippine Society of General Surgeons, and the American College of Surgeons, he has combined surgical excellence with values‑driven governance to advance patient care, education, and sustainability.

Currently serving as Medical Center Chief of Saint Louis University – Sacred Heart Medical Center (SLU‑SHMC), he spearheaded a transformation that positioned the institution as a benchmark for innovation and sustainability. He commissioned a new medical center with world‑class technology, introduced electronic medical records, and launched ESG programs such as the Water is Life Project, solar energy installation, and green space development—achieving a significant reduction of CO₂ emmissions annually.
Under his leadership, SLU‑SHMC earned national and international recognition, including the PHAPI Safe Hospital Grand Champion, the International Hospital Federation Gold Award for Social and Environmental Sustainability, and Department of Tourism accreditation as a Green Hospital for Wellness. Guided by the hospital’s TRULY CARES values, Dr. Quitiquit continues to champion patient‑centered care, academic excellence, and environmental stewardship, inspiring healthcare leaders locally and globally.

Sessions

Plenary session 1: Real-world sustainable care: A patient and workforce journey through the hospital

  • Environmental sustainability
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 09:15–10:30

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

Find out more

Mr Simon Radmore

Executive Director, Strategy & Office of the Chief Executive, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Australia

Simon is an experienced leader in the Australian public health system. Beginning his career as Occupational Therapist, Simon completed a Master of Health Service Management and transitioned to roles in project management and operational management.

In his current role as Executive Director of Strategy & Office of the Chief Executive in the Northern Sydney Local Health District, Simon is responsible for strategic leadership across a broad range of focus areas, including innovation, research, education, partnerships, integration, leadership development, Innovation Precinct development, corporate governance and value-based healthcare.

In 2025 Simon completed a Deeble Scholarship through the Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association (AHHA) and was an International Hospital Federation (IHF) Young Executive Leader (YEL) program participant. Simon is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the School of Population Health at the University of NSW (UNSW), an Associate Fellow, Australasian College of Health Service Management (AFCHSM), and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

Sessions

Plenary session 1: Real-world sustainable care: A patient and workforce journey through the hospital

  • Environmental sustainability
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 09:15–10:30

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

Find out more

Beyond traditional healthcare: Building partnerships for system-wide impact

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 14:30–15:30

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AI-enabled workforce transformation: Supporting clinicians, strengthening care

  • Digital transformation and AI
  • 🎧

When: Thursday 22 October | 10:50–11:50

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Mr Payman Roshan

Senior VP and Area Manager, Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, California, USA

Payman Roshan is the Senior Vice President and Area Manager for Kaiser Permanente Orange County, overseeing two Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and more than 20 medical office buildings serving nearly 600,000 members across Orange County, California. In this role, he leads hospital and ambulatory operations, strategic growth, workforce engagement, financial performance, and the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care.

Payman joined Kaiser Permanente in 2005 as Regional Director of Clinical Technology, leading the management and maintenance of medical equipment throughout Southern California. In 2010, he became Assistant Medical Center Administrator for Support Services at Baldwin Park Medical Center and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2012. He later served as Senior Vice President and Area Manager for Panorama City and Antelope Valley Medical Centers, followed by Downey Medical Center, before assuming leadership of Orange County in 2022.

A passionate advocate for innovation, operational excellence, and continuous improvement, Payman is committed to advancing healthcare delivery through technology, collaboration, and high-performing teams.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Mercer University, an MBA from National University, and completed Kaiser Permanente’s Executive Leadership Program at Harvard University.

Outside of work, Payman enjoys spending time with his wife, Afsaneh, and son, Nicholas.

Sessions

Plenary session 3: Reimagining cost and care: Operational strategies for financial sustainability

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Thursday 22 October | 09:00–10:30

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

Find out more

Ms Sara Siegel

Global Head of Healthcare, Deloitte, UK

Sara is Deloitte’s Global Health Sector Leader and leads the health practice in the UK. This encapsulates the firm’s work with the payor and provider systems both publicly and privately funded.  Sara’s passion for health began when she moved to the UK in 2003 and was first exposed to the NHS.

Sara believes passionately in the mission of the NHS and sees the incredible value that a health service free at the point of need provides to society.  With her teams, she supports the NHS to do more and better with the resources at its disposal.  Some of Sara’s work includes supporting the government on its Coronavirus testing programme, and the introduction of robotic and cognitive automation to improve the speed and quality of NHS services and to release more time for direct patient care. It is the introduction and uptake of new innovative practices either pioneered by individuals or tested first in other health systems around the world that Sara most enjoys working with her NHS clients on.

In her global role, Sara is growing the firm’s presence in implementation of Electronic Health Records, and increasing the presence of AI and Generative AI in the firm’s work. She is also focused on health equity and sustainability and climate.

Sara is a trustee of the Peter Sowerby Foundation which supports healthcare causes and she is a trustee of the Conservation Collective, an environmental charity that promotes local teams working to solve environmental problems.

Sessions

Plenary session 3: Reimagining cost and care: Operational strategies for financial sustainability

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Thursday 22 October | 09:00–10:30

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

Find out more

Dr Karan Thakur

VP - Corporate Affairs & Sustainability, Apollo Hospitals, India

Dr Karan Thakur is the Group Vice President – Corporate Affairs & Sustainability for the Apollo Hospitals Group. He manages the Group’s external engagements including government and industry liaison along with the Healthcare Sustainability & ESG divisions.

He is a seasoned healthcare administrator with two decades of experience in the field of health policy, hospital operations, projects, health communications and healthcare sustainability & ESG.

He is an alumnus of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore and National Law University, New Delhi. He was the 2022 Global Fellow from India for the Eisenhower Fellowships. In 2024 he was awarded the prestigious Chevening Gurukul Fellowship for Leadership and Excellence at the University of Oxford in the UK.

Dr Thakur authored the Handbook of Healthcare Sustainability and ESG, the first of kind book for practitioners and administrators on sustainability and climate and health. In April 2026, he released his second book, The Connected Clinician, which explores how clinicians can harness the power of the digital world to enhance their professional growth.

Sessions

Plenary session 1: Real-world sustainable care: A patient and workforce journey through the hospital

  • Environmental sustainability
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 09:15–10:30

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

Find out more

Mr Frederic Abergel

CEO, Health Standards Organization & Accreditation Canada, Canada

Frédéric Abergel is Chief Executive Officer of Health Standards Organization (HSO) and Accreditation Canada (AC), with more than 25 years of leadership in health systems, quality, and innovation. His career spans Canada and international settings, including Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, giving him a broad perspective on system transformation.

Prior to HSO and AC, he led the CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, where he implemented a population-based care model serving 450,000 residents by integrating acute, primary, mental health, and community services. As CEO of CHUM, he advanced the organization’s global standing through precision medicine, digital modernization, and enhanced patient experience. At Santé Québec, he served as Executive Vice President, Operations and Transformation, overseeing a $37 billion health and social services network serving nine million people.

Frédéric is recognized for collaborative, results-driven leadership that strengthens governance, quality of care, and large-scale transformation. He is committed to improving patient experience and population health through people-centred system design. An Adjunct Clinical Professor at Université de Montréal, he has served on several boards, is bilingual, and holds a Ph.D. in public health, a master’s in health administration, and a bachelor’s in occupational therapy.

Sessions

Shaping stronger health systems: Integration, equity, and organizational culture

  • Human-centred experience
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 16:00–17:00

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Dr Marwan Al Kaabi

CEO, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, UAE

Dr Marwan Al Kaabi is the chief executive officer at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC). With over 20 years of hands-on experience in successfully performing complex operations and leading large teams, Dr Al Kaabi has earned a reputation as an expert in driving operational efficiency, improving customer care and enterprise risk management.

Prior to joining SSMC, Dr Al Kaabi played a pivotal role in safeguarding critical infrastructure and functions as PureHealth’s chief of critical infrastructure management and response.

Dr Al Kaabi served as the chief operations officer at Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), where his visionary leadership steered the organisation through multiple strategic initiatives. Driven by a commitment to advancing healthcare delivery, he brings a wealth of experience, expertise and a proven track record of success to SSMC. Additionally, he is a member of the Advisory Board of the United Arab Emirates University, and has recently joined the Leaders Advisory Board of the Arab Hospitals Federation. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at Khalifa University .

Dr Al Kaabi is a Medical Doctor and holds a Master’s degree in Health Emergency Management from Boston University, United States, and executive certificate in managing healthcare delivery from Harvard Business School.

Mrs Sophie Beaupère

CEO, Unicancer, France

Sophie Beaupère, a hospital director by training, graduated from the École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique (EHESP), Sciences Po Paris, and holds a Master’s degree in Public Management from Paris Dauphine University. Since January 2020, she has served as the General Delegate of Unicancer, the French National Federation of Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CLCCs). In this role, she contributes to the strategic program initiated by the Federation’s President, Professor Jean-Yves Blay, and works to promote the CLCCs’ model of governance, values, and proposals, while also highlighting the many innovations developed within the centers and coordinating their efforts in the fight against cancer. She previously served as Deputy CEO of the Léon Bérard Center in Lyon and Director of Operations and Finance at Gustave Roussy in Villejuif. From 2015 to 2020, she was also Vice President of the Association of Hospital Directors (ADH).

Sessions

Transforming healthcare today: Rethinking care, leadership, and systems

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 13:15–14:15

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Ms Bettina Borisch

CEO, World Federation of Public Health Associations, Switzerland

Dr Borisch’s work bridges the fields of medicine, public health, history and global health governance, reflecting her commitment to improving health outcomes globally. She studied medicine and history in Kiel (Germany) and Lausanne (Switzerland). Her academic career brought her to Universities in Kiel, Würzburg, Bern and Geneva. With an extensive academic and professional background, she holds a medical degree and a doctorate in pathology. Her early career was marked by significant contributions to cancer research, particularly in breast cancer pathology and the biology of Non Hodgkin lymphomas, which earned her international recognition. Over time, her focus shifted towards public health, where she advocated for universal health coverage, health equity, and sustainable health systems. She founded Europa Donna Switzerland and served as president of Europa Donna international.

As a key leader in the WFPHA, Professor Borisch plays a critical role in advocating for public health priorities and fostering collaboration among public health professionals worldwide. She is a vocal advocate for advancing racial equity in women’s health, leveraging her expertise in public health to address systemic disparities affecting marginalised

Mr Noel Cárdenas

Senior VP & CEO, Memorial Hermann Southeast & Pearland Hospitals, USA

Noel J. Cárdenas, FACHE, is senior vice president/CEO of Memorial Hermann Southeast and Pearland Hospitals in Houston and Chair of the ACHE Board of Governors.

Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow, he has held multiple leadership roles within ACHE, including Governor, Regent for the Army, and president of the ACHE–SouthEast Texas Chapter, along with service on several committees.

Before his current role, Mr. Cárdenas was vice president of Operations/COO at Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital from 2015 to 2020. His earlier career includes service in the U.S. Army and Texas National Guard, where he held executive and command positions such as CEO/hospital commander at Reynolds Army Community Hospital; COO at Brooke Army Medical Center; CEO/commander of the 421st Multifunctional Medical Battalion in Germany and Iraq; and COO roles at Evans Army Community Hospital and Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center.

He serves on the boards of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, Pearland Chamber of Commerce, Brazoria County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Texas A&M School of Public Health External Advisory Council.

He holds a Master of Healthcare Administration from Baylor University and a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Texas at Austin.

Sessions

Building strategies that work: Leading through complexity and change

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 11:00–12:00

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Dr Ahmed El-Sobky

Chairman, Egypt Healthcare Authority, Egypt

Dr. Ahmed El-Sobky is a distinguished leader of Healthcare in Egypt. Currently serving as the chairman of the Egypt Healthcare Authority since 2020, he has initiated healthcare sector transformation by adopting the universal health insurance system, aiming to improve the quality of healthcare services and ensure affordability and accessibility. In addition, he contributes effectively to global health as a Member of the UHC2030 Steering Committee and IHF Governing Council.

His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Diagnostic Radiology, Master’s of Clinical Service Operations from Harvard Medical School. Additionally, he obtained an Executive Diploma in Public-Private Partnership in Healthcare from the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management. As well as a Master’s degree in Public Policy and an MBA in Business Administration and Management, Dr. Ahmed El-Sobky brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and strategic capabilities to his roles

Sessions

Advancing value-based care: Reform, leadership, and financial sustainability

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 16:00–17:00

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Prof. Dr Jaroslaw J. Fedorowski

President & CEO, Polish Hospital Federation, Poland

President & CEO – Polish Hospital Federation #PFSz. Treasurer & Member of the Executive Committee of the Governing Council – International Hospital Federation #IHF (Geneva). Governor – European Hospital and Healthcare Federation #HOPE (Brussels)
Medical doctor with international board certifications in cardiology, internal medicine, and managed care. Global healthcare executive, former hospital management company CEO and board member. University professor with strong academic foundation, holding two doctorate degrees, as well as MBA in healthcare administration earned from institutions in Poland and the United States.

His academic affiliations include Zamoyski Academy in Poland (est. 1594) the University of Vermont College of Medicine in the USA (est. 1791) and the University of Split School of Medicine in Croatia. In addition to his international leadership roles, Prof. Fedorowski serves as the Chairman of the Healthcare Poland Foundation, Chairman of the Polish Association of Physician Managers, President of the Polish Association of Managed Care and Vice President of the Association of Innovative Technologies for Health (Poland).
He is a licensed yacht captain and sailing instructor. He is also a drummer at “Kardioband” R&B music group in Poland.

Sessions

Transforming healthcare systems at scale: From vision to real-world impact

  • Human-centred experience
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 13:15–14:15

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Mr Carlos Varela Ferro

COO, Fundació Aspace Catalunya, Spain

Carlos Varela Ferro is a healthcare executive specializing in integrated care, innovation, and service transformation for people with complex disabilities. He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer at Fundació Aspace Catalunya, a leading organization providing health, social, and educational services to individuals with cerebral palsy, complex neurodevelopmental disorders, and multiple neurological disabilities.

With a professional background spanning clinical practice, healthcare management, digital transformation, and research, Carlos has led the development of innovative integrated care models, including the Neurona Project, a person-centered digital platform designed to improve coordination across health and social care services. His work focuses on enhancing quality, efficiency, and sustainability in publicly funded care systems.

Carlos holds degrees and postgraduate qualifications in Physiotherapy, eHealth, Innovation and Digital Transformation, Sport Management, and Healthcare Leadership, including executive programs at ESADE and Georgetown University. He is also actively involved in international healthcare and disability initiatives, serving on committees of the International Hospital Federation and contributing to global discussions on integrated care and healthcare innovation.

His interests include integrated care, digital health, disability services, healthcare leadership, implementation science, and social impact research.

Sessions

Strengthening communities: Driving inclusive, culturally responsive care

  • Human-centred experience
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 14:30–15:30

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Mr Bill Gassen

President and CEO, Sanford Health, USA

Bill Gassen is president and CEO of Sanford Health, an $12.5 billion integrated health system serving communities primarily across the upper Midwest.

Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Sanford Health is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland.

Sanford Health serves over 2 million patients and 415,000 health plan members. The integrated health system has 59 medical centers, 55,000 employees, 4,500 Sanford physicians and advanced practice providers, 500 clinical investigators and research scientists, 145 senior care communities and world clinics in 5 countries around the globe.

In 2025, Gassen was elected as chair-elect designate of the American Hospital Association (AHA) Board of Trustees. In 2027, he will serve as chair of the AHA Board, the top-elected official of the national organization that represents America’s hospitals and health systems and works to advance health care across the country. Gassen has served on the AHA Board of Trustees since 2024.

Sessions

Leading with people in mind: Human-centred solutions for workforce and system challenges

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 14:30–15:30

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Dr Tarang Gianchandani

Group CEO, Healthcare Initiatives; CEO, Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, India

A clinician-turned-strategist, Dr. Tarang Gianchandani blends 25+ years of global experience with a bold vision for the future of healthcare. An alumna of Lady Hardinge Medical College and the National University of Singapore, she trained in Orthopaedics before moving into hospital leadership across Singapore and India.

Her journey spans strategic roles with Singapore’s Ministry of Health, Changi General Hospital, Alexandra Hospital, and leadership of large tertiary care hospitals in India. Today, as CEO of Reliance Foundation Hospital, she leads one of India’s most advanced quaternary care institutions.

A future-forward leader, Dr. Tarang champions digital health, AI-enabled systems, and tech-enabled care models to drive operational excellence, clinical outcomes, and experiences.

She has been honoured with several recognitions, including the Newsweek Top CEO Circle 2025, Excellence in Healthcare Leadership 2026, Best Healthcare CEO of the Year 2026, Women Excellence Award 2025 and Healthcare Impact Person 2024. Yet, what she values most is the trust she has earned from patients and the ability to inspire teams toward a shared purpose.
Rooted in systems thinking, compassionate leadership, and innovation, Dr. Tarang believes the hospitals of tomorrow will be built not just with steel and software, but with purpose, people, and empathy.

Sessions

Embedding AI across healthcare: From workflows to operational transformation

  • Digital transformation and AI
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 16:00–17:00

Find out more

Mr John Haupert

President & CEO, Grady Health System, USA

John Haupert is President and CEO of Grady Health System in Atlanta, GA USA. Haupert began his tenure at Grady in October 2011. Grady Health System is the safety net healthcare system serving Fulton and DeKalb Counties in Georgia. Grady is the primary Level I trauma center and burn center for the Atlanta metropolitan area. In addition, Grady is home to many nationally recognized clinical services including the Marcus Neuroscience and Stroke Center, the Correll Cardiac Center, the Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence, Hughes-Spalding Children’s Hospital and Grady EMS. Grady also serves as the primary training site for the Morehouse and Emory Schools of Medicine.

Haupert is a board-certified Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and recipient of the ACHE Gold Medal. The Gold Medal Award is the highest honor bestowed by the American College of Healthcare Executives on outstanding leaders who have made significant contributions to the healthcare profession.

John is a former Chair of the American Hospital Association Board of Trustees as well as America’s Essential Hospitals and the Georgia Hospital Association. John became the ninth Georgia hospital leader since 1978 to receive the Georgia Hospital Association Gold Honor Award.

Sessions

Fireside discussion: How we lead today, who we need tomorrow

  • Leadership

When: Wednesday 21 October | 14:30–15:30

Find out more

Dr Dini Handayani

CMO, Mayapada HealthCare Group, Indonesia

Dr. Dini Handayani, MARS, FISQua, FIPC is a healthcare executive with over two decades of experience in hospital leadership, healthcare quality improvement, patient safety, and clinical governance. She currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Mayapada Healthcare Group, leading initiatives in clinical excellence, patient-centered care, and the implementation of international healthcare standards.

Dr. Dini graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia and earned her Master of Hospital Administration from Universitas Indonesia. She is a Fellow of the International Society for Quality in Health Care (FISQua) and a Fellow of the Institute of Palliative Medicine (FIPC) through an international fellowship program in collaboration with St Christopher’s Hospice, United Kingdom.

She has held key leadership positions, including Chief Executive Officer of Medistra Hospital and Quality Assurance Director of Awal Bros Hospital Group. She is also an International Surveyor for Joint Commission International (JCI) and a member of the National Patient Safety Committee of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, actively contributing to healthcare quality and patient safety advancement.

Sessions

Nursing leadership: Driving workforce excellence and better patient outcomes

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 10:30–11:30

Find out more

Mr Joseph Hazel

Group CEO, Apex Health, Qatar

Joseph Hazel is a distinguished leader in the healthcare industry with over 30 years of C-suite experience across Africa, Europe, the UK, and the Middle East. In February 2023, he joined Apex Health to spearhead the development of an integrated, collaborative private healthcare group portfolio, focusing on the MENA region. Under his leadership, Apex Health has transformed from a leading private 260-bed hospital in Qatar in 2022 to now operating 8 hospitals across 4 countries. Joseph’s strategic acumen is driving unparalleled growth and innovation, and most recently has been appointed as member of the Advisory Board for the Arab Hospitals Federation. Prior to this, Joseph spent 7 years at Mediclinic Middle East as the COO for Abu Dhabi, where he played a crucial role in elevating healthcare standards and operational excellence. Joseph holds an MSc in Healthcare Economics, Policy, and Management from the London School of Economics, an MBA, and a Diploma in Management from the Open University. He has further honed his expertise with certificates in Managing Healthcare Delivery and Strategy Execution from Harvard Business School, as well as completing director training at the Institute of Directors and leadership training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Sessions

International patients and partnerships: Expanding access and building global capacity

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 09:00–10:00

Find out more

Mr Shane Jackson

President, Jackson Healthcare, USA

Shane Jackson is president of Jackson Healthcare, the trusted authority in healthcare talent and workforce solutions and parent company to many of the healthcare industry’s leading brands that serve over 20 million patients each year. Championing its mission of improving the delivery of patient care and the lives of everyone it touches, he has led the organization through growth that has landed it on the Forbes® list of America’s Top Private Companies; placement on the Fortune® 100 Best Companies to Work For® and Best Workplaces in Health Care™ lists; a spot on the PEOPLE® Companies that Care list; and a decade of Great Place To Work® certification.

Shane is the author of two books – This Is the Thing: About Life, Joy, and Owning Your Purpose, an Amazon best seller – and Fostering Culture: A Leader’s Guide to Purposefully Shaping Culture. He also has written about leadership and workplace culture for Fast Company and Forbes and shares insights on ShaneJackson.com.

Shane also champions Jackson Healthcare’s LoveLifts community impact platform that partners with more than 450 nonprofit organizations annually to make a positive impact in local and global communities. He also serves as vice chair of the leader-led goBeyondProfit business initiative.

Sessions

Shaping resilient healthcare cultures: Empowering workforce and improving outcomes

  • Human-centred experience
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 11:00–12:15

Find out more

Ms Barbara Walczyk Joers

President and CEO, Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, USA

Barbara Walczyk Joers has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare since late 2013, leading one of the nation’s premier pediatric specialty organizations dedicated to children and young adults with complex, rare and traumatic musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. A mission-driven and collaborative leader, she is focused on transforming child health through highly specialized care, inclusive support systems, and improved access for children with disabilities and medical complexity.

With more than 25 years of healthcare experience, Barbara brings deep expertise in strategic performance, organizational transformation, and health policy and advocacy. She has held leadership roles across pediatric and adult care settings, including academic medical centers, community health systems, and independent children’s hospitals. Under her leadership, Gillette Children’s has expanded its reach, modernized facilities and technology, and strengthened its role as a national leader in multidisciplinary care, research integration, and advocacy.

A recognized thought leader, Barbara serves on the Boards of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Medical Alley Association, and the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, and is active in organizations including the American Hospital Association. She holds degrees from Marymount University and The George Washington University and completed the Wharton Corporate Governance certificate.

Sessions

Building strategies that work: Leading through complexity and change

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 11:00–12:00

Find out more

H.E. Mishal Julfar

CEO, Dubai Corporation of Ambulance Services, UAE

H.E. Mishal Abdulkarim Julfar is the Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (DCAS), bringing over 25 years of leadership in emergency medical services. A graduate of Mohammed Bin Rashid Leadership Program, he has guided DCAS to become a global benchmark in pre-hospital ambulance services.

Under his leadership, DCAS significantly enhanced its emergency ambulance response capabilities and operational reach. He played a vital role during the COVID-19 pandemic, representing Dubai Ambulance in the Command and Control Center Committee, helping to shape and implement Dubai’s medical emergency response. He is an active member of both the Event Security Committee and the Dubai Emergency Medicine Strategy Committee, leading the medical planning and coordination for global events such as Expo 2020 and COP28 in collaboration with strategic partners.

Mr. Julfar led Dubai Ambulance’s innovation efforts as head of the Dubai 10X team, positioning the organization at the forefront of future-ready medical response. He is also a graduate of the first batch of Emergency Ambulance Services studies in Dubai, underlining his deep-rooted experience and pioneering role in the field.

DCAS provides five core services: emergency medical services, patient transfers, event coverage, community awareness programs, and professional licensing.

Sessions

Transforming healthcare today: Rethinking care, leadership, and systems

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 13:15–14:15

Find out more

Dr Zeenat Khan

Regional CEO, Aga Khan Health Services, East Africa, Kenya

Dr. Zeenat Khan is the Regional Chief Executive Officer of Aga Khan Health Services in East Africa, overseeing five hospitals and50 outreach centers. She also serves as the AKDN Health System Coordinator for Quality and Patient Safety across East Africa andAsia, and leads the AKU Kampala Campus project.

With over 35 years of healthcare experience, Dr. Khan brings deep expertise in hospital andnursing administration, quality improvement, and patient safety. She has led major hospital planning and construction projects across East Africa, including in Dar es Salaam, Kisumu, Mombasa, and Kampala. Her work spans both academic and non-academic hospital settings, with a strong focus on integrating clinical and non-clinical functions.

Dr. Khan is a Joint Commission International (JCI) Surveyor and serves on multiple hospital boards, including as a Governing Council Member of the International Hospital Federation.

She holds a Doctorate from Johns Hopkins University, a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School, and is a proud alumna of the Aga Khan University School of Nursing. Her global work has provided her with rich insights into diverse healthcare systems and cultural contexts.

Sessions

Innovation where it matters most: Scalable solutions in emerging markets

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 16:00–17:00

Find out more

Ms Margaret Lee

CEO, Alexandra Hospital, Singapore

Margaret is a healthcare leader with three decades of experience, from critical care nurse to CEO of Alexandra Hospital (AH). She leads the hospital’s transformation, blending heritage with innovation whilst advancing compassionate care, workforce wellbeing, and system-wide change across AH and the National University Health System (NUHS).

As AH’s founding Chief Culture Officer, Margaret established the hospital’s identity as a learning, innovative organisation by embedding the WE CARE outward‑mindset culture, strengthening values of psychological safety, empathy, and shared purpose. A certified Outward Mindset facilitator, she has cultivated collaborative leadership and relational trust across NUHS.

As AH’s founding Chief Nurse, she pioneered the Future of Alex Nursing strategy, expanding nursing practice across settings to integrate care seamlessly, while building sustainable capabilities through education, mentorship, and shared governance. She spearheaded AH’s Manpower Optimisation strategy, introducing flexible workforce models and agile practices to enhance resilience.

Deeply committed to patient partnership, Margaret served on the NUHS Patient Advocacy Steering Committee and currently contributes to the PROVE Steering Committee on patient‑reported outcomes. A Harvard Business School Advanced Management Programme alumna and Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality, she has been honoured with the President’s Award for Nurses and multiple Public Administration Medals.

Sessions

Leading with people in mind: Human-centred solutions for workforce and system challenges

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 14:30–15:30

Find out more

Dr Susan Moffatt-Bruce

President, Beth Israel Lahey Health - Lahey Clinic, USA

Dr Susan D. Moffatt-Bruce, MD, FRCSC, PhD, MBA, MBOE, FACS, is Divisional President, Beth Israel Lahey Health, and President of Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, responsible for leading all operational aspects of the academic medical center regarded for its clinic model of care. In 2024, she led the launch of the UMass Chan-Lahey Regional Medical School campus in Burlington, furthering Lahey’s advancement as a learning health system.

Prior to Joining Lahey in 2023, Dr. Moffatt-Bruce served as Chief Executive Officer of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and Royal College International and was a faculty member and professor at the University of Ottawa. Previously, she served as executive director at The Ohio State University (OSU) Wexner Medical Center.

Dr Moffatt-Bruce was honored with the American Medical Association Women Physicians Section Inspiration Award in 2023, was named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s Women Hospital Presidents and CEOs to Know for both 2024 and 2025 and was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts in 2024 and 2025. Recently she has been honored as one of the Boston Business Journal’s 2025 Icon Award recipients as part of the Women Who Mean Business program.

Sessions

Embedding AI across healthcare: From workflows to operational transformation

  • Digital transformation and AI
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 16:00–17:00

Find out more

Dr Dominique Savio Mugenzi

Chairman, Rwanda Private Medical Facilities Association - RPMFA, Rwanda

Dr. Dominique Savio Mugenzi is a Senior Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon, entrepreneur, and health systems leader in Rwanda. He is the Owner and Managing Director of Ejo Heza Surgical Centre, a Specialized Hospital founded in 2016 as Rwanda’s first private surgical facility. Under his leadership, Ejo Heza has grown into a center of excellence providing high-quality surgical care in partnership with the Ministry of Health, insurers, and international organizations including Smile Train.

Dr. Mugenzi also serves as Chairperson of the Rwanda Private Medical Facilities Association, where he promotes collaboration, quality standards, and public-private engagement in healthcare delivery.

Before establishing Ejo Heza Surgical Centre, Dr. Mugenzi worked for 18 years at Kigali University Teaching Hospital, gaining extensive clinical and academic experience in orthopedic surgery. His career reflects a commitment to expanding access to safe, timely, and excellent surgical services in Rwanda and in the region.

Sessions

Innovation where it matters most: Scalable solutions in emerging markets

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 16:00–17:00

Find out more

Dr Prem Kumar Nair

Group CEO, IHH Healthcare Group, Singapore

Dr Prem Kumar Nair was appointed Group CEO of IHH Healthcare on 1 October 2023, where he leads a team of 76,000 employees to realise IHH’s vision to be the world’s most trusted healthcare services network.

Dr Nair sets the strategic direction for the sustainable growth of IHH’s global network which today comprises 190 healthcare facilities, including 89 hospitals, in 10 countries. Guided by its Care. For Good. aspiration, Dr Nair continues to build on the IHH portfolio of reputable brands including Acibadem, Gleneagles, Fortis, Island, Mount Elizabeth, Pantai, Parkway and Prince Court- to touch lives and transform care globally.

Before his role as Group CEO, he served as CEO of IHH Singapore since 2020, where he played a pivotal role in strategic growth and international outreach. Prior to that, Dr Nair was with Raffles Medical Group for 27 years, where he held concurrent roles as Chief Corporate Officer, and Managing Director for Singapore Healthcare.

He is also a Justice of the Peace and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore’s Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. Dr Nair also serves as a Member of the Board of Governors for Sidra Medicine (Qatar).

Sessions

Fireside discussion: How we lead today, who we need tomorrow

  • Leadership

When: Wednesday 21 October | 14:30–15:30

Find out more

Mr Miguel Paiva

Chairman of the Board of Directors, Local Health Unit (ULS) of São José, Portugal

Miguel Paiva holds a degree in Economics from the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto. He completed the coursework component of the Master’s in Health Services Management at ISCTE and a postgraduate degree in Hospital Management and Administration at Universidade Portucalense. He also completed the National Defence Auditors Course 2018/2019 at the Institute for National Defence (IDN), and has extensive additional training in the fields of economics and management, particularly in healthcare.He is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Local Health Unit (ULS) of São José, based in Lisbon, one of the largest in the country. Prior to this, he served as Chairman of the ULS Entre o Douro e Vouga, an entity within the National Health Service responsible for managing the hospitals of S. Sebastião (Santa Maria da Feira), S. João da Madeira, S. Miguel (Oliveira de Azeméis), and Francisco Zagalo (Ovar), as well as primary healthcare units across the municipalities of Santa Maria da Feira, Oliveira de Azeméis, Ovar, Arouca, Vale de Cambra, and S. João da Madeira. He has also held senior leadership positions in other organizations within the Ministry of Health, as well as in a private healthcare unit.

Sessions

Advancing value-based care: Reform, leadership, and financial sustainability

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 16:00–17:00

Find out more

Dr Jonathan Perlin

President and CEO, Joint Commission, USA

Jonathan B. Perlin, MD, PhD, is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Commission enterprise, which includes Joint Commission, Joint Commission International (JCI), and the National Quality Forum (NQF). Previously, as President, Clinical Operations, and Chief Medical Officer, HCA Healthcare, Dr. Perlin led clinicians, data scientists and researchers in developing a learning health system model for improving care across 189 hospitals. His team’s work achieved national recognition for preventing elective pre-term deliveries, reducing maternal mortality, increasing sepsis survival, and developing public-private-academic partnerships for improving infection prevention and treating COVID-19. Before HCA, Dr. Perlin was Under Secretary for Health in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). He led VA to national prominence for the first national electronic health record and benchmark clinical performance. An elected member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), he has co-chaired initiatives on digital health, combatting opioids and sustainable healthcare. He has served on numerous boards and commissions (including MedPAC and the CBO Panel of Health Advisors) and holds faculty appointments at Vanderbilt University as a Clinical Professor of Health Policy and at Virginia Commonwealth University as an Adjunct Professor of Health Administration.

Sessions

Shaping resilient healthcare cultures: Empowering workforce and improving outcomes

  • Human-centred experience
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 11:00–12:15

Find out more

Dr Howard Podolsky

CEO, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Howard S. Podolsky is a distinguished physician executive with over 25 years of leadership experience across healthcare management, clinical practice, and health law. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from the State University of New York at Buffalo, his Juris Doctor as a dean’s scholar from Saint Louis University School of Law, and his MBA from Washington University’s Olin School of Business.

As Chief Executive Officer of Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH), Dr. Podolsky oversees one of the most prominent healthcare joint ventures in the world, driving excellence in clinical outcomes, operational performance, and patient experience. His career spans senior leadership roles, including Group CEO of HC1/Cambridge Medical and Rehabilitation Centers (Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates), Group Chief of Staff at Abu Dhabi Health Services, and executive roles in the United States, including Vice President of Medical Underwriting for American General Life Companies. Dr. Podolsky pioneered the development of the first physician-led ACO in the United States. He also serves as chairman of The Cabin, the leading provider of addiction medicine rehabilitation in Southeast Asia. Dr. Podolsky continues to advance healthcare transformation, strengthen organizational performance, and deliver sustainable value to patients, providers, and stakeholders worldwide.

Sessions

Beyond traditional healthcare: Building partnerships for system-wide impact

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 14:30–15:30

Find out more

Adj. Prof. Mark Puhaindran

Chairman Medical Board, National University Hospital, Singapore

Adj. Prof Mark Puhaindran graduated from the National University of Singapore, and did his specialty training in Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery at the National University Hospital, leading to his specialist accreditation in Hand Surgery. Following this, he was awarded the Health Manpower Development (HMDP) Award and did a fellowship in Musculoskeletal Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New York, USA. Adj Prof Puhaindran was Head of the Department of Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery from 2021 to 2024 and took over as Chairman of the Medical Board at the end of 2024.

Sessions

Advancing value-based care: Reform, leadership, and financial sustainability

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 16:00–17:00

Find out more

Mr Patrick Runnels

CMO, Veale Healthcare Transformation Institute, USA

Patrick Runnels is a nationally recognized physician leader and psychiatrist whose career has focused on guiding transformation within healthcare systems large and small to maximize value while improving access and outcomes for the most vulnerable and complex patients. He currently serves as Chief Medical Officer for the Veale Healthcare Transformation Institute and holds the Ann S. and Anthony J. Asher Chair in Community Health at University Hospitals Health Systems in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to that he served as Chief Medical Officer of Population Health, during which time University Hospitals ranked among the most successful Accountable Care Organizations in the country, generating nearly $200 million dollars in shared savings. He is currently Co-Principal Investigator for a John Templeton Foundation grant to study and disseminate frameworks for transformational leadership in healthcare.

Dr Runnels is a Professor of Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He attended medical school at the University of Missouri, Columbia, completing General Psychiatry Residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, and the Public Psychiatry Fellowship at Columbia University. He also completed his Executive MBA at Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management.

Sessions

Transforming healthcare today: Rethinking care, leadership, and systems

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 13:15–14:15

Find out more

Dr Emmanuel Rupert

Managing Director and Group CEO, Narayana Hrudayalaya Ltd., India

Dr Emmanuel Rupert is the Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of Narayana Health since 2019. A graduate of Banaras Hindu University, he joined Narayana Health in 2000 as Chief Consultant in Anaesthesia and Director of Academic Services. Over the years, he has served in several roles including clinician, medical administrator, and Group Medical Director before assuming his current leadership position.

Dr Rupert is widely recognized for transforming clinical expertise into strategic healthcare leadership. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his leadership strengthened clinical capacity, improved cost management, and streamlined operations, enabling the organization to recover quickly and sustain growth.

He has overseen multiple greenfield and brownfield expansions while guiding Narayana Health into a new era of healthcare innovation. A strong advocate of technology-driven healthcare, he is leading initiatives to integrate data analytics, artificial intelligence, and Iot to build a digitally enabled healthcare ecosystem.

Under his leadership, Narayana Health achieved enterprise-level accreditation from Joint Commission International, reinforcing its commitment to quality, patient safety, and clinical excellence across its healthcare network.

Sessions

Leading AI in healthcare: Governance, trust, and system-wide integration

  • Digital transformation and AI
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 13:15–14:15

Find out more

Mr Serene Samuel

COO, Almora General Hospital, Philippines

Serene Samuel is the Chief Operating Officer of Almora General Hospital in the Philippines. With more than 20 years of leadership experience across healthcare, technology, telecommunications, media, services, and FMCG, he brings a cross-sector perspective to building purpose-driven and sustainable organizations.

Before assuming the COO role in 2025, he served as a management consultant supporting AGH’s organizational and human capital development. He led the creation of the hospital’s structured Nurse Training Program, integrating values formation, clinical competency, mentorship, leadership development, and global readiness. This replicable initiative has contributed to measurable improvements in workforce and clinical outcomes.

His work focuses on value-based healthcare, organizational culture, workforce resilience, and the development of future-ready healthcare leaders. He is particularly interested in translating leadership strategy into measurable operational outcomes that are sustainable and scalable. His work has been featured by Hospital Management Asia and presented as a Lightning Talk at the 48th IHF World Hospital Congress in Geneva in 2025. He currently serves as a reviewer for the IHF i-to-i Innovation Hub.

His initiatives demonstrate an ongoing commitment to strengthening sustainable human capital systems and developing the next generation of healthcare leaders.

Sessions

Financial sustainability: Building through value, workforce, and operational transformation

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Thursday 22 October | 10:50–11:50

Find out more

Dr Olga Schiopu

CEO, Medpark International Hospital, Moldova

Olga Schiopu is a physician and healthcare executive with more than 15 years of leadership experience in hospital management. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Medpark International Hospital, Moldova’s first and largest multidisciplinary private hospital. Beginning her career at Medpark as a neurologist, she advanced through clinical and executive leadership roles, including Medical Director, before becoming CEO.

Under her leadership, Medpark has strengthened its position through international quality standards, digital transformation, sustainability initiatives, and regional healthcare partnerships. Beyond her role at Medpark, Olga actively contributes to the development of Moldova’s healthcare system through professional associations, public-private dialogue, and policy discussions focused on quality of care, patient safety, healthcare financing, workforce development, and innovation. She is also an active participant in European healthcare management forums, advocating for patient-centered care, collaboration, and sustainable healthcare transformation.

Sessions

Turning data into action: Leadership, measurement, and performance improvement

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 14:30–15:30

Find out more

Mr Christian Schuhmacher

Executive Chairman of the Board, Emirates Hospitals Group, UAE

Christian Schuhmacher is a seasoned healthcare executive and board director with over 20 years of international experience in healthcare investments, management, and strategy. As the Founder and Managing Director of Swissglobal Advisory, he provides strategic advisory services to healthcare investors and organizations across the Middle East, Europe, and beyond.

Christian holds multiple board positions, including Executive Chairman of Emirates Hospital Group Dubai Board, Non-Executive Board Member at VAMED Switzerland and smc Hospital Group in Saudi Arabia, and Non-Executive Director at Awali Hospital in Bahrain. Previously, as Managing Director at VAMED, he played a key role in expanding the international footprint of the healthcare service vertical across the Middle East, South-East Asia, and Africa. His expertise includes healthcare management, turnarounds, and growth strategies, as well as operational transformation and clinical strategy. He has successfully led major healthcare institutions, including King’s College Hospital London in Dubai and Mediclinic City Hospital Dubai, driving sustainable growth and innovation.
With a Master of Law from the University of Basel and an Executive MBA from the University of St. Gallen, Christian combines legal, financial, and operational acumen to drive sustainable growth in the healthcare sector.

Sessions

Strengthening health system performance: The role of private healthcare

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 16:00–17:00

Find out more

Dr Klaus Schuster

Group CEO, Vitrea, Austria

Klaus Schuster asserts that the synergy between private-sector innovation and clinical excellence is fundamental to a thriving global health ecosystem. As Group CEO of VITREA Group, he leads one of Europe’s premier specialized rehabilitation providers. Under his leadership, VITREA operates over 80 facilities across the DACH region, where a dedicated team of 14,000 employees care for more than 220,000 patients annually.

A trained physician specializing in internal medicine and nephrology, Klaus brings nearly 30 years of healthcare expertise to the global stage. He uniquely bridges the gap between deep clinical knowledge and strategic operational leadership. His session, “Private Healthcare’s Unique Contribution to a Successful Healthcare Sector,” draws on his experience leading VITREA’s landmark 2024 transition into an independent, high-growth healthcare enterprise backed by PAI Partners and Fresenius. He has since accelerated the group’s expansion via the 2025 acquisition of the Paracelsus group and a fundamental restructuring of the organization’s leadership and digital infrastructure.

Drawing on leadership roles at Roche and CARIS Life Sciences, Klaus champions standardized processes and digitalization to deliver scalable, high-quality clinical care. He is currently driving VITREA’s ambitious “Strategy 2030+” to establish the organization as Europe’s preeminent rehabilitation provider through innovation and disciplined, strategic growth.

Sessions

Strengthening health system performance: The role of private healthcare

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 16:00–17:00

Find out more

Prof. Anupam Sibal

Group Medical Director, Apollo Hospitals Group, India

Prof. Anupam Sibal (MD, FIMSA, FIAP, FRCP (Glasg), FRCP (Lon), FRCPCH, FAAP) is the Group Medical Director of Apollo Hospitals Group, India’s largest healthcare provider with 75 hospitals and 300 clinics.

Prof Sibal established the division of pediatric gastroenterology and hepatology in 1997 at Apollo Hospital, Delhi. He helped set up the first successful pediatric liver transplant program in India at Apollo Delhi in 1998. The Apollo Hospitals have performed more than 5000 liver transplants, of which 645 are pediatric.

Prof. Sibal served as the President of Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO) from 2020 – 2022. The organization aims is to bring together 1.4 million physicians of Indian origin in the world on one professional platform from 57 countries.

Prof Sibal is on the Editorial Board of 3 Journals and has 171 publications. He has edited a Textbook of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.
His book on parenting, “Is Your Child Ready to face the World?” is a national best seller. He comments regularly in the print and electronic media on healthcare, pediatrics, leadership and parenting.

Sessions

Transforming healthcare today: Rethinking care, leadership, and systems

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 13:15–14:15

Find out more

Dr Cardinale Smith

CMO, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA

Cardinale B. Smith, MD, PhD, FASCO is the Chief Medical Officer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where she provides executive leadership for quality and safety, medical staff affairs, patient experience, regulatory readiness, and enterprise clinical operations. She is a board-certified medical oncologist and palliative care physician whose clinical expertise focuses on thoracic oncology and serious illness care.

A nationally recognized physician-scientist and health services researcher, Dr. Smith’s work centers on improving the quality and equity of cancer care delivery, with particular emphasis on health disparities, serious illness communication, implicit bias, and patient-clinician communication. Her research has been supported by the NIH, the American Cancer Society, and multiple foundations, and she currently serves as principal investigator on several grants focused on equitable models of cancer care delivery and interventions to improve outcomes for historically marginalized populations. Dr. Smith has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and is widely recognized for her leadership in healthcare quality, patient-centered care, and high-reliability organizational strategy. In 2026, she was named one of the hospital and health system Chief Medical Officers to know by Becker’s Hospital Review.

Sessions

Improving clinical outcomes: The role of standards and patient-centred tools

  • Clinical Models QPS
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 16:00–17:00

Find out more

Dr Adrian Stanley, PhD FRCP SFHEA

Chief Academic Officer, Mediclinic Middle East, UAE

Adrian Stanley graduated from Southampton University, UK and completed his early clinical training in Southampton, London and Leicester. He was a British Heart Foundation Junior Fellow before completing his academic and clinical training as a Clinical Lecturer in Medicine. His research interests were focused on vascular biology and clinical hypertension, before developing an interest in medical education.

He achieved his CCST in general internal medicine and clinical pharmacology in 2005.
From 2005 to 2018, he was a consultant physician, medical educator and researcher in Leicester. For the final 6 years, he was the Director for the undergraduate MBChB Clinical Clerkships.

From 2019, Adrian has been in Dubai. Until recently, he was the Clerkship Director at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, where he led the introduction of the clinical clerkship curriculum and assessment. Since February 2024, he has been the Chief Academic Officer at Mediclinic Middle East.

Sessions

Redesigning patient experience: Insights, innovation, and human-centred care

  • Human-centred experience
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 09:00–10:00

Find out more

Adj. Prof. Kong Choong Tang

CEO, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore

Adj. Prof Tang is the CEO of TTSH – the flagship hospital of NHG Health. With more than 2000 beds on HealthCity Novena Campus, TTSH serves the tertiary healthcare needs of 1.5 million residents in Central-North, Singapore as part of the regional health system helmed by NHG Health.

As CEO, Adj. Prof Tang drives the hospital’s long term plan (TTSH 2030) to achieve excellence in Tertiary Care and Academic Health, enabled through digital and workforce transformation and also redevelopment of the campus, as part of Phase 2 of the HealthCity Novena Masterplan.

Adj. Prof Tang also brings with him a wealth of experience managing people and systems, from his career in the Singapore Armed Forces where he last served as a Brigadier General, holding the appointment of Chief of Medical Corps from 2015-2019.

Sessions

Plenary session 3: Reimagining cost and care: Operational strategies for financial sustainability

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Thursday 22 October | 09:00–10:30

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Dr Michael Ugwueke

President and CEO, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, USA

Michael O. Ugwueke, DHA, FACHE, is president and CEO of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Memphis, Tennessee, and Chair-Elect of the ACHE Board of Governors.

Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow, he has held multiple leadership roles within ACHE, including Governor, Regent-at-Large for District 4, and as a member of multiple committees.

Dr. Ugwueke joined Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in 2007 as system senior vice president/CEO of Methodist South Hospital. He went on to lead both Methodist North and South Hospitals, served as president/COO from 2013 to 2017, and became CEO in 2017. Earlier in his career, he held leadership positions with Provena Health, MedStar Health, and Sarasota Memorial Hospital, focusing on operations, strategy, and planning.

He serves on the boards of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the National Civil Rights Museum, and the American Hospital Association, and is immediate past chair of the Tennessee Hospital Association.

Dr. Ugwueke has received numerous honors, including ACHE’s Distinguished Service Award and recognition among Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Minority Executives. He holds a doctorate from the Medical University of South Carolina, a Master of Healthcare Administration from Emory University, and a bachelor’s degree from Shaw University.

Sessions

ACHE–IHF Global CEO–COO Boot Camp

  • Sign-up required
  • Leadership

When: Monday 19 October | 08:30–15:30

Location: 401AB, 4th floor

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Transforming healthcare systems at scale: From vision to real-world impact

  • Human-centred experience
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 13:15–14:15

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Dr Jacco Vroegop

CEO, Horacio Oduber Hospital, Aruba

Graduated in healthcare and politics. As an energetic leader skilled in building bridges, change-, and healthcare management. Experienced board director with a demonstrated history of working in the international hospital & private health care industry. Since 2020 CEO of the Horacio Oduber Hospital of Aruba. And since 2025 governing council member of the International Hospital Federation (IHF).

Sessions

Shaping resilient healthcare cultures: Empowering workforce and improving outcomes

  • Human-centred experience
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 11:00–12:15

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Ms Juliette Waterhouse

CEO, Hong Anh Hospital, Vietnam

Juliette is the Executive Chair and CEO of Hong Anh Healthcare Group, where she is building a fully integrated healthcare ecosystem in Ho Chi Minh City and across southern Vietnam. The system encompasses GP clinics and pharmacies; homecare services; nursing homes; step-down facilities; a wellness and rehabilitation centre; a training, research and innovation hub; and a world-class hospital being designed to deliver international standards of medical excellence to Vietnam.

This healthcare ecosystem is being developed through the capital investment of Real Capital London, a UK-based single family office where Juliette is the Principal. She focuses on investments that generate sustainable financial returns while delivering meaningful social impact. Driven by a deep commitment to improving healthcare accessibility, Juliette invests in transformative healthcare and medical education initiatives across Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

In addition to her professional work, she is a passionate art collector and serves as the founder of the Hong Anh Foundation, a charity dedicated to fighting incurable diseases, advancing education, and supporting communities in deprived and disaster-affected areas of Vietnam, particularly those impacted by typhoons and floods.

Sessions

Strengthening health system performance: The role of private healthcare

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 16:00–17:00

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Dr Charles Wiener

President, Johns Hopkins Medicine International, USA

Charles Wiener, M.D. is President of Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHMI) and Professor of Medicine and Physiology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Dr Wiener oversees Johns Hopkins Medicine’s international enterprises, developing sustainable, innovative collaborations that raise the standard of health care around the world and providing personalized care for diverse populations. JHMI serves as global ambassador of the Hopkins Medicine mission, leveraging its’extensive knowledge base in medicine, nursing, public health, medical education, research and health care administration to deliver medicine across the globe.

At Johns Hopkins he has won multiple teaching and mentorship awards, and was the Chair of the committee that created the School of Medicine Genes to Society curriculum. Dr. Wiener has authored the last five editions of the Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine Self-Assessment and Board Review, and is the co-host of Harrison’s PodClass.

He is a graduate of Duke University and the University of Miami School of Medicine. He completed Internal Medicine residency at the University of Washington, Research Fellowship at Hammersmith Hospital, and Pulmonary/Critical Care fellowship at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Wiener continues to practice clinically in the Johns Hopkins Hospital Medical Intensive Care Unit.

Sessions

Beyond traditional healthcare: Building partnerships for system-wide impact

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 14:30–15:30

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Ms Soo Min Wong

Group Chief Financial Officer, National University Health System, Singapore

As Group Chief Financial Officer of the National University Health System (NUHS), Ms Wong Soo Min leads the development of the financial and business strategies, while ensuring effective internal controls and ongoing financial sustainability of NUHS. She also oversees the Enterprise Risk Management, working closely with the institutions to ensure that they have the robust framework in place.

As the Corporate Office Chief of Staff, she assists the Chief Executive in shaping strategies and leading the integration efforts of NUHS. Ms Wong has held senior leadership positions in both Finance and Operations in technology multinationals like Hewlett Packard Inc, Micron Technology Inc and an Intel-Micron Joint Venture, with experience encompassing business partnership and analytics, development and implementation of transformation initiatives, mergers & acquisitions, start-up operations, supply chain, quality and partners’ management. She has extensive experience in finance where she led worldwide teams in facilitating the transparency of financial performance across institutions, working with senior leaders and key stakeholders to drive improved performance and ensuring that business decisions are grounded in sound analysis with the appropriate accountability.

Ms Wong holds a Bachelor of Accountancy degree from the National University of Singapore and is a Chartered Accountant of Singapore.

Sessions

Transforming healthcare systems at scale: From vision to real-world impact

  • Human-centred experience
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 13:15–14:15

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Dr Henry Gallardo

President, International Hospital Federation; Director General, Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá (FSFB), Colombia

Dr Henry Gallardo is Director General of Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá (FSFB), Colombia.

After earning his medical degree he specialized in hospital management and in healthcare administration with an emphasis on social security systems.

Before his current role, Dr Gallardo was the Director of FSFB’s university hospital. He has also worked with Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices & Diagnostics as Health Economics and Reimbursement Director for Latin America and served as Health Director at Fundación Corona.

Dr Gallardo has served on various boards in private companies and is Vice President of the Colombian Hospital Association Board. He is also part of the editorial committee of its journal, Hospitalaria. Throughout his career, Dr Gallardo has lectured on healthcare systems at different universities and has published widely on topics related to the Colombian healthcare sector and its reform.

Dr Gallardo has been a member of the IHF Governing Council since October 2018. He was the IHF Treasurer between February 2022 and October 2023, and was elected as President-Designate in October 2023. He started his mandate as IHF President in November 2025.

Sessions

Opening Ceremony & Keynote

  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 08:30–09:15

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Closing Ceremony

  • 🎧

When: Thursday 22 October | 12:00–13:00

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Dr Kyung-Ha Ryu

President, Korean Hospital Association; President, Ewha Womans University Medical Center, Republic of Korea

Sessions

Opening Ceremony & Keynote

  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 08:30–09:15

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Closing Ceremony

  • 🎧

When: Thursday 22 October | 12:00–13:00

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Dr Natalia Allué

Medical Director, Fundacio Sanitaria Mollet, Spain

Dr. Natalia Allué is a healthcare executive with extensive experience in hospital management, healthcare leadership, and organizational transformation. She is committed to advancing patient-centred, sustainable, and value-based healthcare through innovation, quality improvement, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Her professional interests include healthcare transformation, organizational innovation, quality improvement, digital health, and environmental sustainability. She has led and contributed to initiatives that enhance patient experience, optimize clinical pathways, and promote greener healthcare systems, believing that innovation is most successful when driven by collaboration and a shared commitment to excellence.

Dr. Allué actively participates in international healthcare forums, sharing best practices and learning from professionals across diverse health systems. These experiences have strengthened her expertise in leadership, change management, and building resilient healthcare organizations capable of responding to future challenges.

She is also passionate about mentoring healthcare professionals, fostering collaborative cultures, and supporting the next generation of clinical leaders. Her leadership approach is grounded in empathy, transparency, and continuous improvement, with the aim of creating meaningful and lasting impact for patients, healthcare teams, and the wider community.

Sessions

Plenary session 1: Real-world sustainable care: A patient and workforce journey through the hospital

  • Environmental sustainability
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 09:15–10:30

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Leading transformation: Building the workforce and organizations of the future

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 13:15–14:15

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Dr Marc Boom

President and CEO, Houston Methodist, USA

Marc Boom has served as president and CEO of Houston Methodist since 2012. The health system includes more than 2,700 beds, 35,000 employees, an academic medical center, a leading research institute, seven community hospitals, a continuing care hospital, two physician organizations, and more than 50 graduate medical education programs. Its flagship, Houston Methodist Hospital, has been named a U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll hospital nine times and ranked the No. 1 hospital in Texas for 14 consecutive years.

Houston Methodist is affiliated with Weill Cornell Medical College, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Texas A&M University, and Rice University.

Dr. Boom earned degrees from The University of Texas at Austin, Baylor College of Medicine, and The Wharton School. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he became a national leader in vaccine advocacy and led the first U.S. hospital system to require vaccines for employees and physicians.

Sessions

Plenary session 2: Making AI in healthcare deliver: From hype to real-world impact

  • Digital transformation and AI
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 12:45–14:15

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Mr David Entwistle

President and CEO, Stanford Health Care, USA

David Entwistle is President and CEO of Stanford Health Care (SHC). A recognized thought leader on AI and digital health innovation, hospital quality improvement, and sustainability in health care, David has more than two decades of experience leading top academic health systems. Since joining Stanford Health Care in 2016, he has driven major growth and transformation, strengthening SHC’s reputation as a leader in patient care, innovation, and community impact. Under his leadership, SHC has continued to achieve recognition for quality, safety, and excellence from Vizient, the Leapfrog Group, U.S. News & World Report, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The health system has also been recognized for health information technology innovation from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, and for nursing excellence through the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet program. David serves on the boards of Vizient and Redesign Health; and he is a past board member of the American Hospital Association, the Association of American Medical Colleges Council of Teaching Hospitals and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Prior to joining Stanford Health Care, David served for nine years as CEO of the University of Utah Hospital & Clinics (UUHC).

Sessions

Plenary session 2: Making AI in healthcare deliver: From hype to real-world impact

  • Digital transformation and AI
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 12:45–14:15

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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H.E. Mubaraka Ibrahim

Chief Information Officer and Chief AI Officer, Emirates Health Services, UAE

Her Excellency Mubaraka Ibrahim, CIO & Chief AI Officer of Emirates Health Services has over 30 years of experience in IT driving digital transformation and AI across government entities. She has forged a bold vision for AI in government healthcare – creating a harmonized enterprise foundation that integrates innovation, ethics, scalability, and impact across the emirates.

Under her leadership, EHS has launched network-scale AI governance, widely deployed predictive models and enterprise AI platform and piloted latest technology in hospitals like AI agents, Digital twin etc.

Under her leadership Emirates Health Services has demonstrated how AI can deliver measurable, system-wide transformation across clinical, operational, and public health domains.

HE Mubaraka has led AI governance initiatives, developing the first responsible AI framework for government health entities. She has supporting UAE’s vision of building AI ready workforce by launching more than 10 AI training programs, which are developing AI capabilities at all levels. She launched ‘Masar Al Thakaa’ initiative, which has trained 6700+ government employees in AI skills. She led the development and launch of the Safe AI policy, which ensures that any AI systems implemented in EHS follow a strong governance framework to ensure safety.

Sessions

Plenary session 2: Making AI in healthcare deliver: From hype to real-world impact

  • Digital transformation and AI
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 12:45–14:15

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Mr Irfan Khan

Group CEO, Evercare Group, UAE

Irfan Khan a healthcare leader with more than 25 years of experience shaping high-performance health systems across South Asia and Africa. As Group CEO of Evercare Healthcare Group, he lead a multi-country platform of hospitals and clinics focused on clinical reliability, human-centred care, and system resilience.

His leadership has been shaped by work across emerging markets, where he have seen how strong governance, trusted institutions, and capable health workforces influence community well-being and economic stability. Throughout his career, he have focused on advancing models that improve access, affordability, and quality for growing populations.

At Evercare, he has championed standardised clinical systems, digital enablement, data integrity, and culturally grounded patient experience. He believes healthcare excellence depends not only on clinical outcomes, but also on workforce development, operational discipline, and daily human interactions that build trust.

He is committed to developing leaders who combine ethical clarity, empathy, and execution discipline. Under his leadership, Evercare has strengthened partnerships with governments, investors, global health institutions, and technology partners to expand capacity and build resilience.

His work is driven by responsibility to patients, frontline teams, and the societies we serve, and by a belief in building healthcare institutions that endure over time.

Sessions

Plenary session 3: Reimagining cost and care: Operational strategies for financial sustainability

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Thursday 22 October | 09:00–10:30

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Mr Robert Mardini

CEO, Geneva University Hospital, Switzerland

Since 1 September 2024, Robert Mardini has been serving as CEO of the Geneva University Hospital (HUG), Switzerland’s largest university hospital. A leading institution in healthcare, research, and education, HUG employs more than 13,000 staff and operates with an annual budget of CHF 2.5 billion. In this role, Robert Mardini steers the institution’s strategic direction, working closely with the Board of Directors, political authorities, and key partners within the healthcare system.

Prior to this appointment, he led the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from 2020 to 2024, overseeing humanitarian operations in more than 100 countries and managing a workforce of 20,000.

A graduate in civil and hydraulic engineering from École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), he joined the ICRC in 1997 as an engineer and held several senior leadership positions, including Deputy Director General, Regional Director for the Near and Middle East, and Head of Delegation to the United Nations.

He has received several distinctions, including the EPFL Alumni Award in 2020, and was elected to the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW) in 2021. He is also a member of the Geneva Diplomatic Club, the EPFL Strategic Advisory Board, and serves as Executive in Residence at IMD.

Sessions

Plenary session 1: Real-world sustainable care: A patient and workforce journey through the hospital

  • Environmental sustainability
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 09:15–10:30

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Prof. Dr Henriette Neumeyer

Vice-Chair of the Board, German Hospital Federation; President, European Hospital and Healthcare Federation (HOPE), Germany

Prof. Neumeyer MD, MBA is the Vice-Chair of the Board of the German Hospital Federation and President of the European Hospital and Healthcare Federation (HOPE). She leads the German Hospital Federation’s Department of Political Affairs and Hospital Workforce.

Following her medical studies and a subsequent MBA, she worked as a consultant—primarily in the fields of medical technology and IT development—and holds professorship for Healthcare Management at a University of Applied Sciences.

Sessions

Plenary session 3: Reimagining cost and care: Operational strategies for financial sustainability

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Thursday 22 October | 09:00–10:30

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Dr Paul Quitiquit

Medical Center Chief, Saint Louis University Sacred Heart Medical Center, Philippines

Dr. Paul Adlai B. Quitiquit, MD, FPCS, FACS, FPSGS, MHA is a distinguished surgeon, professor, and hospital executive with over three decades of experience in clinical practice, academic teaching, and healthcare leadership. A Fellow of the Philippine College of Surgeons, the Philippine Society of General Surgeons, and the American College of Surgeons, he has combined surgical excellence with values‑driven governance to advance patient care, education, and sustainability.

Currently serving as Medical Center Chief of Saint Louis University – Sacred Heart Medical Center (SLU‑SHMC), he spearheaded a transformation that positioned the institution as a benchmark for innovation and sustainability. He commissioned a new medical center with world‑class technology, introduced electronic medical records, and launched ESG programs such as the Water is Life Project, solar energy installation, and green space development—achieving a significant reduction of CO₂ emmissions annually.
Under his leadership, SLU‑SHMC earned national and international recognition, including the PHAPI Safe Hospital Grand Champion, the International Hospital Federation Gold Award for Social and Environmental Sustainability, and Department of Tourism accreditation as a Green Hospital for Wellness. Guided by the hospital’s TRULY CARES values, Dr. Quitiquit continues to champion patient‑centered care, academic excellence, and environmental stewardship, inspiring healthcare leaders locally and globally.

Sessions

Plenary session 1: Real-world sustainable care: A patient and workforce journey through the hospital

  • Environmental sustainability
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 09:15–10:30

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Mr Simon Radmore

Executive Director, Strategy & Office of the Chief Executive, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Australia

Simon is an experienced leader in the Australian public health system. Beginning his career as Occupational Therapist, Simon completed a Master of Health Service Management and transitioned to roles in project management and operational management.

In his current role as Executive Director of Strategy & Office of the Chief Executive in the Northern Sydney Local Health District, Simon is responsible for strategic leadership across a broad range of focus areas, including innovation, research, education, partnerships, integration, leadership development, Innovation Precinct development, corporate governance and value-based healthcare.

In 2025 Simon completed a Deeble Scholarship through the Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association (AHHA) and was an International Hospital Federation (IHF) Young Executive Leader (YEL) program participant. Simon is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the School of Population Health at the University of NSW (UNSW), an Associate Fellow, Australasian College of Health Service Management (AFCHSM), and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

Sessions

Plenary session 1: Real-world sustainable care: A patient and workforce journey through the hospital

  • Environmental sustainability
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 09:15–10:30

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Beyond traditional healthcare: Building partnerships for system-wide impact

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 14:30–15:30

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AI-enabled workforce transformation: Supporting clinicians, strengthening care

  • Digital transformation and AI
  • 🎧

When: Thursday 22 October | 10:50–11:50

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Mr Payman Roshan

Senior VP and Area Manager, Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, California, USA

Payman Roshan is the Senior Vice President and Area Manager for Kaiser Permanente Orange County, overseeing two Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and more than 20 medical office buildings serving nearly 600,000 members across Orange County, California. In this role, he leads hospital and ambulatory operations, strategic growth, workforce engagement, financial performance, and the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care.

Payman joined Kaiser Permanente in 2005 as Regional Director of Clinical Technology, leading the management and maintenance of medical equipment throughout Southern California. In 2010, he became Assistant Medical Center Administrator for Support Services at Baldwin Park Medical Center and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2012. He later served as Senior Vice President and Area Manager for Panorama City and Antelope Valley Medical Centers, followed by Downey Medical Center, before assuming leadership of Orange County in 2022.

A passionate advocate for innovation, operational excellence, and continuous improvement, Payman is committed to advancing healthcare delivery through technology, collaboration, and high-performing teams.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Mercer University, an MBA from National University, and completed Kaiser Permanente’s Executive Leadership Program at Harvard University.

Outside of work, Payman enjoys spending time with his wife, Afsaneh, and son, Nicholas.

Sessions

Plenary session 3: Reimagining cost and care: Operational strategies for financial sustainability

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Thursday 22 October | 09:00–10:30

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Ms Sara Siegel

Global Head of Healthcare, Deloitte, UK

Sara is Deloitte’s Global Health Sector Leader and leads the health practice in the UK. This encapsulates the firm’s work with the payor and provider systems both publicly and privately funded.  Sara’s passion for health began when she moved to the UK in 2003 and was first exposed to the NHS.

Sara believes passionately in the mission of the NHS and sees the incredible value that a health service free at the point of need provides to society.  With her teams, she supports the NHS to do more and better with the resources at its disposal.  Some of Sara’s work includes supporting the government on its Coronavirus testing programme, and the introduction of robotic and cognitive automation to improve the speed and quality of NHS services and to release more time for direct patient care. It is the introduction and uptake of new innovative practices either pioneered by individuals or tested first in other health systems around the world that Sara most enjoys working with her NHS clients on.

In her global role, Sara is growing the firm’s presence in implementation of Electronic Health Records, and increasing the presence of AI and Generative AI in the firm’s work. She is also focused on health equity and sustainability and climate.

Sara is a trustee of the Peter Sowerby Foundation which supports healthcare causes and she is a trustee of the Conservation Collective, an environmental charity that promotes local teams working to solve environmental problems.

Sessions

Plenary session 3: Reimagining cost and care: Operational strategies for financial sustainability

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Thursday 22 October | 09:00–10:30

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Dr Karan Thakur

VP - Corporate Affairs & Sustainability, Apollo Hospitals, India

Dr Karan Thakur is the Group Vice President – Corporate Affairs & Sustainability for the Apollo Hospitals Group. He manages the Group’s external engagements including government and industry liaison along with the Healthcare Sustainability & ESG divisions.

He is a seasoned healthcare administrator with two decades of experience in the field of health policy, hospital operations, projects, health communications and healthcare sustainability & ESG.

He is an alumnus of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore and National Law University, New Delhi. He was the 2022 Global Fellow from India for the Eisenhower Fellowships. In 2024 he was awarded the prestigious Chevening Gurukul Fellowship for Leadership and Excellence at the University of Oxford in the UK.

Dr Thakur authored the Handbook of Healthcare Sustainability and ESG, the first of kind book for practitioners and administrators on sustainability and climate and health. In April 2026, he released his second book, The Connected Clinician, which explores how clinicians can harness the power of the digital world to enhance their professional growth.

Sessions

Plenary session 1: Real-world sustainable care: A patient and workforce journey through the hospital

  • Environmental sustainability
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 09:15–10:30

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

Find out more

Mr Frederic Abergel

CEO, Health Standards Organization & Accreditation Canada, Canada

Frédéric Abergel is Chief Executive Officer of Health Standards Organization (HSO) and Accreditation Canada (AC), with more than 25 years of leadership in health systems, quality, and innovation. His career spans Canada and international settings, including Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, giving him a broad perspective on system transformation.

Prior to HSO and AC, he led the CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, where he implemented a population-based care model serving 450,000 residents by integrating acute, primary, mental health, and community services. As CEO of CHUM, he advanced the organization’s global standing through precision medicine, digital modernization, and enhanced patient experience. At Santé Québec, he served as Executive Vice President, Operations and Transformation, overseeing a $37 billion health and social services network serving nine million people.

Frédéric is recognized for collaborative, results-driven leadership that strengthens governance, quality of care, and large-scale transformation. He is committed to improving patient experience and population health through people-centred system design. An Adjunct Clinical Professor at Université de Montréal, he has served on several boards, is bilingual, and holds a Ph.D. in public health, a master’s in health administration, and a bachelor’s in occupational therapy.

Sessions

Shaping stronger health systems: Integration, equity, and organizational culture

  • Human-centred experience
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 16:00–17:00

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Dr Marwan Al Kaabi

CEO, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, UAE

Dr Marwan Al Kaabi is the chief executive officer at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC). With over 20 years of hands-on experience in successfully performing complex operations and leading large teams, Dr Al Kaabi has earned a reputation as an expert in driving operational efficiency, improving customer care and enterprise risk management.

Prior to joining SSMC, Dr Al Kaabi played a pivotal role in safeguarding critical infrastructure and functions as PureHealth’s chief of critical infrastructure management and response.

Dr Al Kaabi served as the chief operations officer at Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), where his visionary leadership steered the organisation through multiple strategic initiatives. Driven by a commitment to advancing healthcare delivery, he brings a wealth of experience, expertise and a proven track record of success to SSMC. Additionally, he is a member of the Advisory Board of the United Arab Emirates University, and has recently joined the Leaders Advisory Board of the Arab Hospitals Federation. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at Khalifa University .

Dr Al Kaabi is a Medical Doctor and holds a Master’s degree in Health Emergency Management from Boston University, United States, and executive certificate in managing healthcare delivery from Harvard Business School.

Mrs Sophie Beaupère

CEO, Unicancer, France

Sophie Beaupère, a hospital director by training, graduated from the École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique (EHESP), Sciences Po Paris, and holds a Master’s degree in Public Management from Paris Dauphine University. Since January 2020, she has served as the General Delegate of Unicancer, the French National Federation of Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CLCCs). In this role, she contributes to the strategic program initiated by the Federation’s President, Professor Jean-Yves Blay, and works to promote the CLCCs’ model of governance, values, and proposals, while also highlighting the many innovations developed within the centers and coordinating their efforts in the fight against cancer. She previously served as Deputy CEO of the Léon Bérard Center in Lyon and Director of Operations and Finance at Gustave Roussy in Villejuif. From 2015 to 2020, she was also Vice President of the Association of Hospital Directors (ADH).

Sessions

Transforming healthcare today: Rethinking care, leadership, and systems

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 13:15–14:15

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Ms Bettina Borisch

CEO, World Federation of Public Health Associations, Switzerland

Dr Borisch’s work bridges the fields of medicine, public health, history and global health governance, reflecting her commitment to improving health outcomes globally. She studied medicine and history in Kiel (Germany) and Lausanne (Switzerland). Her academic career brought her to Universities in Kiel, Würzburg, Bern and Geneva. With an extensive academic and professional background, she holds a medical degree and a doctorate in pathology. Her early career was marked by significant contributions to cancer research, particularly in breast cancer pathology and the biology of Non Hodgkin lymphomas, which earned her international recognition. Over time, her focus shifted towards public health, where she advocated for universal health coverage, health equity, and sustainable health systems. She founded Europa Donna Switzerland and served as president of Europa Donna international.

As a key leader in the WFPHA, Professor Borisch plays a critical role in advocating for public health priorities and fostering collaboration among public health professionals worldwide. She is a vocal advocate for advancing racial equity in women’s health, leveraging her expertise in public health to address systemic disparities affecting marginalised

Mr Noel Cárdenas

Senior VP & CEO, Memorial Hermann Southeast & Pearland Hospitals, USA

Noel J. Cárdenas, FACHE, is senior vice president/CEO of Memorial Hermann Southeast and Pearland Hospitals in Houston and Chair of the ACHE Board of Governors.

Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow, he has held multiple leadership roles within ACHE, including Governor, Regent for the Army, and president of the ACHE–SouthEast Texas Chapter, along with service on several committees.

Before his current role, Mr. Cárdenas was vice president of Operations/COO at Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital from 2015 to 2020. His earlier career includes service in the U.S. Army and Texas National Guard, where he held executive and command positions such as CEO/hospital commander at Reynolds Army Community Hospital; COO at Brooke Army Medical Center; CEO/commander of the 421st Multifunctional Medical Battalion in Germany and Iraq; and COO roles at Evans Army Community Hospital and Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center.

He serves on the boards of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, Pearland Chamber of Commerce, Brazoria County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Texas A&M School of Public Health External Advisory Council.

He holds a Master of Healthcare Administration from Baylor University and a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Texas at Austin.

Sessions

Building strategies that work: Leading through complexity and change

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 11:00–12:00

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Dr Ahmed El-Sobky

Chairman, Egypt Healthcare Authority, Egypt

Dr. Ahmed El-Sobky is a distinguished leader of Healthcare in Egypt. Currently serving as the chairman of the Egypt Healthcare Authority since 2020, he has initiated healthcare sector transformation by adopting the universal health insurance system, aiming to improve the quality of healthcare services and ensure affordability and accessibility. In addition, he contributes effectively to global health as a Member of the UHC2030 Steering Committee and IHF Governing Council.

His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Diagnostic Radiology, Master’s of Clinical Service Operations from Harvard Medical School. Additionally, he obtained an Executive Diploma in Public-Private Partnership in Healthcare from the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management. As well as a Master’s degree in Public Policy and an MBA in Business Administration and Management, Dr. Ahmed El-Sobky brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and strategic capabilities to his roles

Sessions

Advancing value-based care: Reform, leadership, and financial sustainability

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 16:00–17:00

Find out more

Prof. Dr Jaroslaw J. Fedorowski

President & CEO, Polish Hospital Federation, Poland

President & CEO – Polish Hospital Federation #PFSz. Treasurer & Member of the Executive Committee of the Governing Council – International Hospital Federation #IHF (Geneva). Governor – European Hospital and Healthcare Federation #HOPE (Brussels)
Medical doctor with international board certifications in cardiology, internal medicine, and managed care. Global healthcare executive, former hospital management company CEO and board member. University professor with strong academic foundation, holding two doctorate degrees, as well as MBA in healthcare administration earned from institutions in Poland and the United States.

His academic affiliations include Zamoyski Academy in Poland (est. 1594) the University of Vermont College of Medicine in the USA (est. 1791) and the University of Split School of Medicine in Croatia. In addition to his international leadership roles, Prof. Fedorowski serves as the Chairman of the Healthcare Poland Foundation, Chairman of the Polish Association of Physician Managers, President of the Polish Association of Managed Care and Vice President of the Association of Innovative Technologies for Health (Poland).
He is a licensed yacht captain and sailing instructor. He is also a drummer at “Kardioband” R&B music group in Poland.

Sessions

Transforming healthcare systems at scale: From vision to real-world impact

  • Human-centred experience
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 13:15–14:15

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Mr Carlos Varela Ferro

COO, Fundació Aspace Catalunya, Spain

Carlos Varela Ferro is a healthcare executive specializing in integrated care, innovation, and service transformation for people with complex disabilities. He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer at Fundació Aspace Catalunya, a leading organization providing health, social, and educational services to individuals with cerebral palsy, complex neurodevelopmental disorders, and multiple neurological disabilities.

With a professional background spanning clinical practice, healthcare management, digital transformation, and research, Carlos has led the development of innovative integrated care models, including the Neurona Project, a person-centered digital platform designed to improve coordination across health and social care services. His work focuses on enhancing quality, efficiency, and sustainability in publicly funded care systems.

Carlos holds degrees and postgraduate qualifications in Physiotherapy, eHealth, Innovation and Digital Transformation, Sport Management, and Healthcare Leadership, including executive programs at ESADE and Georgetown University. He is also actively involved in international healthcare and disability initiatives, serving on committees of the International Hospital Federation and contributing to global discussions on integrated care and healthcare innovation.

His interests include integrated care, digital health, disability services, healthcare leadership, implementation science, and social impact research.

Sessions

Strengthening communities: Driving inclusive, culturally responsive care

  • Human-centred experience
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 14:30–15:30

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Mr Bill Gassen

President and CEO, Sanford Health, USA

Bill Gassen is president and CEO of Sanford Health, an $12.5 billion integrated health system serving communities primarily across the upper Midwest.

Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Sanford Health is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland.

Sanford Health serves over 2 million patients and 415,000 health plan members. The integrated health system has 59 medical centers, 55,000 employees, 4,500 Sanford physicians and advanced practice providers, 500 clinical investigators and research scientists, 145 senior care communities and world clinics in 5 countries around the globe.

In 2025, Gassen was elected as chair-elect designate of the American Hospital Association (AHA) Board of Trustees. In 2027, he will serve as chair of the AHA Board, the top-elected official of the national organization that represents America’s hospitals and health systems and works to advance health care across the country. Gassen has served on the AHA Board of Trustees since 2024.

Sessions

Leading with people in mind: Human-centred solutions for workforce and system challenges

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 14:30–15:30

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Dr Tarang Gianchandani

Group CEO, Healthcare Initiatives; CEO, Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, India

A clinician-turned-strategist, Dr. Tarang Gianchandani blends 25+ years of global experience with a bold vision for the future of healthcare. An alumna of Lady Hardinge Medical College and the National University of Singapore, she trained in Orthopaedics before moving into hospital leadership across Singapore and India.

Her journey spans strategic roles with Singapore’s Ministry of Health, Changi General Hospital, Alexandra Hospital, and leadership of large tertiary care hospitals in India. Today, as CEO of Reliance Foundation Hospital, she leads one of India’s most advanced quaternary care institutions.

A future-forward leader, Dr. Tarang champions digital health, AI-enabled systems, and tech-enabled care models to drive operational excellence, clinical outcomes, and experiences.

She has been honoured with several recognitions, including the Newsweek Top CEO Circle 2025, Excellence in Healthcare Leadership 2026, Best Healthcare CEO of the Year 2026, Women Excellence Award 2025 and Healthcare Impact Person 2024. Yet, what she values most is the trust she has earned from patients and the ability to inspire teams toward a shared purpose.
Rooted in systems thinking, compassionate leadership, and innovation, Dr. Tarang believes the hospitals of tomorrow will be built not just with steel and software, but with purpose, people, and empathy.

Sessions

Embedding AI across healthcare: From workflows to operational transformation

  • Digital transformation and AI
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 16:00–17:00

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Mr John Haupert

President & CEO, Grady Health System, USA

John Haupert is President and CEO of Grady Health System in Atlanta, GA USA. Haupert began his tenure at Grady in October 2011. Grady Health System is the safety net healthcare system serving Fulton and DeKalb Counties in Georgia. Grady is the primary Level I trauma center and burn center for the Atlanta metropolitan area. In addition, Grady is home to many nationally recognized clinical services including the Marcus Neuroscience and Stroke Center, the Correll Cardiac Center, the Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence, Hughes-Spalding Children’s Hospital and Grady EMS. Grady also serves as the primary training site for the Morehouse and Emory Schools of Medicine.

Haupert is a board-certified Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and recipient of the ACHE Gold Medal. The Gold Medal Award is the highest honor bestowed by the American College of Healthcare Executives on outstanding leaders who have made significant contributions to the healthcare profession.

John is a former Chair of the American Hospital Association Board of Trustees as well as America’s Essential Hospitals and the Georgia Hospital Association. John became the ninth Georgia hospital leader since 1978 to receive the Georgia Hospital Association Gold Honor Award.

Sessions

Fireside discussion: How we lead today, who we need tomorrow

  • Leadership

When: Wednesday 21 October | 14:30–15:30

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Dr Dini Handayani

CMO, Mayapada HealthCare Group, Indonesia

Dr. Dini Handayani, MARS, FISQua, FIPC is a healthcare executive with over two decades of experience in hospital leadership, healthcare quality improvement, patient safety, and clinical governance. She currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Mayapada Healthcare Group, leading initiatives in clinical excellence, patient-centered care, and the implementation of international healthcare standards.

Dr. Dini graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia and earned her Master of Hospital Administration from Universitas Indonesia. She is a Fellow of the International Society for Quality in Health Care (FISQua) and a Fellow of the Institute of Palliative Medicine (FIPC) through an international fellowship program in collaboration with St Christopher’s Hospice, United Kingdom.

She has held key leadership positions, including Chief Executive Officer of Medistra Hospital and Quality Assurance Director of Awal Bros Hospital Group. She is also an International Surveyor for Joint Commission International (JCI) and a member of the National Patient Safety Committee of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, actively contributing to healthcare quality and patient safety advancement.

Sessions

Nursing leadership: Driving workforce excellence and better patient outcomes

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 10:30–11:30

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Mr Joseph Hazel

Group CEO, Apex Health, Qatar

Joseph Hazel is a distinguished leader in the healthcare industry with over 30 years of C-suite experience across Africa, Europe, the UK, and the Middle East. In February 2023, he joined Apex Health to spearhead the development of an integrated, collaborative private healthcare group portfolio, focusing on the MENA region. Under his leadership, Apex Health has transformed from a leading private 260-bed hospital in Qatar in 2022 to now operating 8 hospitals across 4 countries. Joseph’s strategic acumen is driving unparalleled growth and innovation, and most recently has been appointed as member of the Advisory Board for the Arab Hospitals Federation. Prior to this, Joseph spent 7 years at Mediclinic Middle East as the COO for Abu Dhabi, where he played a crucial role in elevating healthcare standards and operational excellence. Joseph holds an MSc in Healthcare Economics, Policy, and Management from the London School of Economics, an MBA, and a Diploma in Management from the Open University. He has further honed his expertise with certificates in Managing Healthcare Delivery and Strategy Execution from Harvard Business School, as well as completing director training at the Institute of Directors and leadership training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Sessions

International patients and partnerships: Expanding access and building global capacity

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 09:00–10:00

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Mr Shane Jackson

President, Jackson Healthcare, USA

Shane Jackson is president of Jackson Healthcare, the trusted authority in healthcare talent and workforce solutions and parent company to many of the healthcare industry’s leading brands that serve over 20 million patients each year. Championing its mission of improving the delivery of patient care and the lives of everyone it touches, he has led the organization through growth that has landed it on the Forbes® list of America’s Top Private Companies; placement on the Fortune® 100 Best Companies to Work For® and Best Workplaces in Health Care™ lists; a spot on the PEOPLE® Companies that Care list; and a decade of Great Place To Work® certification.

Shane is the author of two books – This Is the Thing: About Life, Joy, and Owning Your Purpose, an Amazon best seller – and Fostering Culture: A Leader’s Guide to Purposefully Shaping Culture. He also has written about leadership and workplace culture for Fast Company and Forbes and shares insights on ShaneJackson.com.

Shane also champions Jackson Healthcare’s LoveLifts community impact platform that partners with more than 450 nonprofit organizations annually to make a positive impact in local and global communities. He also serves as vice chair of the leader-led goBeyondProfit business initiative.

Sessions

Shaping resilient healthcare cultures: Empowering workforce and improving outcomes

  • Human-centred experience
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 11:00–12:15

Find out more

Ms Barbara Walczyk Joers

President and CEO, Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, USA

Barbara Walczyk Joers has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare since late 2013, leading one of the nation’s premier pediatric specialty organizations dedicated to children and young adults with complex, rare and traumatic musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. A mission-driven and collaborative leader, she is focused on transforming child health through highly specialized care, inclusive support systems, and improved access for children with disabilities and medical complexity.

With more than 25 years of healthcare experience, Barbara brings deep expertise in strategic performance, organizational transformation, and health policy and advocacy. She has held leadership roles across pediatric and adult care settings, including academic medical centers, community health systems, and independent children’s hospitals. Under her leadership, Gillette Children’s has expanded its reach, modernized facilities and technology, and strengthened its role as a national leader in multidisciplinary care, research integration, and advocacy.

A recognized thought leader, Barbara serves on the Boards of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Medical Alley Association, and the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, and is active in organizations including the American Hospital Association. She holds degrees from Marymount University and The George Washington University and completed the Wharton Corporate Governance certificate.

Sessions

Building strategies that work: Leading through complexity and change

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 11:00–12:00

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H.E. Mishal Julfar

CEO, Dubai Corporation of Ambulance Services, UAE

H.E. Mishal Abdulkarim Julfar is the Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (DCAS), bringing over 25 years of leadership in emergency medical services. A graduate of Mohammed Bin Rashid Leadership Program, he has guided DCAS to become a global benchmark in pre-hospital ambulance services.

Under his leadership, DCAS significantly enhanced its emergency ambulance response capabilities and operational reach. He played a vital role during the COVID-19 pandemic, representing Dubai Ambulance in the Command and Control Center Committee, helping to shape and implement Dubai’s medical emergency response. He is an active member of both the Event Security Committee and the Dubai Emergency Medicine Strategy Committee, leading the medical planning and coordination for global events such as Expo 2020 and COP28 in collaboration with strategic partners.

Mr. Julfar led Dubai Ambulance’s innovation efforts as head of the Dubai 10X team, positioning the organization at the forefront of future-ready medical response. He is also a graduate of the first batch of Emergency Ambulance Services studies in Dubai, underlining his deep-rooted experience and pioneering role in the field.

DCAS provides five core services: emergency medical services, patient transfers, event coverage, community awareness programs, and professional licensing.

Sessions

Transforming healthcare today: Rethinking care, leadership, and systems

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 13:15–14:15

Find out more

Dr Zeenat Khan

Regional CEO, Aga Khan Health Services, East Africa, Kenya

Dr. Zeenat Khan is the Regional Chief Executive Officer of Aga Khan Health Services in East Africa, overseeing five hospitals and50 outreach centers. She also serves as the AKDN Health System Coordinator for Quality and Patient Safety across East Africa andAsia, and leads the AKU Kampala Campus project.

With over 35 years of healthcare experience, Dr. Khan brings deep expertise in hospital andnursing administration, quality improvement, and patient safety. She has led major hospital planning and construction projects across East Africa, including in Dar es Salaam, Kisumu, Mombasa, and Kampala. Her work spans both academic and non-academic hospital settings, with a strong focus on integrating clinical and non-clinical functions.

Dr. Khan is a Joint Commission International (JCI) Surveyor and serves on multiple hospital boards, including as a Governing Council Member of the International Hospital Federation.

She holds a Doctorate from Johns Hopkins University, a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School, and is a proud alumna of the Aga Khan University School of Nursing. Her global work has provided her with rich insights into diverse healthcare systems and cultural contexts.

Sessions

Innovation where it matters most: Scalable solutions in emerging markets

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 16:00–17:00

Find out more

Ms Margaret Lee

CEO, Alexandra Hospital, Singapore

Margaret is a healthcare leader with three decades of experience, from critical care nurse to CEO of Alexandra Hospital (AH). She leads the hospital’s transformation, blending heritage with innovation whilst advancing compassionate care, workforce wellbeing, and system-wide change across AH and the National University Health System (NUHS).

As AH’s founding Chief Culture Officer, Margaret established the hospital’s identity as a learning, innovative organisation by embedding the WE CARE outward‑mindset culture, strengthening values of psychological safety, empathy, and shared purpose. A certified Outward Mindset facilitator, she has cultivated collaborative leadership and relational trust across NUHS.

As AH’s founding Chief Nurse, she pioneered the Future of Alex Nursing strategy, expanding nursing practice across settings to integrate care seamlessly, while building sustainable capabilities through education, mentorship, and shared governance. She spearheaded AH’s Manpower Optimisation strategy, introducing flexible workforce models and agile practices to enhance resilience.

Deeply committed to patient partnership, Margaret served on the NUHS Patient Advocacy Steering Committee and currently contributes to the PROVE Steering Committee on patient‑reported outcomes. A Harvard Business School Advanced Management Programme alumna and Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality, she has been honoured with the President’s Award for Nurses and multiple Public Administration Medals.

Sessions

Leading with people in mind: Human-centred solutions for workforce and system challenges

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 14:30–15:30

Find out more

Dr Susan Moffatt-Bruce

President, Beth Israel Lahey Health - Lahey Clinic, USA

Dr Susan D. Moffatt-Bruce, MD, FRCSC, PhD, MBA, MBOE, FACS, is Divisional President, Beth Israel Lahey Health, and President of Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, responsible for leading all operational aspects of the academic medical center regarded for its clinic model of care. In 2024, she led the launch of the UMass Chan-Lahey Regional Medical School campus in Burlington, furthering Lahey’s advancement as a learning health system.

Prior to Joining Lahey in 2023, Dr. Moffatt-Bruce served as Chief Executive Officer of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and Royal College International and was a faculty member and professor at the University of Ottawa. Previously, she served as executive director at The Ohio State University (OSU) Wexner Medical Center.

Dr Moffatt-Bruce was honored with the American Medical Association Women Physicians Section Inspiration Award in 2023, was named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s Women Hospital Presidents and CEOs to Know for both 2024 and 2025 and was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts in 2024 and 2025. Recently she has been honored as one of the Boston Business Journal’s 2025 Icon Award recipients as part of the Women Who Mean Business program.

Sessions

Embedding AI across healthcare: From workflows to operational transformation

  • Digital transformation and AI
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 16:00–17:00

Find out more

Dr Dominique Savio Mugenzi

Chairman, Rwanda Private Medical Facilities Association - RPMFA, Rwanda

Dr. Dominique Savio Mugenzi is a Senior Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon, entrepreneur, and health systems leader in Rwanda. He is the Owner and Managing Director of Ejo Heza Surgical Centre, a Specialized Hospital founded in 2016 as Rwanda’s first private surgical facility. Under his leadership, Ejo Heza has grown into a center of excellence providing high-quality surgical care in partnership with the Ministry of Health, insurers, and international organizations including Smile Train.

Dr. Mugenzi also serves as Chairperson of the Rwanda Private Medical Facilities Association, where he promotes collaboration, quality standards, and public-private engagement in healthcare delivery.

Before establishing Ejo Heza Surgical Centre, Dr. Mugenzi worked for 18 years at Kigali University Teaching Hospital, gaining extensive clinical and academic experience in orthopedic surgery. His career reflects a commitment to expanding access to safe, timely, and excellent surgical services in Rwanda and in the region.

Sessions

Innovation where it matters most: Scalable solutions in emerging markets

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 16:00–17:00

Find out more

Dr Prem Kumar Nair

Group CEO, IHH Healthcare Group, Singapore

Dr Prem Kumar Nair was appointed Group CEO of IHH Healthcare on 1 October 2023, where he leads a team of 76,000 employees to realise IHH’s vision to be the world’s most trusted healthcare services network.

Dr Nair sets the strategic direction for the sustainable growth of IHH’s global network which today comprises 190 healthcare facilities, including 89 hospitals, in 10 countries. Guided by its Care. For Good. aspiration, Dr Nair continues to build on the IHH portfolio of reputable brands including Acibadem, Gleneagles, Fortis, Island, Mount Elizabeth, Pantai, Parkway and Prince Court- to touch lives and transform care globally.

Before his role as Group CEO, he served as CEO of IHH Singapore since 2020, where he played a pivotal role in strategic growth and international outreach. Prior to that, Dr Nair was with Raffles Medical Group for 27 years, where he held concurrent roles as Chief Corporate Officer, and Managing Director for Singapore Healthcare.

He is also a Justice of the Peace and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore’s Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. Dr Nair also serves as a Member of the Board of Governors for Sidra Medicine (Qatar).

Sessions

Fireside discussion: How we lead today, who we need tomorrow

  • Leadership

When: Wednesday 21 October | 14:30–15:30

Find out more

Mr Miguel Paiva

Chairman of the Board of Directors, Local Health Unit (ULS) of São José, Portugal

Miguel Paiva holds a degree in Economics from the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto. He completed the coursework component of the Master’s in Health Services Management at ISCTE and a postgraduate degree in Hospital Management and Administration at Universidade Portucalense. He also completed the National Defence Auditors Course 2018/2019 at the Institute for National Defence (IDN), and has extensive additional training in the fields of economics and management, particularly in healthcare.He is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Local Health Unit (ULS) of São José, based in Lisbon, one of the largest in the country. Prior to this, he served as Chairman of the ULS Entre o Douro e Vouga, an entity within the National Health Service responsible for managing the hospitals of S. Sebastião (Santa Maria da Feira), S. João da Madeira, S. Miguel (Oliveira de Azeméis), and Francisco Zagalo (Ovar), as well as primary healthcare units across the municipalities of Santa Maria da Feira, Oliveira de Azeméis, Ovar, Arouca, Vale de Cambra, and S. João da Madeira. He has also held senior leadership positions in other organizations within the Ministry of Health, as well as in a private healthcare unit.

Sessions

Advancing value-based care: Reform, leadership, and financial sustainability

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 16:00–17:00

Find out more

Dr Jonathan Perlin

President and CEO, Joint Commission, USA

Jonathan B. Perlin, MD, PhD, is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Commission enterprise, which includes Joint Commission, Joint Commission International (JCI), and the National Quality Forum (NQF). Previously, as President, Clinical Operations, and Chief Medical Officer, HCA Healthcare, Dr. Perlin led clinicians, data scientists and researchers in developing a learning health system model for improving care across 189 hospitals. His team’s work achieved national recognition for preventing elective pre-term deliveries, reducing maternal mortality, increasing sepsis survival, and developing public-private-academic partnerships for improving infection prevention and treating COVID-19. Before HCA, Dr. Perlin was Under Secretary for Health in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). He led VA to national prominence for the first national electronic health record and benchmark clinical performance. An elected member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), he has co-chaired initiatives on digital health, combatting opioids and sustainable healthcare. He has served on numerous boards and commissions (including MedPAC and the CBO Panel of Health Advisors) and holds faculty appointments at Vanderbilt University as a Clinical Professor of Health Policy and at Virginia Commonwealth University as an Adjunct Professor of Health Administration.

Sessions

Shaping resilient healthcare cultures: Empowering workforce and improving outcomes

  • Human-centred experience
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 11:00–12:15

Find out more

Dr Howard Podolsky

CEO, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Howard S. Podolsky is a distinguished physician executive with over 25 years of leadership experience across healthcare management, clinical practice, and health law. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from the State University of New York at Buffalo, his Juris Doctor as a dean’s scholar from Saint Louis University School of Law, and his MBA from Washington University’s Olin School of Business.

As Chief Executive Officer of Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH), Dr. Podolsky oversees one of the most prominent healthcare joint ventures in the world, driving excellence in clinical outcomes, operational performance, and patient experience. His career spans senior leadership roles, including Group CEO of HC1/Cambridge Medical and Rehabilitation Centers (Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates), Group Chief of Staff at Abu Dhabi Health Services, and executive roles in the United States, including Vice President of Medical Underwriting for American General Life Companies. Dr. Podolsky pioneered the development of the first physician-led ACO in the United States. He also serves as chairman of The Cabin, the leading provider of addiction medicine rehabilitation in Southeast Asia. Dr. Podolsky continues to advance healthcare transformation, strengthen organizational performance, and deliver sustainable value to patients, providers, and stakeholders worldwide.

Sessions

Beyond traditional healthcare: Building partnerships for system-wide impact

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 14:30–15:30

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Adj. Prof. Mark Puhaindran

Chairman Medical Board, National University Hospital, Singapore

Adj. Prof Mark Puhaindran graduated from the National University of Singapore, and did his specialty training in Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery at the National University Hospital, leading to his specialist accreditation in Hand Surgery. Following this, he was awarded the Health Manpower Development (HMDP) Award and did a fellowship in Musculoskeletal Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New York, USA. Adj Prof Puhaindran was Head of the Department of Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery from 2021 to 2024 and took over as Chairman of the Medical Board at the end of 2024.

Sessions

Advancing value-based care: Reform, leadership, and financial sustainability

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 16:00–17:00

Find out more

Mr Patrick Runnels

CMO, Veale Healthcare Transformation Institute, USA

Patrick Runnels is a nationally recognized physician leader and psychiatrist whose career has focused on guiding transformation within healthcare systems large and small to maximize value while improving access and outcomes for the most vulnerable and complex patients. He currently serves as Chief Medical Officer for the Veale Healthcare Transformation Institute and holds the Ann S. and Anthony J. Asher Chair in Community Health at University Hospitals Health Systems in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to that he served as Chief Medical Officer of Population Health, during which time University Hospitals ranked among the most successful Accountable Care Organizations in the country, generating nearly $200 million dollars in shared savings. He is currently Co-Principal Investigator for a John Templeton Foundation grant to study and disseminate frameworks for transformational leadership in healthcare.

Dr Runnels is a Professor of Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He attended medical school at the University of Missouri, Columbia, completing General Psychiatry Residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, and the Public Psychiatry Fellowship at Columbia University. He also completed his Executive MBA at Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management.

Sessions

Transforming healthcare today: Rethinking care, leadership, and systems

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 13:15–14:15

Find out more

Dr Emmanuel Rupert

Managing Director and Group CEO, Narayana Hrudayalaya Ltd., India

Dr Emmanuel Rupert is the Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of Narayana Health since 2019. A graduate of Banaras Hindu University, he joined Narayana Health in 2000 as Chief Consultant in Anaesthesia and Director of Academic Services. Over the years, he has served in several roles including clinician, medical administrator, and Group Medical Director before assuming his current leadership position.

Dr Rupert is widely recognized for transforming clinical expertise into strategic healthcare leadership. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his leadership strengthened clinical capacity, improved cost management, and streamlined operations, enabling the organization to recover quickly and sustain growth.

He has overseen multiple greenfield and brownfield expansions while guiding Narayana Health into a new era of healthcare innovation. A strong advocate of technology-driven healthcare, he is leading initiatives to integrate data analytics, artificial intelligence, and Iot to build a digitally enabled healthcare ecosystem.

Under his leadership, Narayana Health achieved enterprise-level accreditation from Joint Commission International, reinforcing its commitment to quality, patient safety, and clinical excellence across its healthcare network.

Sessions

Leading AI in healthcare: Governance, trust, and system-wide integration

  • Digital transformation and AI
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 13:15–14:15

Find out more

Mr Serene Samuel

COO, Almora General Hospital, Philippines

Serene Samuel is the Chief Operating Officer of Almora General Hospital in the Philippines. With more than 20 years of leadership experience across healthcare, technology, telecommunications, media, services, and FMCG, he brings a cross-sector perspective to building purpose-driven and sustainable organizations.

Before assuming the COO role in 2025, he served as a management consultant supporting AGH’s organizational and human capital development. He led the creation of the hospital’s structured Nurse Training Program, integrating values formation, clinical competency, mentorship, leadership development, and global readiness. This replicable initiative has contributed to measurable improvements in workforce and clinical outcomes.

His work focuses on value-based healthcare, organizational culture, workforce resilience, and the development of future-ready healthcare leaders. He is particularly interested in translating leadership strategy into measurable operational outcomes that are sustainable and scalable. His work has been featured by Hospital Management Asia and presented as a Lightning Talk at the 48th IHF World Hospital Congress in Geneva in 2025. He currently serves as a reviewer for the IHF i-to-i Innovation Hub.

His initiatives demonstrate an ongoing commitment to strengthening sustainable human capital systems and developing the next generation of healthcare leaders.

Sessions

Financial sustainability: Building through value, workforce, and operational transformation

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Thursday 22 October | 10:50–11:50

Find out more

Dr Olga Schiopu

CEO, Medpark International Hospital, Moldova

Olga Schiopu is a physician and healthcare executive with more than 15 years of leadership experience in hospital management. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Medpark International Hospital, Moldova’s first and largest multidisciplinary private hospital. Beginning her career at Medpark as a neurologist, she advanced through clinical and executive leadership roles, including Medical Director, before becoming CEO.

Under her leadership, Medpark has strengthened its position through international quality standards, digital transformation, sustainability initiatives, and regional healthcare partnerships. Beyond her role at Medpark, Olga actively contributes to the development of Moldova’s healthcare system through professional associations, public-private dialogue, and policy discussions focused on quality of care, patient safety, healthcare financing, workforce development, and innovation. She is also an active participant in European healthcare management forums, advocating for patient-centered care, collaboration, and sustainable healthcare transformation.

Sessions

Turning data into action: Leadership, measurement, and performance improvement

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 14:30–15:30

Find out more

Mr Christian Schuhmacher

Executive Chairman of the Board, Emirates Hospitals Group, UAE

Christian Schuhmacher is a seasoned healthcare executive and board director with over 20 years of international experience in healthcare investments, management, and strategy. As the Founder and Managing Director of Swissglobal Advisory, he provides strategic advisory services to healthcare investors and organizations across the Middle East, Europe, and beyond.

Christian holds multiple board positions, including Executive Chairman of Emirates Hospital Group Dubai Board, Non-Executive Board Member at VAMED Switzerland and smc Hospital Group in Saudi Arabia, and Non-Executive Director at Awali Hospital in Bahrain. Previously, as Managing Director at VAMED, he played a key role in expanding the international footprint of the healthcare service vertical across the Middle East, South-East Asia, and Africa. His expertise includes healthcare management, turnarounds, and growth strategies, as well as operational transformation and clinical strategy. He has successfully led major healthcare institutions, including King’s College Hospital London in Dubai and Mediclinic City Hospital Dubai, driving sustainable growth and innovation.
With a Master of Law from the University of Basel and an Executive MBA from the University of St. Gallen, Christian combines legal, financial, and operational acumen to drive sustainable growth in the healthcare sector.

Sessions

Strengthening health system performance: The role of private healthcare

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 16:00–17:00

Find out more

Dr Klaus Schuster

Group CEO, Vitrea, Austria

Klaus Schuster asserts that the synergy between private-sector innovation and clinical excellence is fundamental to a thriving global health ecosystem. As Group CEO of VITREA Group, he leads one of Europe’s premier specialized rehabilitation providers. Under his leadership, VITREA operates over 80 facilities across the DACH region, where a dedicated team of 14,000 employees care for more than 220,000 patients annually.

A trained physician specializing in internal medicine and nephrology, Klaus brings nearly 30 years of healthcare expertise to the global stage. He uniquely bridges the gap between deep clinical knowledge and strategic operational leadership. His session, “Private Healthcare’s Unique Contribution to a Successful Healthcare Sector,” draws on his experience leading VITREA’s landmark 2024 transition into an independent, high-growth healthcare enterprise backed by PAI Partners and Fresenius. He has since accelerated the group’s expansion via the 2025 acquisition of the Paracelsus group and a fundamental restructuring of the organization’s leadership and digital infrastructure.

Drawing on leadership roles at Roche and CARIS Life Sciences, Klaus champions standardized processes and digitalization to deliver scalable, high-quality clinical care. He is currently driving VITREA’s ambitious “Strategy 2030+” to establish the organization as Europe’s preeminent rehabilitation provider through innovation and disciplined, strategic growth.

Sessions

Strengthening health system performance: The role of private healthcare

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 16:00–17:00

Find out more

Prof. Anupam Sibal

Group Medical Director, Apollo Hospitals Group, India

Prof. Anupam Sibal (MD, FIMSA, FIAP, FRCP (Glasg), FRCP (Lon), FRCPCH, FAAP) is the Group Medical Director of Apollo Hospitals Group, India’s largest healthcare provider with 75 hospitals and 300 clinics.

Prof Sibal established the division of pediatric gastroenterology and hepatology in 1997 at Apollo Hospital, Delhi. He helped set up the first successful pediatric liver transplant program in India at Apollo Delhi in 1998. The Apollo Hospitals have performed more than 5000 liver transplants, of which 645 are pediatric.

Prof. Sibal served as the President of Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO) from 2020 – 2022. The organization aims is to bring together 1.4 million physicians of Indian origin in the world on one professional platform from 57 countries.

Prof Sibal is on the Editorial Board of 3 Journals and has 171 publications. He has edited a Textbook of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.
His book on parenting, “Is Your Child Ready to face the World?” is a national best seller. He comments regularly in the print and electronic media on healthcare, pediatrics, leadership and parenting.

Sessions

Transforming healthcare today: Rethinking care, leadership, and systems

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 13:15–14:15

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Dr Cardinale Smith

CMO, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA

Cardinale B. Smith, MD, PhD, FASCO is the Chief Medical Officer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where she provides executive leadership for quality and safety, medical staff affairs, patient experience, regulatory readiness, and enterprise clinical operations. She is a board-certified medical oncologist and palliative care physician whose clinical expertise focuses on thoracic oncology and serious illness care.

A nationally recognized physician-scientist and health services researcher, Dr. Smith’s work centers on improving the quality and equity of cancer care delivery, with particular emphasis on health disparities, serious illness communication, implicit bias, and patient-clinician communication. Her research has been supported by the NIH, the American Cancer Society, and multiple foundations, and she currently serves as principal investigator on several grants focused on equitable models of cancer care delivery and interventions to improve outcomes for historically marginalized populations. Dr. Smith has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and is widely recognized for her leadership in healthcare quality, patient-centered care, and high-reliability organizational strategy. In 2026, she was named one of the hospital and health system Chief Medical Officers to know by Becker’s Hospital Review.

Sessions

Improving clinical outcomes: The role of standards and patient-centred tools

  • Clinical Models QPS
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 16:00–17:00

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Dr Adrian Stanley, PhD FRCP SFHEA

Chief Academic Officer, Mediclinic Middle East, UAE

Adrian Stanley graduated from Southampton University, UK and completed his early clinical training in Southampton, London and Leicester. He was a British Heart Foundation Junior Fellow before completing his academic and clinical training as a Clinical Lecturer in Medicine. His research interests were focused on vascular biology and clinical hypertension, before developing an interest in medical education.

He achieved his CCST in general internal medicine and clinical pharmacology in 2005.
From 2005 to 2018, he was a consultant physician, medical educator and researcher in Leicester. For the final 6 years, he was the Director for the undergraduate MBChB Clinical Clerkships.

From 2019, Adrian has been in Dubai. Until recently, he was the Clerkship Director at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, where he led the introduction of the clinical clerkship curriculum and assessment. Since February 2024, he has been the Chief Academic Officer at Mediclinic Middle East.

Sessions

Redesigning patient experience: Insights, innovation, and human-centred care

  • Human-centred experience
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 09:00–10:00

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Adj. Prof. Kong Choong Tang

CEO, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore

Adj. Prof Tang is the CEO of TTSH – the flagship hospital of NHG Health. With more than 2000 beds on HealthCity Novena Campus, TTSH serves the tertiary healthcare needs of 1.5 million residents in Central-North, Singapore as part of the regional health system helmed by NHG Health.

As CEO, Adj. Prof Tang drives the hospital’s long term plan (TTSH 2030) to achieve excellence in Tertiary Care and Academic Health, enabled through digital and workforce transformation and also redevelopment of the campus, as part of Phase 2 of the HealthCity Novena Masterplan.

Adj. Prof Tang also brings with him a wealth of experience managing people and systems, from his career in the Singapore Armed Forces where he last served as a Brigadier General, holding the appointment of Chief of Medical Corps from 2015-2019.

Sessions

Plenary session 3: Reimagining cost and care: Operational strategies for financial sustainability

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Thursday 22 October | 09:00–10:30

Location: Lewest Hall, 4th Floor

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Dr Michael Ugwueke

President and CEO, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, USA

Michael O. Ugwueke, DHA, FACHE, is president and CEO of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Memphis, Tennessee, and Chair-Elect of the ACHE Board of Governors.

Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow, he has held multiple leadership roles within ACHE, including Governor, Regent-at-Large for District 4, and as a member of multiple committees.

Dr. Ugwueke joined Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in 2007 as system senior vice president/CEO of Methodist South Hospital. He went on to lead both Methodist North and South Hospitals, served as president/COO from 2013 to 2017, and became CEO in 2017. Earlier in his career, he held leadership positions with Provena Health, MedStar Health, and Sarasota Memorial Hospital, focusing on operations, strategy, and planning.

He serves on the boards of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the National Civil Rights Museum, and the American Hospital Association, and is immediate past chair of the Tennessee Hospital Association.

Dr. Ugwueke has received numerous honors, including ACHE’s Distinguished Service Award and recognition among Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Minority Executives. He holds a doctorate from the Medical University of South Carolina, a Master of Healthcare Administration from Emory University, and a bachelor’s degree from Shaw University.

Sessions

ACHE–IHF Global CEO–COO Boot Camp

  • Sign-up required
  • Leadership

When: Monday 19 October | 08:30–15:30

Location: 401AB, 4th floor

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Transforming healthcare systems at scale: From vision to real-world impact

  • Human-centred experience
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 13:15–14:15

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Dr Jacco Vroegop

CEO, Horacio Oduber Hospital, Aruba

Graduated in healthcare and politics. As an energetic leader skilled in building bridges, change-, and healthcare management. Experienced board director with a demonstrated history of working in the international hospital & private health care industry. Since 2020 CEO of the Horacio Oduber Hospital of Aruba. And since 2025 governing council member of the International Hospital Federation (IHF).

Sessions

Shaping resilient healthcare cultures: Empowering workforce and improving outcomes

  • Human-centred experience
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 11:00–12:15

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Ms Juliette Waterhouse

CEO, Hong Anh Hospital, Vietnam

Juliette is the Executive Chair and CEO of Hong Anh Healthcare Group, where she is building a fully integrated healthcare ecosystem in Ho Chi Minh City and across southern Vietnam. The system encompasses GP clinics and pharmacies; homecare services; nursing homes; step-down facilities; a wellness and rehabilitation centre; a training, research and innovation hub; and a world-class hospital being designed to deliver international standards of medical excellence to Vietnam.

This healthcare ecosystem is being developed through the capital investment of Real Capital London, a UK-based single family office where Juliette is the Principal. She focuses on investments that generate sustainable financial returns while delivering meaningful social impact. Driven by a deep commitment to improving healthcare accessibility, Juliette invests in transformative healthcare and medical education initiatives across Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

In addition to her professional work, she is a passionate art collector and serves as the founder of the Hong Anh Foundation, a charity dedicated to fighting incurable diseases, advancing education, and supporting communities in deprived and disaster-affected areas of Vietnam, particularly those impacted by typhoons and floods.

Sessions

Strengthening health system performance: The role of private healthcare

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 16:00–17:00

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Dr Charles Wiener

President, Johns Hopkins Medicine International, USA

Charles Wiener, M.D. is President of Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHMI) and Professor of Medicine and Physiology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Dr Wiener oversees Johns Hopkins Medicine’s international enterprises, developing sustainable, innovative collaborations that raise the standard of health care around the world and providing personalized care for diverse populations. JHMI serves as global ambassador of the Hopkins Medicine mission, leveraging its’extensive knowledge base in medicine, nursing, public health, medical education, research and health care administration to deliver medicine across the globe.

At Johns Hopkins he has won multiple teaching and mentorship awards, and was the Chair of the committee that created the School of Medicine Genes to Society curriculum. Dr. Wiener has authored the last five editions of the Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine Self-Assessment and Board Review, and is the co-host of Harrison’s PodClass.

He is a graduate of Duke University and the University of Miami School of Medicine. He completed Internal Medicine residency at the University of Washington, Research Fellowship at Hammersmith Hospital, and Pulmonary/Critical Care fellowship at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Wiener continues to practice clinically in the Johns Hopkins Hospital Medical Intensive Care Unit.

Sessions

Beyond traditional healthcare: Building partnerships for system-wide impact

  • Leadership
  • 🎧

When: Wednesday 21 October | 14:30–15:30

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Ms Soo Min Wong

Group Chief Financial Officer, National University Health System, Singapore

As Group Chief Financial Officer of the National University Health System (NUHS), Ms Wong Soo Min leads the development of the financial and business strategies, while ensuring effective internal controls and ongoing financial sustainability of NUHS. She also oversees the Enterprise Risk Management, working closely with the institutions to ensure that they have the robust framework in place.

As the Corporate Office Chief of Staff, she assists the Chief Executive in shaping strategies and leading the integration efforts of NUHS. Ms Wong has held senior leadership positions in both Finance and Operations in technology multinationals like Hewlett Packard Inc, Micron Technology Inc and an Intel-Micron Joint Venture, with experience encompassing business partnership and analytics, development and implementation of transformation initiatives, mergers & acquisitions, start-up operations, supply chain, quality and partners’ management. She has extensive experience in finance where she led worldwide teams in facilitating the transparency of financial performance across institutions, working with senior leaders and key stakeholders to drive improved performance and ensuring that business decisions are grounded in sound analysis with the appropriate accountability.

Ms Wong holds a Bachelor of Accountancy degree from the National University of Singapore and is a Chartered Accountant of Singapore.

Sessions

Transforming healthcare systems at scale: From vision to real-world impact

  • Human-centred experience
  • 🎧

When: Tuesday 20 October | 13:15–14:15

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What our attendees say

What our attendees say

Gatot Sugiharto

Director, Sekarwangi Regional Hospital, Indonesia

The professional networking opportunities I gained are invaluable. I leave with fresh ideas and renewed energy to enhance my clinical practice and management approach. This event is a must-attend for any healthcare professional aiming to stay at the forefront of innovation!

Maria Praça

Board Executive Officer, ULS Alto Alentejo, Portugal

It was my first time and it was spectacular. I simply loved it. The 48th IHF WHC exceeded all my expectations. It's intense, very immersive, and the networking possibilities are limitless.

Mohammed Alhaj

Colonel / Director of Medical affairs; Consultant Public Health Medicine, Dubai Police HQ, UAE

Participating in the World Hospital Congress has been a truly exceptional experience. It stands at the forefront of healthcare innovation, bringing together diverse expertise and visionary leadership from across the globe. The dynamic exchange of ideas, evidence-based discussions, and demonstrations of pioneering solutions during the event have greatly enriched my perspective. I am inspired by the commitment to excellence and the collaborative spirit that defines this Congress, and I look forward to contributing to future advancements in global healthcare alongside this remarkable community.

Giovanni Rabito

Quality & patient safety manager, Switzerland

Being selected for the Innovation Hub and participating in WHC 2025 was an extraordinary opportunity. The event provided a valuable opportunity to share knowledge and explore innovative solutions across a range of fields. Participating in the Congress was an inspiring experience. The quality of the sessions, the openness of professionals from all over the world, and the focus on innovation created an exceptional learning environment.

Shwetha Akshaya

Director, Quality and Patient Safety

WHC 2025 felt like stepping into the future of healthcare while staying grounded in the values that have shaped our field for decades. The conversations, the global voices, and the shared commitment to better care were truly energizing. It’s the kind of gathering that reminds you why we do this work — to innovate boldly, collaborate globally, and uphold the timeless responsibility of caring for people

J. Antônio Cirino

Director of Education, Agir, Brazil

The World Hospital Congress 2025 was an incredible experience for me. Being surrounded by global leaders, innovators, and colleagues who share the same passion for transforming healthcare was truly inspiring. Every session, conversation, and connection expanded my perspective and reaffirmed the importance of collaboration across borders. I leave the WHC 2025 energized, grateful, and even more committed to advancing education, leadership, and meaningful change in our health systems.

John Mher Puriran

The Black Nazarene Hospital, Inc., Philippines

WHC 2025 was a transformative experience. Hearing global leaders champion sustainable, low-carbon healthcare affirmed our ongoing efforts and inspired me to scale our work further. I leave the Congress empowered, connected, and deeply motivated.

About the IHF

Established in 1929, the IHF is a global not-for-profit, non-governmental membership organization, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

The IHF provides its members with a platform for knowledge exchange and networking with different actors in the health sector, to improve the standard, quality, sustainability, and level of service delivery.

The IHF supports healthcare leaders to excel with training and development. Through its members, it is the voice of hospitals on the global stage.

In 2022, the IHF established the Geneva Sustainability Centre to support IHF members to address the environmental sustainability challenges of today and tomorrow.

Sustainability at the WHC

The IHF Statement for Sustainability, approved by IHF members at the 45th IHF World Hospital Congress in 2022, makes it clear that sustainability is a natural fit with the core purpose of healthcare delivery. Sustainability is also an integral part of planning and delivering the Congress each year. With the help of the Geneva Sustainability Centre (GSC), sustainability is one of the five tracks in the programme that the Scientific Committee will shape for Seoul.

We are also working to organize an environmentally sustainable Congress. By prioritizing sustainability, it can act as an example to participants for ways to reduce the carbon footprint of events, providing a positive experience to visitors and preserving the local environment for its community.

Find out more about

The capital and largest city in the Republic of Korea, Seoul is a dynamic, world-class destination that blends cutting-edge innovation with rich cultural heritage. As a global hub of K-culture, from K-pop and K-dramas to K-food, the city offers cultural experiences that attract visitors from all over the world. Home to vibrant neighbourhoods, exceptional cuisine, and iconic landmarks, visitors enjoy a safe, welcoming atmosphere, great transport and hotels. With a unique mix of tradition and technology, exploring Seoul is guaranteed to be an engaging and memorable experience.

Discover Seoul

Newly opened in 2024, Coex Magok Convention Center is the largest conference complex in Seoul. Located in Magok, Gangseo-gu, the venue offers easy access with the Airport Railroad (AREX) station right at COEX Magok, ensuring a smooth connection from Incheon International Airport. Delegates can enjoy a seamless and convenient journey from the airport to the venue, making travel hassle-free.
The Magok complex includes a 4-star hotel and a shopping mall, and is surrounded by the Seoul Botanical Garden and arts and science centres, providing event participants with attractions and entertainment at the same time.

Visit the COEX Magok Convention Center