Transforming healthcare today: Rethinking care, leadership, and systems

Mrs Sophie Beaupère

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).

H.E. Mishal Julfar

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.

Mr Patrick Runnels

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.

Mr David Simpson

Currently the Chief of Strategy and Partnerships at Southern Cross Healthcare, David is known for his ability to bridge deep clinical understanding with large-scale commercial execution, creating value for patients, providers, and stakeholders.

A trusted ecosystem advisor, David serves on the advisory boards of Bond University, Australian Health Week and the Medtech Actuator, while also mentoring senior health leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region.

David holds a Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy) and has completed post graduate executive education at Harvard University, the University of Auckland, and the Advanced Management Programme (AMP) at The Wharton School.