HIMSS MI Chapter 2026 Fall Conference: Crossing the Bridge

Crossing the Bridge – Connecting Michigan’s Care
Join health IT leaders and statewide partners for the 2026 MI HIMSS Fall Conference
About this Event

Crossing the Bridge – Connecting Michigan’s Care
The 2026 MI HIMSS Fall Conference brings together Michigan’s health IT, clinical, research, and public‑sector communities for two days of learning, collaboration, and statewide impact. This year’s theme focuses on the bridges we are building to advance connected, equitable, and innovative care for all of Michigan.

Join leaders from health systems, public health, academia, payer organizations, and industry as we explore the future of interoperability, AI innovation, cybersecurity, virtual care and the rural health transformation reshaping care delivery across the state.

What to Expect

• Keynote and Featured Speakers from Michigan and across the country
• Emerging Leaders Track designed for students and early‑career professionals
• Hands‑on sessions, panels, and workshops on the most pressing issues in health IT
• Statewide collaboration with MiHIN, health systems, universities, and industry partners
• Networking opportunities with peers, executives, and innovators shaping Michigan’s digital health future

September 14th

🕑: 08:30 AM - 09:30 AM
Check-In, Light Breakfast, and Networking

Info: Start the day by checking in, enjoying a light breakfast, and networking with fellow attendees. Walk-in registration will also be available during this time. Check-In opens at 8:00 AM.

🕑: 09:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Hawk Hollow Golf Outing (Optional Add On)
Host: Hawk Hollow

Info: Start the event right with a round of 9 holes at Hawk Hollow, a short drive from the Lansing Center. Teams will be matched up with a mix of attendees, speakers, board members and sponsors. Tee times will be set between 8:00 - 9:00am. Coffee and beverages included.

🕑: 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Morning Anchor: Social Care Sustainability Summit
Host: CHRT

Info: Working description: The Summit is intended to bring together leaders from provider organizations, community organizations, philanthropy, health systems, health plans, government, and technology to explore how partnerships, workforce, technology, and shared infrastructure can be sustained over time.

Core framing: Building a shared framework for sustaining the infrastructure, partnerships, and coordination that support whole-person care.

Understanding the Current Environment

Communities have invested significant time and resources in partnerships, workforce, technology, and coordination capabilities to support health and social care integration.

Recent investments, including Michigan's Rural Health Transformation Program, are accelerating opportunities to strengthen whole-person care infrastructure.

Grant-funded and time-limited investments are creating urgency around what should be sustained, how value should be measured, and who should share responsibility.

🕑: 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Track 1: Prof Development - Crossing the Bridge: Pathways for Emerging Leaders
Host: Rutendo Goto

Info: This session explores the pathways through which emerging leaders can enter, advance, and meaningfully contribute to Michigan’s evolving health information and technology ecosystem. Panelists representing hospitals, public health, academia, and digital health innovation will discuss the competencies, experiences, and leadership behaviors that prepare early‑career professionals to support statewide priorities in interoperability, data modernization, and coordinated care.

🕑: 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Track 1: Prof Development - Health Data Skills with Databricks Fundamentals
Host: Jeff Babe

Info: Elevate your technical skills and add an industry certificate to your resume with this one-hour interactive workshop. Using 4 short videos and a 15-minute quiz, participants will gain practical knowledge of how data intelligence platforms bring together the benefits of data lakehouses and AI
Recognize how Databricks fits within a healthcare IT cloud data ecosystem
Use a unified security and governance model to protect all your data and AI assets

🕑: 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Track 1: Prof Development - Health IT Interview Coaching and Resume Reviews

Info: Sharpen your interview skills and polish up your resume with a team of industry leaders.

🕑: 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Track 2: Public Policy Track: Aligning Policy, Technology and Clinical Care

Info: The Public Policy & Advocacy Track explores how policy, regulation, and statewide collaboration shape the future of health information and technology in Michigan. Sessions focus on understanding the policy landscape, strengthening partnerships across agencies and communities, rural health transformation, tribal health and advocacy- examining how legislation, funding, and governance influence connected care. Details coming in early July.

🕑: 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM
Welcome Keynote with Envision Health
Host: Tim Busche, CEO Envision Health
🕑: 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Michigan HIMSS 2026: Welcome Reception
Host: HIMSS Michigan Chapter

Info: Join your friends, colleagues and industry partners for a social hour with select beverages and food provided by the HIMSS Michigan chapter and our sponsors.

🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Lunch and Networking (Pre-Conference Attendees)

Info: Enjoy a hosted lunch with fellow pre-conference participants. This is a great opportunity to continue conversations from the morning sessions, connect with colleagues, and prepare for the afternoon programs.

September 15th

🕑: 07:30 AM - 08:30 AM
Networking: Light breakfast and coffee service
Host: Sponsorship Available
🕑: 08:25 AM - 08:30 AM
Keynote Introduction
Host: Jeff Babe - HIMSS MI President Elect 2026
🕑: 08:30 AM - 09:10 AM
Keynote: AI Transformation in Clinical Workflows
Host: Lukasz Kowalczyk, MD
🕑: 09:15 AM - 09:45 AM
AI Panel Discussion

Info: ​​

🕑: 09:45 AM - 10:00 AM
Chapter Advocacy & Tribal Health Update
Host: Krystal Schramm

Info: Video update with Krystal Schramm, MSA, MS, Data Strategy Administrator - MDHHS, Michigan HIMSS Tribal Liaison, HIMSS National Vice Chair Native American and Indigenous Community, Michigan HIMSS Co-Chair Advocacy and Public Policy

🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Breakout Session: Connected Care in Rural Health @ Business Operations Lounge

Info: Sponsor TBD

🕑: 10:40 AM - 11:10 AM
HealthFocus
Host: James Morris, CEO
🕑: 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Connected for Michigan: A Strategic Update from Dr. Isabell Pacheco
Host: Isabell Pacheco, DSc, FACHE

Info: Connected for Michigan: A Strategic Update from Dr. Isabell Pacheco, CEO, on Health Data Utility, Trust, and Statewide Interoperability. Michigan’s health information ecosystem is evolving rapidly, shaped by national interoperability frameworks, state priorities, rural health transformation, public health modernization, and the growing need for trusted, community-governed data infrastructure. This session will provide an update on MiHIN’s current work and strategic direction, including how Michigan’s state-designated health information exchange is strengthening statewide connectivity, supporting public and population health needs, and preparing for the next chapter of health data utility.
Attendees will hear how MiHIN is working to modernize infrastructure, improve customer-focused services, support emerging use cases, and align with broader efforts to make health information more usable, timely, and actionable across care settings.

🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Lunch
🕑: 12:50 PM - 01:30 AM
Afternoon KEYNOTE: Dr. David Lanfear, Henry Ford Health Chief Science Officer
Host: David Lanfear, MD

Info: Afternoon KEYNOTE: Dr. David Lanfear, Henry Ford Health
Chief Science Officer and VP, Research

🕑: 01:30 AM - 02:00 PM
Virtual Care, Access and Rural Health Transformation in Michigan

Info: Virtual Care, Access and Rural Health Transformation in Michigan – Panel Discussion 3-5 speakers

🕑: 02:00 PM - 02:15 PM
Coffee Break & Networking - Expo Hall
🕑: 02:15 PM - 03:30 PM
HIT Commission Roundtable
Host: Michael Zaroukian, MD, PHD, MACP, FHIMSS, FAMIA

Info: Join Health IT Commissioners for an interactive discussion about Michigan's Health IT Roadmap: Bridge to Better Health Implementation. Attendees will learn how the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office is working to address the digital divide. Attendees will also hear updates on the Commission's newest recommendation: Explore Implications of artificial intelligence.

🕑: 04:25 PM - 04:30 PM
Closing Remarks
Host: HIMSS MI Chapter President